Saturday, Sept. 7th — Open Air Concert — Japanese American Cultural and Community Center Plaza Outside Aratani Theatre
Featuring Legendary Grammy-winning Janice-Marie Johnson To Dazzle With Special Performance
Little Tokyo Live 2013 – A Legacy Harmony Music Series @ Little Tokyo concert – Building Cultural Bridges Through Music, Education and Commerce
LOS ANGELES – Little Tokyo Live 2013, a Legacy Harmony Music Series @ Little Tokyo L.A. music festival, signifies the end of summer in Los Angeles. And no better way to celebrate the welcoming of fall than with a spectacular cool and breezy free open air concert live at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center Plaza outside of the historical Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo on September 7, 2013.
Hosting this new event include the Little Tokyo Business Association/Little Tokyo Business Improvement District (LTBA), Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC), along with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California (JCCSC). These business associations hope to turn this first time musical festival into an annual occurrence. Meanwhile, they have united to act as a catalyst to enhance collaboration among various nonprofits selected to benefit from the proceeds raised by this year’s concert.
The planning and talent booking would not be possible without the teamwork between these business associations, ZOKU and its volunteer support group led by Roland Hayes Betts, the founder and producer of the popular Jazz At Drew (an event with its roots at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science). Mr. Betts is committed to expanding ZOKU’s mission of Building Cultural Bridges Through Music, Education and Commerce.
Aside from being a jazz festival producer and jazz aficionado, Mr. Betts is a respected community and Civil Rights Movement leader and a former member of the national staff of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Little Tokyo Live 2013 is an event comprised of two components: A free out-door public concert at the open air JACCC Plaza (in front of the Aratani Theatre) from noon to 4PM – performing will be a variety of emerging artists and everyone is invited. Those attending the outdoor concert will also have opportunity to explore and visit the many hidden treasures inside of Little Tokyo… fine dining… unique boutiques… great art and culture for the entire family. The outdoor concert is exclusively financed by the Little Tokyo Business Improvement District and administered by the LTBA.
“It is always wonderful when our associations can give back to the community with the gift of music,” said Wilson Liu, president of Little Tokyo Business Association. “Little Tokyo Live 2013 is the best way our respective groups can embrace our city’s diversity via the Japanese American heritage of Little Tokyo and embrace our differences while enjoying a day of music.”
The other component of this exciting day is an evening concert, a ZOKU production, which kicks off at 7PM for ticket holders inside the Aratani Theatre. Guests will enjoy Irasshai (Welcome) – Community Rhythms (a joint performance by Zendeko, Yoki Daiko and Kinnara), three Taiko drum groups affiliated with Zenshuji Soto Mission, Tenrikyo Church and Senshin Buddhist Temple.
Also headlining the evening concert includes the 70’s and 80’s R&B legendary groups, Grammy award winning A Taste of Honey and Original Lakeside. A Taste of Honey was at the top of their game with the 1980’s disco hit “Boogie Oogie Oogie.” An added bonus is a special performance by songwriter, and international acclaimed legend, Janice-Marie Johnson, most famous for her 80’s hit song “Sukiyaki.”
Headlining is Original Lakeside, the R&B/Soul group whose musical journey led them to the super hit album titled “Shot Of Love.” Off of this album came the wildly popular “It’s All The Way Live,” and two years later in 1980, they released “Fantastic Voyage.” Original Lakeside continues to put on extravagant performances and they never disappoint.
“It is always a pleasure to present legendary artists like A Taste of Honey and Original Lakeside to the younger generation,” said Roland Betts, Little Tokyo Live 2013 talent coordinator. “It never gets old to meet new R&B and jazz aficionados of all ages. ”
“And, the best part is that through the evening concert, we are able to raise funds benefitting three non-profit entities,” said Reverend Howard Miyoshi, “the Japanese American Treat Centennial Scholarship Fund, CDU’s Mrs. Lillian Harkless Mobley Presidential Endowed Fund, and JACCC’s Family and Children Programming..”
A portion of tickets will be distributed to qualified sponsoring nonprofits to encourage greater attendance by youth and families from throughout Metropolitan Los Angeles. The ZOKU produced Aratani Theatre concert is a co-sponsored and co-hosted collaboration between the LTBA/LT-BID, JCCSC and JACCC.
Tickets for the evening concert are available online at http://www.jaccc.org, delivered by mail or at will call. Ticket prices range from $20 to $50.
For a sneak peek of this year’s Little Tokyo Live 2013, visit:
Little Tokyo Live 2013 Building Cultural Bridges Through Music, Education and Commerce
Comments