Blackberri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blackberri
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| Born |
Charles Timothy Ashmore
May 31, 1945 Buffalo, New York, U.S.
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| Died | December 13, 2021 (aged 76) Oakland, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Arizona |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter, LGBTQ+ rights activist |
Blackberri (born Charles Timothy Ashmore) was an American singer and activist. He was born on May 31, 1945, and passed away on December 13, 2021. His music often talked about important topics like fairness for all people and protecting the environment.
Blackberri also worked to teach people about health, especially in Black communities. He helped many people during a difficult time when a serious illness was spreading.
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Blackberri was born in Buffalo, New York. He grew up in Baltimore.
In 1965, Blackberri joined the U.S. Navy. He served for about a year before leaving the Navy in 1966.
Blackberri's Music Career
Blackberri studied singing at the University of Arizona. He loved to sing the blues. In Tucson, he started a rock band called Gunther Quint. His first song was named "Frenchie."
In the early 1970s, he started using the name Blackberri. He later made it his legal name. In 1974, Blackberri moved to San Francisco. He often sang on the streets to earn money.
Making History with Music
In 1975, Blackberri performed in a concert called Two Songmakers. This concert was shown on public television in San Francisco, on KQED. It was a big moment because it was the first time music about gay experiences was shown on public TV there.
In 1981, Blackberri released his own album. It was called Blackberri and Friends: Finally. He released it on his own music label, Bea B. Queen. His music was also featured in several films, including Tongues Untied and Word Is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives. He often performed at festivals that celebrated LGBT people.
Activism and Community Work
Blackberri became very involved in community support. He focused on teaching people about health and prevention. He worked at the San Francisco General Hospital AIDS Ward. There, he helped people who were very sick.
He was especially interested in helping prevent illness in the African-American LGBT community. His work made a big difference in many lives.
Awards and Recognition
Blackberri received several awards for his important work. In 2002, he got a Lifetime Achievement AIDS Hero Award. This was given to him at the San Francisco Candlelight Vigil.
In 2017, he received the Audrey Joseph Entertainment Award. This award came from San Francisco Pride. In 2019, one of his songs, "Eat the Rich," was included in another artist's album.
Personal Life and Passing
Blackberri was a priest in the Lucumi religion. He traveled to Cuba many times for his spiritual journey.
He passed away on December 13, 2021, at the age of 76. He had a heart attack in October 2021. He died in Oakland, California.
See also
- List of LGBT artists
- Lists of singers
