R&B chanteuse and balladeer delivers feel good upbeat music, with DJ pioneer & inventor of the scratch
Featuring 6pm pre-show workshop with Scratch Academy.
The musically intrepid and fearless Vivian Green has long been known as a “balladeer,” a soulful, satin-voiced crooner with potent delivery. Her latest album, Vivid, is celebration of her talents, but is notably different than her other efforts. According to Green, it’s “fresh, spirited…sassy and funny at times.” The breakout single “Get Right Back to My Baby” is a playful track that compels you to dance with her siren-like, beckoning call. The Philadelphia born & bred Green grew up in a musically alive home, spurring her appetite for the art. As a teenager she already had a major professional credit to her name, as a co-writer with hometown heroes Boyz II Men. Lighting up jazz clubs throughout Philly, Green would eventually release “Emotional Roller Coaster” and a star was firmly born. Illuminating the silver screen in the Oscar nominated biopic De Lovely as a jazz singer, Green dazzles with her beauty, and advocating for children with special needs, she shines with her heart.
Music With A Message (MWAM) is more than just music… MWAM captivates people of all ages by delivering powerful messages through soulful renditions of classical songs and innovative original compositions that raise awareness, encourage action and leave audiences inspired. This group is comprised of youth ranging from ages 6-21. This high-energy ensemble has entertained the masses at Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Great Adventures, Hershey Park, Apollo theater and many other venues. Under the leadership of Bervin Harris, accomplished musician and the director and CEO of Renaissance Youth Center, MWAM highlights the center’s dedication to musical expression, education and social and political change by performing for accomplished elected officials including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Mayor Bill De Blasio, and United State Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Needle drops, scratching, and whole bag of previously unheard of deejay tricks: all were developed and perfected by Theodore Livingston. This Bronx native is indeed the sole creator of the vinyl manipulation technique known as ‘scratching,’ the quintessential, original component of deejay expression. Since he debuted this ubiquitously imitated practice, GWT has been regarded as a premier innovator in the hip hop space. His first group, Grandwizard Theodore & the Fantastic Five, are one of the original old-school hip hop ensembles. They released the indomitably funky single “Can I Get a Soul Clap” in 1982, and were soon after featured in the first ever hip hop DJ film, Wild Style, and subsequently the doc Scratch, where Theodore elucidates the origins of his signature move. His track “Fantastic Freaks at the Dixie” contains the line ‘Say turn it up,’ which has become one of the most well-known and sampled phrases in hip hop culture. Playing at shows all over the world, GWT has deejayed for Kurtis Blow, Roxanne Shante, Mele Mel, KRS-One and many more. He now teaches classes on the history of hip hop, and is represented on the small screen in the current Netflix hit The Get Down.