Barbara Morrison celebrating 65th birthday with Jazz, Blues, Reggae extravaganza in Leimert Park Village
LOS ANGELES (Sept. 8, 2014)—Singer Barbara Morrison has organized and will perform in a musical extravaganza featuring some of America’s best artists from Jazz, Blues and Reggae on Saturday and Sunday at Leimert Park Village.
Morrison has put together “A Walk with Barbara” to celebrate her 65th birthday, which is on Wednesday, and to raise funds for her Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, located in Leimert Park at 4327 Degnan Boulevard Suite 101, and for the American Diabetes Association. Morrison had both her legs amputated beneath the knees from complications associated with diabetes and walks with prosthetics. She has continued to be a dynamic and active singer and actress in the three years since losing her lower legs.
Morrison has expanded the event from last year’s single venue at her Performing Arts Center to seven in the second year of “A Walk with Barbara.” There will be 35 shows on Saturday and 36 on Sunday, performed in 30-minute sets starting at 5 p.m. In addition to Morrison, whose latest CD “I Love You, Yes I Do,” has been in the top 20 of the JazzWeek.com national chart for the past seven weeks with a high ranking of No. 4 and two weeks at No. 6, singers Billy Valentine, Jay Jackson, Charmaine Clamor and Jackie Ryan, pianist Stu Elster, multi-talented saxophonist and band leader John Stephens and drummer Carl Burnett will be among those performing.
“This is a coming together of the great talent in Jazz, Blues and Reggae we have in Los Angeles and I’m honored so many have joined me to celebrate my 65thbirthday and raise money for the performing arts center and the American Diabetes Association,” Morrison said. “I have performed with many of them and am excited to sing with them again.”
Morrison’s opening performance on Saturday will be with the Bu Crew at 5 p.m. at the Vision Theater. She’ll sing with the Stu Elster Trio at 5:30 p.m., at the performing arts center and the John Stephens 18-piece Big Band at 6 p.m. Sunday in the BMPAC VIP Garden, Morrison will join Keb Mo’, Tyler Combs, Aaron Price and the John Stephens Big Band at 5 p.m., will be with the Yu Ooka Quartet at the Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center at 5:30 p.m., with the Carl Burnett Trio at the World Stage at 6 p.m. and with Valentine and the Elster Trio at 6:30 p.m. in her performing arts center.
Performances will also be at Sika’s and Kaos in Leimert Park.
“Our guests will have access to all seven venues for $20 and a VIP ticket is $65 including a buffet,” Morrison said. “We think we’ve put together a lot of great music for a reasonable price.”
Morrison is also playing at the Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood on Friday and Saturday starting at 8:30 p.m. Saxophonist Houston Person, who produced Morrison’s hit CD “I Love You, Yes I Do” will perform with Morrison on Friday at Catalina.
“It’s going to be a busy week,” Morrison said, “but I love being able to sing almost every night.”
Morrison will open her birthday celebration Saturday at 3 p.m. with a walk around Leimert Park Village with friends, colleagues and fans.
“I’m inviting everyone to come walk with me and celebrate my birthday,” she said.
For more information, go towww.barbaramorrison.com andwww.barbaramorrisonpac.com.
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