DAVID KRAMER PRESENTS
JIMI HENDRIX 83rd BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE CELEBRATION:
After ten years producing the Jimi Hendrix Birthday Tribute Event at BB Kings Blues Club in Times Square, NYC, David Kramer continues the grand tradition presenting Jimi Hendrix 83rd Birthday Tribute at Sony Hall. Starting off the night at 7:30pm will be a screening of a short segment of Kramer’s Award Winning Multi-Part Series Documentary on Jimi Hendrix.
This year we focus on Hendrix’ Funky side as we delve into the roots of his Funky explorations when he formed the Band of Gypsies in 1969. And who better than P-Funk guitarist Blackbyrd McKnight to represent Jimi’s Funky side? From 1974-1977 he was a member of the jazz/funk fusion band: The Head Hunters and in 1978 he joined the iconic Parliament Funkadelic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ky0gDsKJmo
- Michael "Kidd Funkadelic" Hampton (P-Funk Guitarist)
Michael Hampton is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 as a member of Parliament-Funkadelic.
He started his professional career when he was recruited as a seventeen year old guitar prodigy by the band Funkadelic, which found itself in need of a lead guitarist after original guitarist Eddie Hazel left the band. Hampton impressed Funkadelic's George Clinton by performing a note for note rendition of Hazel's 10 minute solo "Maggot Brain".
Hampton made his debut with the band's album Let's Take It to the Stage in 1975, which is dominated by his guitar. Hampton's playing included fuzzy, Hendrix-inspired licks and wailing harmonics. Hampton continues playing in the Funkadelics and is also a member of the P-Funk All-Stars.
- Gabe “the Undi$co Kidd” Gonzalez (P-Funk Drummer):
Gabriel Gonzalez secured a scholarship to Berklee School of Music but turned it down to finish High School at Night for
being on tour all year! He also passed up on an offer to play with The RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS to finish High School!
Having met George Clinton at the impressionable age of nine due to his father who owned a barbershop, This led back to a young Gonzalez meeting up again with George Clinton 8 years later at legendary studio UNITED SOUND a home base for P-FUNK & many legendary artists from John Lee Hooker to the Zapp.This is when he got a chance to study P-Funk’s craft from greats like Billy Bass Nelson, Eddie Hazel, Garry Shider & Blackbyrd McKnight.
The group was so impressed with the youngster that they decided to let him officially tour the world with the band on February 18,1995 one day after his 26th Birthday! He was the youngest member of the band at that time.
Gonzalez also WON “FUNK ARTIST of the YEAR” at the D.B.M.A’s & Outstanding Electronic/ Dance / Writer/ Producer at
the 2012 Detroit Music Awards. Gonzalez continues performing with a host of creative projects!
The Last Ghetto Fighter: Taharqa Aleem formerly known as Albert Allen, twin brother of Tunde Ra Aleem formerly Arthur Allen (1946-2014) are the founding members of The Ghetto Fighters. Although they wore many hats, they are most notable for being American musicians, producers, authors, and entrepreneurs originally based out of Harlem, NY,
in addition to being close friends and musical collaborators with Jimi Hendrix. They sang background vocals on Jimi's monumental songs "Dolly Dagger", "Freedom", "Isabella" and "Stepping Stone" as well as recording their own Ghetto Fighters songs with Hendrix playing guitar. This was all part of a larger plan for Jimi to help the twins produce the Ghetto Fighters album, which he called a "Street Opera". After Hendrix death, the album was shelved and the tracks meant for it remained unreleased.
Taharqa still continues to be active in humanitarian efforts through his Hip-Hop for Humanity organization.
Angel Reca (Buddy Miles, Curtis Knight)
It's no accident that Angel Reca has performed with Buddy Miles (Hendrix drummer in BOG) and Curtis Knight, the band in which Jimi Hendrix performed (Curtis Knight & the Squires) and recorded with in '65-'66 (Pre-Fame) because Mr. Reca is one of the Best Hendrix style guitarists on the scene. He has also performed with Leon Hendrix (Jimi's Brother) and Juma Sultan (Gypsy Suns & Rainbows).
