To celebrate Black History Month and the loveable day of Valentine’s Day, Student Government Organization hosted For the Love of Music: Black History Month and Valentine’s Day concert on Friday, February 6, 2015, at Wilkins Theatre. It was a successful night, especially since nearly 800 tickets were sold before the concert date. On the night of, the crowd did not only consist of college students, but of people of different ages ranging from age 17 to about the age of 60.
The Student Government Organization had first thought of this idea a year ago when Gerard Smithwrick, a senior and history major, the president of the Student Government Organization, and the president of Graduate and Part-Time Students [GPSC] and Chazz Fellenz came together to discuss possible concert ideas for Valentine’s Day and Black History Month. Eventually this idea became the successful reality of For The Love of Music. “What made this concert such a success is the fact that it brought the Kean community together more than any other [event] I've ever seen before,” comments Smithwrick. After lowering the price just days before the concert from $25 to $10 per every six tickets with a valid student Kean ID, the show had sold out in two days!
“I loved seeing the faces of the Kean students, faculty, staff, alumni, and family before, during and after the concert; smiles everywhere,” Smithwrick says. He continues to say how “everyone was asking [the Student Government Organization Executive Board] and I if they could see the artists backstage, and many inquired as to what Student Government will do next. [Now] that made my night.”
The concert started at 8 p.m., and included three talented artist, rhythm and blues [R&B] artist Chrisette Michele, who has won a Grammy Award for her performance of her song “Be OK;” former member Floetry Marsha Ambrosius; and soul singer and songwriter Musiq Soulchild, who has won several Billboard Awards. Smithwrick comments on how these individuals “are extremely talented singers and songwriters who’s vocal mastery brought a new level of entertainment to the university.” Throughout the night the crowd was roaring as each artist came on stage. Michele engaged with the audience throughout her performance, as well as introduced all of her backup singers. With this engagement, the audience felt at ease and at home. Smithwrick explains how “Ambrosius came and ‘kept it real’ with us [by] singing her hit songs and” sharing the stories behind each them. But when Soulchild had popped on stage, the crowd, as Smithwrick says, had went insane. As Soulchild had sung his hits people had risen from their seats and began to dance and sing along with him. “And for his final two to three songs,” Smithwrick comments, “the crowd was already at the edge of the stage jamming out ‘til the very end.”
Smithwrick believes “that this event sparked a future trend,” and although this is Smithwrick’s last semester at Kean University, “I hope that my successors continue to support this event. I think we may have started a brand new tradition.” In the past Student Government Organization held many programs and activities throughout the month of Black History Month, usually bringing in different speakers. This year, the organization took a risk of by hosting a concert for Black History Month and Valentine’s Day, a risk that had very much paid off.
