Music in Common Celebrates 1-year Anniversary of Black Legacy Project

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Music in Common, a Berkshires-founded nonprofit that connects communities through music, celebrates the one-year anniversary of the launch of The Black Legacy Project, a musical celebration of Black history to advance racial solidarity, equity, and belonging.

The Black LP is a national project produced in partnership with community stakeholders at the local level.  As it travels the country, the Black LP brings together Black and White artists and artists of ALL backgrounds to record present-day interpretations of songs central to the Black American experience and compose originals relevant to the pressing calls for change of our time.

Community roundtable discussions help inform how these songs are interpreted and written.  The Black Legacy Project launched in Sept. 2021 in the Berkshires and is traveling to Atlanta, Los Angeles, the Mississippi Delta, Denver, and Boise in 2022 - 2023.  Music in Common has partnered with Berkshires-based Outpost to produce a docuseries of the Project. 

Since the September 2021 launch, Music in Common has produced ongoing Black Legacy Project programming in the region including a Black LP concert at the Colonial Theatre, a series of film screenings throughout the county, and a week-long course at Berkshire School. The upcoming anniversary celebration includes a combination of all of these.

On Friday Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m., a Black LP concert featuring a host of local musicians including Rob Sanzone, Rufus Jones, Bryan House, Glori Wilder, Terry a la Berry, Olivia Davis, Liam Giszter, and Brianna Nicola will take place at the Boland Theater at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield. The concert will feature the Black Legacy Project songs recorded in the Berkshires which featured nearly three dozen local musicians including  Wanda Houston, Billy Keane, Gina Coleman, Matt Cusson, Chantell McFarland, Chris Merendaas and others, as well as songs from other Black LP locations such as the Ozarks and Denver.

A screening of the Berkshires episode of the docuseries will kick off the evening and a talkback with Black LP directors and musicians will follow the performance. The event is free and open to all. Tickets can be reserved at eventbrite.com/e/405652967947. Masks are required.

Other events during the week-long celebration include a Black LP performance at the FreshGrass Festival in North Adams on Saturday Sept. 24 and school programs at Berkshire Community College, DuBois Middle School,  and BART. A community roundtable on the theme of  "After Sundown"  will take place  at the Guthrie Center in Housatonic at 7PM on September 21st. Interested participants can register at https://www.theblacklegacyproject.org/roundtables.

The Black Legacy Project one year anniversary is sponsored in part by Berkshire Community College. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more info and to learn how you can get involved, contact Music in Common Marketing & Development Coordinator, Simone Alyse, at simone@musicincommon.org / 404-458-7982. 

Guest Column: An Honor to Serve

By Smitty PignatelliGuest Column
01:21PM / Friday, December 20, 2024

As I reflect on the past 22 years serving as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, I do so with immense pride and gratitude. Together with my colleagues, I have had the privilege of contributing to landmark legislation that has defined our commonwealth, from marriage equality to health care for all — both of which became national models. 

 

I've worked on major environmental, economic development, and housing bond bills that continue to benefit the Berkshires and will for years to come.

 

Of course, none of this was accomplished single-handedly. The legislative process is a team effort, and I have been fortunate to serve alongside dedicated colleagues who have always put the interests of Massachusetts first. When I first entered the House, I thought I knew a lot, having spent years in local and county government. But I quickly realized I had much more to learn. I was lucky to have the guidance and support of Reps. Peter Larkin, Dan Bosley and the entire Berkshire delegation, who took me under their wing and set me on the right path. I was proud to team up with them 20 years ago to create the first in the nation Cultural Facilities Fund that has delivered hundreds of millions of dollars to our local economy. 

 

Throughout my tenure, we've faced the ups and downs of local, state, and global economies. Yet I've always believed that when we work together, no challenge is insurmountable. The 22 communities I have represented over the years have demonstrated time and again the power of collaboration to make the Berkshires — and what I like to call "BesternMass" — a thriving, vibrant region.

 

The State House is steeped in tradition, with its formal titles and protocols: "Representative this" or "Chairperson that." But I've always reminded my team that while my job may be important, I never felt important. I entered the House as Smitty, and I'm proud to leave it the same way — simply Smitty.

 

Growing up, politics in my household was never a dirty word, and politicians were not seen as bad people. Those early lessons grounded me in the belief that public service is about representing the needs of others, not yourself. I've carried that belief with me every day in the House, never forgetting where I came from or the people I was there to serve. Representing the 4th (now 3rd) Berkshire District — my home — has been the greatest honor of my life. I wasn't always successful, but I gave my best every single day. After nearly 50 years in public service, I retire as a public servant, not a politician.

 

One of my greatest concerns is that public office today risks becoming more about "self-service" than "public service." We need people at all levels to stay engaged, hold public officials accountable, and demand better. I've always set a high bar for myself and those around me. I've never been afraid to admit failure or celebrate shared success, and I've tried each day to lead with the same passion, vision, and integrity my family instilled in me.