WILLIE STEWART CELEBRATES THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF “RHYTHMS OF AFRICA” IN MIRAMAR, APRIL 1-2!

When marking a milestone, Willie Stewart prefers to use the word ‘celebrate’ instead of ‘commemorate’ or ‘tribute’. For the veteran musician, those words conjure mourning.

On April 1-2, the master drummer celebrates the 10^th anniversary of his Rhythms Of Africa show at Miramar Cultural Center. The event will also honor the 50^th anniversary of Third World, the Grammy-nominated band he played in from 1976-1997.

Like previous stagings, ‘Rhythms’ will be an educational experience.

“It’s so important to teach the children about our music and its origins. And the adults too,” said Stewart.

This year’s special guest is Julian Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley. The 2022 concert showcased Marcia Griffiths and Gramps Morgan.

Stewart played on 13 Third World albums, three of them considered the genre-bending band’s finest. Those are 96 Degrees in The Shade, Journey to Addis and The Story’s Been Told.

Released in 1978, Journey to Addis contains their reggae version of The O’Jays’ Now That we Found Love which peaked at number 10 in the United Kingdom and number 47 on the US pop chart.

‘Love Will Always be There’ is the title for the Third World segment of Rhythms Of Africa, which London-born Stewart started in 2010.

It returned last year after a one-year break due to Covid-19.

Shortly after leaving Third World, Stewart settled in South Florida and began giving formal lessons in drumming to youngsters in that region. His program has grown to include hundreds of students from the Broward County school system who have performed at Rhythms Of Africa.

The event is endorsed by the City of Miramar.