Life Ring Foundation hits a high note with ‘Old School’ funksters
by Brother Love
It was a great show for a great cause as Life Ring Foundation presented, Cameo and Morris Day and The Time August 2 at Roanoke’s Elmwood Park Amphitheatre. The event was a collaborative production between Life Ring Foundation and the Jefferson Center.
The Funk and Soul review began with Morris Day and The Time, aka The Original 7ven, stirring up an enthusiastic crowd, packed in the downtown venue, many of which rushed to the front of the stage to hear The Time start with “Git It Up.” Before you knew it the crowd was “Wild and Loose,” — a tune from the group’s 2nd album “What Time is it?”
With early evening temperatures in the upper ’80s, Day was still cool even though he explained, “you all think I’m sweating, no I’m cool inside and like a cold bottle of fine champagne removed from the refrigerator, I condensate.” He capped it with his signature laugh. “Condensate” happens to be the band’s latest CD released by Saguaro Roads Records.
Morris Day is a bona fide crowd pleaser and a consummate showman that lives for his fans who are thrilled by his antics particularly that comb and mirror move that is such a part of his dashing and elevated style.
The group put on a show that was everything the crowd expected, performing many of their favorites wrapped in those classic dance moves that “The Time” is so known for.
When you thought it couldn’t get any better, OW!, Larry Blackman and Cameo arrived, launching a rhythmic hard rock groove that phased into “She’s Strange but I Like It” just one of the group’s many hits. The classic hard-hitting funksters were in fine order tearing the roof off the sucker with the soulful funk style that has served them well for nearly 40 years. With plans to release a new CD in January, Cameo shows no signs of slowing down.
Kelly Woolwine, president, Life Ring Foundation said, “This event is a coming out party for (LRF) to let people know who we are, get people on board to support what (LRF) is doing, attract donors, to create a greater awareness for the project we’ve involved in and last but not least to help Roanoke’s music scene by bringing fine musical acts to Roanoke. This concert I hope, will be the first of many to come in the Big Lick Concert Series.”
LFR serves the Southwest Virginia community’s impoverished, supporting literacy along with partner Apple Ridge Farms. The organization offers safe haven for area victims of domestic violence and provides hundreds of Christmas presents during the holiday season. Additionally, LRF helps put advanced life saving equipment in Carilion’s Roanoke Memorial Hospital neonatal intensive care unit and partners with The Miracle Network, Cure Kids Cancer and others.
Kianna Price Wade, program director for Vibe 100.1 FM and 97.7 FM was the show’s MC while DJ Freddy Mac manned the turntable at this exciting event, that was well received by the many in attendance. All proceeds form the show went to charity.
