Upcoming Events at 129 N Queen St
Thu May 17, 7:00 PM - Thu May 17, 10:00 PM
129 N Queen St
129 North Queen Street, Kinston, NC 28501
Community: Kinston
Description
What is "funk” actually? And have you ever brought it? This genre first emerged within American music during the mid- to late 1960s.
Event Details
Eastern North Carolina Musicians Bring the Funk
African American musical pioneers from eastern North Carolina helped to create funk when they joined up with James Brown in 1964. Kinston (Lenoir County) natives Nat Jones, Maceo Parker, Melvin Parker, Levi Raspberry, and Dick Knight changed the musical landscape with a sound that still permeates much of American popular music today.
After graduating from N.C. College for Negroes (now NCCU), Nat Jones was hired in 1964 as the band director for James Brown. In turn, Jones hired college graduates and fellow Kinstonians, beginning with Dick Knight (born in 1943), who had been music director at Kinston’s Savannah High School.
Dick Knight had just graduated from the famous music school and marching band of Florida A& M University Marching Rattlers in 1963. Knight remarks, “Nat called me at school on Tuesday with tickets to get to the Apollo Theater by that Friday.” Knight joined The James Brown Orchestra directed by Jones in 1964 as a trumpeter on the famous Grits and Soul album.
Kinston residents Maceo Parker and Dick Knight have won the prestigious North Carolina Heritage Award. These music icons were nominated by Ms. Choci Gray who is an artist, historic re-enactor and entrepreneur in Kinston, NC. In 2016 Gray re-nominated Maceo Parker, the only known musician to play with James Brown and Prince, who won the 2016 NC Heritage Award. And Robert H. “Dick” Knight, the One Man Band who has played with Otis Redding, Gladys Knight (no relation), Rufus Thomas as well as James Brown, was nominated by Choci for the 2018 NC Heritage Award.
Ms. Choci will be hosting the legendary Dick Knight live 7-10pm on May 17th as part of Volume 2 of the Chitlin Circuit at her establishment on 129 N. Queen St. located in the downtown Kinston Historic District. Of course, Volume 2 of the Chitlin Circuit will also feature Gray Sisters’ Catering of famous chitterlings and collard greens. Don’t miss this event with limited seating. $25 Suggested Donation. This event will be Dick Knight’s send-off party for the May 23rd North Carolina Heritage Awards
African American musical pioneers from eastern North Carolina helped to create funk when they joined up with James Brown in 1964. Kinston (Lenoir County) natives Nat Jones, Maceo Parker, Melvin Parker, Levi Raspberry, and Dick Knight changed the musical landscape with a sound that still permeates much of American popular music today.
After graduating from N.C. College for Negroes (now NCCU), Nat Jones was hired in 1964 as the band director for James Brown. In turn, Jones hired college graduates and fellow Kinstonians, beginning with Dick Knight (born in 1943), who had been music director at Kinston’s Savannah High School.
Dick Knight had just graduated from the famous music school and marching band of Florida A& M University Marching Rattlers in 1963. Knight remarks, “Nat called me at school on Tuesday with tickets to get to the Apollo Theater by that Friday.” Knight joined The James Brown Orchestra directed by Jones in 1964 as a trumpeter on the famous Grits and Soul album.
Kinston residents Maceo Parker and Dick Knight have won the prestigious North Carolina Heritage Award. These music icons were nominated by Ms. Choci Gray who is an artist, historic re-enactor and entrepreneur in Kinston, NC. In 2016 Gray re-nominated Maceo Parker, the only known musician to play with James Brown and Prince, who won the 2016 NC Heritage Award. And Robert H. “Dick” Knight, the One Man Band who has played with Otis Redding, Gladys Knight (no relation), Rufus Thomas as well as James Brown, was nominated by Choci for the 2018 NC Heritage Award.
Ms. Choci will be hosting the legendary Dick Knight live 7-10pm on May 17th as part of Volume 2 of the Chitlin Circuit at her establishment on 129 N. Queen St. located in the downtown Kinston Historic District. Of course, Volume 2 of the Chitlin Circuit will also feature Gray Sisters’ Catering of famous chitterlings and collard greens. Don’t miss this event with limited seating. $25 Suggested Donation. This event will be Dick Knight’s send-off party for the May 23rd North Carolina Heritage Awards
