Greetings! Our GBE Emancipation Month celebrates “King Day,” commemorating the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monday, Jan. 18. Much appreciation to Stevie Wonder, whose key role in the campaign made it a national holiday in the United States (see “Community”).
THEATER
“The Color Purple,” now on Broadway, featuring Jennifer Hudson,Cynthia Erivo and Danielle Brooks, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St. Visit colorpurple.com.
In “Hamilton: An American Musical,” Lin-Manuel Miranda is the unlikely Founding Father at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St. For information, call 800-276-2392 or visit boxoffice.broadway.com
“Sistas” tells of the struggles, the joy and the triumphs of being Black and being a woman in America, Saturdays and Sundays, now at St. Luke’s Theater, 308 W. 46th St., New York City. Call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com.
MUSIC
Gladys Knight and the O’Jays, Saturday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m., Beacon Theater, 2124 Broadway at 79th Street, New York City. For information, call 212-247-4777 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Arrested Development, Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 9 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York City. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingblues.com, ticketmaster.com.
Lil Wayne’s “The Dedication Tour,” Friday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m., Toyota Oakdale Theater, 95 South Turnpike Road, Wallingford, Conn. For information, call 203-265-1501 or visit livenation.com.
“Funky Fat Tuesday” with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St. For more information, call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Babyface with After 7, Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m., One Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888- 466-5722 or visit njpac.org.
Ladies Night R&B Super Jam featuring Jodeci, Faith Evans, Jagged Edge, SWV, the Lox, Carl Thomas, Blackstreet, Total and Black Rob, Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m., Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit barclayscenter.com.
The ’70s Soul Jam Valentine’s Concert with the Stylistics, Dramatics, New Birth, Ray, Goodman and Brown and Enchantment, Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m., Beacon Theater, 2124 Broadway at 79th Street, New York City. For information, call 212-247-4777 or visit ticketmaster.com.
“An Evening of Love: Valentine’s Show With Stephanie Mills and Will Downing,” Sunday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m., Beacon Theater, 2124 Broadway. For information, call 212-247-4777 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Maxwell and Nas, Sunday, Feb. 14 at 8p.m., Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 917-618-6700 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Maxwell and Nas, Monday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m., Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-757-6600 or visit prucenter.com.
“An Evening With Chaka Khan” with special guest Vivian Green, Friday, Feb. 19 at 9 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718-856-5464 or visit kingstheatre.com.
The Temptations and the Four Tops, Saturday, March 19 at 8 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718 -856-5464 or visit kingstheatre.com.
Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire, “The Heart and Soul Tour,” Saturday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m., Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, Conn. For information, call 860-862-TIXX (8499) or visit ticketmaster.com.
Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire, “The Heart and Soul Tour,” Monday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m., Madison Square Garden, Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street, New York City. For information, call 212-465-MSG1 or visit ticketmaster.com.
COMEDY
Arsenio Hall appears Saturday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. at the Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Road, Mashantucket, Conn. For information, call 800-200-2882 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Charlie Murphy, Saturday, Jan. 16 at 10 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., Carolines on Broadway, 1626 Broadway. For information, call 866-468-3399 or visit ticketweb.com.
Wanda Sykes, Friday, Jan. 22 at 8 p.m., the Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Road, Mashantucket, Conn. For information, call 800-200-2882 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Wanda Sykes, Saturday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m., Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, N.J. For information, call 201-227-1030 or visit ticketmaster.com.
COMMUNITY
Harry Belafonte is the keynote speaker Thursday, Jan. 14 at the 28th annual celebration “Sing in Praise of King” at Sarah Vaughn Concert Hall, featuring music and dance celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. Doors open at 5 p.m and the program runs 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free though there is a four ticket limit per person. For tickets, call Newark Symphony Hall box office at 973-643-8014. For more Information, call 973-733-6706.
Join the Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 18, as NAN holds its annual King Day Public Policy Forum with city and state politicians at the House of Justice, 106 W. 145th St., Harlem. Doors open at noon. Visit nationalactionetwork.net.
Michael Eric Dyson, famed commentator and author of the book “April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Death and How It Changed America,” is the keynote speaker at Brooklyn Academy of Music’s yearly celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Monday, Jan. 18. The event also features performances by the Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir and “The Voice” finalist Kimberly Nichole, as well as the community art exhibition “Picture the Dream” by NYCHA Atlantic Terminal Community Center students. Admission is free. Visit bam.org.
The Apollo Theater and WNYC presents “Race and Privilege: Exploring MLK’s Two Americas,” an event that is part of Apollo’s “Uptown Hall” series and WNYC’s 10th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. The event takes place Sunday, Jan. 17, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and is free and open to the public.
Hear Imhotep Gary Byrd on 107.5 WBLS-FM weekly with “Express Yourself,” Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and simulcast over WLIB 1190AM. The full show can also be heard on HD radio at WBLS-HD2 and at WBLS.com.WLIB.com and iHeartRadio. IGB is also heard on WBAI-FM 99.5 with Radio GBE: “The Global Black Experience” and “The Global Beat Experience,” Fridays 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both shows are archived online at www.wbai.org. To contact us for bookings or to reach us about your event or for comments, email igbexp@gmail.com, find us at Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @GBELIFE or call 212-592-3279.