Spotlight on the ‘70s: A Groovy Evening of Celebration, Fun, and a Musical World Premiere

By Doug Litwin

Photos by Jho

The Oakland Asian Cultural Center came alive on May 20, 2023, when the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band presented Spotlight on the ‘70s, saluting the decade when the Band was founded 45 years ago. The sold-out crowd enjoyed music from the era, presented live by the Official Band of San Francisco. The vocal stylings of Phaedra Tillery-Boughton and host Donna Sachet added to the trip down memory lane. Being a fundraiser for the Band, the evening also featured many exciting auction prizes, including a Princess Cruise for two and the chance to conduct the Band in the 1978 classic “Y.M.C.A.” Thousands of dollars were raised.

A highlight of the concert was definitely not from the 1970s: the world premiere of Awakening, a work commissioned by renowned BIPOC composer Roger Zare, who was in attendance. Zare and Artistic Director Pete Nowlen gave a joint pre-concert talk about the piece and also addressed the audience just before Awakening was played. You can see the performance online: https://tinyurl.com/2pfm5zfs

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