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A Night of Psychedelic Soul, Rhythm & Blues, and Funk Music Benefitting GLIDE’s Transformative Programs and Services
Thank you for attending and supporting an inspirational night filled with joyful celebration, heartwarming community, and timeless artistry! Due to the incredible generosity of our sponsors and donors, we are excited to announce that the GLIDE Annual Holiday Jam raised more than $1,200,000 to support GLIDE’s transformative programs and services!
Together we danced and sang to the legendary funk and R&B group The Family Stone, the extraordinary Jenn Johns, the multi-talented Kev Choice, and GLIDE’s very own beloved Ensemble and Change Band, under the direction of the one and only Vernon Bush. We were lead through the evening by the flawless Priya David Clemens, and heard uplifting remarks from GLIDE President and CEO Karen Hanrahan, and Glide Memorial Church Minister of Celebration Marvin K. White. And if that wasn’t enough, we were also blessed with a surprise performance from the iconic Joan Baez!
Whether this was your first GLIDE event or you’re already part of our community, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sharing this night with us. We look forward to seeing you all in 2023!
The Family Stone, born out of Sly and the Family Stone, brings the raw, unfiltered original sound that became part of the essential building blocks of many great modern artists’ toolkits, including Prince, Michael Jackson, John Legend, Missy Elliott, Aretha Franklin, and many more. As a worldwide phenomenon, the group is best known for its legendary anthems like “Family Affair,” “Everyday People,” “Dance to the Music,” among others, and their album, “STAND” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and declared a National Treasure in The United States Library of Congress. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, R & B Pioneer Award winner, and original founding member of Sly & The Family Stone, Jerry Martini, along with Phunne Stone (the multi-talented daughter of Sly Stone and the late, great Cynthia Robinson), Swang Stewart, Jimi McKinney, Frank Klepacki, Nate Wingfield, and Blaise Sison bring the music of the first interracial, main-stream major band in Rock & Roll history to the dynamic sound of The Family Stone band
Jenn Johns is a powerhouse, vocalist, songwriter, producer, activist, and entrepreneur who creates sounds, experiences, and products that are sure to stir your soul, inspire your mind and move your body. Jenn has taken her brand of “afro-diasporic world music” all over the globe, rocking stages from Denver to Dusseldorf, Los Angeles to London, Kuala Lumpur to Kampala. Jenn has shared line ups with some of the best in the business including the likes of Ms. Lauryn Hill, The Black Eyed Peas, Mos Def, Capelton, Ziggy Marley, Gil Scott Heron, Wyclef, Les Nubian, De La Soul, and Common to name just a few. Listen to Jenn here!
Kev Choice is a pianist, M.C., producer, composer, educator, band-leader, and activist, hailing from Oakland, CA. He has the unique capabilities to navigate the worlds of Hip-Hop, Jazz, Classical, and Soul music in a natural and seamless way. He starting playing piano and rapping at a young age at Oakland’s Westlake Junior High and Skyline High School, and eventually went on to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans and a Master’s Degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, both in Music-Piano Performance. From there, Kev came home and became one of the most in demand and active musicians on the Bay Area scene.
From its humble beginnings on Christmas Day, 1966, when it was only 10 singers and jazz legend John Handy, the GLIDE Ensemble and Change Band has grown to include more than 60 voices and eight musicians. Currently under the direction of Vernon Bush, the Ensemble has teamed up with a host of notable musicians such as Sammy Davis Jr., Leonard Bernstein, Maya Angelou, Marvin Gaye, Bono, Bobby McFerrin, Joan Baez, Ashford and Simpson, Sheila E, The Doobie Bros., Michael Franti, India.Arie, Ledisi, Lisa Fischer, Fantastic Negrito and many more.
Interested in sponsoring the 2022 GLIDE Annual Holiday Jam? Click here to learn more!