Koz, McKnight and Sheléa in your living room

Dave Koz & Brian McKnight

For one enchanted evening GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz and R&B superstar vocalist Brian McKnight announce “A Romantic Night In,” a livestream concert that will take place on Valentine’s Day Eve – Saturday, February 13, 2021 – beginning at 5 PM PST/8 PM EST via Looped. They will be joined by special guest Sheléa.

Dave Koz says, “Brian, Sheléa and I are so excited to provide the romantic soundtrack to your Valentine’s weekend celebration at home. Pour a glass of wine, dip some strawberries in chocolate…and leave it to us to provide the musical magic!”

Please note, this is a virtual event and will NOT take place at the Theatre.

“Brian McKnight &
  Dave Koz”
DATE: Sat. Feb. 13, 2021
TIME: 8 p.m.
VIRTUAL TICKETS: $35

‘Ameris Bank’ marks 21 years of support for nonprofit Florida Theatre

Ameris Bank, a corporate partner of the Florida Theatre since 2000, has announced its renewed support of the historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre. “We very much value our sponsorship and our relationship with the Florida Theatre,” said Scott Hall, Ameris Bank’s Commercial Banking Market Executive. “It’s been a wonderful way for us to give back to the community, and to promote and preserve the wonderful quality of life that we have here in Jacksonville.”

"The historic Florida Theatre is pleased to play its part in providing Northeast Florida with the music, dance and theatre programs that are part of what gives Jacksonville the unique character that we have all come to appreciate, and expect, as residents of a great city,” said Florida Theatre President, Numa Saisselin. “The theatre earns 85% of its annual budget from its business activities, and support from the business community, like our returning Corporate Partner Ameris Bank, helps to close that small budget gap every year and keep the Florida Theatre and its programs something special for our community.”

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre's official website.

About Ameris Bank: Ameris Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and the parent of Ameris Bank, a Georgia state-chartered bank. Ameris Bank had 164 branches in Georgia, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina.

Singer ‘Easton Corbin’ coming to the Florida Theatre

The Florida Theatre welcomes chart-topping country music singer Easton Corbin on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 8 p.m. “Turn up a little Conway Twitty,” Easton Corbin croons in his distinctive Southern drawl on latest single “Turn Up.” Within the track, Corbin blends traditional instrumentation with modern day production alongside vivid country storytelling for a sound that is uniquely his.

Corbin exudes country. His distinctive baritone has been gracing airwaves for the past decade as his chart-topping debut single “A Little More Country Than That” established Corbin as a mainstay on the country charts. Billboard’s 2010 Top New Country Artist would go on to garner another No. 1 hit with the feel-good “Roll With It,” and several other chart topping singles like “A Girl Like You,” “Baby Be My Love Song,” “Lovin’ You Is Fun,” “All Over The Road,” “I Can’t Love You Back” and more.

Florida-native Corbin continues to distinguish himself from other male vocalists as a tried-and-true country traditionalist who weaves timeless story songs together while tipping his hat to the classic country artists who have come before him. “That’s what I love and that’s what I do,” he says of his passion for traditional country music. “For me, it's about keeping one foot in the traditional and one foot in the modern and marrying those two. I’m a country singer: That's one of the things that I take pride in. I try to hone that craft and try to represent that.”

While 2020 marks the 10^th anniversary of “A Little More Country Than That” achieving No. 1 status, Corbin shows no sign of slowing down with the release of his infectious new single “Turn Up” and more new music on the way. He promises a “wide array” of songs that include fiddle and pedal steel. As he embarks on a new chapter as an independent artist, Corbin says “A Little More Country Than That” still reflects who he is as an artist and where he sees his career going.

“That's really how I grew up,” he says of his career-defining song. “‘A Little More Country Than That’ radiates with me and my band as well because that really is who I am. That's where I came from, that's what I am. It’s just as important now as it was then, because that's the one that started it all for me. That’s definitely a staple of an Easton Corbin show. I think it also defines my audience and who they are.”

This will be a socially-distanced event with health and safety protocols in place. Patrons can visit floridatheatre.com/home/breaking-news for the most up to date information on The Florida Theatre’s safety protocols and general updates. Additionally, ticket purchasers will be notified by email of specific safety requirements prior to the event.

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre’s official website.

“Easton Corbin”
DATE: Thurs., Feb. 11, 2021
TIME: 8 p.m.
TICKETS: $49.50 – $59.50

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
      128 East Forsyth Street.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
      (904) 355-2787

Florida Theatre posts 2020 annual report

The Florida Theatre has released its annual report for the fiscal year that ended on September 30, 2020. The report is a digital publication that was emailed to the theatre’s supporters on February 3, 2021, and is available to the general public on the theatre’s web site, floridatheatre.com.

