The funk
A common sentiment within the Black Community of CNY is that the region doesn't present enough high level entertainment representative of its tastes and culture. Many diverse artists share the same point of view as it relates to economic opportunities. The belief has led them to direct their energies toward participating in the events that happen in neighboring cities and states.
JAMS Funk Fests fills the void. The annual festivals are presented on a large scale platform at the New York State Fair. Culturally appropriate national recording artists headline the festivals preceded by a rich line-up of performances from top local/regional acts. The events are open to the public and free with paid admission to the fair. To assure that no one is left out due to an inability to purchase a fair ticket; JAMS distributes 1,000s of complimentary gate passes to churches, community organizations and other strategic distribution sites. The responses to the festivals have been phenomenal.
Below: Photos of performances by National Recording Artists at JAMS Funk Fests...
2025 Rose Royce
2025 David Bank's Enchantment
2024 TMF (The Music Forever)
Above: TMF (the Music Forever). TMF is the band who for decades toured and performed as Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. Maze's original band member, Ronald “Roame” Lowry, (percussionist and bg vocalist); who performed on every recording made by the group, is keeping the music alive with this new endeavor. The Funk Fest crowd thoroughly enjoyed TMF's lead singer Chris Walker's soulful renditions of Maze's biggest hits on the Capital Records and Warner Brothers labels, like “We are one," Golden time of day,” and their anthem hit “Before I let go.” The crowd got up and partied hard to their new single “Let me love you.”
2024 Raydio
Above: Raydio featuring Arnell Carmichael performed at Funk Fest 2k24. In 1980, the Arista recording artists, then known as Ray Parker Jr and Raydio, sang about being in “Two places at the same time" when they struck gold with their hit of the same title. Parker Jr., now performs only occasionally, overseas, while at the same time, co-lead singer Arnell Carmichael carries on the group's legacy domestically. Arnell's was the high tenor voice that was heard on some of their late 70s gold record hits like “Jack and Jill” and "You cant change that." With Parker Jr. performing overseas and Carmichael performing domestically, shows that you can in fact be in two places at the same time. The festival's opening Acts were: C Jack Run Presents (youth acts); Shawn Seals & SMX: Stroke featuring Isreal Hagan; and Akuma Roots (reggae). CP Lacey of Showtime at the Apollo emceed the event.
