The Brooklyn Museum is having a special "Out & Proud" Target First Saturday on January 7, 2012 to celebrate HIDE/SEEK: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture. Its the first major museum exhibition to explore how gender and sexual identity have shaped the creation of American portraiture.
OUTMusic Award winning artist Nhojj kicks off the Free evening @ 5 p.m. with a 50 minute set including his latest singles "Adam & Steve" and "He & Him."
His band includes:
John F Adams - Keys (played with Keith Sweat)
Marcelo Cardozo - Guitar
Clark Dark - Bass
Swiss Chris - Drums (played with John Legend)
Ishmael Jeffers, Cameron Bernard Jones, David Williams - Background Vocals
Seating is limited, so everyone is advised to arrive 30 minutes early.
If yo have not heard this new song by OutMusic Award winning singer/songwriter Nhojj, listen now. Also get your feet, knees, hips, booty...your FULL body ready to move because this tune has a dance groove that'll drive you bananas!
Follow the link or CLICK HERE to hear via NhojjCafe:
A college tour is not new for Nhojj. In 2004 he toured American colleges to promote his critically acclaimed "Someday Peace Love & Freedom" CD. This time around there is no album to promote – just a deep rooted conviction that this is what he should do right now. In a society where homophobia still exists, Nhojj wants to share strength, hope, and pride with Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) youth everywhere. The message is – Love is a gift from God, and regardless of sexual orientation "Love Is Love."
When Nhojj ventured into the music business almost a decade ago it was for two reasons: 1 – He loved music; 2 – He wanted to share music. It was as simple as that.
Now chart topper Nhojj – hailed as a pioneer in music by BET and dubbed "the artist to watch this year" by About.com – has other reasons. He wants to affirm and empower youth today, especially the gay youth. He wants to reflect the timeless spiritual teaching that some religions forget - love. "Love is the truth" – lyrics to his #1 Out & Proud CDbaby single "The Gay Warrior Song." He wants to give back to the community (proceeds from the single are being donated to SASOD, an LGBT rights organization in his native Guyana ).
In celebration and as a song of strength and hope for the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) community, Nhojj presents “The Gay Warrior Song,” debuted in New York City at The Heritage of Pride Parade on June 27.
Already #3 on CDBaby’s Out & Proud Chart, proceeds from the sale of "The Gay Warrior Song" will be donated to the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), an LGBT rights organization based in Nhojj’s homeland of Guyana. SASOD is committed to eradicating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Nhojj performed “The Gay Warrior Song” before tens of thousands of people lined up along the NYC Gay Pride Parade route on the Glo TV float. Glo TV is the first urban LGBT Television Network of its kind in the world.
On June 19th Nhojj performed his new gay anthem in Providence, RI at their Rhode Island Pridefest; on June 20th at a church service at the historic St. Marks in the Bowery in the East Village section of New York; and on June 21st at an upper east side Manhattan awards ceremony—the 7th Annual Fresh Fruit Festival Awards at Jan Hus Playhouse.
He received the Music Award of Distinction at the Fresh Fruit Awards. The awards honor outstanding performances and recognize community leaders whose achievements include supporting the arts and the LGBT community. Special honorees included the first openly gay NY State Senator, Tom Duane, Off Broadway legend and pioneering LGBT playwright Doric Wilson, and Under the Pink Carpet producer, Tony Sawicki. This marks the 2nd time Nhojj has won the award.
The parade will wrap up a string of American gay pride performances for Nhojj. His tour covered heartland cities - Fort Collins, CO; Providence, RI; Lexington, KY; Kansas City, MO; and Indianapolis, IN, where he opened the pride festivities with an a cappella rendition of the Star Spangle Banner. On July 17 Nhojj will headline in Germany at the Christopher Street Day Munich gay pride festival.
Nhojj, son of a Minister, grew up in Guyana , and went to high school in Trinidad prior to coming to the United States to attend college. Before he could read or write he sang at his father’s church, and eventually on radio and television shows. Twice he sang in large stadiums - once for the President of Guyana, and once for the President of Trinidad. After graduating with honors from New York University with a Bachelors Degree in Economics, he returned to his passion—singing—and began recording.
To date Nhojj has released 6 album releases, and a DVD directed by Emmy nominated Bill Cote. He is the first black male to win an OutMusic Award, and also the first gay artist to top the mainstream MTV Music charts with a gay music video. His music has been compared with such luminaries as Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Sade, Bobby McFerrin, and Maxwell.
Nhojj wrote “The Gay Warrior Song” as an affirmation to LGBT people everywhere. “War is usually related to physical territory” Nhojj explains. “But today’s gay warrior is not fighting for physical territory, today’s gay warrior is fighting for mental, emotional, and spiritual territory. Today’s gay warrior is fighting for acceptance... for inclusion... for equality... and ultimately for the well being that winning this war brings.”
The Future Forward and Arts.Advocacy+Wellness Wednesday would like to congratulate singer/songwriter Nhojj for making OUTMusic Award History. As coined by BET/centricTV: “ ...a Black history and a gay history first!” for becoming the first African-American to win an OMA.
Nhojj was awarded OUTStanding R&B/Soul Song of the Year for his song “Love,” which features keyboardist Carl Evans (Stevie Wonder, Barry White); David Stark on Guitar (Rick James & Teena Marie); Tommy Aros on percussion (Luis Miguel); and is mastered by Robert Honablue, whose Gold and Platinum credits include Santana, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley and Miles Davis. The video "Love" was directed by Kirk Shannon-Butts who featured "Love" in his highly acclaimed Indie film "Blueprint,” which screened at 2008 Cannes International Film Festival.
Congratulations Nhojj and kudos to your amazing team of musicians, writers, and directors. What an awesome way to begin 2010. We salute you and your accomplishments and welcome more music and more Love.
Click below for additional coverage of Nhojj's story:
