Friends, fans and family will come together on Sunday, July 20, to celebrate the life of the late poet/musician David Blair. Known locally as Blair, he was an award-winning multi-faceted artist: poet, singer-songwriter, writer, performer, musician, community activist and teacher. His work touched and moved the community around him, and inspired a multitude of young artists to develop their own voices.
His accolades include seven nominations in the Detroit Music Awards, named Best Solo Artist in the Real Detroit Weekly Readers Poll and The Metro Times “Best Urban Folk Poet.” In 2007, he won the Seattle-based BENT Writing Institute Mentor Award. He taught classes and lectured on poetry and music in Detroit Public Schools, The Ruth Ellis Center, Hannan House Senior Center, the YMCA of Detroit, and at various universities, colleges and high schools across the country. He also toured the country sharing his urban folk music with the world.
Blair passed on in 2011 but his legacy in Detroit still remains with us today. The memorial celebration will feature his fellow musicians paying tribute to him by performing his songs and poems and sharing his photos and music. A portion of the proceeds benefits the InsideOut Literary Arts Project which he was a member.
DATE: 6 pm doors, 7 pm showtime on Sunday, July 20 at the Jazz Cafe inside the MUSIC HALL located at 350 Madison Ave. in Detroit. Phone: 313-887-8532.
EVENT INFO: Local and national artists will come together to perform selections from Blair's collection of poems and music, and to share rare video footage, photos, memorabilia, and unreleased recordings.
HOSTED BY: Leah Elizabeth Dunstan, Dale Wilson, and Audra Kubat.
SPONSORED BY: The Jazz Cafe
ADMISSION: $5-$10 suggested minimum donation. Portion of the proceeds to benefit the InsideOut Literary Arts Project. www.insideoutdetroit.org