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project leader
Joseph and David H
location
200 Beale St
(Downtown Memphis)
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the project

David and Joseph Higgins here.

As so many of you know, our beloved brother, Omar Higgins, was a trailblazer, innovator and visionary behind two of Memphis's most-known bands, Chinese Connection Dub Embassy and Negro Terror. After finally achieving great success, Omar passed away suddenly on April 18th, 2019 of septic shock here in Memphis TN. This was a devastating day for our family and for so many of you. We miss him every day and want to thank all of you again for the outpouring of love and encouragement you showered on us during that difficult time. We also want to thank you for your amazing generosity that raised over $26,000 to help with Omar’s medical expenses. Because of each one of you, and several other miracles, all of Omar’s bills were paid in full, which was a bright light of hope during a dark and scary time for our family.

Now we can shine an even brighter light on this story! We are thrilled to announce that Omar has been chosen to receive a Brass Note on the Legendary Beale Street! This will be an amazing night planned by his family, friends, and organizations that he loved and cared for deeply. We also know he will be there with us in spirit and in our hearts.

This night is for Omar and celebrating him, but it is also for all of us who love him and continue to live out what he taught us. The awkwardness of throwing a BIG PARTY for Omar and all of us, is that we have to pay for, promote, and produce our own party - LOL!

the steps

So, there are three ways all of us can pitch in to help make this happen:

1. If you would like to help with the funding you can give right now on this ioby page 

After expenses, the surplus of funding raised will be donated to further the great work of the following 501(c)(3) nonprofit charities:

2. If you would like to serve on the Marketing Team, please contact us by clicking the CONTACT button under ORGANIZER further down the page or hit us up at https://www.facebook.com/CCDEVIBES/

3. If you would like to serve on the Production Team on April 18th, please contact us by clicking the CONTACT button under ORGANIZER further down the page https://www.facebook.com/CCDEVIBES/

We look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday, April 18th and again, thank you for your past and ongoing support you have given to Omar and our family.

Much love and good vibes,

David, Joseph, and the Higgins family

PS - Sending out a HUGE SHOUT OUT and HEARTFELT THANK YOU to our dear friends Craig Thompson and Marvin Stockwell!

  • Craig truly captured Omar's Spirit within the hand-drawn world-class artwork he created and he is also serving as Creative Director! https://discipledesign.com/
  • Marvin wrote this wonderful press release below to announce this historic event and is getting the message out high and low by serving as Publicist!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Marvin Stockwell at https://www.championsofthelostcauses.org/

Omar Higgins to receive posthumous Brass Note on Beale Street on April 18

Celebration concert to follow ceremony at Handy Park

Omar Higgins, the fierce, trailblazing bass player and frontman of Chinese Connection Dub Embassy and Negro Terror, will receive a posthumous Brass Note at Handy Park on Beale Street at 5 p.m. on April 18 with a celebration concert to follow. Higgins died suddenly of septic shock on April 18, 2019 at the age of 37.

“We will celebrate Omar’s legacy and all the genres of music he loved performing, and we will cement that legacy with a Brass Note on the legendary Beale Street,” said brother David Higgins. “Omar’s friends and family all around the world can then look at April 18 as a day of celebration, and not just sorrow.”

Organizers say the concert that will follow at Handy Park will be a multi-genre bill that reflects not only the diversity of the Memphis music community, but also the many fellow musicians and music fans from all over the world Omar’s life touched. Joining a Chinese Connection Dub Embassy house band to perform one song per act will be the following artists and producers: Mandy and Sturgis Nikides, Tonya Dyson, Tia Henderson, Harley Quinn, Ryan Peel, SvmDvde, Mante Carlo, Kween Jasira, Preauxx, Danny Cosby, Idi x Teco, and other special guests.

“Omar was a joyous, ebullient figure, whose devotion to music and those he loved was total,” said brother Joseph Higgins. “The day will serve as a celebration of his legacy and contribution to the Memphis arts community.”

Organizers are raising money through crowdfunding campaigns with Go Fund Me https://www.gofundme.com/f/9qpbgp-omar-higgins-beale-st-note-ceremony-celebration and ioby (in our own backyard) https://ioby.org/project/omar-brass-note-higgins to cover the costs of the event. Donations to the ioby campaign will be matched by ioby, up to $2,000.

The Beale Street Brass Note Walk of Fame Program was created in 1986 to tie the rich musical tradition of Beale Street to the current entertainment district. http://www.bealestreet.com/brass-notes

Omar Higgins Beale St. Brass Note Ceremony & Celebration Details

WHO: The Memphis Community - all Colors, Nations, & Creeds and especially the Memphis Music Community and Family of Artists, Activists, Makers, etc... All of Us!

WHAT: Omar has been chosen to receive a Brass Note on the Legendary Beale Street! This will be an amazing night planned by his family, friends, and organizations that he loved and cared for deeply.

WHEN: April 18, 2023 - Festivities start at 5 pm

WHERE: Handy Park Amphitheatre, 200 Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103 https://goo.gl/maps/C7Vq4MMve1dBTqKA7

WHY: Celebrating the Legacy of Omar Higgins and promoting Unity, Love, and Overstanding! His contributions will inspire generations to come!

HOW: With the help of sponsors, family, and friends.

why we're doing it

We are doing this to Celebrate the Legacy of Omar Higgins and will be promoting Unity, Love, and Overstanding! His contributions will inspire generations to come!

budget

DISBURSED BUDGET

Sound System - $1,000
Lighting - $400
House Band & Guest Artists - $1,100
Food for Artists & Volunteers - $600
Insurance - $300
Facebook promotions- $100
Instagram promotions - $100
Handbills - $150
Event Posters - $100
T-Shirts - $300
Misc Expenses - $828



TOTAL RAISED = $5,400.00
ioby Fiscal Sponsorship Fee (5%) $270.00
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $102.00
TOTAL TO DISBURSE= $5,028.00

 

BUDGET

Sound System $1,000
Lighting $400
House Band & Guest Artists $1,100
Food for Artists & Vols $600
Insurance $300
Facebook $100
Instagram $100
Handbills $150
Event Posters $100
T-Shirts $300
Misc Expenses $800
 



TOTAL PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED $5,000
ioby Fiscal Sponsorship Fee (5%) $268
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)
(Donation processing fee does not apply to match funding.)		 $97
TOTAL TO RAISE= $5,365

Donation processing fees apply to donations only. 100% of match funding goes to projects. Please note, fees are estimated here and final numbers may change based on the final amount raised and amount of match funding applied to this campaign.

 

updates

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photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Darrin Hillis
  • Anonymous
  • Darrin Hillis
  • Downtown Memphis Commission
  • Whatever Shops
  • Whatever Shops
  • Erik D
  • Kat B.