SONGS OF FREEDOM
An Event Celebrating Black History Month and Harriet Tubman's Legacy
Dana Nearing, vocalist,
Linda Harris, Vocalist
David Cole, banjo
Gregory Holloway, Percussion
Emory Diggs, Bass
Thursday, February 29, 2024, 6:30 pm
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Members $40 - Non-Members $60
. Since 2022 Linda and David have traveled locally and abroad performing “Songs of Freedom”, a musical narrative of the Underground Railroad. Their musical collaboration, “ I Got Shoes”, is a CD of field songs, signal songs, that guided the enslaved people to Freedom. spoken words are impossible, singing is a superpower resonating through the body, elevating vibrations and community beyond words”.
This event includes a reception after the performance with heavy hors d'oeuvres and full bar.
6:30 p.m. Doors open
7:00 p.m. Performance
8:00 p.m. Reception with the artists
About the artists:
Dana Nearing
Dana Nearing is a Detroit-born actor and singer. He is heavily influenced by his Motown roots and draws inspiration and energy from his family and community. Most recently, Dana filmed his first film short, ‘In the Blood’ under the direction of Nani Power. Other credits include ArtsCentric's Dreamgirls at Baltimore Center Stage, Keegan Theatre’s Legally Blonde & Hands on a Hardbody and Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s (GMCW) Working. Dana has been a member of GMCW since 2013 singing to inspire equality and inclusion. Dana is currently pursuing his goal of performing on Broadway. www.dananearing.com Instagram: @dnearing
Linda D. Harris
Linda D. Harris is a performer, singer/songwriter and Director of Events and Programs at the Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center in Cambridge, Md. Over the past 3 years she has led walking tours along the underground railroad and freedom trails from Cambridge to Philadelphia, Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, Money to the Tallahatchie River, Miss., and the Combahee River Trail in South Carolina. As part of living history programs, she and David B. Cole sing and engage groups in songs along the Underground Railroad on walking tours. The musical tours have gained such popularity that a production of “Songs of Freedom” was first performed for an audience at the Tubman Museum for African American History Month in 2022. Since then, the production has traveled to Kennett Square, Pa, Cleveland, Oh, Lewes, Del, Washington, D.C., Alexandria, Vienna, Wheaton, Maryland at Brookside Manor for “Maryland Emancipation Day”. The production was so well received at the 200th Anniversary Celebration sponsored by the National Park Service – Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, that it will be reprised and filmed this summer for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Ms. Harris performed the code songs at the Music em Rhein Festival in Bonn, Germany. And has performed as a jazz musician in France, Sweden, Panama, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Germany, New Orleans, Florida, and South Carolina.
David B. Cole
David B. Cole is a composer, writer, arranger, performer, educator and also guitar instructor at the Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. His 50-year musical biography spans the genres of Blues, Jazz, R&B, and Rock n Roll. He has performed the world with top names including Roberta Flack, Regina Bell, Archie Bell, Percy Sledge and the Delfonics in Japan, Canada, Paraguay, India, and throughout the Caribbean and the U.S. He has performed in musical productions at the Arena Stage, Kennedy Center, Metro Stage, and Signature Theaters. He is the leader of David B. Cole and Mainstreet Blues formed in 2004. Mainstreet Blues performs a variety of genres through the mid-Atlantic states.
He formed a collaboration with Linda Harris in 2022 to develop “Songs of Freedom”, a musical production and narration of songs of the Underground Railroad. The ensemble comprised of a percussionist, banjo player, bassist, harmonica player and vocalist deliver the songs in afro-centric rhythm that conjure the spirit of the ancestors. The production has been performed in Pa, Md, D.C., Delaware, Ohio and Virginia. Their 2022 CD – entitled – “I Got Shoes” is nominated for a Wammie, 2023 award in the County/Americana category for Best Album, Best Group and Best Song.
Discounted parking at 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
This project is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
