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Purple Heart: The Music of Michael Callen

November 11, 2019 @ 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

As a composer, singer, writer and activist, Michael Callen played a major role in shaping America’s response to the AIDS epidemic. Join us at the iconic Joe’s Pub this Veteran’s Day, Monday, November 11, as a stellar cast of singers and musicians breathes new life into Michael’s music.

Special guests will include Taylor Mac, Bridget Everett, Holly Near, NathAnn Carrera, Richard Barone, Xavier Smith, Kat Edmonson, Tucker, Garrin Benfield and more. The evening is being organized by pianist, musical director and arranger Matt Ray and drummer Richard Dworkin, Callen’s partner in life and music.  All proceeds benefit Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, named in memory of Michael Callen and Audre Lorde.

Tax-deductible sponsorship opportunities are available starting at $250:

Sponsorship tables and seating opportunities are available through Callen-Lorde:

Friend Sponsor  $250 – seating for 2 (7 available)

Patron Sponsor  $500 – seating for 4 (2 available)

Advocate Sponsor  $1,000 – seating for 4 (2 available)

Champion Sponsor  $2,500 – seating for 6 (2 available)

Leadership Sponsor  $5,000 – seating for 6 (3 available)

To purchase a sponsorship table/seating please contact the Development Office
at (646) 965-5467 or email development@callen-lorde.org

Individual tickets can be purchased through Joe’s Pub by clicking below:

About Michael Callen
From the time of his diagnosis with Gay Related Immune Deficiency (the original and outmoded name for AIDS) in 1982, Callen was involved in virtually all of the positive responses to the epidemic, including the self-empowerment of People with AIDS; the invention of safer sex; the community-based research movement; propagation of prophylaxis for major opportunistic infections; and the establishment of buyer’s clubs providing low-cost access to both experimental and approved AIDS treatments. Callen co-authored the Denver Principles, which introduced the term “people with AIDS” (PWAs), replacing the early characterizations of PWAs as victims. Through his work and life, Callen emphasized and demonstrated that people living with AIDS could continue to make significant contributions to society.

Callen’s AIDS activism had a major influence on his music, as reflected in his first solo album, Purple Heart (1988), which the Advocate called “the most remarkable gay independent release of the past decade.” As a member of the gay a cappella group The Flirtations, he toured internationally and recorded two albums, The Flirtations (1990) and Out on the Road (1992). His posthumously released double album Legacy (1996) netted four awards at the first Gay and Lesbian American Music Awards, including album of the year.

“Living with AIDS is like living in wartime, only in the twilight zone. A majority of your fellow citizens don’t seem to realize there’s a war going on, don’t hear the bombs dropping, the shells whizzing past your head, don’t have to step over the dead bodies of friends and loved ones.” -Michael Callen

Details

Date:
November 11, 2019
Time:
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Venue

Joe’s Pub
425 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003
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