Living Legend Foundation honors four trailblazers
Nonprofit educates the community about Jazz
The Living Legend Foundation is a nonprofit organization created with the purpose of educating youth about influential Jazz and Blues greats.
The Foundation, is an outgrowth of the Jammin’ Foundation founded by Dahle Scott McDuff, a noted world-class Jazz singer. The Jammin’ Foundation was started in an effort to promote literacy and leadership in youth through music, math, art, and science.
“Our goal and mission is to make sure that Jazz and Blues live on in the hearts and minds of our future generation,” said founder Linda Morgan.
The mission of the foundation is unique in the fact that they select and honor living Jazz and Blues legends and celebrate their contributions while they are alive to appreciate the honoring.
“We feel that if a person has dedicated 25-plus years of their life to Jazz or Blues, then that is legendary and needs to be celebrated,” said Morgan.
The Living Legend Foundation created a monthly celebration to unite the community through the appreciation of legendary musical artists.
“These celebrations have united old friendships in the music world and people that had not seen each other for years,” said Morgan.
The project titled “Jazzabration” runs once a month from March through August every year and the organization also works to educate families about the importance of legacy protection and preservation.
August is the month that the Living Legend Foundation Jazzabration project chooses to honor trailblazers.
On Aug. 30, the program will honor renowned and legendary Blues artist Roy Gaines, drummer Clarence “CJ” Johnston, Jazz promoter Gloria Cadena, and Jazz saxophonist and vocalist Elliott Chavers.
The project brings the community together for a night of great food, fellowship and music.
The program will be held at the Regency West Supper Club, located at 3339 W. 43rd St. in Los Angeles. Food will be served from 6-6:45 p.m. and show time will be from 7-10 p.m. Early arrival is strongly suggested. Reserved seating can be purchased by “Reserving Your seat” at www.LivingLegendFoundation.com or by calling Linda (323)732-7596.
The music direction will be provided by Jacques Lesure and there will be a full bar.
RSVP will close on Aug. 25 and the program will cost $30 at the door.
The Living Legends Jazzabration Series has become the most recognizable event that honors the life and legacy of Jazz musicians.
The event began in Los Angeles in 2010 and is now requested in multiple cities across the U.S.
The Living Legend Foundation is asking for members of the community to join in the celebration and, if possible, take it a step further by donating time, money, or resources to the cause.
For more information, visit the organization’s website at www.livinglegendfoundation.com.
Blues/Jazz artist Roy Gaines, 74, who is said to be “the last living guitarist to play for singer Billie Holiday,” adds Budlong Elementary School to the many venues where he has performed. He and his band performed for the school’s second- third- and fourth-graders during the school’s Black History Month celebration. Among the blues greats Gaines has played with are Big Mama Thornton, T-Bone Walker, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Jimmy Rushing and others.
There are a few remaining who witnessed the glory days of the historic Dunbar Hotel at 42nd Street and Central Avenue in South Los Angeles. It was the focal point of the local World War II generation. It was where a burgeoning Black bourgeoisie gathered to mix and be seen forging a new middle class stripped from the privations of racial discrimination and entrenched segregation.
Los Angeles Youth Network is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower abused, neglected, and homeless adolescents to become self-sufficient. The organization strives to do this by providing street outreach, food, emergency shelter, transitional living apartments, and educational enrichment programs in a safe and nurturing environment.
Computers for Youth (CFY) is a nonprofit organization that helps students, teachers and parents use digital learning to improve educational outcomes. CFY’s approach addresses the learning students do, not only in their classrooms but in all environments, including the home.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 10, at 10:30 a.m. at Ward A.M.E. Church, 1177 W. 25th St., Los Angeles, for “The-e-e. Jammin’ Jai Rich,” whose sonorous voice and lively mixture of Jazz, Gospel as well as R&B helped formulate the background music for Black Los Angeles from the 1960s to the 1970s.
Rich died Wednesday. He was 78 years old.
