Greetings! As African American Music Appreciation Month 2016 comes to a close, we sadly acknowledge the passing of one of the pioneering architects of funk. New Jerseys own Bernie Worrell, cofounder of Parliament-Funkadelic has died at at the age of 72 from Stage IV lung cancer. Worrell, a songwriter and synthesizer wizard acknowledged as the “Jimi Hendrix of the keyboards,” was an inductee of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, the New England Conservatory of Music.

THEATER

“Shuffle Along,” on Broadway starring six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald. “Shuffle Along” is a musical revival of the 1921 sensation featuring the show’s original music and lyrics by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, with choreography by Savion Glover, Music Box Theatre, 238 W. 45 St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-239-6200 or visit shufflealongbroadway.com

“Turn Me Loose,” a new comedic drama by Gretchen Law, tells the story of comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory. At the Westside Theatre, 407 W. 43rd St., until July 3. Starring Tony Award nominee, Emmy and NAACP Image Award winner Joe Morton who plays Rowan Pope on the hit ABC drama, “Scandal,” as Dick Gregory. Also featuring an original song by John Legend. Tickets are now on sale via www.telecharge.com or by phone at 212-239-6200. For more information, visit www.TurnMeLoosePlay.com.

“Eclipsed,” written by Zimbabwean playwright and actress Danai Gurira, directed by South African, Liesl Tommy, featuring Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o. Women brought together by upheaval in their homeland of Liberia. Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St., New York, N.Y. For tickets and information, visit EclipsedBroadway.com.

“The Color Purple,” a Tony winner on Broadway, featuring Heather Headley, Cynthia Erivo and Danielle Brooks, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit colorpurple.com.

“Hamilton: An American Musical,” the multiple Tony Award winner continues to captivate audiences at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St. For information call 800-276-2392 or visit boxoffice.broadway.com.

MUSIC

Blue Note Jazz Festival Presents Maxi Priest, June 30 at 8:30 p.m,, B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 West 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Mint Condition, Wednesday, July 6 through Friday, July 8 at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Friday, July 8 at 8 p.m., State Theater, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, N.J. For information, call 732-246-7469 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Maxwell, Friday, July 8 at 8 p.m., The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Rd., Mashantucket, Conn. For ticket information, call 800-200-2882 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Lauryn Hill, Friday, July 8 at 9 p.m., Toyota Oakdale Theatre, 95 South Turnpike Rd., Wallingford, Conn. For information, call 203-265-1501 or visit livenation.com.

For The Love of Hip Hop Concert Series, Friday, July 8 at 11 p.m., featuring Kool G. Rap, Nice and Smooth, Brand Nubian, Lil’ Mo and Roxanne Shante, B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Maxwell, Saturday, July 9 at 8 p.m., the Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, 3052 W. 21st St., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.

Ohio Players, Saturday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Blackstreet, Saturday, July 16 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit: ticketmaster.com.

Stephanie Mills, Saturday, July 23 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information call 516-334-0800 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Boyz II Men/En Vogue, Sunday, July 24 at 7 p.m., NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.

Aretha Franklin, Friday, July 29 at 8 p.m., Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel, N.Y. For information, call 866-781-2922. To buy tickets, call 1-800-745-3000 or visit bethelwoodscenter.org.

COMEDY

Michael Blackson, aka the African King of Comedy, Friday, July 1 and Saturday, July 2 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. and Sunday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m., Caroline’s on Broadway, 1626 Broadway, New York, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.

COMMUNITY

The International African Arts Festival is coming to Brooklyn’s Commodore Barry Park, Nassau Street Park Avenue, between Navy Street and North Elliot Place, Friday, July 1 through Friday July 4.This year’s theme is “SisaBalandela: We Are Still Following Them.” For information, call 718-638-6700 or visit iaafesival.org.

The New York Chapter of the National Association of Kawaida Organizations, in conjunction with the International African Arts Festival, hosts its 27th annual Symposium on Culture, Community and Struggle, Saturday, July 2, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at PS 287, located at 50 Navy St. in Brooklyn, N.Y. Outstanding scholars, intellectuals and activists will discuss, dialogue and come up with solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the global African community. An admission fee required. For further information, please call 718-789-3264 or emailnakoinfogroup@yahoo.com.

The Maat Communiversity Dr. John Henrik Clarke-Dr. Ben Jochannon 10-week lecture series features more than 40 brilliant African-Americans every Thursday, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., now through Aug. 18 at the Rev. Johnny Ray Youngblood’s Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, 212 Tompkins Ave., Brooklyn N.Y. For more information, call 302-465-3787 or visit:maatcommuniversity.org.

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.