The Show’s The Thing: The Legendary Promoters Of Rock will be screening at DocLands Documentary Film Festival May 2-5, 2019, presented by the California Film Institute. Pulling back the curtain on the unforgettable live shows of the ‘60s and ‘70s that came to define our collective musical memories, The Show’s the Thing reveals how a ragtag…

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“Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution” heads to NYC

ByBGMF October 14, 2019October 23, 2019

We are thrilled to announce that the next landing spot for Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution, a comprehensive retrospective of Bill’s life and career, will be the New York Historical Society Museum and Library, opening February 14, 2020 and running through August 9, 2020.

The exhibition is also accompanied by an immersive audio experience.

Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution is organized and circulated by the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, in association with the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation, and made possible by the support of Alex Graham, David Graham, and Danny Scher. The exhibition is coordinated at New-York Historical by Cristian Petru Panaite, associate curator of exhibitions.

Read about the Exhibit

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Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution Extended at The Florida Holocaust Museum!

ByBGMF February 7, 2019February 7, 2019

Iconic rock & roll exhibition now on display through June January 28, 2019 [St. Petersburg, FL] — In response to visitor demand, The Florida Holocaust Museum (The FHM) will extend its immensely popular exhibition, Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution, through Sunday, June 30, 2019! The exhibition explores the extraordinary life of renowned…

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BGMF supports Sweet Relief Covid-19 Relief Fund

ByBGMF April 16, 2020April 16, 2020

The Bill Graham Memorial Foundation is pleased to announce that we just gave Sweet Relief a $10,000 grant in support of their Covid-19 Relief Fund. Sweet Relief was founded in 1993 by musician Victoria Williams; she was diagnosed with MS, and realized that many musicians, like herself, were unable to afford medical expenses when compromised…

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Bill Walton 1952-2024

ByBGMF May 28, 2024May 28, 2024

We were shocked and saddened to learn that the legendary Bill Walton has died. He’s been such an important part of our lives for so long — he and his big heart and excellent vibes will be sorely missed. Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

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Vergessenes Kind (Forgotten Child)

ByBGMF January 8, 2021January 8, 2021

For his 90th Birthday, we delve into an astonishing part of Bill’s childhood

Berlin-based freelance journalist Cornelius Dieckmann visits the neighborhood where Bill was born 90 years ago and spent his early childhood. Some of his discoveries emerge in “Vergessenes Kind (Forgotten Child),” which appeared in the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper on Saturday, January 2, 2021.

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

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Bill Walton 1952-2024

Vergessenes Kind (Forgotten Child)

For his 90th Birthday, we delve into an astonishing part of Bill’s childhood

Info for Grant Seekers

Events & News

Photo Credits

Line up for the Nelson Mandela 1990 concert

In Trippy Times, Bill Graham Took Care of Reality

Travel Back In Time To Bill Graham's Fillmore East

An Impresario Gets the Star Treatment

Exhibit Lifts the Curtain On Legendary Rock Promoter Bill Graham

It’s only rock n’roll, but we like it: Bill Graham exhibit at NY Historial Society strikes a chord

New York Historical Society Presents ‘Bill Graham And The Rock & Roll Revolution’ Exhibit, Opening February 14

Bill Graham’s life as an immigrant and important figure in rock music on display in Manhattan exhibition

Rock & Roll Exhibit Recognizes Influential NY Music Promoter Bill Graham

Bill Graham exhibit opening in NY, features Bowie, Blondie, Neil Young, Grateful Dead, more

Remembering Bill Graham and the Fillmore East

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Line up for the Nelson Mandela 1990 concert