NEWPORT NEWS — The Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center will have a concert to pay tribute to the late Aretha Franklin on Friday.
Franklin, the “Queen of Soul,” won 18 Grammy awards and was the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She died earlier this month from pancreatic cancer at 76.
The free concert will have performances from local artists across Hampton Roads, including a dance routine from Dreams in Motion dance studio, a live painting by local artist Gerome Meminger, singers Demitra Nikki, Minister Traci Georges, Rea Jones-Cuffee and many more.
There will also be a guest performance by Queen Esther Marrow, Newport News gospel singer and friend of Franklin’s, according to the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center announcement.
RESPECT: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin concert will be Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. at Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center, 2410 Wickham Ave.
Tickets for the event are currently sold out.
However, tickets will not guarantee entry to the concert after 8:15 p.m. so all remaining seats will be made available to anyone, with or without a ticket.
For more information, visit the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center website or call 757-247-8950.