The Florida Theatre Performing Arts Center, Inc. is the nonprofit corporation that has managed and programmed the historic Florida Theatre in downtown Jacksonville since 1987 in a public/private partnership with the City of Jacksonville, which owns the building.

Says Florida Theatre President Numa Saisselin, “As a nonprofit corporation, we exist to serve the public, not a private investor or owner, and we believe in transparency. Even though private contributions are just 13% of our operating income, and government support is less than 5%, we still want our donors and supporters to know exactly how we are doing, so they have confidence in our ability to deliver the community service they expect.”

Among the highlights of this year’s 20-page report:

·         51% of ticket buyers reside in Duval County, and 49% of ticket buyers came from outside Duval County, choosing the Florida Theatre and downtown Jacksonville as the place to spend their entertainment dollars.

·         The Theatre’s activity resulted in an economic impact of $8.5 million, supporting the full time equivalent of 261 jobs, $6.4 million of household income, $450,000 of state government tax and fee income, and $371,000 of local government tax and fee income.

·         Even though the theatre was closed for more than half the year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, its artist selections were still strong enough to earn it recognition as one of the most attended theatre venues in the country by two industry publications, Pollstar (Top 10 up to 2,000 seats) and VenuesNow (Top 5 up to 2,000 seats).

·         Even though not having a show after March 12 caused the organization to lose over 95% of its income, the organization still managed to be financially viable in part because 100% of its Corporate Partners renewed their annual memberships, and the number of individual people making a membership contribution fell by just 5%.

Says Saisselin, “That is a strong statement about the importance of the Florida Theatre in our communal lives.”

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre's official website.

About Florida Theatre: From ballet and opera to contemporary pop, jazz, rock, country and blues the nonprofit Florida Theatre offers 175 cultural and entertainment events annually for every taste and age. More than just an entertainment center, Florida Theatre is also home to graduations, awards ceremonies, lectures, business meetings and charity events that support the community's schools, churches, hospitals and civic groups. As an anchor to downtown development along the beautiful St. Johns River, Florida Theatre draws 175,000 people to Jacksonville's center each year. The magnificently restored Florida Theatre is recognized as one of the finest concert venues in the Southeast. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Florida Theatre holds special memories for four generations. From the Vaudeville acts and silent films of its earliest days to today's blend of performances of all kinds, the Florida Theatre has served as Jacksonville's premier entertainment center since 1927.

Julian Marley brings ‘The Wailers' to JAX

The Florida Theatre is pleased to welcome reggae legends The Wailers featuring Julian Marley at the Florida Theatre on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at 8 p.m.

Not many bands can claim genuine legend status. The Wailers, however, can comfortably claim their place in essential music history as the band that backed the incomparable Bob Marley. Culture defining; rebel hearts with brave souls embodying the spirit of 1970’s era-defining reggae.

In this show, the offspring of legends Bob Marley and Aston Barrett, these two princely inheritors of reggae - power duo Julian Marley and Aston Barrett Jr. - join forces to return reggae to its acoustic roots.  The sound is a culmination of a life-long friendship and musical collaboration between the two.

Aston Barrett Jr. started working with the renowned Julian at the age of 14 while still in the eighth grade. Seeing an emerging talent, Julian quickly took him under his wing, inviting him to his house and exposing him to the many seminal guitar books, and to the family’s rich collection of early-reggae 1960’s recordings of his father.

Julian Marley, son of the iconic Bob Marley and twice Grammy-nominated musician and producer is a true and authentic representation of Rasta.  A world-renowned artist and devoted Rastafarian, Julian conveys his message of legalization, freedom, and love through his humanitarian efforts, music and JuJu Royal brand.

An idea born out of a phone call from friend and fellow musician Jaime Hinckson, this rare collaboration of three of reggae’s most prominent artists is a richly layered tapestry of both the genre’s early rhythmic wisdom and the newer cadences of a younger generation taking reggae’s divine message out to the world.

This will be a socially-distanced event with health and safety protocols in place. Patrons can visit floridatheatre.com/home/breaking-news for the most up to date information on The Florida Theatre’s safety protocols and general updates. Additionally, ticket purchasers will be notified by email of specific safety requirements prior to the event.

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.

  “The Wailers
featuring Julian Marley”
DATE: Sat. Feb.20, 2021
TIME:8 p.m.
TICKETS:  $39.50 - $49.50

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
      128 East Forsyth Street.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
      (904) 355-2787

‘Rodney Carrington’ is coming to JAX as promised

The Florida Theatre is pleased to announce that comedian, actor and writer “Rodney Carrington” will perform on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Rodney is a multi-talented comedian, actor, singer and writer playing sold-out shows around the world as one of the top 10 highest-grossing touring comedians for the past two decades.

A platinum-recording artist, Rodney's recorded eight major record label comedy albums, followed by three albums on his own record label, Laughter's Good Records. His last album Here Comes the Truth (released 2017) climbed to number 3 on the comedy charts, accruing tens of millions of streams on Spotify and even spawned a Netflix special.

Rodney broke through with his major label comedy CD debut Hangin' With Rodney in 1998. The next few years saw nine more Top 10 comedy albums: Live, Morning Wood, Nutsack, Greatest Hits, King of the Mountains, El Nino Loco, C'mon Laugh You Bastards, Laughter's Good and The Hits, all of which continue to receive radio airplay and regularly place on the national comedy charts. Hangin' With Rodney and Morning Wood earned RIAA gold record certification, and his Greatest Hits (a double CD) album reached platinum status. Rodney also released Make it Christmas which features his original song “Camouflage and Christmas Lights," a tribute to our military.

Rodney also added "author" to his list of accomplishments with the release of his book Rodney Carrington, Coming Clean published by Hatchette Books.

Over the years, he's starred in his own TV sitcom, Rodney, which ran for two seasons on ABC, co-wrote and co-starred with Toby Keith in the feature film, Beer for My Horses, which won the Tex Ritter Award from the ACM, and starred in his own Netflix special Here Comes The Truth. Rodney's also appeared on countless other TV shows, including the ACA (American Country Awards), hosting the American Country New Year's Eve Live show on FOX, and won "Supporting Character of the Year” from the CMT Music Video Awards for his appearance on the Trace Adkins' music video “I Got My Game On."

Rodney is fresh off the release of his latest album, Get Em Out, which hit #1 on iTunes, and is gearing up for a year of touring in 2020.

Rodney’s live show is recommended for mature audiences only.

This will be a socially-distanced event with health and safety protocols in place. Patrons can visit floridatheatre.com/home/breaking-news for the most up to date information on The Florida Theatre’s safety protocols and general updates. Additionally, ticket purchasers will be notified by email of specific safety requirements prior to the event.

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.

“Rodney Carrington”
DATE: Sat. Feb. 6, 2021
TIME: 6:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
TICKETS:  $49.50 - $59.50

LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
      128 East Forsyth Street.
      Jacksonville, FL 32202
      (904) 355-2787

WJCT hosts virtual conversation “The Black Church”

WJCT Public Media today announced it will host a community conversation and launch an interactive initiative in connection with “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song,” the upcoming PBS documentary series by Dr. Henry Louis Gates. The community conversation, titled “Sights, Sounds, and Spirit of the Black Church,” will be held virtually on February 15 at 7 p.m., and is funded by a grant from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting.

Lynn Sherman, Director of Social Responsibility and Community Engagement at Baptist Health, will host the community conversation, which will feature panelists Jeff Boddie, Associate Director of Worship, Downtown, at Shiloh Church, Bishop Charles Bernard Eichelberger Sr., Pastor & Founder at Cathedral of Deliverance, and Ben Frazier, President & Founder of Northside Coalition of Jacksonville. Registration for this free virtual event is open at wjct.org/events/blackchurch.

“Northeast Florida’s diversity is its strength, and WJCT Public Media is proud to host this conversation centered around the connections between faith and community, and between our community’s history and its future,” said David McGowan, President of WJCT Public Media. “We encourage our neighbors to join us in exploring and celebrating the cultural and historical importance of local Black churches and their musical traditions to our region, as part of WJCT Public Media’s celebration of Black History Month.”

Additionally, WJCT Public Media invites members of churches across Northeast Florida to record and share a video that is five minutes or less in length that explains what the black church means to them. The stories will be archived in the Florida Collection at the Jacksonville Public Library through February 28. Videos may be submitted at wjct.org/blackchurch.

“The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song” is a four-hour documentary series tracing the 400-year history of the Black church in America, produced by McGee Media, Inkwell Media and WETA Washington, D.C., in association with Get Lifted. The series features interviews with John Legend, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Hudson, Bishop Michael Curry, Cornel West, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Rev. Al Sharpton, Yolanda Adams, Rev. William Barber II, BeBe Winans, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie and more. It premieres at 9 p.m. on February 16 and 17 on WJCT-TV, and PBS stations nationwide, as well as streaming on the PBS app, PBS Passport and PBS.org.

“‘The Black Church’ is a landmark documentary that beautifully illustrates the preeminent role church, faith and spirituality have played in shaping the Black American experience,” said Pat Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. “Through these grants, we are helping public media stations -- public radio as well as public television -- leverage the documentary series to bring together new partners and explore how the role of the Black church has evolved in their communities and impacted our nation.”

“Our series is a riveting and systematic exploration of the myriad ways in which African Americans have worshipped God in their own images, and continue to do so today, from the plantation and prayer houses, to camp meetings and store-front structures, to mosques and mega-churches," said Gates, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. "This is the story and song our ancestors bequeathed to us, and it comes at a time in our country when the very things they struggled and died for — faith and freedom, justice and equality, democracy and grace — all are on the line. No social institution in the Black community is more central and important than the Black church.”

Major corporate support for “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song” is provided by Johnson & Johnson. Major support is also provided by the Lilly Endowment Inc., Ford Foundation, and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television viewers. Public radio station engagement grants are funded by CPB and administered by the VuHaus Group, a public media music organization of stations. 

“The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song” is presented as part of WJCT Public Media’s celebration of Black History Month. For a full list of programming, visit wjct.org/blackhistory.

Mackey’s Munchies open in Orange Park

Want some good Louisiana cooking? You need to come to Mackey’s Munchies and celebrate Mardi Gras with some good food. When you come to Mackey’s Munchies there is a reading area where children can exchange books to increase their knowledge and vocabulary. This being Black History Month, is an opportunity to fill your minds, bellies and souls. Need a ‘King Cake’ order one today.

Their vision statement reads: “Come in as customer – leave as a friend!” We use recipes and ingredients to enhance people's lives. Great food is one of the few things that bring many people together. It's a universal language for Love. We do our best to serve Love every time we serve our customers, so they become our friends—and even friends with each other. Our business is unique because “there is no place like home.” We are home when you need a place to go. We cook our food the way we like to eat it and we will share it with the ones we love! We are a conversation between friends!” LOVE – The MACKEY'S

Come celebrate either dine-in or take-out during Fat Tuesday, February 16, 2021, from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. & order “A Taste of Gumbo” on the same day from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.

LOCATION: Mackey’s Munchies Restaurant
      (closed on Mondays)
      868 Blanding Blvd.
       (near Ollie’s dept. store)
      Orange Park, FL 32065
      (904) 458-4246

Invitation from the Cummer Museum for Feb. 2021

When was the last time that you safely went out? Have you been to the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens lately? It’s a safe and fun place to be even during a pandemic. Make plans to give them a call and visit safely this weekend or next week.

The Museum, in partnership with The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, is curating a retrospective exhibition to celebrate the “30th Anniversary of the Art Ventures Fund”. Thirty artists have been selected to include one work — one for each year of Art Ventures grantmaking. Art Ventures is an endowed fund at The Community Foundation, launched in 1990 through a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts that was matched by generous local donors. The fund makes grants annually to individual artists and small arts organizations so recipients can explore or refine the next level of their craft, with more than $1.4 million invested since its inception.

February Events & Programs:

Artistic Expressions: Drawing and painting, ages 6-12, Multi-week, virtual class Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Members $100 & Non-Members $120. Registration required.

Art Immersion: Photography, ages 9-12 Multi-week, virtual class Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Members $100 & Non-Members $120. Registration required.

Illustration Intensive: Drawing, ages 13-17 Multi-week, virtual class Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Members $150 7 Non-Members $180. Registration required.

Slow Art Wednesdays: Take a fun and mindful break Wednesday, Feb. 10 & Wednesday, Feb. 24 from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Family Experience: Interactive Virtual Tour Friday, Feb. 19 from 6 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Studio on the Go: Drop-in Art Making Sunday, Feb. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. Free with admission.

Teachers' Virtual Lounge: Connect with Educators
Tuesday, Feb. 23
5 p.m.
Free | Registration required.

Events & Programs:
Art Ventures Programming:
In partnership with The Community Foundation of Northeast Florida, the Museum is hosting special programming with Art Ventures grant recipients on select Free Friday nights. Visitors will enjoy poetry readings, spoken word, musical performances, and more. 
Friday, Feb. 5; Arvid Smith, sets at 6 and 7 p.m. 
Barbara Colaciello, three acts, 6, 7 and 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 19 Ebony Payne English, readings at 7 and 8 p.m.
Rick Colado, 6 to 8 p.m. Free | Museum admission registration required.

Black History Month Programming: Come take a moment as the Cummer celebrates Black History Month and the significant contributions and creativity of their Black community. Whether you join the museum in-person or from the comfort of home, they have opportunities throughout the month for you to enjoy, including live music, art talks, art-making, and more. Check their website in February for details.

LiterARTure Virtual Series: The upcoming LiterARTure Series is both a book and art club, and explores coping with the pandemic. Cindy Edelman and Stacey Goldring offer prescriptive solace and refuge within the pages of books and painted artworks. Visit the Museum Shop to purchase your books in advance of the lectures. Attend one lecture or all four! Free | Registration required | 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 | Running for Cover: Running for cover, finding context for our shambolic times, understanding nightmares and monsters, and providing a new perspective. Book:  Frankenstein, Mary Percy Shelley, Artwork: The Nightmare, Henry Fuseli.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission