D.C. music legend Chuck Brown died a little more than seven years ago, but his memory is celebrated year-round in the syncopated rhythm of the music he鈥檚 known for pioneering.
Fans of go-go music and others gathered at Chuck Brown Memorial Park on Saturday for the fifth annual celebration of Chuck Brown Day.
鈥淐huck was the one that kept all of us united,鈥� said Tyrone. He chose not to give a last name, but told 草莓传媒 that he was born and raised in the District. 鈥淲henever we [went to] see Chuck to celebrate, it鈥檚 like a family.鈥�
The urgency of musical preservation was a thread woven into this year鈥檚 celebration, especially after an incident earlier this year when a local cellphone store was ordered to stop playing go-go music on outside speakers because a resident of a nearby luxury apartment building reportedly threatened to file a lawsuit against the store.
Resistance from D.C. natives, longtime residents and go-go lovers was swift, and the #DontMuteDC movement blossomed.
鈥淭his is our culture. We were born and raised up off [of] this [music] 鈥� For them to try to get rid of it and they don鈥檛 know our culture is a mistake,鈥� Tyrone said while walking to the park.
A short spat of rain broke out during one of the performances, but the drops didn鈥檛 seem to faze the celebrants or the musicians.
D.C. elected officials also took the stage at the park on 20th and Franklin streets in Ward 5 to reiterate their support for preserving this part of the city鈥檚 musical past and present.
鈥淭his year has been very important to highlight to all of us why we have to preserve our history and celebrate our history, and I want you to know we鈥檙e fully behind #DontMuteDC 鈥� and long live go-go music,鈥� D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told the crowd from the stage.
Bowser and Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie also thanked Ward 7 Councilman Vincent Gray for the path he helped pave that led to the fifth annual celebration. Gray was the city鈥檚 mayor when the memorial and park were unveiled in 2014.
鈥淚 love go-go music,鈥� McDuffie said. 鈥淢ayor Muriel Bowser talked about how we [have] some new folks who are coming to the city 鈥� and we love new folks coming to the city. But when they try to shut down go-go music, that鈥檚 one thing we鈥檙e not going to let them do.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter how much this city changes, the one thing that will always remain the same is going to be our music. I tell people all the time, you don鈥檛 have to love go-go music, but you鈥檝e gotta respect the culture. That鈥檚 why I, along with my colleagues in the council, have introduced a bill to make go-go music the official music of D.C.”
The bill was introduced in June, and will next be considered by the Committee of the Whole.
Going on today: 5th annual celebration of Go-Go鈥檚 godfather at the park that bears his name.
鈥� Liz Anderson (@PlanetNoun)
