D.C. Celebrates Chuck Brown Day at Fort Dupont Park

August 18, 2025

The 11th Annual Chuck Brown Day was celebrated on August 16 at Fort Dupont Park in Southeast D.C., honoring the legacy of Chuck Brown, the pioneer of go-go music. The event featured performances from prominent go-go bands including Black Alley, Trouble Funk, Be'la Dona, and The Chuck Brown Band, while also providing free school supplies through The Chuck Brown Foundation. Amid tensions following the Trump administration's deployment of the National Guard to D.C., the celebration served as a unifying community event showcasing District culture.

Who is affected

D.C. residents and attendees from across the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area
Students receiving free school supplies
The Brown family, particularly Wiley Brown and other relatives
Local go-go bands and performers
D.C.'s cultural community
Food vendors and exhibitors at the event

What action is being taken

The Department of Parks and Recreation is organizing the annual Chuck Brown Day celebration
Go-go bands are performing live music at the event
The Chuck Brown Foundation is distributing free school supplies to students
Artist Demont Pinder is creating a portrait honoring Chuck Brown's life and legacy
The Chuck Brown Band is performing to honor Chuck Brown's memory
Community members are gathering to celebrate D.C.'s cultural heritage despite political tensions

Why it matters

The event celebrates Chuck Brown's legacy as the "Godfather of Go-Go" and the musical genre he pioneered
It serves as a unifying community celebration during politically tense times in D.C.
The celebration highlights go-go as the official sound of D.C., enshrined by the Go-Go Music of the District of Columbia Designation Act of 2019
It provides a positive representation of D.C. culture amid negative characterizations by the Trump administration
The event demonstrates the healing power of music and its ability to bring people together
It continues a cultural tradition honoring Brown ahead of what would have been his 89th birthday

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer