National Music Centre to “Pass the Mic” with Master T and Guests on February 27 for Black History Month

Celebration of Black Canadian artists to feature Liberty Silver, Wakefield Brewster, Nonso Amadi, and more

(Calgary, AB — February 6, 2024) In honour of Black History Month, the National Music Centre (NMC) will present a special event with former MuchMusic VJ Master T and guests on February 27 at Studio Bell. This national celebration and rich Black Canadian musical journey will take audiences from the ‘60s to present day sounds, reflecting on Black Canadian music as the mic is passed from generation to generation on stage.

Curated and hosted by Master T, the event will feature video montages and performances by artists who represent the past, present, and future of Black Canadian music. Master T will be joined on stage by the first Black woman to receive a Juno Award, empress of soul Liberty Silver, a three-time Juno Award-winner and Grammy recipient for her performance on the charity single, “Tears Are Not Enough,” which raised funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. Calgary's poet laureate Wakefield Brewster, and Canadian-Nigerian singer-producer Nonso Amadi, who fuses Afrobeat, R&B, and soul into his music, will also appear on stage. Wrapping up the evening, audiences will be treated to a special performance as the mic is passed again.

As part of the month’s celebration, a Black History Month art exhibit with emerging Calgary-based artists Anthony T. Russell and Joyce Nseya, and established filmmaker and photographer Sam Obadero will be hosted from February 12-29 on the ground floor of Studio Bell, which is free to the public.

“We all stand on the shoulders of those that came before us...those that laid the foundation, set a positive example, inspired us with excellence, and have created a legacy,” said Master T. “This event is a teachable moment in demonstrating just how far Black music and genres have grown and developed in Canada as we ‘pass the mic.’”

NMC Presents: Pass the Mic with Master T and Guests takes place on February 27 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $35 for General Admission and $30 for NMC Members at studiobell.ca/whats-on. To become an NMC Member, visit studiobell.ca/become-a-member and save on NMC events and exhibitions.

About Master T
Tony Young (a.k.a. Master T) has been at the forefront of music, dance, and culturally diverse television for over 40 years. He and his wife Paula created the show X-Tendamix/Da Mix, which aired on MuchMusic from 1990-2001, and was one of the networks highest rated shows. He fueled the growth of urban music in Canada during his 11 years on air as a MuchMusic VJ and also established himself as an innovative producer. He became world renowned for his relaxed, well-researched style of interviewing some of the biggest stars in the world, such as Madonna, Janet Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, P Diddy, John Travolta, Mary J Blige, Spice Girls, Eminem, Meat Loaf, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and countless others. Master T is also the last person to interview 2Pac before his untimely passing in 1996. He was responsible for introducing North Americans to some of their favorite reggae artists including Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Lady Saw, Shaggy, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and many more.

About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music. It is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.

-30-

Media Contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Publicist
T. 403.543.5123
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada