FLORIDA, United States — The Legacy Learning Foundation (LLF), a non-profit organisation based in South Florida, will honour the man of the house on June 21 with ‘Music For A King: Saluting Fathers’, a concert scheduled for the Hollywood Community Church Auditorium.

Several artistes will perform at the annual event which has a theme of “fun, fellowship, friend-raising, and fundraising”. It helps raise funds to support LLF programmes which include a summer camp for children.

Lorraine Tracey, a director at the LLF, said fathers, often overlooked, get pride of place this year.

“This year, we decided to salute men: dads, granddads, brothers, uncles, and every male figure who steps up to guard, guide, protect, and help raise the children in the village,” she told the Observer Online.  “There is no shortage of programmes honouring moms, and deservedly so, but this one is for the guys.”

‘Music For A King’ is being held one week after Father’s Day to allow fathers to celebrate that day with their families.

Willie Stewart and Friends, an ensemble led by former Third World drummer Willie Stewart, are part of the live entertainment. His band includes guitarists Wayne Armond and Robert Browne, bassist Frank Burt, keyboardists Leroy Romans and Charles Williams, saxophonist Jesse Jones and vocalists Patrick Eulysees Pinkney and Nicole Yarling.

The Reverend Huntley Brown, an acclaimed pianist; singers Bunny Rose and Joan Myers will also perform.

Stewart, who stages the annual Rhythms Of Africa in South Florida, hailed the concept of ‘Music For A King’.

“Being a father and grandfather is a very important role, just like a mother and grandmother in a family. It is the two columns that hold the family foundation up and keep it balanced,” he said.

-Howard Campbell