Toronto’s Little Jamaica community will be showcased during Black Music Month

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow proclaims June as Black Music Month

Join the Canada Black Music Archives (CBMA) on June 21st in celebration of Black Music Month. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has proclaimed June 2024 as Black Music Month, acknowledging the role it has played in shaping Toronto’s music identity. In partnership with the City of Toronto’s Music Office, SOCAN, TD Bank, the City of Toronto Archives, and Ontario Creates, the CBMA has curated a special showcase event in celebration of Black music and culture, with a focus on Toronto’s Little Jamaica community.

Black Music Month Showcase at City of Toronto Archives

The Black Music Month Showcase will be held at the City of Toronto Archives (255 Spadina Road) on June 21st with doors opening at 5:30pm and the program running from 6:00pm-8:00pm. This free event offers performances from renowned Canadian artists including Reggae Queen Nana McLean with Eddie Bullen, Maurice Gordon, and Henry Gomez aka King Cosmos. McLean brings her Jamaican roots and smooth vocals while Gomez and Gordon provide a unique Caribbean folk music experience.

Also featured are photographs, album covers and other artifacts from the Little Jamaica community on Eglinton Avenue West. The exhibition will include a behind-the-scenes peak of community greats like Leroy Sibbles, Everton Cooper aka King Culture, and more. These displays will be available for the remainder of June at the City of Toronto Archives.

The CBMA continues to celebrate Black music all summer-long with the end of June bringing the opening of The Little Jamaica Music History Walking Tour. Beginning on Thursday June 27th, the Little Jamaica Music History Walking Tour takes participants on an exploration of the Eglinton Ave. West community that has brought Caribbean music, culture, and history to the city for decades. The tours will continue for the rest of the summer twice a month until September.

Join the CBMA in continuing the celebration of Black music history.

We’d like to thank our sponsors and partners at SOCAN, the City of Toronto’s Music Office, TD Bank, Ontario Creates, and the City of Toronto Archivesfor making this special showcase event possible.

For more details on the Little Jamaica Music History Walking Tour or to book your tour, please visit our landing page at https://thecbma.com/little-jamacia-music-history-tour/.

You can register for the Black Music Month Showcase here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-music- month-showcase-tickets-925307598937?aff=oddtdtcreator

For news on upcoming events signup for their newsletter here: https://thecbma.com/reading-room/.

submitted by Eric Alper

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