Cincinnati Music Festival 2023

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Cincinnati Music Festival presented by P&G!

The Cincy Region is bursting with anticipation and thrilled to welcome you back for an unbelievable lineup of music, events, and cultural experiences for the entire festival weekend. With Condé Nast Traveler naming Cincinnati one of the “Best Places to Go in the U.S. in 2023,” you’re in the right spot. You’ve helped create one of the top music festivals in the U.S., and the stage is set for another unforgettable weekend.

For years, Cincinnati has been singing and celebrating with some of music’s biggest acts. More than great music, this festival celebrates the power of diversity – people of all backgrounds coming together in harmony. Our commitment to this celebration

platform we’ve lined up a variety of extra events to elevate your experience:

-Cincy Soul, the Black Taste - Fountain Square – Fri.-Sun., July 21-23

art, food, free concerts and more at Fountain Square in the heart of downtown.

-Vibe Marketplace on Fountain Square - Thu.-Sun., July 20-23

Discover a variety of local and minority-owned shops, vendors and artisans on Fountain Square. Add a new masterpiece to your art collection or grab a keepsake to remember the trip.

- Vibe Queen City 5K – The Banks Entertainment District - Sat., July 22 – 8 a.m. Take in the sights of the Ohio Riverfront and run (or walk) for a cause. Proceeds from the race contribute to scholarship funds and opportunities for local youth of diverse backgrounds.

Go to VisitCincy.com

our world-class restaurants and museums to our vibrant mix of boutiques and attractions – including the brand-new Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame at the Andrew J. Brady Music Center with its Grand Opening and Induction Ceremony on Saturday, July 22 at noon. See for yourself why Cincinnati is the place where culture reigns!

This year’s Cincinnati Music Festival is sure to be one for the books, and we’re grateful you chose to spend your weekend with us. We wish you the best time during your stay in Cincinnati and would love to welcome you and your friends back again soon.

Sincerely,

Julie Calvert President and CEO Visit Cincy

Julie Kirkpatrick President and CEO MeetNKY

WELCOMETO HAMILTON COUNTY!

AsHamiltonCountyCommissioners, weareincrediblyexcitedtowelcome youtothe2023CincinnatiMusic Festival!Asoneofthetoptourist eventsintheregion,yourcollective impactmakesabigdifferencetoour localeconomy.Thankyouforcoming togetherandsupportingourlocal restaurants,retailers,andhotels!

Whileyou’rehere,pleasejoinusfor thehistoricGrandOpeningofthe CincinnatiBlackMusicWalkofFame onSaturday,July2 2,atnoonatthe AndrewJBradyMusicCenterto celebratethe2023inductees:James Brown,TheDeele,LouiseShropshire, andPhilippe’Wynne.

Sodance,sing,anddiscoverourrich culturethisweekend.Wehopeyou enjoyyourexperienceatthe CincinnatiMusicFestival!

Sincerely,

TheHamiltonCountyBoardof Commissioners

ALICIAREECE BOARDPRESIDENT

DENISEDRIEHAUS COMMISSIONER

STEPHANIE SUMMEROWDUMAS COMMISSIONER

MEET THE BOARD

BRIDGET PATTON, Assistant Superintendent, Community Engagement Greater Cincinnati Water Works

#FeelsLikeCMF “I grew up listening to Al Green and remember hearing about his epic performance at CMF years ago from my parents. I also grew up listening to Hip Hop so I can’t wait to see Al Green and Snoop Dogg at this year’s CMF!”

Executive Director, Cincinnati Experience

#FeelsLikeCMF “I’m not usually starstruck, but watching last year when Janet Jackson arrived in her red dress gave me chills!”

President & CEO of meetNKY | Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau

#FeelsLikeCMF “CMF is a homecoming for so many music fans to our region each year but the best part is welcoming new fans and making them part of the family! Welcome Home Fam!”

JASON DUNN, Executive Director National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP)

#FeelsLikeCMF “My favorite CMF memory would be the region’s response to the economic impact study

CMF to the business community. To see the pride that it instilled within the Cincinnati community as a whole was amazing.”

