By Staff
International recording artists Roots Rock Society, which has been exciting audiences at colleges, and festival and corporate events across the nation with its distinctive sound of reggae, calypso and other exotic rhythms, will make its first local appearance at the July 28-30 Dowagiac Fun Fest, as it presents a hands-on performance workshop for families.
Vickie Phillipson, program director of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority (DDA) who coordinated this year's summertime bash, said she is pleased to host Roots Rock, which was nominated one of the best bands at the Chicago Music Awards.
The interactive vocal and instrumental performance workshop, which is open free of charge to the public, is being underwritten through a fine arts grant the Downtown Development Authority received from the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, which serves Cass and Berrien counties, and is sponsoring the new Children's Entertainment Tent.
Roots Rock Society will present two one-hour sets on Thursday, July 28, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. beneath the children's tent at Depot Drive and Beeson Street.
Families attending the Fun Fest performance will feel like they have escaped to the tropics, as they experience this hands-on, multi-cultural and multi-lingual live performance, which creates strong audience participation.
Guitarist and founder of Roots Rock Society Stann Champion was exposed to a variety of black culture music in his home and aspired to learn the guitar after seeing Chuck Berry perform.
As an adult, when Champion worked by day for an ad agency in Chicago and played his music by night, he was given the opportunity to record at Bob Marley's studios in Jamaica.
While there, he performed live, meeting members of the Wailers, Third World and Roger Lewis of Inner Circle.
When he was presented with the "Playing for Peace" award, the tone for his musical direction was established.
In late 1986, Champion's formation of Roots Rock Society allowed him to keep his African-Caribbean-American culture alive through voice, music and dance.
Performance workshops teach children and adults about the history of the drum and guitar before they reached the Caribbean and America, as his teachings also bridge racial and gender differences.
Phillipson said Roots Rock Society's performance workshop will discuss the foundation of roots rhythms from the African Diaspora, including Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-American.
Champion will explain that voice was the first instrument of music, as the drum is a symbol of kings, with the guitar, introduced by the Moors, descending from the drum.
The addition of movement and dance, Champion explains, contributes greatly to the story-telling of songs.
According to Champion, audience participation is not only welcome, it is encouraged for the optimum understanding of how ancient cultures are combined and interwoven into America's current culture.
Phillipson said this is the third year for the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, located in Buchanan, to provide grant funding to the festival through its Youth Advisory Council and the Youth Endowments.
In addition to the performance workshop by Roots Rock Society, the $2,130 grant will also fund other children's entertainment and educational workshops that feature on Thursday, July 28, the Curious Kids Museum of St. Joseph and Jo Hobo the Magical Clown.
On Friday, July 29, children will enjoy Steven's Puppet Show "Beauty and the Beast;" the interactive workshop and performance by the Deep Fried Pickle Project, as seen on the PBS Kids channel; and the interactive and educational workshop presented by the Potawatomi Zoo of South Bend, Ind.
Youngsters on Saturday, July 30, will enjoy children's entertainers Ronald McDonald, who will present a magic show; Stephanie Johnson, who is a ventriloquist; and Susan Harrison, who will present children's stories and sing-a-longs; with Jo Hobo the Magical Clown returning for an encore performance.
In addition to Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, the three-day summertime bash is being underwritten by the following corporate sponsors: Drs. Charles Burling and Jonathan Gillesby, Creative Vinyl Signs, Felpausch Food Center, Franklin and Son, Leader Publications, Mennel Milling Co. of Michigan, Southwestern Michigan College, St. Denys Foundation and Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co.