MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The City of Myrtle Beach, Carver Street Economic Renaissance Corporation and other sponsors held the inaugural Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival on Saturday, October 1.
Thousands of people came to Carver Street to hear some of the area’s finest musicians, eat food from several different vendors and participate in kids activities.
Myrtle Beach NAACP President, Mickey James, said this was a big moment for the local community.
“It’s the first Jazz Festival in Myrtle Beach,” said James. “But with it being in a predominantly black neighborhood it brings, a little more or less, a real passion. A sense of responsibility and a sense of destiny that we’re moving somewhere now.”
Some musicians included Jessie Wilson, Jr., and Friends, Jazz Etc.; the Chocolate Chip Band, Tru Sol and James “Bull” Canty. The headline act was South Carolina’s Official Ambassador of Jazz Music, Skipp Pearson.
Several local organizations also had booths set up including the Boys and Girls Club of the Grand Strand, Mothers Against Violence and Habitat for Humanity.
Organizers were impressed with the number of people who attended and hope the event will be even bigger next year.
