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Celebrate the official beat of D.C. with the best view in town as Rare Essence plays their greatest hits hosted by DJ Rico with beats by DJ Big John!
Go-Go on the Rooftop is a concert series that takes place each Sunday in June in the Rooftop Garden of the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library in celebration of Black Music Month. Come ready to dance! Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome.
DC Public Library is proud to be the home of the Go-Go Archives. Learn more by visiting the library's permanent exhibit on the 4th Floor of the MLK Library Up From the People.
Rare Essence, Washington’s premier Go‑Go band for more than four decades is a DC institution that has built a devoted fan base that spans multiple generations, drawn to the indigenous funk sired in the mid ‘70s by the late Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown. Rare Essence would be one of Brown’s earliest, and have remained his most enduring progeny, with a consistently combustible live show honed through countless performances in the Washington region. Go-Go thrives live and that’s where reputations, and legacies, are cemented. As the Washington Post noted in a 2010 review, “....this band has performed more than 5,000 times. Like so many Rare Essence concerts, it’s easy to believe you’re seeing the best one.”
Over the years, many great musicians have been part of Rare Essence, with several going on to form their own bands, including Little Benny and the Masters. A 30th-anniversary concert featured close to 30 musicians associated with the band. They have performed with Run DMC, Wale, DJ Kool, LL Cool J, Doug E. Fresh, Biz Markie, Ice Cube, Heavy D and the Boyz, Wu Tang Clan, Redman and Method Man, French Montana, Scarface, TLC, Eric B and Rakim, YoYo, Shabba Ranks, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Thievery Corporation, KRS-1 not to mention Chuck Brown, Trouble Funk, The Junk Yard Band, & EU. While no two shows are alike, music lovers new to the Go-Go experience and Rare Essence sound will quickly feel at ease among an allegiance of loyal fans chanting along to hits like “Lock It,” “One On One,” “Hey Buddy Buddy,” and the ever popular “Overnight Scenario,” which is covered by Fantasia all over the country.
Also lovingly known by fans as RE, “The Inner City Groovers”, or Essence (if you are from DC), you can’t help but know who “The Wickedest Band Alive” is and that you gotta be there to experience the party in person!
Producer, Composer, Musician and DJ are a few of the hats Rico Anderson wears. A prodigy who has come of age, Rico was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. In high school, a chance meeting with New Edition/BBD member Michael Bivins started Rico on his professional journey in the world of entertainment.
Rico moved to Los Angeles, CA and joined Bivins Motown distributed label BIV/10 Records as a staff writer and producer. Rico produced several hits for the label's artists including Boys II Men, and Bel Biv Devoe. Rico also produced for Fat Joe, Mya, and Will Smith.
Rico relocated back home to Washington, D.C. and established Triple Team Entertainment with partners Reynard Strawbridge, Marquette Coley, and Isaiah McIver. Since then has done production for albums Warning Shot and Hard Hat Area and released mixtapes This Is How I Feel About Hip-Hop and his latest A-Game Vol.1.
A phenomenal DJ who highlights EVERY corporate event, party, or function! He goes by the name of DJ BIG JOHN ~ DAT BAMMA BE CRANKIN! John Royster, professional known as “DJ Big John” is a native Washingtonian. He was raised in Southeast, DC and graduated from North Carolina Central University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Public Administration.
AGE GROUP: | Seniors | Adults | 13 - 19 Years Old (Teens) |
EVENT TYPE: | Musical Performance |
