CinemaKC Presents the Premiere of “MEMOIRS OF A HIP ‘OLE BLACK MAN'”

CinemaKC Presents the Premiere of MEMOIRS OF A HIP ‘OLE BLACK MAN’

A Documentary Film about Vinx De’Jon Parrette

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – CinemaKC will present the premiere showing of Memoirs of a Hip ‘Ole Black Man’ at 7:00p.m. on Friday, September 18, 2015, at the Gem Theater in the Kansas City Jazz District. There is a VIP Party before the screening at 6:00p.m. and a Q & A after the screening.

Memoirs of a Hip ‘Ole Black Man’ tells the story of musician Vinx De’Jon Parrette, who has worked with artists Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, and Sting. He was once a successful athlete but when politics destroyed his Olympic Dream; music restored him.

Vinx was a celebrated triple jump track and field athlete who was chosen for the U.S.A. Olympic Team in 1980. He is a graduate of Shawnee Mission South and is among their Hall of Fame alumni who was just presented with an award in Kansas City in January for his track star abilities. It was in 1980 that President Jimmy Carter issued an ultimatum to the Soviet Union to withdraw from Afghanistan or the US. would boycott the Moscow Olympics. The U.S. boycott of the the games ensued and Vinx’s dreams were shattered.

Vinx went on to explore his musical gifts when he met Sting and joined him on a World Tour. In this film, Vinx tells about the unexpected effects and consequences. We see him at work and on stage inspiring others.

Vinx De’Jon Parrette is a gifted improvisational vocalist with songs that range from jazz to funk, bossa nova to blues and more. Vocals with intricate layered melodies and grooves mark the signature style that is Vinx. His music is infused with tastes from around the globe and his songwriting evokes storytelling in the style of an emotive balladeer.

Vinx has recorded and toured with some of the music industry’s greatest icons: Stevie Wonder, Sting, Herbie Hancock, Sheryl Crow, Branford Marsalis, Ernie Watts, Taj Mahal, Ricki Lee Jones, Darius Rucker, Vance Gilbert, Cassandra Wilson, Brenda Russell, Cher, and numerous others.  His songwriting credits range from work for Tom Jones and Will Downing to “The Lion King” and Sprite™.

Vinx currently teaches at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Dreamsicle Arts & Entertainment Group is home to his production company, studios and workshop series. (www.dreamsiclearts.com)

CinemaKC presents Memoirs of a Hip ‘Ole Black Man on Friday, September 18, 2015, at the Gem Theater, 1616 E. 18th Street, in the Kansas City JAZZ District on the Vine. VIP party at 6:00p.m. and screening at 7:00p.m.

A ticket for the film screening at 7:00p.m. with admittance to the VIP Party 6:00 – 7:00p.m. is $35. It includes appetizers and two drink tickets, a mini-concert by Vinx and the opportunity to meet him, seating in reserved VIP seats, welcome by Vinx with an introduction to the film, screening of “Memoirs of a Hip ‘Ole Black Man'”, and a Q & A with Vinx. Proceeds benefit CinemaKC.

General Admission for the film screening at 7:00p.m is $20 for one ticket. It includes a welcome by Vinx and introduction to the film, screening of “Memoirs of a Hip ‘Ole Black Man'”, and the Q & A with Vinx. Proceeds benefit CinemaKC.

Online tickets are available here. Tickets for the VIP party are available to purchase online before September 16, 2015.

“The future of vocal jazz innovation is safe in the voice of Vinx.” – Al Jarreau

“Vinx is a unique and gifted musician, a pioneer that created his own genre and a complete entertaining unit unto himself. He had me at hello!” – Brenda Russell

“His baritone voice swooping and soaring through melodies had me open mouthed, gaping in that telling combination of wonder and envy that great artists sometimes provoke” – STING

“A powerful effortless tunesmith and a vocalist of uncommon subtlety and understanding.” – The Philadelphia Inquirer

“Vinx is the gift you give to someone you really care about” – Stevie Wonder

CinemaKC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to promoting area films and filmmakers. It produces CinemaKC, a weekly showcase of local talent airing on KCPT-TV and “CinemaKC Noteworthy”, featured weekly on Bridge TV on KCPT-TV.

For more info contact Pat Williams at 4CinemaKC@gmail.com

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PATRICIA HAMARSTROM WILLIAMS, M.F.A., Ph.D.abd is storyteller with international film and theatre directing and new media credits. Her film credits include “A Tomb for Boris Davidovich”, “A Long Day’s Journey Into Night”, “Othello”, and “Tiger Dance”; work at Cinecitta and for Universal Studios. She has also directed at major theatres, including Lincoln Center, American Repertory Theatre, Missouri (now Kansas City) Repertory Theatre, national Shakespeare Festivals, and the National Theatre of Serbia.

Hamarstrom Williams has served as Executive Director of both the Kansas City Film Festival and the KAN Film Festival. She is Vice President of the Board of CinemaKC, having joined in 2014.