EUR on the Scene: Groovin’ with Lenny Williams at Inglewood’s Earth Day Festival

*Inglewood- The City of Inglewood and The Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI), teamed up once again to present a celebration of Earth Day. This event was held on a beautiful Southern California day, Saturday, April 18^th, 2015. Mother Nature Blessed the festival with her natural air-condition (cool breezes).

This was the City of Inglewood’s 5^th Annual Earth Day Celebration, held on the South Lawn of Inglewood City Hall, 10am-3pm. New to the festival was the first ever Inglewood Pop-up Farmer’s Market. “Efforts are underway to host a regular Farmer Market,” stated Derek Steele, Health Equity Program Director of SJLI.

Top notch entertainment was provided by Lenny Williams, Phillip Lauth & The Next Level Band and DJ Jeff on the ones and twos between acts.

Vocalist Phillip Lauth & The Next Level Band was the opening act of live entertainment. They played a set of Top 40 tunes, consisting of two timely tunes for the day, “Lovely Day” and “Wonderful World.

Radio Host Guy Black from KJLH Radio Free 102.3FM introduced Mr. Lenny Williams to the waiting crowd.

Vocalist Lenny Williams is a former member of the 70s Soul band Tower of Power. He thoroughly entertained the crowd during his hour long set. Mr. Williams was a triple threat during his show, in addition to his outstanding vocals, he kept the crowd in stitches with his captivating sense of humor, and he also took the time to cut-a-rug with several lovely ladies in the crowd. Lenny Williams performed the following tunes “This Time it is Real,” “Real Mother For You,” “Don’t Change Horses in the Middle of the Stream,” “I Can Never Make you Happy,” “You Are Still a Young Man,” “Clean Up Women,” “Sorry, I Didn’t Know That It was Your Momma,” “Rock Me Baby” with a dash of “Night Time.” They continued with “I’ll Always be Around,” “The Love I Loss,” “What is Hip” “I’m so Proud to be Loved by You,” “Baby, Baby,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and poured it all out in a heartfelt “Because I Love You.”

The Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI) is dedicated to improving the education, health, and wellbeing of youth and communities of color by empowering them to enact social change through research, training and community mobilization. Founded in 2008, SJLI has grown to serve more than 12,500 residents throughout communities where individuals use their agency to improve each other’s lives.

Ricky Richardson is a Southern California based writer, music reviewer and photographer. contact him via: [email protected]