@livingcolour @brcnewyork @Jhazel247
Mark your calendars: The Black Rock Coalition is presenting the Million Man Mosh: A Benefit For Donovan Drayton. The show features Grammy winners Living Colour and funk-metal-soul pioneers 24-7 Spyz along with hip-hop founding father Afrika Bambaataa, who will do a DJ set. There will be a late jam with special guests including legendary guitarist Ronny Drayton. Proceeds for the event will go to the legal defense of Donovan Drayton, son of Ronny, who has been incarcerated at Riker’s Island for four years without a conviction.
The Million Man Mosh will mark the first time these two quintessential BRC member bands have ever performed together. Two-time Grammy winner Living Colour was born in the mid-80s by BRC co-founder Vernon Reid and for over 20 years, both as a group and as individual players, has been exploding limitations of the rock genre. South Bronx natives 24-7 Spyz have been favorites among hardcore, punk and alternative communities for over 20 years with their deft blend of heavy metal, punk, funk and soul. Living legend Afrika Bamaataa, The Amen Ra of Universal Hip Hop Culture and The Father of the Electro Funk Sound, will do a rare New York solo DJ set. Guitarist Ronny Drayton, who has been a sideman for a virtual who’s-who list of New York’s brightest music stars (Roy Ayers, Melba Moore, James “Blood” Ulmer, Nona Hendryx, Defunkt, Edwin Birdsong, Kashif, The Family Stand, etc.), will close out the night jamming with both bands and special invited guests.
The ‘Million Man Mosh’ is the latest in several ongoing efforts for Donovan Drayton, Ronny’s son. Donovan has been held at Riker’s Island for the past four years on a crime for which he has consistently maintained his innocence and despite ample supporting evidence. Donovan was found ‘not guilty’ on the most serious charges and the jury was hung— overwhelmingly in favor of acquittal—on the others. Yet, his case continues to be tied up in court and he remains in jail without bail, no convictions and facing a second costly trial.
The event will be a launch point for addressing the disproportionate number of young men of color in the criminal justice system, ‘stop-and-frisk’ policies and escalating costs to families for legal defense. For more information on the case and Donovan’s Defense, visit www.4donovan.com. There is a PayPal link on the site for donations.
The Million Man Mosh: A Benefit For Donovan Drayton will be at New York’s Highline Ballroom, on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, featuring Living Colour, 24-7 Spyz, Afrika Bambaataa, Ronny Drayton and special guests. The Highline is at 431 West 16th Street in New York City. Doors are at 7PM and show time is at 9PM; tickets are $30 in advance and $40 day of show. Info: (212) 414-5994. More info on the Highline’s site. Proceeds for this event will go to benefit Donovan’s Defense.
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