Bayou City musicians weathered Covid-19 any way they could.
By
Chris Gray
5/11/2021 at 6:00am
Published in the Spring 2021 issue of
Houstonia
Cover photo:Â Music promoter and musician Allen Hill, who lives across the street from the Continental Club, practices guitar in his neighbor s yard. Photo by Thomas Shea.
Houstonâs musicians are resilient. They have to be. Theyâll play for tips, at weddings, on the sidewalkâwherever thereâs a gig. When the coronavirus pandemic began, thatâs also what made them uniquely vulnerable.
Many ply their trade in dark, poorly ventilated bars and nightclubs, or else in social settings where conditions are ripe to create so-called superspreader events. But many of those places have now been closed for going on a year. Worse, medical experts have singled out singing as a perniciously efficient way of transmitting Covid-19. And forget about any kind of social safety net once these people do get sick.
With the Houston Health Department reporting over a million Houstonians have now been fully vaccinated, many people are finally feeling like they can see the end of the COVID-19 pandemic lifestyle we have all come to see as the new normal.
In an attempt to help achieve the return of normalcy, The Houston Music Foundation, which was created to assist Houston musicians during the shutdown providing grants to qualifying artists, has found yet another way to help out the community.
Partnering with Houston Methodist Hospital, a COVID-19 vaccination hub for the city, Bun B and Heights Theater, they will be holding a vaccine drive at the Heights Theater on Wednesday, May 5 from noon to 4 p.m. with the goal of vaccinating anywhere from 500-700 people with the Pfiser vaccine.
Megan Thee Stallion tops list of Texas artists at 2021 Grammys
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Megan Thee Stallion received four Grammy nominations and will also perform at the awards show. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp)Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp
On Sunday, the Recording Academy shared the performance lineup for this year s Grammy Awards show, and Houston s very own Megan Thee Stallion will take part in the production.
Stallion shared the news on Twitter. Unable to contain her excitement, she told her fans, Hotties, get ready.
IM SO EXCITED TO FINALLY ANNOUNCE THAT I WILL BE PERFORMING AT THE GRAMMYS MARCH 14TH!!! Hotties get ready ?”? pic.twitter.com/Nz2zt0qHVP TINA SNOW (@theestallion) March 7, 2021
Bun B promises an epic VERZUZ battle with Southern rap legends
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VERZUZ battles aren t just a celebration of music, they walk us through history, regions and eras.
Fabolous and Jadakiss showcased a bit of New York hip-hop culture, Jeezy and Gucci Mane gave viewers a small taste of Atlanta. More recently, West Coast legends Too $hort and E-40 let everyone know about Bay Area’s contributions to hip hop, and even gave a shout out to DJ Screw.
Bun B had previously made it known back in May that he wanted to compete in a VERZUZ battle with the perfect contender, Memphis duo 8ball & MJG.
City of Houston donates $5 million to local arts groups and creatives Groups such as Houston s A.D. Players received city aid.
Photo by Joey Watkins Photography Houston’s gig economy workers have been hard hit during the pandemic artists and creatives especially so. To that end, several local charities have stepped in to offer aid. Most recently, the Houston Music Foundation gifted $15,000 to area professionals, with funds largely raised by local rap legend, Bun B. Now, the City of Houston has announced a total of $5 million distributed to artists, cultural organizations, music venues, and musicians. The CARES funds were distributed to 691 recipients (226 artists, 308 musicians, 36 music venues, and 121 arts and cultural organizations) via the Mayor s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) in collaboration with Houston Arts Alliance (HAA), and Mid-America Arts Alliance (MAAA), according to a press release.