The Emma Mae Gallery, The DC Arts District, Mark Nelson Preston presents The Gregory Gaskins

Experience, The History of Rhythm & Blues Forum & Exhibit. Friday, February 11, 2011 from 3:30p-6p at
the Woodrow Wilson Center Auditorium and 4th floor Exhibit Hall in the Ronald Reagan Building at 1300
Pennsylvania Ave., NW (Federal Triangle Metro Station)

The Woodrow Wilson Center's Blair Ruble, author of Washington's U Street: A Biography will host; “The
Gregory Gaskins's Experience” and the History of Rhythm & Blues Forum,
Concert, Exhibit & presented by Rev. Sandra Butler-Truesdale, Emma Mae Gallery Curator, The DC Arts
District, & New York Cities, Mark Nelson Preston.
What: The Gregory Gaskins's Experience &
The History of Rhythm & Blues Forum, Concert, Exhibit

Who: Gregory L. Gaskins, lead guitarist, composer & conductor, a native

Washingtonian who began playing guitar at the age of 8 and played with
local group, The El Corols under the tutelage and management of the late
Dr. Bill Rumsey. He began his professional career at the age of 15, being
chosen by the late great Billy Stewart to accompany him at the Historic
Howard Theatre. Fondly known as Guitar Greg, he was then chosen as lead
guitarist and band director by the Manhattans, playing & recording with
them for 15 years after which he accompanied & recorded with the Sweet
Inspirations and acted as the Lead in Conductor of the Elvis Presley
Orchestra. Mr. Gaskins also accompanied such artist as Al Green, Dee Dee
& Dionne Warrick, Otis Redding and many others.

When: Friday, February 11, 2011, 3:30 – 6:00 p.m.

Where: Woodrow Wilson Center , 6th Floor Flom Auditorium

Exhibit & Reception, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center,
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. (Federal Triangle Metro Station)
Participants in the forum & concert:
Robert "Mousey" Thompson, a native Washingtonian is
one of the greatest percussionist in the nation. His understanding of the beat
of music is so clear that he was chosen from an audition by the late James
Brown to play with his orchestra. Mousey as he is affectionately known
played with James for 15 years and until his sudden passing.
Greg Cooper, God Father of DC Soul and Rhythm & Blues,
a native Washingtonian, is one of the greatest impressionist of our time. He
is so skilled at his talent that when you hear the vocals and voices of the
artist that he is known to impersonate such as James Brown and Al Green
you can't tell the difference. Greg appeared as a guest on the Tonight Show.
Jerome "Stump" Monroe, a native Washingtonian began
his career as a drummer at the age of 15. He played with the Universals, a
local group. As a professional drummer he played with Martha & the
Vandellas, Billy Steward, Dee Clark, Wilson Pickett and the Sweet
Inspirations, In 1969 he went with the Elvis Presley show accompanying
Elvis and his orchestra. He has accompanied such great stars as, Sam
Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield, Gladys Knight, Betty
Wright and many others.
CJ Graham, Bassist is new on the DC music scene, He hales
from Northern Virginia and is under the tutelage of DC's own, the legendary
Gregory "Guitar Greg" Gaskins. Mr. Graham recently made his professional
debut.

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 Jimi Smooth, a native Washingtonian is one of the hottest vocalist on the
east coast. Jimi is lead vocalist with his Hit Time Band. He began his
career as an usher at the historic Howard Theatre in Washington, DC.
Emory Joseph (vocalist, guitarist) Emory has had a successful and diverse
25-year career in music. His songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, and
his voice and musical compositions have appeared commercially as work for
television, radio, multi-media and now feature film; having done the score and
singles productions for "Saint Misbehavin' - The Wavy Gravy Movie". His
latest album "Fennario - Songs by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter" (Iris
Records) is a twelve-song tribute to the principle songwriters for the Grateful
Dead.

Dennis Ferrante (Sound Engineer) Dennis has been working as a recording

engineer since the early 1970's. The list of artists he has worked and recorded
with is lengthy and diverse, and includes many albums and singles now
considered icons of American popular music. Most notably, Dennis worked
as John Lennon’s sound engineer during his time at New York’s legendary
“Record Plant”. He is a member of The National Academy of Recording Arts
and Sciences (The GRAMMYs) New York Board of Governors for over 30
years, Dennis himself was awarded a 'Best Historical Album' Grammy Award
in 2000, for his engineering work on "The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition.
Currently, Dennis continues to work as a freelance engineer/producer.
:
Mark Nelson Preston (producer/music director) Mark is a New York City
based singer/songwriter/producer who devotes his creative energy to
developing projects in both the musical and theatrical worlds. His theatrical
work has mostly taken place with the New York based private theater
company, The ACC (Amateur Comedy Club); writing and directing radio
plays including an acclaimed radio adaptation of the Christmas classic
“Miracle on 34th Street” , and producing the classic suspense play “Wait Until
Dark”. In 2009 he produced several musical benefits in New York and
Toronto, raising money for such children’s charities as The New York
Foundling, The Children’s Aid Foundation and the Sick Kids Foundation.
Mark is thrilled and honored to work with Gregory in presenting this program.

Gary Van Scyoc (bassist) Gary’s professional career spans over forty years.
His performance and recording credits include such notable artists as John
Lennon, Yoko Ono, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder,
Jerry Garcia, Neil Sedaka, Keith Moon, Paul Simon, and 60’s soul singer
Howard Tate. Gary was most recently in seen PBS’s “American Masters”
series documentary on John Lennon, “Lennon NYC”. As a singer/songwriter
Gary has also recorded with his own groups, the Dynatones on Hanna Barbera
records, Pig Iron on Columbia records and on the Apple label with Elephant’s
Memory (which recorded with Lennon and Yoko Ono as the Plastic Ono
Elephant’s Memory Band).

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