Featured photo: Deanetris Armstrong formed 2 Fingers Productions to honor her father.
Written by L. M. Land with Jowanne Carrigan, Photos by L. M. Land
This past Father’s Day made Deanetris Armstrong nostalgic for her father, Arthur ‘Gator’ Armstrong, who passed in 2019. He used to have a car wash on Dupont and Carpenter Roads. Gator fed the children at Powers and Northwestern schools, sold BBQ and watermelons and had concerts at his car wash. One was a Maurice Davis concert.
“It was so much fun,” Armstrong said. “When people see me they still ask about it.”
Armstrong said there are so many events honoring mothers on Mother’s Day, yet there is almost nothing equivalent for fathers. Armstrong and her friend Wanda Ware decided to honor their fathers, and formed 2 Fingers Productions to throw their fathers a memorial concert, ‘Gator’ style on June 15.
Although starting from square one, they ended up with a concert that filled the UAW Local 651 Hall, complete with a full staff, security, caterer Shannon Ware’s good food and a full evening of entertainment.
“We have some things we have to fine-tune and want to do,” reflected Armstrong, “and we are gonna do it again”.
The headliner was Detroit blues guitarist BB Queen, whom Armstrong met at a Detroit birthday party and connected with. James Bryant, Sr. said “BB Queen gave an awesome performance. She’s a great singer and musician, crowd pleaser, and all-round good musician.”
James Wicker was the opening act, also performing were, Deborene Bland-Jackson and Johnny Kroon from Memphis, Arkansas. The house band was Adrian Higginbotham, Marc Nunn, James Bryant, Sr. and James Bryant III.
Bland-Jackson has been performing locally for over 20 years, professionally since her children were grown and retired from GM. She performed with the Mighty Banks Sisters and has opened for Maurice Davis. People loved Bland-Jackson’s music and energy and just had to get up and dance.
“I love making people feel loved,” Bland-Jackson said.
And that is what the concert was all about, loving and remembering fathers, whether they have passed on or are with us still.
I’m pretty sure Gator is proud!
