Miriam Di Nunzio @MiriamDiNunzio | email You may not know his name, but it’s almost a certainty you’ve heard some of his work. ‘Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution’ When: Through Nov. 12 Where: Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie Admission: $6-$12; additional $5 for Graham exhibit ticket Info:…

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“Grammy Salute to Music Legends” Special includes tribute to Bill Graham

ByBGMF July 9, 2018August 1, 2018

RECORDING ACADEMY™ TO HONOR 2018 SPECIAL MERIT AWARDS RECIPIENTS WITH “GRAMMY SALUTE TO MUSIC LEGENDS®” TELEVISION SPECIAL AS PART OF “GREAT PERFORMANCES” SERIES ON PBS NEIL DIAMOND, EMMYLOU HARRIS, QUEEN, TINA TURNER, AND OTHERS TO BE HONORED AT THIRD ANNUAL AWARDS AND TRIBUTE CONCERT SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (June 12, 2018) — The Recording Academy™ will…

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NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS: THE ROCK & ROLL WORLD OF LEGENDARY IMPRESARIO BILL GRAHAM

ByBGMF December 11, 2019December 11, 2019

Immersive Audio Experience Featuring the Music of David Bowie, Rolling Stones,
Janis Joplin, and Other Rock & Roll Icons and a Recreation of the Fillmore East’s Famous “Joshua Light Show” Bring Visitors into the Rock & Roll World

Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution
On View February 14 – August 23, 2020

Timed-entry tickets on sale December 20 at nyhistory.org

READ THE ENTIRE PRESS RELEASE

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Shelley Lazar, RIP

ByBGMF April 1, 2019April 1, 2019

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing on Sunday March 31, 2019, of our good friend and founding board member, the legendary Shelley Lazar. Read the Billboard obituary: Read tributes to Shelley on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/shelley.lazar

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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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Online Event: Sunday Stories: Bill Graham & the History of the Music Festival

ByBGMF July 16, 2020December 7, 2020

Hosted by The Contemporary Jewish Museum Sunday, July 26, 2020 at 10 AM – 10:30 AM The large-scale benefit rock concert found its beginnings in the 1980s. The first of these, Live Aid, had an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion across 150 nations who tuned into the live broadcast. Bill Graham, concert promoter and…

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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NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS: THE ROCK & ROLL WORLD OF LEGENDARY IMPRESARIO BILL GRAHAM

Shelley Lazar, RIP

Bill Walton 1952-2024

Online Event: Sunday Stories: Bill Graham & the History of the Music Festival

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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Info for Grant Seekers

Events & News

Photo Credits

Amnesty International Human Rights Now! 1988

In Concert Against AIDS 1989

Earthquake Relief Benefit 1989

Nelson Mandela for a Free South Africa 1990

Line up for the Nelson Mandela 1990 concert