We Built This City on Rock and Soul
By Shelah Moody
San Francisco is a city filled with music.
Case in point, when London Breed was inaugurated for her first full term as Mayor of San Francisco on January 8, who could have been a better choice to help her celebrate her victory than guitar icon and SF native Carlos Santana.
After Mayor Breed took the oath of office and delivered her inaugural speech, https://youtu.be/TCE1ff_58ug the Grammy-winning band Santana and special guest, gospel great Yolanda Adams, took the stage in the City Hall Rotunda and performed “Holy Holy” a song made popular by Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin. https://youtu.be/fLblnEetCpA
Santana and Yolanda Adams
Santana, who grew up in San Francisco’s historic Mission District, was accompanied by world-class musicians including acclaimed jazz/rock drummer Cindy Blackman Santana (his wife) and on backing vocals, Oakland-based producer and Grammy trustee Larry Batiste.
In a rare speech after his performance, Carlos praised Mayor Breed for changing the political narrative in the Bay Area and the world in general. https://youtu.be/pPToKQWUkCA
After delivering her speech and greeting dignitaries and the members of Santana, Mayor Breed welcomed attendees and their families to a meet and greet and photo op a la Drew Altizer.
Simone Batiste, daughter of Larry Batiste, was one of the attendees who was inspired by Breed’s inauguration ceremony and her message.
“It was beautiful; The event was very inspiring and very motivating,” said Batiste. “I went to the inauguration with my mom, my dad and my little sister who is a sophomore in college. It was amazing to see a woman in power make a change in what leadership can look like. Watching my dad perform with Santana was great, too. Santana is a legend and watching history take place and Santana being there made everything come full circle. The thing about Carlos Santana’s music is that it brings together good vibes and good feelings. Anybody can dance to it, anyone can listen to it.”
Mayor Breed’s inaugural musical selections reflected in her pride in the city where she was born and raised. The inauguration kicked off with musical selections by the George Washington High School Eagle Marching band from San Francisco (although Breed, who grew up in the historic Western Addition, graduated with honors from Galileo High School).
Acclaimed singer/songwriter Katie Kadan, who blew people away on “The Voice” singing competition, was chosen to perform the “Star-Spangled Banner.” https://youtu.be/9ON3efCVJ6E
On Jan.13, another grand musical event took place in San Francisco, as the Recording Academy and Another Planet Entertainment presented the Bay Area Grammy Nominee celebration. (On Jan. 31, two time Grammy winner and Oakland native Fantastic Negrito threw a world-class blues, rock and soul New Year’s Eve party at the same venue.
Camilo Landau, president of the San Francisco Chapter of the Recording Academy; introduced the diverse group of 2019 Bay Area Grammy nominees including:
Tycho Featuring Saint Sinner—Best Dance/Electronic Album
Death Angel—Best Metal Performance
Joshua Redmond Quartet—Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Gregory Alan Isakov—-Best Folk Album
Northern Cree—-Best Regional Roots Music Album
Alphabet Rockers—Best Children’s Music Album
Todd Sickafoose—Best Musical Theatre Album
Leslie Ann Jones—- Best Engineered Album, Classical.
The members of the Alphabet Rockers; founders Kaitlin McGraw and Tommy Shepherd
Kali De Jesus, Lillian Ellis, Maya Femming and Tommy Shepherd III were so excited about receiving their second Grammy nomination for their hip-hop infused album “The Love,” that they broke into chants of affirmation on the dance floor, then headed to the red carpet for photos. Alphabetrockers.com
“It feels really good, and it feels good to be able to make music to make a change,” said Shepherd.
“It makes me feel really good to be nominated because we’ve all worked really hard on this album and I think it deserves to be nominated,” said Flemming.
For more information and for a live stream if the 2020 awards ceremony, go to Grammy.com.
For coverage of the 2020 Grammy Awards ceremony, stay tuned to Streetwise Radio!
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