Professional Arts Fraternity Announces First Honorary Member

[Gamma Xi Phi]

Washington, DC, February 18, 2013— Gamma Xi Phi, the professional fraternity for artists, has selected music archivist Kevin Coombe as the first honorary member of the organization. He will make remarks to the public on Saturday, February 23, 2013.

Kevin Coombe is a music historian and preservationist with an emphasis on funk, soul, and rhythm and blues recordings native to the Washington metropolitan area from the 1960s through the 1980s. As the founder of DC Soul Recordings (www.dcsoulrecordings.com), he has conveniently cataloged his findings and provided links to purchase music which has been properly licensed from the original artists.

In addition to cataloging the music itself, Kevin Coombe has interviewed countless musicians from the era. Mr. Coombe intends to publish a comprehensive, encyclopedic book cataloging DC’s soul music history and culture.

Mr. Coombe will make his first public remarks as an initiate of the fraternity on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 2:00pm at the Greater Tried Stone Baptist Church, 1363 Otis Place, Northwest, Washington, DC. This event will combine performances with entertaining and educational presentations on the role of black music in American history and culture. In addition to Mr. Coombe’s presentation, there will be musical performances by baritone Mr. Christopher Akinbuwa; saxophonist Mr. BJ Simmons of the Jimmy Mac Music Group; and the Greater Tried Stone Baptist Church Mass Choir, directed by Mr. Michael McCoy. The fraternity invites the public to attend this free event.

Gamma Xi Phi was founded on October 7, 2010, by men and women attending Ramapo College who were interested in creating strong bonds between students pursuing artistic careers. The purpose of the fraternity is to unite collegiate and professional artists in the spirit of fellowship and perpetual artistic growth. Gamma Xi Phi promotes philanthropy and service to the arts, brotherhood among all artists, and leadership development in artistic professions through collegiate and community outreach to people of color across the world.