For those of you who just can’t get enough of Chicago’s own Chaka Khan, a.k.a. “Queen of Funk Soul,” who has garnered 22 Gammy nods and 10 Grammy awards and who performed for WTTW’s benefit gala last week at Harris Theatre, she returns home June 5 for UNCF’s 10th Anniversary Black & White Ball at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Among her all-time hits: I’m Every Woman, Ain’t Nobody, Through the Fire, Tell Me Something Good, Sweet Thing.
A revered Chicago business leader, Frank M. Clark, ComEd’s chair and CEO, is the distinguished Harold H. Hines Jr. Benefactors Award recipient; Richard Hunt, renowned sculptor, receives the coveted Legacy Award. Allstate’s chair, president and CEO Thomas J. Wilson is gala chair. Some 800 guests are expected at the $500 per person Living the Legacy event that supports over 60,000 students at its 39 member colleges and universities who receive UNCF scholarships, internships and fellowships.
Since the inaugural 2001 gala, the Black & White Ball has raised over $5 million, so says Jann Honore, UNCF area development director. “Donations help minority students launch careers in science, math, technology, business, education, medicine, etc. preparing them to become the next generation of leaders,” she added. Call UNCF, (312) 845-2200 or visit www.UNCF.org.
Reunion Union – DuSable High School’s amazing 75-year legacy will be celebrated June 5 at a luncheon on the school campus, 4934 S. Wabash Ave. Many noteworthy intellectuals, musicians, businessmen, politicians and athletes are DuSable grads: historians Timuel Black and the late Dempsey Travis, who have extensively documented the high school’s glory days; Chicago’s first African American mayor, Harold Washington; Ebony/Jet Magazines publisher John H. Johnson, who honed his journalistic skills as editor of the student newspaper; poet and artist Dr. Margaret Burroughs, and husband, Charles, founders of DuSable Museum; and legendary high school bandleader Capt. Walter Dyett, who groomed many musicians who are still celebrated worldwide today: Nat King Cole, Ella Jenkins and the Freeman brothers, Von and George.
DuSable opened in 1935 as the first school built here to serve a Black community. History advocates at Hall Branch Public Library insisted the school be named after Chicago’s first non-Indian settler and trader, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, a Black man. Recently it was divided into three small schools: the DuSable Leadership Academy of Betty Shabazz International Charter School; the Bronzeville Scholastic Institute and the Daniel Hale Williams Preparatory School of Medicine. Thanks to the efforts of the DuSable High School Alumni Coalition for Action, the school has retained its connection to the historical figure for which it was named. All alums and friends of DuSable are invited to the homecoming. As a bonus, there will be tours of the school. For $65 lunch tickets, call Sylvia Walton-Alston, (773) 419-4835, or Alice C. Brown (708) 263-9295.
Reunion Union II – Ed Kirk, of DuSable’s Class of ‘50, who now lives in Florida, comes home with his wife Esther to celebrate his 80th b’day on Sunday, 3 p.m., at the Washington Park Refectory (the field house), 5531 S. King Dr. Kirk, a former member of the DuSable Sea Horses Swim Team (1946-50) and the second African American to win both city and state swimming championships, was, by all accounts, an Olympic candidate who never got a chance to compete. If you’re a friend or former classmate, you’re urged to share in his celebration. Free food and drinks! RSVP: Don Clark, (708) 503-0615.
Newsy Names – Zariff, dubbed ”America’s Top Barber” when his longtime client of over 15 years, Barack Obama, became the 44th President of the U. S., was honored by American Health & Beauty Aids Institute as “The 2010 Celebrity Barber of the Year” at its recent Proud Lady Beauty Show. The former martial arts instructor, referred to as “Smitty” in President Obama’s autobiography, Dreams from My Father, has been cutting the president’s hair for 15-plus years at the Hyde Park Hair Salon, 5234 S. Blackstone... Larry Huggins and Everett and Tim Rand, the heart and soul of the Chicago Football Classic, hosted pals and supporters to Monday’s “Patron Tequila Express II“ on the tracks at Union Station. The fun affair of Patron tequila cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and football talk was the first of many events leading up to September’s scholarship fundraiser at Soldier Field ... HistoryMakers’ A Night with John W. Rogers Jr. is Oct. 2 at the Art Institute. The founder of Ariel Investments LLC will be interviewed by Don Thompson, president and CEO of McDonald’s Corp., and Arne Duncan, U.S. Sec’y of Education ... Happy b’day to Kathy Chaney, Barbara Kensey, Bill Campbell, Sasha Daltonn, Joi Johnson, Allene Craft Brown, Annah Mitchell, Rose Lassiter, Antone Drain, Shatira Wilks, Alonzo Brown, Julia Huff-Heath and Carrie Davis, who celebrated “another awesome year on planet earth” in the award-winning Chef’s Kitchen at Horseshoe Casino; hosts: Seven Stars, a few fave friends ... Clear Channel Radio’s Earl Jones chairs the Chicago Urban League’s 16th Annual Golf Classic June 21 at Flossmoor Country Club, touted as one of the nation’s premiere courses.
Music Mood – Kenari Allison, 8, a.k.a. ”Master Percussionist,” will be featured at Into the Summer Series: Living Legends, a Dunmore Music event, at 2010 Park Forest in Park Forest on Friday, 1 p.m.-10 p.m. A third grader at Dixon Elementary School, he’s under the tutelage of Diane “Lil Sax” Ellis, his teacher; Reggie Gillerson, former bass player with The Emotions; and Ernie Adams, U. of I. prof. Over the years, Kenari has been cited by Orbert Davis, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic; Jon Faddis, renowned trumpeter, and Dana Hall, Columbia College instructor and Chicago Jazz Ensemble member and has played with The Emotions, The Groove Pushers, Brenda Moore, Samotta Acklin, Sax Preacher and Chicago Catz ... Albertina Walker, Dorothy Norwood, Inez Andrews and Delores Washington (a.k.a. The Caravans), Ricky Dillard & New Generation, Richard Smallwood, Byron Cage, Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship “make a joyful noise” Saturday and Sunday at Chicago Gospel Fest in Millennium Park. The Defender is a sponsor of the free two-day treat! Call (312) 744-3370.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender.
