Kimmel Center Blog

Kimmel Center 5th Anniversary Celebration, December 17th

On December 16th, 2001, the Kimmel Center opened for its first performance. Built to be an anchor on the Avenue of the Arts, the Center has become a home for a variety of diverse performers and a Philadelphia home for performers from all over the world. All day today, the Center will be open to celebrate its fifth anniversary. There are free concerts and special events beginning at 1 pm through 7 pm, and a special ticketed concert at 7:30 pm featuring The O'Jays and KEM.

If you could make it to the celebration on Sunday, please tell us how it was. Or, share a memory about a Kimmel Center experience you've had during our five years. Click on the Kimmel Center flickr pool to see other views of the Center from fellow visitors.

Hi all! Here is KEM's set list. What did you think?

I Get Lifted
True Love
Missing Your Love
Heaven
Find Your Way
I Can't Stop Loving You
Inside

The O’Jays concert flashed the audience back to the days when we attended great shows at the Uptown Theater (2200 N. Broad St.) The concertgoers walked and strolled into the Kimmel Center dressed in their premium Saturday going out and party outfits. Some women wore their real mink coats and cabaret dresses. Some men wore their Sunday suits and wide hats. They were dressed to impress because they were going downtown to see the Uptown O’Jays. And, the O’Jays brought the Uptown downtown to the Kimmel Center and sang their hearts out, stepped until their faces dripped with sweat as soulful lyrics came up from the creative water deep in the well of their souls. The “Old Heads” in the audience clapped their hands, patted their feet, stood up and sang along with the O’Jays like we were teenagers—once again. The floor in the building was rocking and rolling. I suggest that the Kimmel’s building maintenance department check the structural integrity of the foundation because there was some swerving in the First Tier Box seats. (: Smile :) Oh, what a night---like the good ole days at the Uptown Theater when we caught good R&B Soul shows for at least two hours a set with just two to five dollars in your purse or wallet. The O’Jays is a survivor and a great Philly musical success story. Their repository of music: baby making and dance to you drop to thought-provoking and socially conscious lyrics (thanks to the genius of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff of Sound of Philadelphia and the MFSB Orchestra). KEM did well warming the stage up for the O’Jays, I will let a female critique him and his performance.

Oh yes---Happy Birthday BIG #5---KC! Ife and I can remember clearly five years ago when we attended the first public musical concert at the Kimmel Center of performing Arts: Branford Marsalis Jazz Quartet & Joshua Redman Jazz Quartet, December 20, 2001 (The O’Jays & KEM concert was officially our 45th artistic performance at KC). My goodness how time passes so fast as you get older and are dealing with all of life’s everyday and complex issues. On December 20, 2001, we walked into a performing arts center that was aesthetically unique, beautiful and exotic. The main concert hall was like being inside of a European Rare Acoustic Double Bass, West African Decorated Ceremonial Shakaree--and Warm Brown Loving Womb. As well, the scent and feel was a similar experience you have with a new pair of shoes, car, house, underwear, bed, your first good love, etc. The KC was a Virgin. In five years time the institution would live up to its name and design with the help of spoken words, players of instruments, singers of songs, modern dancers, and the sweat of artists on the floor, walls, ceiling and people in the chairs---into a performing arts concert theater for the world to admire and enjoy. At five, the Kimmel Center is well broken in and will continue to mature each year and after each artistic performance that takes place on its stages. The Kimmel Center of Performing Arts now stands next to the most elegant, grand and unique performing arts center in the world. We will be there to celebrate KC’s birthday 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and more---as it ages gracefully.

An
Old Uptowner
&
Five Years of KC,

Ibo & Ife Changa Ford