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Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution: Watch the video!

Events

The 2018 Bill Graham Menorah Lighting
ByBGMF December 5, 2018February 7, 2019

Union Square, San Francisco – December 2, 2018 [ngg src=”galleries” ids=”3″ display=”basic_imagebrowser”]

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Events | Featured | News | Press

Mural of Promoter Bill Graham to be Dedicated
ByBGMF October 23, 2023

Mural of Promoter Bill Graham to be Dedicated November 6 in the Fillmore District — 58 Years after the first benefit for the San Francisco Mime Troupe in 1965 San Francisco – October 23, 2023 – Several groups are pleased to announce the unveiling of a new city art mural of the late Bill Graham on Monday, November 6…

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Events | Featured

Bill’s Bash Brunch 2024 Photos!
ByBGMF January 10, 2024January 12, 2024

Click the title to see lots of great photos of the Bash.

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Events | Featured

Bill Graham Menorah Lighting 2020 (Virtual!)
ByBGMF December 7, 2020December 7, 2020

Due to the pandemic, we can’t gather in Union Square this year. But the Bill Graham Menorah lighting goes on via Facebook Live. First candle 5 p.m. Thursday–join from wherever you are! http://www.billgrahammenorah.org/schedule

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Events | Featured

2026 Bills Bash Photos!
ByBGMF January 15, 2026January 15, 2026

Photos by Tommy Lau. If you would like a large high-res copy of any photo, please contact Bonnie Simmons bon@billgrahamfoundation.org

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Events | Featured

Find Yourself in Find Yourself in the Group Photo 2026 Bill’s Bash
ByBGMF January 22, 2026January 22, 2026

Click to open a page with three large group photos; you can zoom in to find yourself.

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Nelson Mandela for a Free South Africa 1990

After his release from prison in February of 1990, Nelson Mandela traveled extensively, making several trips to the United States. He came to the Bay Area in June 1990, where he was honored at a sold-out concert at the Oakland Coliseum.

For Bill Graham, it was important that the show reflected the supporters of Mandela and the makeup of the greater Bay Area. During a press conference Bill said that he felt strongly about what the Bay Area stands for having been the home of the free speech movement and so supportive of the labor movement, and that recognition should be given to those factors. In addition to that “the music at the event must be roots music that emanated from Africa extending into gospel and jazz and blues and r&b.”

Ticket prices were kept to $5.00 to make the event available to as many as possible and performers included Zulu Spear, John Lee Hooker & Bonnie Raitt, the Oakland-based Vukani Mawethu Choir, Baba Olatunji and Mickey Hart, Tramaine Hawkins, Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia, Gospel Hummingbirds, John Lee Hooker, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, John Santos, Kotoja, as well as Bay Area drum and dance troupes.

At the event, acknowledging the Bay Area’s role as a U.S. center of activism against apartheid, Mandela told the crowd: “You must remember that you are our blood brothers and sisters. You are our comrades in the struggle. Remember that we respect you, we admire you and, above all, we love you. ‘We are at a crucial historical juncture,” he told a cheering crowd of 58,000 people, ”We shall not turn back. Despite my 71 years, at the end of this visit I feel like a young man of 35. I feel like an old battery that has been recharged. And if I feel so young, it is the people of the United States of America that are responsible for this.”

Line up for the Nelson Mandela 1990 concert

OUR BOYS STEEL ORCHESTRA
OPENING INVOCATION AND MASSED DRUM PROCESSION FEATURING: BABA OLATUNJI / MICKEY HART / LADZEKPO BROTHERS / MANDELEO INSTITUTE / JONI HAASTRUP / JOSE LORENZO WITH BATUCAJE I MICHAEL PLUZNICK / MOTHERSTONE / HINTIL KUU KA POMO CHILDREN DANCERS / PLUS BAY AREA DRUM AND DANCE TROUPES / WITH SPECIAL GUESTS JERRY GARCIA AND BOB WEIR
TRAMAINE HAWKINS
THE CAST OF SARAFINA
GOSPEL HUMMINGBIRDS
JOHN LEE HOOKER WITH BONNIE RAITT
BAY AREA JAZZ ALL-STARS WITH: FAVE CAROL / JOHN HANDY / BOBBY HUTCHERSON / ED KELLY/ TROY LAMPKIN / PHAROAH SANDERS / E.W. WAINWRIGHT
OAKLAND INTERFAITH GOSPEL CHOIR
SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK
MACHETE ENSEMBLE FEATURING: DAVID BELOVE / JOHN CALLOWAY / BILL ORTIZ / JOHN SANTOS / WAYNE WALLACE
BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS
ZULU SPEAR
KOTOJA
VUKANI MAWETHU
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MASS CHOIR

Audio: Bill Graham at the Press conference for the Nelson Mandela event

Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution: Watch the video!

The 2018 Bill Graham Menorah Lighting

Mural of Promoter Bill Graham to be Dedicated

Bill’s Bash Brunch 2024 Photos!

Bill Graham Menorah Lighting 2020 (Virtual!)

2026 Bills Bash Photos!

Find Yourself in Find Yourself in the Group Photo 2026 Bill’s Bash

Info for Grant Seekers

Events & News

Photo Credits

Line up for the Nelson Mandela 1990 concert

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Info for Grant Seekers

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Photo Credits

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Nelson Mandela for a Free South Africa 1990

Line up for the Nelson Mandela 1990 concert