Press Release BLACK MUSIC MONTH Celebrating Juneteenth Jazz
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (10/1/09)
Contact: Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
662-247-1471 662-247-3364
e-mail: JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com
web site: www.Juneteenth.us
www.JazzMissouri.com
www.JazzNebraska.com
John Thompson, Executive Producer
National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP)
Juneteenth America, Inc.
909-268-7104
e-mail: johnharold@juneteenthamerica.us
web sites: www.JuneteenthJazz.com
www.JuneteenthAmerica.us
Ms. Willie Williams, Executive Director
Omaha Juneteenth Celebration
Juneteenth Nebraska, Inc.
402-612-8936
e-mail: coalitionminorityparents@yahoo.com
web site: www.JuneteenthNebraska.com
June Is Black Music Month
"Celebrating Juneteenth Jazz"
Juneteenth Jazz
Celebrating Our Black Jazz Music Legacy
National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP)
Announces Celebration of Juneteenth Jazz During Black Music Month
(Kansas City, MO & Omaha, NB) - The National Association of Juneteenth Jazz
Presenters (NAJJP) announces "Celebrating Juneteenth Jazz", a black jazz legacy preservation aesthetic
initiative during Black Music
Month. June is Black
Music Month and the month where the "19th of June", Juneteenth Independence Day is celebrated
throughout America. The NAJJP is sponsoring two Juneteenth Jazz Legacy
Concerts and Juneteenth Art Exhibits during
Black Music Month in the historic jazz cities of Kansas City, MO
and Omaha, NB.
"Juneteenth is a landmark in history, a celebration of freedom and the end of enslavement in America," states
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder & Chairman of the National Juneteenth
Observance Foundation (NJOF) and the National Juneteenth Jazz
Artist. "Juneteenth Jazz is dedicated to the preservation of the unique aesthetic expression of freedom
through jazz, and the spiritual essence of a people whose lives continue to be the creative catalyst of all America's music.
Juneteenth Jazz is dedicated to the innovators of this great music and the economic, cultural and educational
development of the historic community that produced America's most intellectually sophisticated musical expression of freedom
for all the world to enjoy."
Juneteenth, or the "19th of June", recognizes June 19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, when Union General
Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the Southwest. This was the last major vestige of slavery in the United
States following the end of the Civil War. This occurred more than two and a half years after the
Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President
Abraham Lincoln. Upon the reading of General Order #3 by
General Granger, the former slaves celebrated jubilantly, establishing America's second Independence Day Celebration and the
oldest African-American holiday observance. 32 states and the District of Columbia officially recognize
Juneteenth as a state holiday or state holiday observance.
"Jazz is African American Classical Music, created from the hearts, lives and souls of black folks in America," states
Rev., Dr. Myers, Founder and Chairman of the NAJJP, the
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC) and the
National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign. "The preservation of our unique black
jazz music legacy is what
Black Music Month and the celebration of Juneteenth is all about."
Concerned about the decline of jazz in the black community, with diminishing concert and small group performances in black
owned and operated venues, the NAJJP was established to support the
presentation of "Juneteenth Jazz" at Juneteenth Festivals and events. The
NAJJP also sponsors several jazz festivals throughout the year where the preservation of African American jazz
legacy is the focus of the event.
"We encourage jazz musicians and music venues in communities across America to celebrate 'Juneteenth Jazz' during
Black Music Month,"
states Dr. Myers. "We are also committed to handing down our black jazz music traditions to a new generation of young
people."
Many established jazz festivals and events across the country no longer include performances by African American musicians.
Many cities, in an effort to promote tourism and economic development, have created historic jazz preservation districts and
projects in historic black communities where black ownership and business entrepreneurship is not encouraged. The creators of
jazz in America, African Americans, increasingly find themselves locked out of resources and projects to promote, perform and
educate students and communities about jazz throughout the country.
"It is not uncommon to find jazz festivals where black musicians, especially the masters, are no longer invited to
participate," states Dr. Myers. "I consider 'Juneteenth Jazz' the beginning of a modern day African American
jazz artistic renaissance in America. We must create, develop and support our own institutions to preserve our rich black
jazz legacy throughout America."
For information about the NAJJP contact Dr. Myers at 662-247-3364, 662-247-1471, e-mail - JuneteenthDOC@yahoo.com or web site - www.JuneteenthJazz.com.
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