Jhené Aiko to Perform at CNN’s “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom” Concert

Jhené Aiko is helping celebrate Juneteenth

The 34-year-old part-Spanish and Dominican American Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter will perform as part of CNN’s first-ever Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom programming, featuring a Hollywood Bowl concert with a lineup of artists.

Jhene AikoThe goal of the program: to inform and educate viewers on the meaning of the new federal holiday.

CNN obtained the rights to the event, from Live Nation Urban and Jesse Collins Entertainment, and the lineup includes Chaka Khan, Khalid, Yolanda Adams, Anthony Hamilton, Billy Porter, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Earth, Wind & Fire, Killer Mike, Lucky Daye, Mary Mary, Aiko, Ne-Yo, Michelle Williams, Mickey Guyton, Robert Glasper and The Roots, among others.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver taped remarks.

Johnita P. Due, senior vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for CNN Worldwide, said in an interview this week that event  “is really one of the most meaningful things that I have been involved in” at the network.

“The thing that makes it special, of course, is that it was only a year ago that the federal government made Juneteenth a national holiday,” she said. “So how many times in history will we have that opportunity to really shape for the country, and for the world, how a holiday is celebrated, and the meaning of a holiday and the importance of a holiday.”

This is the 157th anniversary of Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. June 19, 1865 was the date that federal troops arrived in Galveston, TX and informed citizens that slavery had been abolished in the state. The anniversary was commemorated the following year with prayers and singing, and it endured as an annual tradition.

“We really feel that with this event, we are able to not only commemorate the holiday, but we’re able to educate people around the meaning behind it, and also to uplift and inspire people to continue to make a difference and continue in the pursuit if freedom for all,” Due said.

The event also will include The Re-Collective Orchestra, a 68-piece all Black symphony orchestra that will be the first time that an all-Black symphony has performed at the bowl. Adam Blackstone and Questlove will serve as the evening’s musical directors.

Earlier in the evening, Don Lemon will anchor a pre-show highlighting African American advocates and creators.

On Thursday, CNN Business hosted a streamed conversation on advancing Black leadership, with correspondent Stephanie Elam sitting down with Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Rosalind Brewer. Also appearing were Operations Hope Founder and CEO John Hope Bryant and Collab Capital co-founder Barry Givens.

Due said that CNN staff had been brainstorming ideas for coverage of Juneteenth, and went on a tour with curators at the National Museum of African American History and Culture before they connected with Live Nation Urban. She said that artists will give music and spoken word performances that share their experiences of Black America. Interstitial packages will be woven in with the live performances.

The goal also was to have a diversity of music genres, including rap, R&B, country, soul, hip hop and gospel. Viewers also will be directed to ways they can get engaged in organizations and volunteer activities.

Due said that they “want people to be uplifted and we want people to be motivated.”

“We want people to walk away with a renewed commitment to make a difference in society as it relates to racial and social justice and equity,” she said.

Miguel to Perform During ‘Black Power Live’ Digital Benefit

Miguel is bringing the Power

The 34-year-old half-Mexican American R&B singer and Grammy winner will perform during Black Power Live, a digital benefit taking place on Saturday, June 27th, on Twitch.

Miguel

The event will be hosted by Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors and feature a mix of musical performances and conversations with black artists and organizers, including the half-black “Adore You” singer, Doja Cat and Blood Orange’s Dev Hynes

Black Power Live is meant to be “a celebration of the incredible work done by organizers and activists around the world and will be a chance to reflect, regroup and talk about next steps.”

The musical lineup for Black Power Live will feature jazz star Terrace Martin debuting a new piece, “Racism on Trial,” featuring Kamasi WashingtonDenzel CurryRobert GlasperAlex Isley and others. 

Additional performers include Ne-YoAloe BlaccHO99O9 with Travis BarkerVagabonJessie ReyezSerpentwithfeet and Twin Shadow.

Along with the music, Black Power Live will feature interviews and discussions with a mix of artists and activists including Parkland survivor Emma GonzálezDear White People creator Justin Simien and author and filmmaker Dream Hampton.

The event will begin at 5:00 pm PT/8:00 pm ET and end at 12:00 am PT/3:00 am ET. 

Money raised will benefit the Crenshaw Dairy MartTrap HealsTransgender Law CenterSankofa and Black Men Build.

A complete lineup, and registration for the event, is available here.

Blacc to Perform at This Year’s Playboy Jazz Festival

Aloe Blacc is a playboy

The 35-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter has been selected as one of the headliners for the 37th annual Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Aloe Blacc

Taking place June 13-14, the two-day lineup includes appearances by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ledisi and Terence Blanchard.

Blacc, who has the most Shazamed song of all time, will perform on Saturday, June 13.

Other Latino/a artists/acts include Ozomatli and the Eddie Palmieri Afro-Caribbean Jazz Band.

In addition, the slate includes Jason Moran‘s Fats Waller Dance Party, Snarky Puppy and Blue Note 75th Anniversary Presents: Our Point of View featuring Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Kendrick Scott, Lionel Loueke, Marcus Strickland and Ambrose Akinmusire. The legacy of late jazz icon Gerald Wilson will be saluted by the Celebrating Gerald Wilson Orchestra under the direction of Wilson’s son Anthony.

Returning for a third consecutive year as host is comedian/actor George Lopez.

Additional information about the 2015 Playboy Jazz Festival is available at HollywoodBowl.com/PlayboyJazz.

Here’s the complete schedule:

PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL 2015
Saturday, June 13, 3-11 p.m.

Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and the Monk Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble
Eddie Palmieri Afro-Caribbean Jazz Band with special invited guests Ronnie Cuber, Alfredo De La Fe, Donald Harrison, Joe Locke
Aloe Blacc
Tower of Power
Jason Moran’s Fats Waller Dance Party
Celebrating Gerald Wilson Orchestra under the direction of Anthony Wilson
Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio
Morgan James
A Sacred Steel Love Supreme:  The Campbell Brothers Present “A Love Supreme”
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Vocal Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Pat Bass

Sunday, June 14, 3-10:30 p.m.
Ledisi
Terence Blanchard E-Collective
Ozomatli
The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band under the direction of John Lee
Snarky Puppy
King Sunny Ade and his African Beats
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Blue Note 75th Anniversary Presents: Our Point of View featuring Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Kendrick Scott, Lionel Loueke, Marcus Strickland and Ambrose Akinmusire
The Jones Family Singers
The LAUSD/Beyond the Bell All-City Jazz Big Band under the direction of Tony White and J.B. Dyas