Staff WriterChef Glenn Law of Sweat Auburn Bistro, and Ricci de Forest Curator/Artistic Director of Madame CJ Walker Museum/Gallery proudly reintroduces Purple Grotto a Jazz Series. “A culinary and musical experience,” Ricci calls it.
W.E.R.D radio, North Americas first black owned and operated radio station, owned by Jessie B. Blayton Sr. from 1949-1968, was the first radio station to pioneer programming for the Negro community. Its location was at Prince Hall Masonic Lodge at 34 Auburn Ave. directly above the Madame CJ Walker beauty shoppe.
W.E.R.Ds Purple Grotto was the name of the program that brought jazz to the airwaves for 50,000 Negro Families and aided in the launching of many that era’s musical careers.
This Monthly series is actively seeking sponsorship and or donations/contributions (tax deductable). Proceeds of Purple Grotto Jazz Series goes towards the placement of sidewalk signage to mark W.E.R.Ds Historic location, and to establish the W.E.R.D/Isaac Mullen public Vinyl Library. A collection of some 15,000 plus vinyl records, 78s, 33 1/3s, and 45s mostly from the period of the 1940s through 1960s.
The mission of The Purple Grotto Jazz Series is to celebrate the music and the talent of artist who bore the weight, and pressure of a hostile and intolerant society, but yet, were able to produce masterpiece after masterpiece. It is with great pleasure and conviction that we bring you, The Purple Grotto Jazz Series!!
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