Photo: Tony Wilson
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Boston is honoring soul music legend James Brown with an annual tribute show.
The Mayor's Office officially declared April 5 as James Brown Saves Boston Day, named after the show he put on in Boston right after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. This show is believed to have kept people off those streets and the focus on him, preventing massive riots that could have destroyed the city.
This year's show includes performances by some local music acts, including Tony Wilson and his band.
Dubbed "Young James Brown" by the soul singer himself, Wilson has had a connection with Brown's music since he was puled up on stage at one of his shows at 10 years old, finding lots of meaning in the art.
"Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud," he said. "Those days after coming through, the blacks on one side, the whites on the other side, he brought everybody together where we can be proud of ourselves, who we are."
Wilson believes that the iconic Boston show brought people together through the power of music.
"Music is our universal language," he said. "Just imagine, what would you do without music? And the cars, and the Places that you go to, just imagine no music, period."
The show will be held on Easter Sunday in Russell Auditorium. More information can be found here.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.