2010 Go-Go Award Winners Results

2010 GO-GO AWARDS RESULTS – November 21,2010 Best Go-Go DJ – DJ Big John Traditional Band – Chuck Brown Gospel Go-Go Band – Wanted Band Grown & Sexy Band – Suttle Thoughts Song of the Year – Love (Chuck Brown featuring Jill Scott) Go-Go Venue – La Fontaine Bleu Bounce Beat Band – TCB Up and Coming Band – Kimberly Michelle Experience Rhythm Section – Backyard Best Male Singer – Weensey Best Female Singer – Kimberly Michelle Best Lead Talker – Big G Rapper – Killa Cal Pocket/Percussion Section – Rare Essence Go-Go Heat – Manager – Ben Abba Promoter … Continue reading 2010 Go-Go Award Winners Results

Andre “Whiteboy” Johnson: Last of the Go-Go Legends [Washington Post]

By Timothy Wilson Washington Post Staff Writer Back then, “the mothers” handled the band’s business affairs. Annie Mack Thomas, Footz’s mother, was the band’s manager. Margarine Neal, Funky Ned’s mom, served as the secretary. Mattie Lee Mack, Thomas’s mother, served as treasurer. The band incorporated, trademarked their name and logo and formed a music publishing company. “They protected us,” Johnson said. “As the business started to evolve more, I became interested in that as well.” READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE Continue reading Andre “Whiteboy” Johnson: Last of the Go-Go Legends [Washington Post]

TMOTT’s Keeping Go-Go Socially — Which Means Globally Connected

In the ever changing world of the internet, gone are the days of just simple one dimensional message boards.  Information moves much faster these days, to include the ever so important social platforms that allows the average searcher not only the opportunity to stay in connection through various networks, personal and business, as well as up to date in news information, TMOTTGoGo’s continued growth has now made navagation more comfortable and easier for you without you ever having to walk away from the social climate that you have grown so accustomed to.  And all the tools needed are directly in … Continue reading TMOTT’s Keeping Go-Go Socially — Which Means Globally Connected

The Beat: GoGo Music from West Africa to Washington DC – Saturday October, 30

The co-authors of the book, The Beat! Go-Go Music from Washington, DC (Charles Stephenson and Kip Lornell), lead a discussion and demonstration on the emergence of Go-Go music in Washington, DC. Other guests are Shuaib Mitchell, the director of Straight up Go-Go; choreographer/dancer Melvin Deal; and musicians 32 of Northeast Groovers and Go-Go Mickey of Rare Essence. This program is dedicated to the memory of Little Benny, a legend and driving force in Go-Go. Books and DVDs will be available for purchase! Saturday, October 30 | 1:00pm – 3:00pm Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum 1901 Fort Place SE Washington, DC Continue reading The Beat: GoGo Music from West Africa to Washington DC – Saturday October, 30

Chuck Baby Catches The Attention of the Wall Street Journal / NPR

THE GODFATHER OF GO-GO By Jim Fusilli – Wall Street Journal Go-go music’s lack of broad appeal seems to boil down to the perception that it can draw a violent crowd: Promoters would rather steer clear of it, and as a result a wide audience hasn’t been nurtured. That’s a shame, because go-go music, at least when Mr. Brown serves it up, is an undeniably infectious strand of dance music with the potential to draw in fans of old-school R&B, hip-hop and ’70s jazz funk. Put Mr. Brown on stage at a festival like Bonnaroo or Glastonbury and he’d come … Continue reading Chuck Baby Catches The Attention of the Wall Street Journal / NPR

Chuck Brown Silver Spring Show Cancelled… Redskins Game Half-time show is ON!!!

The free Chuck Brown concert scheduled for downtown Silver Spring on Tuesday the 21st of September, has been canceled.  Stay abreast for further updates. However, his new upcoming CD “We Got This” is still scheduled released.  Therefore, in the meantime please check out the list below of all Chuck’s in-store meet and greet schedule and get your copy of the new DVD/CD autographed: Tuesday Sept 21 – DTLR Cap Blvd. Shops 6 pm 821 Capital Centre Blvd. 301-336-0608 Wednesday Sept 22 – Best Buy Bowie 6 pm 15800 Collington Rd 301-464-3080 Thursday Sept 23 – Best Buy Columbia Heights, DC … Continue reading Chuck Brown Silver Spring Show Cancelled… Redskins Game Half-time show is ON!!!

Wrapping Up the Rare Essence Reunion Coverage with a Final Narrative Review “Straight from Da Pit”

WARNING: If you are not a true go-go head, you may have a difficult time understanding the “Pit” lingo of this review.  In Case of Emergency, just simply ask someone who does.  lls By Mark Ward – Walking into the ballroom, I was already filled with pre-anticipation of the crank.  I had gotten there early because I was given the pleasure of being able to watch most of the members from the 1982 RE line-up crank “Body Moves” during the run through sound check. And that was when I first saw that old stage prop — The RE Express Train!!  … Continue reading Wrapping Up the Rare Essence Reunion Coverage with a Final Narrative Review “Straight from Da Pit”

PICTORIAL: Rare Essence 31st Anniverary Reunion – 9/11/2010

Below are pictures from the Rare Essence 31st Anniversary Reunion held on Saturday, September 11, 2010. (Run through rehearsal & Actual show) Click on thumbnail images to view larger image * Photos By Preston Blue of Bag of Beats Records – All Rights Reserved ** Special Thanks to Andre, Brandi, DeeDee, Uptown Productions & Positive Black Men Coalition ————————- MAKE YOUR COMMENT VIA FACEBOOK BELOW: Continue reading PICTORIAL: Rare Essence 31st Anniverary Reunion – 9/11/2010

A Brief Analysis of Maria Izaurralle’s Photo of RE – The Remix [A prose-poem by Thomas Sayers Ellis]

Hard to resist a good photo even if the symbolism surrounding the image is better than the actual aesthetic value of the photo. And we writers have to keep the scene honest. We are here to lift it, to see it clearly and creatively. Let’s consider the composition of the shot. Five framed guys. Familiar faces. Faces you know. The wickedest Go-Go pyramid alive. Think power. Think visual checkmate for a band that might have been losing its audience. Think legacy, think loss, think purpose. The only person in the shot (really) in focus is Whiteboy. Is that a metaphor, … Continue reading A Brief Analysis of Maria Izaurralle’s Photo of RE – The Remix [A prose-poem by Thomas Sayers Ellis]

Fans flock to reunion show of go-go legends Rare Essence | Washington Post

By Chris Richards Washington Post Staff Writer Mere minutes into Rare Essence’s reunion set and the dance floor is already at full churn — not on a trip through time, but in a rapturous celebration of been-here-all-along. It’s late Saturday night, and the Washington teenagers who once swarmed the legendary go-go band’s ’80s and ’90s gigs at the now-shuttered Maverick Room, Washington Coliseum and Black Hole are now middle-aged, but still ready to perspire through Polos and Kangols, halter tops and heels. Over 2,000 strong, they’ve crammed into the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City to celebrate three … Continue reading Fans flock to reunion show of go-go legends Rare Essence | Washington Post