Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso Announces Wingate Park Concert Artist Lineup
Concert Begins at 6pm on Tuesday, August 8 – Doors Open at 5pm
Admission is Free and Unticketed
BROOKLYN, NY (July 24, 2023) – Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso today announced this year’s Wingate Park Concert artist lineup, which will include Brooklyn’s three-time Grammy winning reggae band Morgan Heritage; R&B soul diva Leela James; Ralph McDaniels’ Video Music Box, playing tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip hop taking place this year; and Harlem’s vintage funk and jazz saxophone sensation Lakecia Benjamin & Soul Squad. The concert will also have a special performance by the Brooklyn United Marching Band, a youth music mentor program. The Wingate Park Concert will begin at 6pm on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. Doors open at 5pm. Admission is free and unticketed.
“Wingate is what it looks like to celebrate summer the Brooklyn way: with good tunes, great vibes, and all the love for the people who call this beautiful borough home,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Last year, over 5,000 people joined us to safely enjoy this summer staple, and this year, with this lineup, we’re gearing up to top it. I’m counting down the days until all of Brooklyn and beyond can come together to celebrate summer in New York and the music that defines us. Thank you to the incredible artists, sponsors, city partners, and of course, my amazing staff for making this year’s Wingate possible.”
Wingate Park entrances will be limited to Brooklyn Avenue and Winthrop Street and will open at 5pm for the 6pm concert, which is scheduled to end at 10pm. The Brooklyn Avenue entrance will also serve as the ADA entrance and will open to persons with disabilities at 4:45pm. Reserved ADA seating will be available.
The 2023 Wingate Park Concert is made possible through fundraising efforts by the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President and Brooklyn for All, Inc., the Brooklyn Borough President’s city-affiliated nonprofit organization. Generous sponsors include Uber, National Grid, iHeart Radio, and Con Edison.
“Our new album The Homeland is all about recognizing the people, places, and cultures that make us who we are today – and the Wingate Park Concert is a celebration of the same,” said Brooklyn’s three-time Grammy winning reggae band Morgan Heritage. “We are so excited to share our new music and classics with our people at home in Brooklyn for a free concert on August 8 and are grateful to the Brooklyn Borough President for organizing what will be sure to be one of the best days of summer.”
“The Wingate Concert is bringing soul to the people, and that’s the whole reason I make the music I do,” said R&B soul diva Leela James. “Music is powerful – it can capture joy, grief, love, blessings, and all of the feelings that live inside of us. I am so thankful for this opportunity to connect with Brooklyn and can’t wait to appear on Borough President Reynoso’s stage next month.”
“Hip Hop is more than a genre – it’s a way of preserving the stories of those who have come before us and paved the way toward new futures,” said Ralph McDaniels, Founder and Curator of the Video Music Box. “I can’t wait to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop this year at Wingate, and I look forward to sharing with thousands of Brooklynites the music that has transformed generations. Thank you to Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso for bringing community together around the music we share.”
“Just like my music unites genre, so too will the Wingate stage this summer,” said Harlem’s vintage funk and jazz saxophone sensation Lakecia Benjamin. “I can’t wait to blend jazz, Hip Hop, and soul for the people of Brooklyn and am so grateful to the Borough President for hosting this concert that can be enjoyed by all.”
“In music and the arts, Brooklyn’s young people can discover community, self-empowerment, and the abundant joy that motivates us to continue growing and striving for better,” said the Brooklyn United Marching Band. “We are so excited to be part of the famous Wingate Concert and want to thank the Borough President for the opportunity to share our music with the community.”
The Wingate Concert Series was first organized under former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz’s administration in the late 1970s when he was State Senator. Over the years, performers have included Big Daddy Kane, Wyclef Jean, and Aretha Franklin. The concerts were scaled back during the COVID-19 pandemic under former Brooklyn Borough President, now New York City Mayor, Eric Adams. Borough President Antonio Reynoso committed to bringing back the concert within six months of taking office.
Last year’s Wingate Park Concert brought out over 5,000 Brooklynites and included performances by gospel music singer Hezekiah Walker, Jamaican reggae performer Gyptian, and soca singer Patrice Roberts.
“National Grid has proudly partnered with the Brooklyn Borough President’s office to support the Wingate Park Concerts for over 25 years,” said Renee McClure, Director of Community & Customer Engagement, National Grid New York. “Through our Project C community engagement, we share in the commitment to provide sustainable, family-friendly programs for the people and communities we serve across Brooklyn. The concerts bring together communities to celebrate and enjoy a variety of music genres.”
“With more than 1.2 million listeners in Brooklyn and dozens of events in many local Brooklyn neighborhoods, iHeartMedia New York is an active participant in the Brooklyn community,” said Bernie Weiss, President, iHeartMedia New York. “We are proud to be associated with this year’s Wingate Park Concert.”