KEARNEY, Cincinnati Vice Mayor

#FeelsLikeCMF “The CMF is the longest running music festival in the country and it is awesome! I look forward to celebrating not just the music and festivities, but all the small businesses that CMF supports. The entire weekend is like a giant family reunion.”

MARK MALLORY, former Cincinnati Mayor and Ohio State Representative

#FeelsLikeCMF “I never saw Tina Marie perform live until the CMF. Her performance was full of energy and passion, and she knew how to connect with the audience. Her stage presence was captivating and to my surprise, she tore the place up!”

MYRA EPPS, Visit Cincy Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Manager

#FeelsLikeCMF “You can not for CMF. The vibe and energy is unmatched and worth every penny. My favorite memory is last year when Tank was on stage and the crowd rushed the front, including me, lol. ”

ANDREA WILKERSON, P&G VP, Brand & Consumer Insights

#FeelsLikeCMF “Outside of interacting with our brands (My Black is Beautiful + Olay Patio Spa for a quick refresh, Charmin restroom takeovers, and more), my favorite CMF moment was seeing New Edition in 2019. New Edition was

New Edition perform LIVE with ALL of the members was truly magical. I can’t wait for a weekend of more memories this summer!”

DOUG E. FRESH

One of the earliest beatboxers (and still seen as one of the best), Doug E. Fresh is able to imitate drum machines and various special effects with often startling accuracy. Fresh became a major rap star in 1985. His single “The Show/La Di Da Di,” is considered an early hip-hop classic. The “Get Fresh Crew” was featured: DJs Barry B., Chill Will, and MC Ricky D (who would later achieve fame as Slick Rick). Recently, Fresh has appeared on VH1’s I Love the 80s .

SLICK RICK

Ricky Martin Lloyd Walters, known to the world as Slick Rick and widely regarded as “hiphop’s greatest storyteller,” is a London-born, Grammy-nominated performer and the most successful British-American rapper in music history. The hip-hop veteran began his career in 1983, as a member of Doug E. Fresh’s Get Fresh Crew, pioneering what is today celebrated as the “Golden Age of Hip-Hop.”

BIG DADDY KANE

The baritone-voiced, stylish dressing M.C. known as Big Daddy Kane the one to first bring the “playa” element to hip-hop, and along with Bobby Brown and Michael Jordan put dark skin back on the map. With several Gold albums Kane has endured a long career giving us a catalogue of music such as Long Live The Kane which features hit songs “Ain’t No Half Steppin’ ” and “Raw.”

RAKIM

In the history of the Hip-Hop, few artists have had as great an impact on the development and progression of the art forms lyrical style as Rakim Allah. Universally referenced as one of the Masters of the Microphone and an influence and inspiration to his peers and followers alike, no serious rap artist grips a microphone without channeling some of his legend. Billboard, Rolling Stone, MTV, and a host of others consistently refer to his Paid in Full as “the greatest Hip-Hop album of all time.”

WE MUST SAVE US

The past two and half years of the pandemic have shined a light on racial and ethnic health disparities. The Center for Closing the Health Gap continues to serve the Greater Cincinnati region, with evidence and community based interventions focusing on activating individual’s agency in their own health.

Partner with us to build a culture of health in this region! Get started at ClosingTheHealthGap.org

AL GREEN

With a highly successful recording and touring career that spans over five decades, Al Green’s musical roots originate in Memphis, but he has made an undeniable and lasting impact on music and musicians around the world from R&B, Soul, and Pop to Blues and Gospel. Throughout his career, he has earned a long list of hit albums and singles including 1972’s Let’s Stay Together, which reached No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart and No. 8 on the Billboard 200 with the title track hitting No. 1 on both the Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts concurrently. In the 1980s, the Reverend Al Green returned to the music he was raised on, and for the next decade, he focused on Gospel music. His first Gospel album, The Lord Will Make a Way, was the album that resulted in the first Grammy of his career.

