PRESS RELEASE
The Fourth International African Diaspora Heritage Trail Conference presents the Bermuda Homecoming Concert of Chuck ‘Any Day Now’ Jackson
Washington, D.C., June 2, 2008 - On July 26, 2008, Bermuda will begin hosting the 4th International African Diaspora Heritage Trail Conference (ADHT), founded to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of people of the African Diaspora. Dr. the Hon. Ewart F. Brown, Premier of Bermuda serves as Conference Host, and legendary screen actor/activist Danny Glover serves as Conference Co-Chair.
This year, the Conference is offering a unique opportunity to Bermuda audiences to take a walk down memory lane as it produces a special concert, “DuWop of the Diaspora: The Bermuda Homecoming Concert of Chuck Jackson”, taking place at the Fairmont Southampton on Sunday, July 27th, 8:00 PM.
Many Bermudians will remember back to the 60’s and 70’s when this award-winning artist performed before standing-room-only audiences in crowded nightclubs and venues throughout the island.
Recording artist Chuck Jackson is an icon of the Rhythm and Blues musical tradition – a tradition that became one of the most beloved and covered forms of African-American popular music. Its lavish harmonies, hard swinging dance beats and cool “slow drag” tunes gave birth to a generation of musical groups whose polished performance and impeccable harmonies propelled many of its artists to heights of world fame and captured the imagination of musicians and audiences throughout the African Diaspora.
Grammy Award Nominee Chuck Jackson exemplifies the excellence of the R&B musical tradition. Former lead singer for the “Del Vikings”, his chart topping single, “Any Day Now” (written by Burt Bacharach/Hall David) became the foundation of his decades of musical hits that include: “ I Don’t Wanna Cry”; “Are You Lonely for me Baby?” and “Shake Me, Wake Me, When its Over”.
The concert is being promoted by distinguished Bermuda producer David Durham, and Bermuda’s top radio station, Hott 107.5. Stay tuned to Hott 107.5 for more concert and conference information. Tickets for the event will soon be made available at several ticket outlets and the ADHT website (www.adht.net).
For more information, contact Karen Spellman, ADHT Director of Special Events at Karenspellman@msn.com or Cyndie Graddy, ADHT Conference Coordinator at diaspora@hend.com.
BERMUDA WILL ONCE AGAIN HOST THE
AFRICAN DIASPORA HERITAGE CONFERENCE
Annual Forum to Enhance Cultural Tourism in Diaspora Communities
HAMILTON, BERMUDA, April 3, 2008 – Bermuda, an island with a rich history and thriving culture, is channeling its roots and will once again host the African Diaspora Heritage Trail (ADHT) Conference. This year’s conference, being held from July 26th - 30th at the luxurious Fairmont Southampton beachfront resort, is part of an ongoing initiative to unite African descendents from all over the world, encourage the development of African Diaspora Heritage trails and promote stabilization of economies in Diaspora communities.
Now in its fourth year, the conference will bring a stellar list of world-renowned scholars and high-ranking government officials dedicated to the timely economic and cultural issues within Diaspora communities worldwide.
ADHT Conference Co-Chairs, Social Activist/Actor Danny Glover and Bermuda’s Dr. Radell Tankard, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education will be joined by noted speakers including:
Howard Dodson, Director, Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture
- Shirley Franklin, Mayor, City of Atlanta
- Rita Marley, Entertainer and Film-maker
- Andrew Young, Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. and Co-Chairman, Good Works International
- Lonnie Bunch, Founding Director of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture
The ADHT Conference attracts attendees, speakers and exhibitors from all over the world including: Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, North and South America. Conference attendees can expect to actively participate in state-of-the-art educational and professional development sessions, share model heritage trail programs, learn from case studies of countries and projects that have developed trail and enjoy networking on an international level. Not only that, attendees will receive unparalleled technical assistance for their heritage tourism initiatives and be treated to colorful cultural events in the evenings featuring music, and body adornment in the African Diaspora.
The African Diaspora Heritage Trail Conference, sponsored by Premier of Bermuda and Minister of Tourism and Transport, Dr. The Hon. Ewart F. Brown, J.P., M.P. and the Bermuda Department of Tourism, is open to the public and especially designed for educational, governmental and tourism professionals. Registration rates for all
conference events begin at $499.00 per person. For more information on pricing and the African Diaspora Heritage Trail, please call or (301) 650-5700 ext. 507 or visit www.adht.net.
About Bermuda:
Bermuda, just under two hours from East Coast gateway cities, stretches for 21 miles along turquoise
waters and is surrounded by a 200-square-mile coral reef plateau. Bermuda's diverse activities offer an array of vacation options, including more wreck dives than anywhere else in the world, championship golf, horseback riding, world-renowned deep sea fishing and smooth pink beaches to rest on by day's end.
Accommodations range from luxury resorts to intimate guest cottages and family-run inns, all incorporating the sophistication and hospitality unique to the Bermuda experience.
For more information, visit www.bermudatourism.com or call 800-BERMUDA (800-237-6832).
