Hollywood Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Annual MLK Fun Day takes place on Friday, January 13th, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 2400 Charleston Street, Hollywood, Florida 33020. There will be free games and activities, bounce houses, refreshments and more.

Tribute Concert at the ArtsPark
Grammy Nominated Artists Magic Mojo Ike and Lady Val will be performing on Saturday, January 14th, 2023 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the ArtsPark Amphitheater at Young Circle in Downtown Hollywood. The Miami based Blues Duo has performed throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean electrifying their audiences with high energy yet soulful Blues performances. The concert is free.

Ike and Val Woods are set for a major career breakthrough with the release of their new Album “PHOENIX.” The Miami based Blues Duo completed the new LP after returning from an eighteen city European Tour where they electrified their audiences with their high energy yet soulful Blues performances.

Band Leader and Lead Vocalist/Guitarist Ike Woods has enjoyed a long and productive career first as a sought after sideman and later as the front man for his own band The Ike And Val Woods Blues Band.

Ike was the third of seven sons born to Pentecostal Minister Willie Woods and wife Emma Woods. He began his musical journey at the tender age of six years old when he took his first guitar lesson from his dad. He was quickly recognized as a child prodigy who went on to excel as a musician during his school years. At the age of seventeen, Ike auditioned for Jazz greats Nat Adderly and Curtis Fuller at a high school music workshop. They immediately offered this exciting and accomplished young guitarist the opportunity to travel to New York and play with them professionally. Ike, however, chose to remain in Florida to finish his education, marry and pursue his career.

He went on to play professionally as a young man with Florida Bands led by Dick Knight, Richard Strahan, Forest (Tex) Beverly, Joey Gilmore, Joe Orr, Betty Wright and Jimmy BoHorne. During this period in his career Ike was also a highly sought after studio musician due to his versatility and high skill level.

At the age of thirty five Ike Woods met Singer/Songwriter Valerie Hall who performed in her own band “The Valerie Hall Band” during a rehearsal of a local church choir. Val encouraged Ike to start his own band. Ike took her advice and asked her to join him as the Co-Lead Vocalist. This was a match made in heaven as the two formed The Ike And Val Woods Blues Band and later married.

This dynamic duo has performed throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. In 2007, the Ike and Val Woods Blues Band competed and won first place at the Monterey Blues Festival’s “Battle Of The Bands.” They have shared the stage with Buddy Guy, Gill Scott, Ramsey Lewis, KEM, Jerry Butler, Jeffrey Osborne, Bobby Blue Bland, The Whispers, Tommy Castro, Eddie Cotton Jr., Jonathan Butler, David Sanborne, Earl Klugh, Betty Wright, Nestor Torres, The Ruppingtons, Pancho Sanchez and The O’Jays.

The new LP “Movin’ Up” highlights IkeWoods virtuoso guitar performances along with Ike and Val’s soulful Blues vocals providing the listener with a musical experience second to none. The LP was produced and engineered by Grammy Award Winning Producer Gabriel Cifuentes. The first single release from the LP entitled “The Party’s Jumpin’” has held the number three spot on the Reverbnation Local Blues Chart for eight weeks.

Their music is on sale now at: www.CDBaby.com Rhapsody, at: www.Amazon.com iTunes, at: www.IkeandVal.com and at: www.reverbnation.com/musicindustryprofessionals

Venue
Please remember, these venues are plastic and foam-free. Single-use plastics are prohibited, including plastic water bottles. Thank you for your cooperation. For more information on MLK Celebrations, please call the City of Hollywood Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts at: (954) 921-3404. Or visit: www.hollywoodfl.org