Detroit Public Library’s E Azalia Hackley Collection Concert Features Patrice Rushen Musical Score

DETROIT - Feb. 7, 2014 - PRLog -- The Detroit Public Library and the E. Azalia Hackley Collection present the 70^th Annual Hackley Concert at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Main Library. This year’s concert premieres “The Legacy of Roland Hayes,” a special composition by multi-Grammy nominated artist Patrice Rushen. The performance will feature renowned tenor George Shirley and the Cut Time Players.

“As we celebrate the 70^th E. Azalia Hackley Concert this year we are pleased to present this special composition to the public,” said Jo Anne Mondowney, executive director of the Detroit Public Library.   “One of our most treasured archival collections is the Roland Hayes Collection and this concert allows us to further honor his legacy.”

In 2000, the Detroit Public Library with support from the Ford Foundation, commissioned Patrice Rushen to write a score in honor of Roland Hayes, regarded by many to be the greatest tenor of the 1920s.  The E. Azalia Hackley Collection is one of the nation’s foremost research collections for the documentation of achievements by Blacks in all genres of the performing arts. Created in 1943 by a gift from the Detroit chapter of the National Association of Negro Musicians, the Collection was named in honor of Madame E. Azalia Hackley (1867-1922), singer, educator and humanitarian. Madame Hackley is revered for a life-long career in promoting Black music and musicians.

The concert celebrates Hackley’s legacy as well as that of African- American composers and musicians and annually features performers from classical, jazz, spiritual, folk ballads and blues musical genres.

This year’s concert is free and open to the public.  For more information, please call 313-481-1338 or visit the library’s website at www.detroitpubliclibrary.org and click on E. Azalia Hackley concert link. The concert will be held in the Clara Stanton Jones – Friends Auditorium at the Detroit Public Library located at 5201 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202.

Sponsors include: ABM Services, Comerica Bank, Detroit Public Library Friends Foundation, Detroit Public Library Staff Association, Michigan Humanities Council & Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs.