|
By Lookout Staff
August 8 -- A hip-hop
group known for its spirituality
and an acclaimed international
choir should make the spirit
move at the Santa Monica pier
Thursday night.
Founded by principal lyricist
Speech and Rasa Don in 1992,
progressive hip-hop group Arrested
Development shot to the top
of the charts, selling 5 million
copies of its debut album “3
years, 5 months and 2 days in
the life of. . .” and
winning Grammy Awards for Best
New Artist and Best Rap Single.
With hits like "Tennessee,"
"People Everyday"
and "Mr. Wendal,"
the band earned a reputation
for a spiritual, introspective
sound known as "life music."
Recently released, their newest
album, “Since the Last
Time” refers to the amount
of time passed since they were
last heard.
Arrested Development were the
first African-American artists
to donate money to Nelson Mandela
and the African National Congress,
South Africa, as well as donating
royalties to the National Coalition
for the Homeless and to UNICEF
for relief in Sudan, Africa.
Speech has just received a proclamation
from the City of Atlanta (Arrested
Development’s adopted
home) honoring his commitment
to bettering the world.
The acclaimed Agape International
Choir uses the universal language
of music to inspire peace and
goodwill in the global community
-- from Santa Monica to South
Central and from Somalia to
South Africa. Under the direction
of Dr. Rickie Byars Beckwith,
the Agape Choir has performed
at the United Nations, Lincoln
Center, Greek Theatre, Maui
Arts and Cultural Center, and
has been featured at the World
Festival of Sacred Music.
The choir sings a unique catalogue
of original songs by Rickie
BB and her husband Dr. Michael
Bernard Beckwith, founder and
spiritual director of the Agape
International Spiritual Center
in Culver City, who has won
wide acclaim after he was featured
in the best-selling book, “The
Secret.”
“The Agape Choir shows
the face of Divine in all its
diversity, united in song,”
according to a statement from
the group. “From the power
of a cappella prayer to rousing
rhythmic celebration and affirmation,
their music moves listeners
from all walks of life until
they’re dancing in the
aisles.”
The Santa Monica Pier is located
at the intersection of Colorado
Avenue and Ocean Avenue in Santa
Monica. The Pier strongly recommends
walking, biking and using mass
transit to get to the concerts
as parking near the Pier is
limited. The concerts will offer
free valet bike parking to our
patrons at the western entrance
to the shows.
For those who insist on driving,
parking is available in beach
parking lots located at 2030
Barnard Way and 1550 PCH, both
accessible off Ocean Avenue
south of the Pier. The 2030
lot is a short walk up the beach
path from the Pier.
For bus information, please
visit www.bigbluebus.com and
www.MTA.net or call 310-451-5444.
For more information about
the concerts, visit
www.twilightdance.org or
call the Pier information line
at 310-458-8900.
| 
