National Music Centre Presents ‘If You Believe in Love: A Black History Month Celebration’ on February 8

Black history month event to celebrate Calgary’s Black music community

(Calgary, AB — January 30, 2025) In honour of Black History Month, the National Music Centre (NMC) will present If You Believe in Love: A Black History Month Celebration, showcasing the richness of Calgary's Black music community. This special matinee event will happen on February 8 at Studio Bell.

A tribute to the Black Calgarians who are shaping Calgary’s cultural landscape, the event will feature performances by R&B artist LATISHA, the Diversity Performing Arts Club of Calgary, spoken word poet Adetola “aloT of Poetry” Adedipe, and more. Curated by the legendary Master T and hosted by CKUA Radio’s Priscilla Cherry, this inspiring afternoon will bring together a powerful blend of music, dance, spoken word, and storytelling.

Beyond the performances, the event will also highlight key Black-led community organizations. Representatives from Carifest, Ethnik Festival, the Caribbean Associations of Calgary, and WH Calgary will take part in on-stage interviews throughout the show, sharing their missions, initiatives, and the impact of their work. These conversations will be woven between performances, offering audiences a deeper understanding of the contributions and legacies of Black communities in Calgary.

“It's such a blessing to be curating with the NMC team again for Black History Month,” said Master T. “This year, we wanted to present our love for Black culture and love for Calgary's Black community. My wife, Paula Johnson, has penned two inspirational songs for the event: 'It's Time to Celebrate,' in celebration of our Black legacy and present-day realities, and 'If You Believe In Love,' honouring the power of love to heal, unite and release that positive energy. Both songs will be performed by the talented LATISHA. We look forward to welcoming Calgary to this powerful Black History Month celebration. One love!"

If You Believe in Love: A Black History Month Celebration takes place on February 8 at 12:00 pm. Tickets are included with general admission to Studio Bell. NMC Members get free access. To become an NMC Member, visit studiobell.ca/become-a-member and save on NMC events and exhibitions.

About Master T
Tony Young (a.k.a. Master T) has been at the forefront of music, dance, and culturally diverse television for over 40 years. He and his wife Paula created the show X-Tendamix/Da Mix, which aired on MuchMusic from 1990-2001, and was one of the networks highest rated shows. He fueled the growth of urban music in Canada during his 11 years on air as a MuchMusic VJ and also established himself as an innovative producer. He became world renowned for his relaxed, well-researched style of interviewing some of the biggest stars in the world, such as Madonna, Janet Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, P Diddy, John Travolta, Mary J Blige, Spice Girls, Eminem, Meat Loaf, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and countless others. Master T is also the last person to interview 2Pac before his untimely passing in 1996. He was responsible for introducing North Americans to some of their favorite reggae artists including Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Lady Saw, Shaggy, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and many more.

About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music. It is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.

-30-

Media Contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Publicist
T. 403.543.5123
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada