Pierce Freelon, Black to The Future

Pierce Freelon is a GRAMMY® nominated musician, author, and educator.

This interactive mixed media performance of Afrofuturism, progressive soul, and hip-hop jazz honors four generations of the Freelon family values, such as “keeping an attitude of gratitude.”

Pierce’s critically acclaimed children’s music has been featured on Today Show, NPR, Billboard, Rolling Stone, Now This, Parents Magazine, MSNBC with Reverend Al Sharpton, and more. His album “Black to the Future” was nominated for Best Children’s Music Album at the 2022 GRAMMY® Awards, the same year his mother Nnenna Freelon’s album “Time Traveler” was nominated for Best Jazz Album — making Recording Academy history as the first mother and son to be nominated for golden gramophones in different fields at the same GRAMMY Awards. His debut children’s picture book, “Daddy Daughter Day“ will be released with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers this Father’s Day. Freelon is a former Durham City Councilman, a husband, and a father of two based in Durham.

Pierce Freelon es un músico nominado al GRAMMY®, escritor y educador de Durham, North Carolina.

Esta presentación de múltiples medios de afrofuturismo, soul progresivo y hip-hop jazz rinde homenaje a cuatro generaciones de valores familiares de los Freelon, como “conservar una actitud de agradecimiento”.

La aclamada música infantil de Pierce ha sido destacada en Today Show, NPR, Billboard, Rolling Stone, Now This, Parents Magazine, MSNBC con el Reverendo Al Sharpton y más. Su álbum Black to the Future fue nominado como Mejor Álbum de Música Infantil en los premios GRAMMY® 2022, el mismo año que el álbum de su madre, Nnenna Freelon, Time Traveler fue nominado como Mejor Álbum de Jazz, de este modo, hicieron historia en la Recording Academy como los primeros madre e hijo nominados a los gramófonos de oro en distintas categorías, en la misma ceremonia de premios. Su primer libro ilustrado, Daddy Daughter Day será lanzado por la editorial Little, Brown el próximo Día del Padre. Freelon fue concejal de la ciudad de Durham, es esposo y padre de dos niños y vive en Durham.

10:00 am – 12:30 pm Family Saturday Series kick off activities on the plaza in front of the theater

Come join us on the CCB Plaza before or after the Pierce Freelon performance for more fun activities:

• Cypher Activation – Hip/Hop & Spoken Word by Blackspace
• Comic/Anime Sketching with Alberto Lung
• Face Painting with Fun Nana’s
• Creative artmaking and portraits with Art For All
• Hair braiding tutorials and bead fun with April’s Braids & Beads for Kids
• Balloon Art with Lune Spark
• Children’s Reading Nook with Rofhiwa Book Cafe