Black History Month Celebrates Harlem

Julia Breanetta Simpson, Councillor and co-chair with Christine Toy Johnson of the Eastern Region Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, presented a musical tribute to the Harlem Renaissance in celebration of Black History Month in New York on February 8, 2010. Played to a full house at New World Stages, Ms. Simpson's program, a musical journey from the 1910s to the '30s, included salutes to the music of Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters and others. Shaunelle Perry directed, and accompaniment was provided by Musical Director Ken Levinsky (piano), Barbara Merjan (drums) and Jeff Ganz (bass). The evening, which was dedicated to the memory of Herb Foster Quebec, Equity Actor, staff member and EEO Committee member who died in December 2009, also included a pre-curtain dinner of soul food catered by Bert's Catering from Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Special thanks to EEO Business Rep Pearl Brady and Equity Stage Manager Delphine T. Mantz for coordinating this event.

Julia with Katrina and William, two of her biggest fans (L-R), AEA members Venida Evans, Gloria Suave and Joan Valentina	AEA Senior Business Rep Zalina Hoosein and Bus Rep Louise Foisy Connie Best, Richarda Abrams, Emilie Byron
friends and family congratulate Julia