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Keep the Beat Week Panel Discussion and Concert

Featuring Pure Elegance and Junkyard Band

Celebrate the third anniversary of Go-Go being named the official music of Washington, D.C. with a panel discussion followed by a LIVE concert with Pure Elegance and Junkyard Band!

After welcome remarks from DC Public Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan and DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, hear from city leaders and legends of Go-Go about the impact that Go-Go has had on D.C.'s music scene and beyond over the decades. Panel members include:

Moderator | Ronald Moten, Co-Creator of Don't Mute DC and author of Don't Mute Moe: The Vision of an Urban Scholar

Panelists

• Shanel Anthony, Vice-Chair, DC Public Library Board of Trustees
• Charles "Shorty Corleone" Garris, Go-Go Musician and Leader of Go-Go Youth Programming

Following the discussion groove to the beat with a LIVE concert featuring Pure Elegance and the "Kings of Crank" Junkyard Band!    

About Keep the Beat Week

Keep the Beat Week celebrates Go-Go music history and DC culture, and recognizes the anniversary of the signing of the "Go-Go Official Music of the District of Columbia Designation Act of 2019" bill.

About the Panel Members

Ronald Moten

Ronald Moten is a peace activist, political advisor and go-go promoter known as a passionate advocate for his native Washington, D.C. He is the co-founder of Don't Mute DC, a Kennedy Center Caucus Member, the co-founder of The Go-Go Museum and the author of Don't Mute Moe: Visions of an Urban Scholar and Drinking Muddy Water: The Streets, The Scandals, The Party of Lincoln.

Charles "Shorty Corleone" Garris

Since signing his first recording contract with Warner Brothers Records at age 14, American film and television producer, musician, songwriter and composer Charles Garris (known as Shorty Corleone) has spent most of his life in the entertainment industry. He has released 3 albums as a solo artist as well as 20 live album recordings as frontman for Washington, DC go-go music legends Rare Essence. During his tenure with Rare Essence, the singles "Body Snatchers" and "Overnight Scenario" (which was penned by Shorty Corleone) earned him two top 50 singles & Hot 100 placements on Billboard and to this day, remain party classics in the world of go-go music and American hip-hop and R&B.

He has recorded 300 singles with various recording artists, 15 music videos and counting. Shorty's foray into filmmaking was marked by "Crank", a 15-episode series chronicling the evolution of DC's go-go music and its wide-reaching impact on the American urban culture. He is also the mastermind behind The Capital Kidds, a singing group of teen protégés in support of which he created and produced "Cooking With Capital Kidds", a reality series showcasing the unique culinary and music culture of Washington, DC. Shorty also served as music director on and produced the original soundtracks for two major cable network projects, "Angrily Ever After" and "Twas the Chaos Before Christmas", both of which aired on BET in 2019.

Shanel Anthony

Shanel Anthony is a lifelong resident of the Petworth neighborhood. Growing up in Washington instilled in him a sense of service and giving back to the community at an early age. As a child, he recalls volunteering at his church, Martha’s Table, Catholic Charities and other local soup kitchens to feed the less fortunate. He served five terms on his neighborhood ANC as Treasurer and then Chairman. As a commissioner, his contributions led to more affordable housing, healthier eating options, improved recreational facilities and most importantly, a renovated Petworth Library. He is currently the Regional Manager for Medtronic, the world's largest medical technology company. He continues to give back to his community as the Vice-Chair of DC Public Library's Board of Trustees.

About the Bands

Pure Elegance

Pure Elegance has been keeping the beat going since the 90s with their 1996 Album Kep Ya Movin' danceable hits like Keep Ya Movin' and One Leg Up.

Junkyard Band

Junkyard band began in 1980 as a group of kids playing in a lot with plastic buckets, soda cans and other found objects, emulating the sounds of some of their favorite go-go bands who performed in their Southeast, DC neighborhood Barry Farms also known as "the projects". The band began to play talent shows and street performances throughout DC, taking audiences by storm - playing from the grounds of the Smithsonian and Washington Monument, to the streets of Georgetown.

The band became a novelty act across the District, Maryland and Virginia areas (DMV). Their popularity led to a TV commercial with one of the area's most popular retailers - Cavaliers Men’s Clothing Store. Shortly thereafter in 1983, the band landed an appearance in the movie "D.C. Cab" because it had quickly become a tourist attraction and Washington, DC institution.

In 1985, Junkyard caught the attention of Def Jam Records and was signed that same year to a multi-year recording deal. The band worked closely with producer Rick Rubin, recording and releasing the national hit "Sardines" and an underground favorite "The WORD". After release of the songs, Junkyard began to tour in the United States and played major venues such as Capital Centre, Richmond Coliseum and the Apollo Theater. The tour included dates with a variety of groups such as Slayer, Fishbone and the Beastie Boys. Following that, in 1986 Junkyard appeared in the Def Jam produced movie "Tougher Than Leather" alongside Run-DMC.

Because of the unique beginnings of the band, it has performed on all types of stages, in all types of situations from street corners, to clubs, to weddings, to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The band has opened for and performed with/backed-up numerous artists such as Tupac, Ice Cube, Salt-N-Pepa, Doug E. Fresh, Lauryn Hill, Chuck Brown and so many others. As the band started when the members were pre-teens, Junkyard has been going strong for more than three decades.

Adding to the band's many accomplishments, special honors, awards, and accolades, Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington, D.C., proclaimed Jan. 15, 2018 as Junkyard Band Day!

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