Music by MAR and Friends
May 18, 2024 at Black Wall Street in Asheville, North Carolina
TITLE: Music by MAR and Friends
AUTHOR: Mar Perez-Albela (he/him)
PERMISSION to publish granted by MAR
Wilma Dykeman’s 104th birthday anniversary celebration on May 18, 2024, featured the music of MAR. Hailing originally from Peru and now based in Asheville, NC, MAR is a trans/non-binary artist, multi-instrumentalist, and advocate who draws from his South American roots, as well as from blues and folk from his journey through North America. MAR is the founder of Oyelo Music Productions. In 2022 he won the LGTBO+ Citibank Emerging Artist Award.
Toward the end of his performance, MAR welcomed on stage Mariana Risquez, an award-winning folk, ballad and jazz vocalist from Venezuela who has been touring and writing songs for over 20 years.
Also joining MAR on stage was Kelle Jolly, a musician and storyteller who was named Knoxville’s Finest Jazz Act by the Blank Newspaper Readers Poll in 2017. In 2023 she received the National Association of Black Storytellers Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowship.
Enjoy!