Blackberri

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Blackberri is an American singer-songwriter and community activist. His music focuses on issues such as civil rights, LGBT rights, and pollution.[1]

Life[]

Charles Timothy Ashmore was born in Buffalo, New York and raised in Baltimore. He was discharged from the United States Navy in 1966 for being gay. Blackerri stated "I was placed under investigation because one of my shipmates turned me in ... they had evidence, they arrested me, went through my personal belongings and found incriminating letters and other things."[2] He got stranded in New York City, washing dishes and doing drugs.[1] He later studied voice at University of Arizona and sang the blues.[1] In Tucson, he started a rock band, 'Gunther Quint', with his first song "Frenchie", about a one-night stand before his discharge. While living in a feminist collective, he was named Blackberri and later changed his name legally.[2]

Blackberri moved to San Francisco in 1974 and joined 'Breeze' while busking to earn money. He dated Reiner, a blues guitar player from the East Coast. In 1981, he released Blackberri and Friends: Finally on his music label, Bea B. Queen. He performed at LGBT festivals. During the AIDS epidemic, he shifted to community support[2] for HIV education. In 2002, he received a Lifetime Achievement AIDS Hero Award at San Francisco Candlelight Vigil.[2] In 2019, Blackberri's song, "Eat the Rich" was included in Patrick Haggerty's Lavender Country.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Trott, Walt (August 16, 1984). "Blackberri still sings for causes". The Capital Times. p. 44. Retrieved September 26, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Bullock, Darryl W. (November 21, 2017). David Bowie Made Me Gay: 100 Years of LGBT Music. Abrams. ISBN 9781468316254.
  3. ^ Gormley, Shannon (January 23, 2019). "More Than 40 Years After Recording the "First Gay Country Album," Lavender Country is Releasing a Follow-Up". Willamette Week. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
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