In Case You Didn’t Know: Chuck Brown’s Public Viewing At Howard Theater Today
It will be the last chance for fans to see Chuck Brown at the Howard Theatre (620 T Street Northwest Washington, DC 2000) as they say goodbye to “The Godfather of Go-Go.” The public viewing is from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. today (Tuesday, 5/29/12). “They’ll have the opportunity to walk into the theater, to see him in his hat, his guitar, we’ll have his music playing, a photo montage,” says Micha Woods, Howard Theatre’s event planner. Brown had been in the theatre during the renovation. He was schedule to perform here April 21. “I know that Chuck was very excited about getting back here at the Howard,” Woods recalls. He would never get the chance to take the stage. He died earlier this month at the age of 75. Now his fans will meet at Howard Theatre Tuesday to pay their respects and honor his musical legacy. Organizers are expecting thousands of people to attend. They are also expecting for it to be extremely hot. Because of that, they are setting up emergency personnel across the street. “The fire department, EMS, the police, everyone will be outside. We have tons of water for the public as well as nurse’s station,” Woods says. With more than 30,000 expected to show up, there will be street closures. Organizers say Metro is the best way to go. “We are on the Green and Yellow lines, which is the Howard University-Shaw exit. T Street will be closed. 7th Street, certain components of that [will be closed] as well. Also, Wiltberger [Street] on the side of the theater [will be closed],” says Woods. “We want everyone in the city who loved Chuck to have a chance to see him,” says Cheryl Copeland. Brown’s funeral will be Thursday at noon at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