“Con Edison is pleased to support the Brooklyn Borough President’s initiative to provide quality programming at the Wingate Concert,” said Johari Jenkins-Taylor, Director, Con Edison. “We appreciate the opportunity to share Our Clean Energy Commitment and services to the residents of Brooklyn and all of New York City.”
For more information on this year’s Wingate Park Concert or other events hosted by the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, please visit www.brooklynbp.nyc.gov and follow him on social media at @BKBPReynoso on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
ABOUT MORGAN HERITAGE
Brooklyn’s three-time Grammy winning reggae band Morgan Heritage is a family that has roots in music going back over fifty years. As children of legendary Reggae artist Denroy Morgan, this family was destined to have a lasting voice in the culture. Formed in the 80’s, the group, Peter “Peetah” Morgan, Roy “Gramps” Morgan, and Memmalatel “Mr. Mojo” Morgan have released twelve studio albums to solidify their name as one of the greatest families not only in Reggae, but in music. Their debut album, Miracle was released in 1994 on MCA and it wasn’t until their album Strictly Roots in 2015, released on their own independent label CTBC Music Group, did they win their first Grammy Award for Reggae Album of the year. In 2017, Morgan Heritage was nominated for their second Grammy Award with Avrakedabra, and they continued the momentum with their most recent album, Loyalty released in 2019. Twelve studio albums in and the group continues to leave their mark on the music industry.
ABOUT LEELA JAMES
R&B powerhouse, singer/songwriter Leela James burst onto the scene in 2005 with her debut album ‘A Change Is Gonna Come”. Everyone quickly took notice and Leela received a Soul Train Award nomination for Best R&B Soul Artist and a NAACP Award nomination for Outstanding New Artist. Ms. James has gone on to record and release seven LPs, delivering seven Top 20 R&B Radio Singles, including two Number One tracks on the Billboard Charts. Her single “Complicated” topped the charts in the summer of 2021 for three consecutive weeks. Leela also won The Soul Train Certified Award in 2014 and garnered another NAACP nomination for Best R&B Collaboration in 2021. Her emotional ballad “Fall For You” is now a classic and was certified Gold in October 2022, selling over 500,000 units. Leela is known for her soulful, commanding performances and has shared the stage with a wide range of artists ranging from the legendary James Brown, Robert Randolph and The Isley Brothers to Maxwell and Fantasia.
ABOUT RALPH MCDANIELS’ VIDEO MUSIC BOX
Since 1983, Brooklyn native Ralph McDaniels, founder and curator of the Video Music Box has been instrumental in documenting the evolution of Hip-Hop culture. McDaniels, affectionately known as “Uncle Ralph”, through Video Music Box, has played an integral role within the community of Hip-Hop, which positions him as a unique preservationist with historic memory.
Video Music Box airs Saturday night at 12 midnight and Thursday late-night at 2:30am on NYCTV Ch.25/22. McDaniels majored in Communications at LaGuardia Community College and New York Institute of Technology. He later interned and worked at the New York public television station WNYC as an Broadcast Engineer. That is where he created “Video Music Box”. McDaniels has directed and produced over 400 music videos from: Wu-Tang Clan, “C.R.E.A.M” (1993); Nas, “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” (1994); Roxanne Shanté, “Roxanne-Roxanne” (1995), to name a few. He also co-produced two feature films, including “Juice” (1992), “Roxanne Roxanne” (Netflix 2018) and countless documentaries. Video Music Box documentary “You’re Watching Video Music Box” directed by Nasir “Nas” Jones now playing on Showtime.
ABOUT LAKECIA BENJAMIN & SOUL SQUAD
Voted by 2020 Downbeat Critics Poll Rising Star Alto Saxophonist and Up and Coming Artist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association, Charismatic and dynamic saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin fuses traditional conceptions of Jazz, HipHop, and Soul. Benjamin’s electric presence and fiery sax work has shared stages with several legendary artists, including Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and The Roots. A streetwise New York City native born and raised in Washington Heights, Lakecia Benjamin first picked up the saxophone at Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. From there she joined the renowned jazz program at New York’s New School University. However, even at that early stage, Benjamin was already playing with renowned jazz figures like Clark Terry and Reggie Workman, which introduced her to opportunities to play and tour with an array of artists such as Rashied Ali, Christian Mcbride, Gregory Porter and James “Blood” Ulmer. With her deep jazz roots, she was soon in demand as an arranger and horn section leader, landing stints with such acclaimed artists as Anita Baker
ABOUT BROOKLYN UNITED
The Brooklyn United Music and Arts Program (BU) is a community-based organization that serves New York City youth. As an art form, marching band combines the elements of musicianship and pageantry and allows each student to participate in an all-encompassing and life changing activity. Brooklyn United is focused on the development of youth through Academic Support, Character Development, Skills Building and Performance Opportunities. It is through these pillars that we strive to build strong, well rounded, healthy, confident, and capable young people.
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