Green continues to receive praise and accolades, most recently being celebrated in Washington D.C. at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2014. He received “Lifetime Achievement Award” at both the 2002 Grammy Awards and the 2008 BET Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Today, Reverend Green dedicates his time to his ministry in his hometown of Memphis, TN. Considered one of Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, with Pitchfork proclaiming Al Green as “The Greatest Living Soul Singer,” The Reverend Al Green is a national treasure and once again hits the road to spread his message of love.

JILL SCOTT

Jill Scott is a three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, New York Times best-selling poet, critically acclaimed actor, and multimedia entrepreneur. She released her much-anticipated debut record, Who is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds, Vol. 1, in July 2000, which became a double platinum album and earned Scott several Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. Scott is a true multimedia brand across audio, books, TV, and film. Jill recently starred in and executive produced Lifetime’s Highway to Heaven reboot. She currently plays the role of “Hazel” in BET+’s The First Wives Club and is the host of J.ill The Podcast. She is the founder of Blues Babe, a registered 501(c)3 foundation that supports minority students pursuing college degrees. Follow her on social media at @MissJillScott.

JODECI

Hailed as “The Bad Boys of R&B,” Jodeci is one of the most influential R&B groups of all time. Establishing themselves as a trendsetting force throughout the culture with their signature style, soulful harmonies, and chart-topping hits, members K-Ci, DeVante Swing, JoJo, and Mr. Dalvin have sold over 20 million records worldwide, and achieved three No. 1 albums on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. In July 2023, the multi-platinum group will take center stage as they headline the Jodeci Summer Block Party Tour, joined by SWV and Dru Hill. Their debut album Forever My Lady (1991) was a huge success reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart in its first week of release, and featured hit single, “Forever My Lady,” which climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks chart. Jodeci’s legendary sound and style have shaped the world of R&B and continue to influence a new generation of artists.

MIDNIGHT STAR

The story of Midnight Star began in 1976 on the campus of Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY. Two musical kindred spirits, trumpeter Reggie Calloway and saxophonist Bill Simmons, set their sights on creating a new band. In 1983, the group’s fourth album, No Parking on the Dance Floor, which included technofunk classic “Freak-A Zoid,” the title cut “No Parking On The Dance Floor,” and the absorbing “Wet My Whistle,” helped propel the group to superstar status. Many Midnight Star members pursued various outside projects. After a long hiatus from the stage, the band reassembled in 1998 and quickly hit the concert circuit. Midnight Star continues to perform its music to sold out halls and arenas all over the world.

GERALD ALBRIGHT

Playing both sax and bass, Gerald Albright became the consummate session and touring musician in the 1980s, working with everyone from Anita Baker, Atlantic Starr, and The Temptations to Teena Marie, the Winans, and Whitney Houston. He launched his solo career in the infancy of what became the smooth jazz format and has been a core part of the genre ever since. He most recently has been on the road with South Africa gospel/jazz singer and guitarist Jonathan Butler.

SNOOP DOGG

An entertainment industry mogul, Snoop Dogg has reigned for nearly three decades as an unparalleled force who has raised the bar as a globally recognized innovator. Snoop Dogg is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, DJ, media personality, businessman, and icon. In addition to his extensive work in music, Snoop Dogg is a serial entrepreneur with endeavors in Web 3.0, tech, entertainment, lifestyle, global consumer brands, food/beverage, and cannabis industries.

Uncle Nearest has won more than 520 awards in the last three years. Drink Honorably™ Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, 50% and 46.5% Alc/Vol, Nearest Green Distillery, Shelbyville, TN. © 2023 Uncle Nearest, Inc. SCAN FOR UNCLE NEAREST

BABYFACE

Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds (born April 10, 1958) is a 12-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, producer, and one of the most celebrated creative forces in music history. He is the only producer to win the ‘Producer of the Year’ category four times, three of them consecutively (1995–1997), a record he holds to this day. Kenny is also cofounder of the legendary record label LaFace, which launched the careers of artists like Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, Outkast, and Pink. From humble beginnings in Indianapolis, Kenny developed his love for music early on when he began songwriting at the age of 12. Upon graduating high school, he got signed to his first record deal after joining the band, Manchild. In the 1980s, he broke into the music world as guitarist and songwriter for the R&B band, The Deele, where he met future LaFace cofounder LA Reid. In 2013, Edmonds received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2017, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

P-Funk Connection is a Funk band originally hailing from the South and lead by combat veteran Patty Walker, has the DNA of Parliament Funkadelic which she’s worked with for over 40 years. The P-Funk Connection has performed on various TV Shows such as the Monique Show, BMI Awards, and at the 2009 Inauguration for Barak Obama to name a few.

