This was a well-attended and high energy Open Mic, featuring some of your youngest ever MCs, several emotionally powerful performances, and culminating in an extended gospel jam by the new All People Jam Band.

MCs: Diamond & Gibson

Setup Crew: Craig, Thomas, Tom, Taz, Rose, Briana, Heath, Eileen

Guitar: Chris/Brenda
Drums: Heath/Juan/Thomas
Congas: Craig/Dee
Bass: Vernell

Acts:
Rose & Heath (drums) - "Ring of Fire"
David & Juan - "Beverly Hills"
Beverly - "My Guy"
Nana AKA Aretha - "Summertime"
Heath - Drum Solo
Leona AKA Mimi - "God Bless the Child"
Craig - "We Will Rock You"
Chris - poem "A Statistic of One"
Juan - Drum Solo
Johnny Miracle - original rap song
Dee - gospel song
Dee, Brenda, Craig & Thomas - "Amazing Grace - A Testimony"
Thomas & Heath - original song
All People Jam Band - "Jesus"
Gibson - drum solo
Diamond - "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"

Adults: 20
Youth: 7
TOTAL: 27

Today was our grand finale for the '06/'07 year.

It was a terrific show.

MC: Mark Simpson

1st Place: Celina (age 7) - "God Bless the Child" and original song "Jesus is Pretty"
2nd Place: David & Juan - "Three O Clock World"
3rd Place: Rick - drums

We were also lucky to have two professional singers perform:

Eileen - "Fire & Rain"
Cherie - "Fields of Gold"

Other acts included:
Sharon - gospel song
Diamond & family - "God is Good"
Heath & Rose - "Ring of Fire"
Briana - "Delta Dawn"
MaryAnn - "Drift Away"
Mimi - gospel song
Brenda - Original skit
Lydia Curtis - gospel song
Juan - "Beverly Hills"
Chris & David - "Soldier Soldier"

We had a large audience, including the teens from South Side and special guest Jackie Calderone of Transit Arts.

We continue to keep Dee Martin in our prayers, as she remains hospitalized with multiple health issues.

The setup crew today was Heath, Rose, Briana, April & Eileen.

See everyone in the fall!

On Friday (5/11) several of us attended the Transit Arts Open Mic at Central Community House on Main Street. Three of our regulars performed: Celina, her mother Mimi, and Jalessa (from South Side). South Side also sent the multi-talented young Justin King Jr., who danced and rapped.

The following Monday was our last regular Open Mic for the '06/'07 year. We had a good crowd of regulars. Unfortunately Miss Dee was back in the hospital but her son Juan was able to attend with his "other mother" Gwendolyn.

In general, it was a terrific show. Highlights included seven-year-old Celina's note-perfect rendition of the immortal Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child", and our vocal teacher, Eileen, letting us hear what a professional sounds like on the mic, with her scorching rendition of "At Last." This week also marked a milestone for Eileen --the release of her second CD!

MC: Rick

Performers:
MaryAnn - "Drift Away"
Chris, David & Juan - "Soldier Soldier"
Celina - "God Bless the Child"
Eileen - "At Last"
David & Juan - Comedy Act
Brenda - Original spiritual
Mimi - "Do You Know"
Heath & Rose - "Ring of Fire"

Also in the audience were Sharon, Briana, Gwendolyn and others.