Concert of Colors

During Ridha’s USA tour he was able to mingle with some of Detroit’s all time great musicians at the “Concert of Colors” which promotes diversity and unites people through music. Concert of Colors presents free indoor performances by musical acts from Detroit and around the world and an outdoor street festival with food, entertainment and family fun. Ridha was invited backstage and even got to be part of the festivities at the end of the evening when all the acts came together for one big song.

Some of the artists included:

Don Was who is not only a great bass player and member of the Was Not Was band, but may be best known as a highly successful record producer. He has worked with an eclectic array of gifted artists ranging from The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Ziggy Marley, Bob Seger, Al Green, Garth Brooks, Ringo Starr, Iggy Pop, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Cocker, Hootie and The Blowfish, Amos Lee and Willie Nelson to Elton John, Stevie Nicks, George Clinton, Randy Newman, The Black Crowes, Carly Simon, Travis Tritt, Brian Wilson, Jackson Browne, The Barenaked Ladies and Cheb Khaled.

Terry Hughley, one of Detroit’s premiere drummers has kept the beat for such greats as The Platters, Mitch Ryder, Don Was, The Drifters, The Coasters and the Sun Messengers to name a few.

Alberta Adams who’s been the Queen of the blues scene in Detroit for over 50 years. She has toured extensively with Louis Jordan, Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson, T-Bone Walker, James Moody and Duke Ellington and recorded extensively particularly in the jump type blues style that is her repertoire today.

Whenever musicians can get together and swap energy it’s a good thing. We hope that Ridha takes a little piece of the Detroit sound back with him as he starts his new musical journeys.

MEA TV-Radio Music and Cultural Event

Ridha performed live before a large crowd in downtown Warren, Michigan for the MEA TV-Radio Music and Cultural Festival, Friday, July 16^th. Before the show he did a 10 minute live interview on the radio. There were rave reviews to his performance.

Here is a little blurb about the event:

The MEA Cultural & Music Festival was a complete success! We are so thankful for the community support, volunteers, performers, vendors, staff & most of all for the 85,000 people that attended!! We hope you all enjoyed it and we hope that you will join us every year!

Many thanks to Ridha’s sponsors for this event: Yamaha Music, Steve Garmo & Associates and Madonna University.

Ridha in the USA Part 1

Ridha has been in the USA sharing his music with us on this side of the big pond. It has been an amazing time. I will try to post some things here to update you.

The first thing I would like to share is a blog post from a lady named Diane. She wrote this about a show Ridha performed on the campus of Madonna University. Though Diane paints the perfect picture, I have included some snapshots by our good friend Richard Blondy just to solidify the image of that magical night in your mind. If you were lucky enough to be there--it was amazing. Hopefully if you were not...you caught the excitement live on the Internet because it was streamed across our big blue planet.

This weekend I had an opportunity to soak up and enjoy a concert in a magical setting:

Envision a perfect Michigan evening; temperatures in the mid 80′s, a balmy and cooling Northerly breeze, puffy white clouds overhead. Add a beautiful outdoor venue; grassy lawn, pond with dual fountains, a great blue heron periodically flying in and out of view, gorgeously majestic weeping willow trees and manicured flower beds perfectly placed. Now imagine almost 100 people ~ families and friends ~ sitting on blankets, in lawn chairs and milling about awaiting the beginning of a concert featuring a warm-up guitar band, followed by Tunisian musical artist, Ridha Ibrahim and our daughter interpreting two of the songs in Sign Language.

I was fortunate to participate in this idyllic setting/concert and was astounded by the experience. While listening to Ridha’s songs as his fingers were flying over the keyboard, I was swept away by the peace enveloping me. Music can do that. It can hug me while lifting my spirit with beautiful sights and sounds. A dedicated TV crew was taping the concert for live stream so others could experience the event around the world. Photographers were capturing the mood with candid shots of the musicians and guests. As I looked around, people were gently moving to the music and smiling. I saw children dancing with abandon, chasing fireflies and laughing. I observed couples quietly chatting. During a slow song, my heart melted and tears stung my eyes as a man with one leg carefully stood from his wheelchair and danced with his wife; she balancing and supporting them. The love, tenderness and respect they shared in that spontaneous moment was priceless.

The evening was a gift that touched my heart and energized my spirit. Thank you to all who made the event possible.