A number of prominent, internationally-known musicians have claimed the greater Washington, D.C. area as their home. Representing nearly every genre, they include Duke and Mercer Ellington, Marvin Gaye, Tori Amos, Billy Eckstine, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters & Nirvana), Roberta Flack, Patsy Cline, Jelly Roll Morton, the Blackbyrds, Bo Diddley, Henry Rollins, Denyce Graves, and others. Venues like Bohemian Caverns and the Lincoln Theater were the basis of the U Street corridor's reputation as "Washington's Black Broadway". The nation's capitol even has its own native music genre -- Go-Go -- and has a significant (though underground) House/Electronic music scene. According to
Wikipedia, the D.C. area, "... is also an important center for indie music and culture in the United States", and, "... a prominent center for national and international media". So, it's disappointing that even with the recent emergence of D.C.-based acts like Wale, Good Charlotte, and Raheem DeVaughn onto the national scene that local 'indie' artists get relatively little support from the local media outlets and purpose-built entertainment venues.
As a member of r.e.a.c.t.'s advisory board, your input will help shape D.C.'s music scene for the benefit of the region's emerging artists, fans, and entrepreneurs. Our individual resources can be combined to:
- promote music and performing artists of the Washington, D.C. region
- develop a network of affiliate performance spaces, media outlets, and business/professional services that support local independents
- establish a viable minimum compensation formula for 'live' performances in area venues
- fund grants and endowments.
r.e.a.c.t. is open to input from anyone in any part of the greater D.C. community. For consideration as an advisory board member, add to this thread a brief factoid about yourself, or your organization, your interest in local music, and your ideas in support of the organization's cause. Submissions are open now through May 28, 2010.
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