Chocolate City Keep Crankin' Panel Discussion

Celebrate Go-Go Preservation Week 2022 with a panel of Go-Go icons moderated by photographer and D.C. native Dee Dwyer.

The DC Public Library is excited to open the Go-Go Preservation Week Exhibition Chocolate City Keep Crankin' with this exciting group of Go-Go band members, musicians and community members who will be sharing their own stories about the current state of Go-Go and providing anecdotes from the making of two new monumental group portraits, A Great Day in Go-Go (I & II), on view in the MLK Library’s Great Hall from Nov. 16 - Dec. 15. Panelists include:

Sugar Bear, Experience Unlimited (EU)

Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott is a globally known recording artist, frontman, lead vocalist, and bass player with 3 billboard hits including the “Da Butt” which peaked at #1 on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles in 1988 and was also a featured performance in Spike Lee’s film “School Daze”. Also, to his credit, his group Experience Unlimited aka E.U. was not only an opening act for the commencement ceremony for the 2016 opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture but they also have an exhibit on the third floor of the museum.

Sweet Cherie, Be'la Dona

Sweet Cherie is the Musical Director for Be'la Dona, an all-female band. She has performed around the globe with artists such as: Pieces of a Dream, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Stephanie Mills, Jean Carne, EU, Melanie Fiona, Estelle, Howard Hewitt, Christopher Williams, Angela Bofil, Phil Perry, Erykah Badu, Chrisette Michele, and Marsha Ambrosius, just to name a few. Outside of performing on stage, she teaches Go-Go Music for the Smithsonian Institution and DC Public School’s "Teaching For Change.” program whose goal is to introduce/educate the history and importance of Go-Go to DC Public School students. 

Killa Cal, Grammy-Nominated Rapper

Killa Cal is an independent, Grammy-nominated rap artist who performs with Go-Go band Rare Essence. He has been featured on BET, HipHopDX, Worldstar, MTV, VH1, Revolt and his music is featured in Grand Theft Auto 5.

Moe Shorter, Manager of Junk Yard Band

Moe Shorter is the manager of the Go-Go band, Junk Yard Band. Junk Yard Band was founded in the early 1980s by children playing on improvised instruments, using hubcaps, plastic buckets, crates, cans and discarded pots and pans. They were at the forefront of "new school" Go-Go music, using a layered percussion sound over having a horn section, bass guitar player and lead guitar player. They are best known for their hit songs, Sardines and The Word.

Darrin X, Go-Go musician, Entertainment Professional, Music Producer and Production Management

With over 30 years of entertainment experience, Darrin X has participated in every role in the entertainment industry. Darrin started his career as a stage technician in the mid 80's for EU (Da Butt). He has participated in creating and performing music as a band member of the group Rare Essence for 12 years. He has toured, produced and performed with clients of the entertainment management group, Big Dog Entertainment and 1228 Management and managed and conducted production duties for TCB band for 7 years. He is currently providing content and digital media editing for Beat Republic Media Group, producing The Heartbeat Conga Hour radio show and co-managing The Fix band.

Dee Dwyer, Photographer and Panel Moderator

Dee Dwyer is a diversified Photographer from Southeast, Washington, D.C who produces awe-inspiring images. She has been anointed by her community as "The Visual Voice for the People”. Her goal is to show all aspects of human life with the primary focus being humanity. Dwyer’s raw and compelling candids unveil the souls of people. The images expose many subject’s truth, adversities, beauty, and culture.

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