Entertainment

Frankie Beverly and Maze Returns to Essence Festival

Published

9 years ago

July 4, 2015

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 25: Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly performs onstage at The Bounce TV Summer Music Festival With Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly at the Gibson Amphitheater on Sunday, August 25, 2013 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Valerie Goodloe/PictureGroup)

Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly performs onstage at The Bounce TV Summer Music Festival With Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly at the Gibson Amphitheater on Sunday, August 25, 2013 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Valerie Goodloe/PictureGroup)

NEW ORLEANS (AP via The New York Times) — For 15 years, thousands of fans dressed all in white entered the Superdome on the final day of the Essence Festival anticipating the soulful sounds of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, who also dressed in his signature white pants, shirt and baseball cap, would sing into the wee hours of the next day.

Then in 2010, that experience ended when a new festival producer decided to end the long tradition of Maze as the festival’s closer— to the disappointment of many despite the great talent tapped to close, including Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin and Earth, Wind and Fire.

This year, Beverly and his group are back on the festival’s main stage. And, although he’s not scheduled to close the entire affair, fans welcome his return and the return of the massive Electric Slide held on the Superdome’s floor.

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Oakland Post: Week of November 27 – December 3, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 27 – December 3, 2024, 2024

Published

1 day ago

November 30, 2024

Oakland Post

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Richmond Seniors Still Having a Ball After 25 Years

The Senior Winter Ball is a symbol of the Commission on Aging’s broader mission of providing enriching life experiences to the local senior community, particularly those in need of them. “Besides the social activities, we focus on issues such as housing, transportation and health,” said Michelle Hayes, the commission’s chairperson. “We get things done for our senior population.”

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Myrtle Braxton (l-r), Byran H. Harris, and Michelle Hayes. Photo by Mike Kinney.

By Mike Kinney
The Richmond Standard

For a quarter century, seniors in the local community have had a prime location in the heart of the city to gather and celebrate the holidays.

That is courtesy of the annual Senior Winter Ball, which will mark a milestone this year when it takes place for the 25^th time. The gala will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Richmond Memorial Auditorium.

The holiday tradition was started by the City of Richmond’s Commission on Aging in 1999 to entertain and celebrate seniors. The event also raises funds for local senior causes. Attendees wear their finest attire and enjoy dinner and dancing.

“It’s so exciting to see all of the gala attendees all dressed up and seeing their lifetime friends and making new friends as well,” said Bryan M. Harris, secretary for the Commission on Aging. “They will reminisce about old Winter Ball memories and at the same time create new ones.”

Richmond’s very own Chef Josephine Orozco of El Sol Catering will serve at this year’s anniversary dinner. The gala will also feature the band Top Shelf Classics, which plays hits from the 50s through the 80s and has been the gala’s annual performer for the last decade.

The Senior Winter Ball symbolizes the Commission on Aging’s broader mission of providing enriching life experiences to the local senior community, particularly those in need of them.

“Besides the social activities, we focus on issues such as housing, transportation and health,” said Michelle Hayes, the commission’s chairperson. “We get things done for our senior population.”

Myrtle Braxton, 97, has served on the commission for 17 years and is its current vice president. She says her goal is to increase the quality of life for seniors through safe social events.

“So many seniors are isolated and are sometimes forgotten by society,” Braxton said. “So, our commission is their advocate and makes sure they are not left behind.”

Tickets to the 25th Silver Anniversary Annual Senior Winter Ball are $45 per person or $360 for a table of eight. They are available in person via the Main Recreation office at 3230 Macdonald Ave., via email at csdregistration@ci.richmond.ca.us or by phone at 510-620-6793.