'He might be gone but he keeps us alive' | DC celebrates 10th Annual Chuck Brown Day

WASHINGTON — More than 10 years after the passing of Chuck Brown, his legacy continues to live on through his music.

“Mayor Bowser signed it officially. What better way than DPR to celebrate our own music than with this celebration in honor of the Godfather of Gogo,” Director of D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, Thennie Freeman said.

When you come to the district you hear it near and far, Gogo music echoes throughout the streets of D.C.

“Gogo is our official music,” Freeman said.

Gogo is the soundtrack of the city. Saturday is all about history, more specifically Chuck Brown, the pioneer of this genre of funk music called Gogo.

“For the last 50 years he’s been entertaining DC,” Godson of Chuck Brown and former Rare Essence member, James “Jas” Funk said. “So it’s a blessing to see people come out in his honor.”

More than 10,000 people showed up to celebrate the Godfather of Gogo and his legacy in Southeast D.C. on Saturday.

“I appreciate all he did since I’ve been coming up as a little girl,” District native Kim Washington said.

Chuck Brown Day is known as the largest festival for Gogo music. Thousands of attendees, like Washington, couldn’t hide her excitement.

“Everybody loves Gogo music,” Washington said. “It’s the best music that’s out — essence, funk, all of it, I love they music.”

As people celebrate, they take also time to reflect on when they first heard Chuck Brown.

“I’ve been going to bands for Chuck,” Washington said. “I’ve been listening to Chuck since I was 14.”

“I’m from New York, and I met Chuck Brown when I came down here and it was a whole new revolution,” a woman who lives in Southeast, Selene Bostic said. “It was something that I like, and I was like ‘oh okay, I can dance to that.'”

Now fans’ passion for Gogo music is being passed down to younger generations.

“This is very important for me and my grandchildren,” Bostic said. “This is my third time, I come every year but last time I couldn’t bring them because they were babies but this time I can introduce them to the culture.”

Fans say this is something they hold near and dear to their heart, and they plan to continue to be a part of his celebrations.

“It’s important that they know their history and where it comes from and from there, they’ll carry it on long after we’re gone,” Bostic said.

“I love his music, and he keep us alive, he might be gone but he keeps us alive and keeps us going,” Washington said.