Featured photo: Nikell Johnson & Shades of Blue. Photos provided by Life Prosperity Community Development Corporation
Written by Tanya Terry
This will be the 3rd year the Pre Memorial Day Bash is offered to the Flint community as a concert. In the past, the event has brought the community together through comedy shows and dances.
The event was turned into a concert because of the pandemic in order to give people something fun to do outside, according to Sonyita Clemons, executive director for the Total Life Prosperity Community Development Corporation (TLPCDC) and Dwayne Clemons, president of the Board of Directors for TLPCDC and the owner/operator of Classy Moves Productions.
The concert will be provided free of charge to the public from 12-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 28 at the New McCree Theatre.
National recording artist ‘Ms. Nikell’ will sing as part of the concert. Although she will be primarily performing jazz and R&B selctions, Sonyita Clemons said there are not many music styles Nikell is not able to do.
“She does gospel,” she said. “She does R&B and jazz…She can do any variety or genre of music that you would like to hear.”
Jazz/R&B Singer Gwen Pennyman –Hemphill will also be performing.
“Her jazz covers are phenomenal, “Dwayne Clemons expressed.
In addition, Sonyita Clemons said Pennyman-Hemphill is a “community champion,” using music to unify the community, but the crowd at the time she is dealing with them.
“She understands music is not only a form of self care, but it’s also a way to connect people to each other and to start the pathways of healing,” Sonyita Clemons added.
Pennyman-Hemphill recently opened for the Clark Sisters at the Capitol Theatre.
Marjai Marketa, known as’ the Lyricist,’ will be performing mostly original tracks.
“She’s a prolific songwriter,” stated Dwayne Clemons.
He said Marketa is able to captivate audiences even by ad libbing on the spot.
“She is a community activist at heart,” Sonyita Clemons explained.
She said Marketa brings issues to the community’s awareness to help them think about how they can be part of solutions.
To help balance things out, Melvin “Funnyman” Bender will be the event’s host. Bender was also known as “Sid the Airport Kid” for Flint Bishop Airport’s commercials.
In addition to food vendors being available, a resource fair will also be included, along with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters and health screenings.
Sonyita Clemons said: “It’s important to use every opportunity to provide the necessary agencies and organizations with an opportunity to deal directly with the public, and to have all their questions and needs and concerns answered-and to make that as convenient and accessible as possible.”