Also included in this year’s lineup on saxophone & vocals is longtime Hendrix collaborator and bandmate Lonnie Youngblood, who stole the show at the last Hendrix Birthday Tribute at BB Kings back in 2015. Youngblood played in Curtis Knight & the Squires band alongside Hendrix back in the mid ’60’s before Hendrix was famous and jammed with him at Small’s Paradise in Harlem, NY recording several Youngblood songs including Bessie Mae & Soul Food in ’66 as well as Georgia Blues and Let Me Move You at the Record Plant in ’69 along with other songs yet to be released.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNjQd8p5EkM
On vocals is the charismatic Corey Glover from the Hard Rock, Funk Metal band Living Colour. Mr. Glover has also toured as the vocalist for the Funk band Galactic. In '95 he sang on the Hendrix Tribute album “In From The Storm." In 2023 Billboard ranked Glover #45 on it’s list of 50 Greatest Rock Lead Singers of All Time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFiy4am8iFo&list=RDcFiy4am8iFo&start_radio=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdb4piBN5cQ
On guitar & vocals, a super Funky & Soulful addition to this year’s Hendrix Tribute is Captain Kirk Douglas, guitarist & singer in the Hip Hop band The Roots, which is also the house band for The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. Captain Kirk joined The Roots in 2003. He also doubles in his Rock band Hundred Watt Heart.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GM7L5z9tzOo
https://www.hundredwattheart.com/videos
Top gun guitar slinger and long time Musical Director for Kramer’s Jimi Hendrix Birthday Tributes is none other than Andre Lassalle. Andre has played for Don Covay, recorded with Miles Davis, appeared on the Jimi Hendrix Tribute album “Power of Soul," played with Living Colour’s Vernon Reid in Band of Gypsies Revisited, Jerry Jemmott, Huey Lewis and currently performs in the band Burnt Sugar as well as other creative projects.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4S_4Hq54yA
On vocals Eli Brown has been singing Jimi Hendrix music since 1997 when he started working with The Vince Martell (Vanilla Fudge) Band. He has been a part of many of the Hendrix Birthday Tributes at BB Kings since 2006 singing with Robby Krieger, Jack Casady, Larry Coryell and Jim McCarty. Eli has also played bass as a member of Peter Sabatino’s Vagrants, with Randy Holden of Blue Cheer, as well as his own group The Blood Farmers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu7Jd2ZKHK0
The House Band:
Rounding out the house band, direct from Sweden is Ducks Can Groove guitarist Stefan Edfeldt, who has been playing Kramer’s Hendrix Tributes at BB Kings Club since the first one back in 2006. His psychedelically drenched guitar solos are always a special treat for the legions of Hendrix fanatics! Stefan & The Ducks Can Groove have also played in Poland with The Godfather of Jazz/Rock Fusion Larry Coryell (RIP).
On bass is Aalics Bronson, a multi-faceted bass player and sound designer with an impressive track record in the music industry. Aalics has had the privilege of working with and sharing the stage and studio production with iconic artists such as Living Color, Ms. Lauren Hill, Chronixx, Jean Marx Express as well as his own solo work. As a bass player Aalics aka “Space Buddha” has honed a unique sound that blends technical precision with raw, emotive power.
On drums Damon Mendes has performed, toured and/or recorded for Cameo, The Manhattans, Regina Bell, Nona Hendryx, Freddie Jackson, Craig Harris, Roy Ayres, Mike Phillips, Shelby J., Public Enemy and Marcus Miller. He has also manned the drum chair for the tv series New York Undercover and Vaughn Harper and the Quiet Storm Live for NYC FM Radio Station WBLS, gigs which allowed Damon to accompany the best of the best in the music business.
Look for more artists TBA and surprise guests as we kick off Thanksgiving Weekend with the Jimi Hendrix 83rd Birthday Celebration and a special tribute to Sly Stone, The Godfather of Funk!!!!
