3rd Inglewood Music Festival Ignites Unity
VISIONARY HOST: City of Inglewood District 4 Councilwoman Dionne Faulk in white is all smiles as he takes pictures and enjoys her vision The Inglewood Music Festival on July 5 at Darby Park in Inglewood. (KENNETH MILLER/PHOTO)
By Kenneth Miller|Publisher
Serving baked beans, barbeque and macaroni salad a day after much of the same on the July 4th in the VIP tent at the 3rd annual Inglewood Music Festival renewed the appetite for celebration as thousands gathered beyond the sun scored basketball courts, underneath trees and onto the grass at Darby Park in Inglewood on July 5.
The free seven-hour concert created and hosted by City of Inglewood District 4 Councilwoman Dionne Faulk presented nine live performances that began just before lunch with Eevan Tre & The Show and concluded half past six in the evening with always popular The Dazz Band.
Sandwiched in between were the spices of The Wylde Bunch, the salsa swaying Poncho Sanchez, blast from the past Delfonics, Tia P, Jay Lamont and show stopper “Yo-Yo” who overcame a technical computer glitch to complete her highly anticipated set.
The 53 -year old South Los Angeles born rapper and actress inspired the massive gathering to their feet as they crowded in front of the stage waiting with abated breath for the iconic performer to do her thing.
STILL GOT IT: “Yo-Yo” Dr. Yolanda Whitaker, South Los Angeles born rap icon and actress dominate the 3rd annual Inglewood Music Festival at Darby Park on July 5. (KENNETH MILLER/PHOTO)
“Yo-Yo” whose real name is Yolanda Whitaker, was a protégé of Ice Cube from bygone era, free styled during the production hiccup and later after the issues were resolved brought her mother on stage to dance.
The now also known as Dr. Yolanda Whitaker went overtime to appease the crowd, something many of them were over joyed about.
“I was so proud of Councilwoman Faulk for fighting to make this concert free for the public because Angelinos are afraid and hurting. We are under attack from our federal government and for having an event of unity is critically important for our community to come together,” said Los Angeles County 2nd District Supervisor Holly Mitchell.
Attendees were required to register to obtain free tickets and seating was available on a first come bases. Most brought blankets, portable tables and folding chairs and some brought tens that shielded then from the blistering sun that eventually erase all the shade the trees provided by midday.
Local Inglewood rapper Tia P was excited to perform where she frequently takes her morning walks.
HOME GIRLS: City of Inglewood Councilwoman Dionne Faulk with Inglewood born rapper Tia P at the 3rd annual Inglewood Music Festival at Darby Park in Inglewood. (KENNETH MILLER/PHOTO)
“It’s home! So, it’s not like there is a pressure. What we do there is always a certainly element of pressure but I literally run in this park every morning. This not some foreign place, so I take extra pride to perform in front of familiar faces, in a place like this which is five minutes away from my home,” Tia P explained to South Bay Black Journal.
State Assemblymember Tina McKinnor has been a collaborating partner to Councilmember Faulk on many projects and the festival is another opportunity to deliver to her 61st Assembly District constituents.
YES I’M READY: 61st District Assemblymember Tina McKinnor inside the VIP Tent and her sponsored lounge area at the 3rd annual Inglewood Music Festival July 5 at Darby Park in Inglewood. (KENNETH MILLER/PHOTO)
“It symbolizes community. Councilwoman Dionne Faulk had a vision to bring us all together with something that our Black and Brown folks love which is music. Today is so special because it’s the third year and you look all around and it’s filled to capacity,” Assemblymember McKinnor Stated.
The joyful combination of music, food and fun is truly the appealing aspect to the event, but the supplemental purpose is to raise funds for the Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD).
Although the City of Inglewood does not have any fiduciary obligation to IUSD which has been marred in receivership for more than a decade, it does govern the residents who either attend or work there and Mayor James Butts is mindful of how a failing school district looks on the brand of the revolution that has transpired in Inglewood.
County Administrator Dr. James Morris, who has been the caretaker of IUSD, was on hand for the festival and is most appreciative of all the support IUSD receives.
“You are going to get the biggest surprise of your life in July,” a gleeful Dr. Morris shared with SBBJ. “That’s when the annual audit comes out its going to show great news. Twelve years and five review areas and in 12 years they got one out. In the last two years you are going to see the evolution of getting two more out, which means we only have two areas and nine standards to exit receivership,” Dr. Morris told SBBJ. If all holds true then IUSD could be our of receivership in two years.
Tierra and the Dazz Band popped off the concluding musical fireworks for what was yet another exuberant celebration for the City of Inglewood and its surrounding communities, and a few more dollars for IUSD and as IUSD Board Member Brandon G. Myers explained, “no amount is too small.”
