Plans Underway for Zappa Dedication and Tribute Concert
Hoodoo
September Events to Include Free Outdoor Festival
BALTIMORE, July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Since last month's confirmation of
the September 19th date for Baltimore City's dedication of a bust of
Frank Zappa, community support has been growing for a concert and
festival in tribute to the legendary musician, composer and social icon,
whose birthplace is Baltimore. The bust, donated by a Lithuanian fan
club, will be placed at the Enoch Pratt Free Library's Southeast Anchor
in Highlandtown, and plans now include an outdoor concert featuring
Zappa Plays Zappa (fronted by Frank's son Dweezil), and various events
at the library and nearby Patterson Theatre in support of the dedication
ceremony.
The date itself is especially significant as September 19th is the
anniversary of Zappa's 1985 testimony on Capitol Hill in favor of free
expression by Recording Artists at the Senate hearing instigated by
certain congressional wives (members of the PMRC) concerning record
labeling. Frank Zappa's widow Gail commented on the remarkable
coincidence, stating, "Frank's legacy rests in his uncompromising
defense of the First Amendment and his uncompromising pursuit of
excellence clearly demonstrated in the standards he set in all areas of
Music and the arts and sciences associated with it. He was self-taught
and self-realized. It is hard to imagine how that is possible except
for the 4 cornerstones he had going for him: a talent for music, a
hard-core curiosity, a keen sense of humor and access to a library. He
was a cheap date for History."
The broader scope of events, being developed by Clearpath Entertainment
in collaboration with the Zappa family, the Southeastern Community
Development Corporation, Enoch Pratt Free Library, and the Creative
Alliance, are intended to help anchor the new Highlandtown Arts and
Entertainment District and plans now include a library exhibit,
symposiums, and after party in addition to the dedication and concert.
Sean Brescia of Clearpath stated, "Baltimore has a rich entertainment
heritage dating back to its iconic theatres and jazz ballrooms, and
opportunities like this are a chance to re-capture that spirit. We
wanted to build an event that was a truly fitting tribute to the Zappa
legacy, but also something that can grow into a signature cornerstone
event for the Highlandtown Arts and Entertainment District, and Gail
[Zappa] has shared that vision from the beginning." In the interest of
what the events could mean for the community, Brescia reached out to a
broad group of community organizations to help plan and raise support
for the events.
Echoing that sentiment of community interests, Chris Ryer of the
Southeast Community Development Corporation added, "The bust coming to
Highlandtown and these events are high-profile, flagship opportunities
to position the Highlandtown Arts and Entertainment District as major
reasons for visitors to come to Southeast while they're in Baltimore.
We're excited to work with Clearpath and the Zappas to leverage this
year's events as a catalyst for great things to come."
Remarking on the concert lineup, Clearpath's David Christensen said,
"Frank Zappa's musical genius and influence is undeniable and it has
always been a must for us that Dweezil headline this show in the
ultimate tribute to his father. This is going to be Zappa Plays Zappa,
next to Zappa's statue, on a street dedicated Zappa Way, on Zappa Day;
it couldn't be more fitting."
Contact:
Clearpath Entertainment
866-944-4409 ext. 1
[info @ clearpathentertainment.com]
SOURCE Clearpath Entertainment
--
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Hoodoo
Friday July 23, 2010 at 03:01 PM
http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2010/07/23/733235.aspx
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Shipping Zappa
Lithuanian artists begin a bronze bust of Frank Zappa on its journey to
Baltimore.
Plans are underway to honor iconoclastic musician / composer Frank Zappa
in the city of his birth, including a bust and a performance by son
Dweezil’s band, Zappa Plays Zappa.
Zappa was born in Baltimore, Dec. 21, 1940. Now the city is planning a
proper tribute to one of the most unique musicians of the 20th century.
Scheduled for Sept. 19, the event will include an unveiling and
dedication of a bust contributed by a Lithuanian fan club.
The bust will be placed at the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Southeast
Anchor in the Highlandtown neighborhood. Plans call for various
Zappa-related events to be held at the library and nearby Patterson Theatre.
For Zappa historians, the Sept. 19 dedication date marks the 25th
anniversary of the guitarist’s testifying on Capitol Hill in favor of
free expression by recording artists. Zappa’s testimony before the
Senate’s Commerce, Technology and Transportation committee was in direct
response to efforts by the Parents Music Research Center’s (PMRC)
efforts to persuade the recording industry to label records considered
to contain objectionable material. The PRMC was co-founded by Tipper
Gore, wife of then-Senator Al Gore.
A wider range of events planned by Clearpath Entertainment in
collaboration with the Zappa family, the Southeastern Community
Development Corporation, Enoch Pratt Free Library and the Creative
Library will help anchor the new Highlandtown Arts and Entertainment
district and will include a library exhibit, symposiums, and a party
taking place after the dedication and concert.
“Frank Zappa’s musical genius and influence is undeniable and it has
always been a must for us that Dweezil headline this show in the
ultimate tribute to his father,” Clearpath’s David Christensen said.
“This is going to be Zappa Plays Zappa, next to Zappa’s statue, on a
street dedicated Zappa Way, on Zappa Day; it couldn’t be more fitting.”