P-Funk Connection is a 10-piece band with some former members of P-Funk, have a diverse background in the music industry. P-Funk Connection is constantly blazing new sonic territories with their signature high energy mix of familiar and fresh Funk combined with a dose of Rock, Pop and R&B attitude that sooths the soul.

We have has been together for over 13 years and know how to get the party started and keep the clients happy. We are very excited to use our international and extensive experiences to bring high energetic and quality entertainment to the Cincinnati Music Festival on Saturday, July 22, 2023. P-Funk Connection’s performance is blasting in the scene at an acceleration that shouldn’t be missed in KEEPING THE FUNK ALIVE!

WELCOME TO THE CINCY REGION — WHERE CULTURES COLLIDE & ALL ARE WELCOME

The Cincy Region is where culture unites and culture invites. Located where the Midwest meets the South, Cincy’s also where, live music complements outdoor murals, history meets innovation and a classic coney dog stands on its own among an innovative, bustling local dining scene. While here for the Festival, shop with local vendors at the Vibe Marketplace on Fountain Square and grab a bite during Cincy Soul: The Black Taste food festival. Our newest attraction, the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame at the Andrew J. Brady Music Center opens this weekend! The interactive experience honors black musicians and artists from the Cincy Region who have made lasting contributions in music worldwide.

Scan the QR to download the Ultimate Guide to Cincinnati Music Festival Weekend.

CINCINNATI BLACK MUSIC WALK OF FAME Photo: Louis Rideout

AVERY SUNSHINE

Born Denise White in Chester, Pennsylvania, with her roots grounded in the church, the singer, pianist, and composer Avery*Sunshine has created a signature sound that mixes soul, jazz, R&B, and gospel. She brings people together through her riveting performances, candid and often humorous stage banter, and optimistic anthems about love and life. Avery’s newest album, Four Songs & A Boot Leg , showcases her captivating and euphonious voice.

NORMAN BROWN

Atlanta-based musician Norman Brown’s love affair with the guitar began at age 8. Watching his older brother play, Norman was drawn to the energy radiating from what he now calls his “Spirit Catcher,” the strings on the guitar. Luckily for us, Brown’s love affair with the guitar is still going strong. His technical wizardry, genre-bending facility, soulful finesse, and charisma, have made him one of the most sought-after internationally renowned musicians in Contemporary Jazz. Over his three decade career, he has amassed a number of honors, including Grammy and Soul Train Music Awards.

STAFF

The Santangelo Group Inc

Joe Santangelo Promoter/Executive Producer

Lois Santangelo

Fran Santangelo DiBattista

Chris DiBattista

Kayla Abbitt

Thomas Knott

Mark Santangelo

Otto Wellborn

Ron Dumas

Bomani Tyehimba

Marvin Butts, Jenny Jones

David Arnold

Julie Riley

Many Thanks to our Santangelo Group Inc Partners

Director of Business Development

- Paycor Stadium

Wurzelbacher Staging

Gameday Communications

Anthony Stabile

Harrison Group - Bobby Harrison

513 Bomani Tyehimba

Damian Simmons

WROU Dayton

Radio One Cincinnati

Radio One Cincinnati

Main Stage DJ

Main Stage DJ

Ivy Bayer

Cincinnatimagazine.com

Community is the commitment we make to each other

When a community is strong, it’s more than a collection of streets and buildings. It’s a place that nurtures and helps its residents thrive. That’s what happens when people share the commitment to make things better together. That’s why we’re proud to sponsor the Cincinnati Music Festival.

Photo Credit: Kentucky Derby Museum

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