Written by | Ray Cornelius
I had the pleasure of attending an entertainment tribute to the late Yolanda D. King Saturday night in Atlanta. The celebratory event took place at the historic King Center’s Freedom Hall, just three days before what would have been Yolanda’s 60th birthday.
Dr. Bernice A. King talked about Yolanda D. King’s love for the arts
The two-hour program featured a variety of Yolanda’s favorite entertainers including Atlanta’s own jazz greats—Milkshake and Theresa Hightower, opera singer Juandalynn Abernathy, and comedian Jonathan Slocumb. The Love Boat’s Ted Lange served as the evening’s emcee along with Atlanta stage actress Donna Biscoe. Other highlights included The Ballethnic Dance Company and heartfelt tributes by Yolanda’s siblings—Dr. Bernice A. King, Martin Luther King III and Dexter S. King.
Milkshake performing “The Impossible Dream”
The evening was titled, “The Dream Girl,” after Yolanda’s favorite musical and movie, Dreamgirls. More than that, it also spoke to her career as an accomplished actress and activist. Yolanda D. King regularly appeared on stage as well as in numerous television shows and films including Ghost of Mississippi, Selma, Lord, Selma, JAG and Strong Medicine. She was also the founder of Higher Ground Productions and was the chief overseer of the King Center’s Cultural Affairs Department.
Yolanda D. King as Miss Bright in Selma, Lord, Selma
The family closed out the program with an original tribute by Little Miss Yolanda R. King, daughter of Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King. She was named after her “Aunt Yoki” and was born on the day she was cremated. The King siblings also announced that they were dedicating Freedom Hall to their sister’s legacy by renaming it “The Yolanda D. King Theatre for the Performing Arts.”
Check out more photos from the evening below:
Ted Lange performed with Yolanda D. King in several stage productions
Ballethnic performing to Dr. Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman”
Milkshake performing the “Impossible Dream”
Theresa Hightower performing the classic “Here’s To Life”
Ballethnic founder Nena Gilreath dancing to Dr. Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise”
Martin Luther King III during his tribute to Yolanda D. King
Home movies of Yolanda D. King, affectionately called “Yoki” were also shown
Jonathan Slocumb was Yolanda D. King’s favorite comedian
Donna Biscoe served as one of the evening’s emcees
Theresa Hightower, Juandalynn Abernathy and Milkshake on stage
Little Miss Yolanda R. King reading an original tribute to her late aunt
Valerie Kinsey Harris (The Kinsey Group) with Donna Biscoe
Jazz vocalist Theresa Hightower
Veteran actor and star of The Love Boat Ted Lange
Arndrea Waters King with daughter Yolanda R. King
Dr. Bernice A. King posing with family and friends
Happy Birthday to Yolanda D. King
Photo Credits: RayCornelius.com