OKLAHOMA CITY — Perry Publishing & Broadcasting Company (PPBC) is once again hosting Oklahoma City’s biggest and best Juneteenth celebration at Washington Park on June 19-20!
PPBC’s 19th Annual Juneteenth celebration kicks off on Friday with Smooth Jazz Night, featuring a special performance by the legendary Bar-Kays. The Juneteenth Music & Arts Festival on Saturday will be headlined by rapper and businesswoman Trina and “The King of Linedance,” Cupid.
Both days’ events will be held at Washington Park, 400 N. High in Oklahoma City.
Community leaders who have done great things over the last year will have their efforts recognized at the Rita Washington Soul Awakening Awards program, held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Recipients of this year’s Rita Washington Soul Awakening Awards are as follows:
- Greg Jones, Organizational CFO – Public Servant of the Year
- Peace City Oklahoma – Organization of the Year
- Covington Heat and Air, owner Henry Covington – Business and Entrepreneur of the Year
- Rolfe Funeral Home, owner Joe Anna Sicard – Business and Entrepreneur of the Year
- Rolfe Funeral Home, owner Jimmie Boldien, Jr. – Business and Entrepreneur of the Year
- Mark Clanton, Behavioral Specialist at Mid-Del Public Schools – Educator of the Year
- Rodney Cox, Principal at Rogers Middle School – Educator of the Year
The event also features local artists, vendors, and food trucks, promising a good time for the entire family.
The Juneteenth Music & Arts Festival is completely free to attend.
PPBC would like to thank Tinker Federal Credit Union and the Oklahoma Law Cowboys for their sponsorship, allowing the 19th Annual Juneteenth Music & Arts Festival to be presented as a gift to the community.
The festivities begin with Smooth Jazz Night on Friday evening. The headliner will be the Bar-Kays. Formed in 1964, funk band The Bar-Kays had dozens of charting singles from the 1960s to the 1980s, including “Soul Finger” (US Billboard Hot 100 number 17, R&B number 3) in 1967, “Son of Shaft” (R&B number 10) in 1972, and “Boogie Body Land” (R&B number 7) in 1980. The Bar-Kays also served as the backing band for a variety of singers, including Isaac Hayes and Otis Redding.
Also on the bill for Smooth Jazz night are returning local favorite Butter and the Genre, and the Tap Band featuring Toye Lenley.
Butter and the Genre is a jazz band that blends the best of timeless influences with a fresh, inviting sound. Led by Gregory “Butter” Haubrich, the group is known for their seamless instrumental harmonies and the soulful voice of Calliope Staudt, creating music that captivates everyone from seasoned jazz lovers to those new to the genre. The band recently released their debut album, “Music Is Life.”
The TAP Band featuring Toye Lenley is a smooth, elegant and a flat out crowd pleaser. The band is a popular Oklahoma City music group known for their soulful and energetic performances spanning jazz, R&B, and pop. They frequently feature vocalist Toye Lenley and are a staple in the local live music scene.
Smooth Jazz Night also will feature poet Courtney Lanell.
On Saturday, the lineup for the 19th Annual Juneteenth Music and Arts Festival includes Oklahoma City-based up-and-coming rapper Skai Hye, Southern Soul/Pop/Country artist Niq, rapper/producer Kurt Dogg, Gospel singer Rico Brown, Hip Hop artist TX Mando, Christian singer-songwriter Tiana Monsi, and artist AD Money.
Headlining on Saturday will be “The Diamond Princess” rapper Trina, ranked No. 13 on Billboard’s Top 25 Best Female Rappers of All Time. She rose to prominence in the late 1990s for her collaborations with Trick Daddy on the singles “Nann Nigga,” “Shut Up” and “Take It to da House” before making an appearance on the remix of “One Minute Man” by Missy Elliott and Ludacris. In 2002, she released the Kanye West-produced single “B R Right” featuring Ludacris, from her sophomore album Diamond Princess. Her third album, “Glamorest Life” in 2005, spawned the hit single “Here We Go” featuring Kelly Rowland, which was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her later works feature collaborations with Lady Gaga, Diddy, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, and Rick Ross.
Cupid, an American rapper and songwriter from Lafayette, Louisiana, is best known for the 2007 line dance single “Cupid Shuffle,” which peaked at number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. Cupid is a Certified 5X platinum recording artist who has captivated hearts with his infectious dance anthems and soul-stirring voice, and never fails to get the crowd on its feet.
Join us at Washington Park on June 19-20 for the celebration!
