The saying that music is the universal language that connects cultures and generations couldn’t ring truer than in the case of music producer and legendary saxophonist Trevor Lawrence who made his first stage appearance at Woodstock in 1969, the year segregation was declared illegal.
Recently, Lawrence celebrated over 45 years in the music industry at the historical Maverick’s Flat. He was accompanied by Howard Hewett, Beth Payne (BET’s “Sunday’s Best”), Masumi, 2 Official, Michelle Gubbay and new artist Joseph Marks. An evening highlight was the performance by guitarist Melvin “Wah-Wah Waston” Raglin of Motown fame who’s famous for his contribution in Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On,” and The Temptations’ “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” He was joined onstage for a medley by musicians Ralph Penland and Joel Scott and singers Joseph Marks and Howard Hewett (of Shalamar).
Humanitarian and activist Janice McZeal produced the show. She spoke passionately to a packed house about ending child slavery in the U.S. and Haiti.
She shares, referring to information supplied by Child Labor Public Education Project, “Child labor harms children [and] keeps them from attending school. Around the world and in the U. S., gaps between rich and poor in recent decades have forced millions of young children out of school and into work. The International Labor Organization estimates that 215 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 currently work under conditions that are considered illegal, hazardous, or extremely exploitative. Underage children work at all sorts of jobs around the world, usually because they and their families are extremely poor. Large numbers of children work in commercial agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, mining, and domestic service. Some children work in illicit activities like the drug trade and prostitution or other traumatic activities such as serving as soldiers.”
–yvette caslin
