The Motown Story comes to Canisisu College

BUFFALO - Canisius College welcomes Charles E. Sykes, PhD, executive director of Indiana University’s (IU) African American Arts Institute, and an ensemble of student vocalists from the Institute, to campus on at 7:30 p.m.Tuesday, March 20, in Regis South, Richard E. Winter ’42 Student Center.

The event, entitled “The Motown Story – Lecture and Performance,” is free and open to the public.

Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited. Sykes’ lecture will be interspersed with live vocal performances.

Sykes has extensive experience as a music teacher, conductor, performer and arts administrator. He is an adjunct professor in IU’s Department of Folklore & Ethnomusicology and the Department of African American & African Diaspora Studies, and a research associate with the Archives of African American Music & Culture. He developed and teaches the first collegiate course on the history of Motown Record Corporation. The course focuses on the influential recording label during its golden age, from 1959 to 1972, and explores the history, music, business and socio - cultural context of Motown.

Sponsors of the event include the Canisius College Divisions of Student Affairs and

Academic Affairs, Fine Arts/Music Department, ALANA Student Center, Undergraduate Student Association Diversity Board, Urban Leadership Learning Community Program (ULLCP), and the Buffalo/WNY Chapter of the IU Alumni Association.