Frank Watson, a popular NYC LGBTQIA+ party promoter and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. member, will always be remembered.
“I first met Frank Watson in Harlem in the early days of the 2010s, I can’t recall exactly the year, but I do recall his and others like him, an ambition trending group that would change how thousands would see themselves and attempt to define a new world, even for me. It was the breaking days of the New Harlem — young energy and freedom rushed in like a tsunami.
Frank had ideas about parties and asked me a lot of questions on how to do it in Harlem and NYCwide. I had spent a few years serving as a development advisor to an emerging magazine that expressed fashion freedom and black gay pride as well as help to create the first major black comedy club in the 1990s, located in Harlem, that created substantial new opportunities that formerly was only open to a few blacks at a time. More of my story later in another article.
In the pic above, it was at one of a handful of people at Frank’s first party venture that happened to take place in Harlem, the DJ Brian Henry, on my right, a mentee who had invited me, was a recent college graduate working at Verizon and living in Harlem. Brian is now the famous B-Hen, hosting amazing block parties all across the nation and performing abroad. Back to Frank. I’ll never forget that conversation that night and the countless others, his humility, charm, and drive to make other people enjoy their lives was evident. He had a soul that couldn’t be broken and was a strong architect of much needed ventures and events that made pride beyond one day, month, or a season. He gave life to a new generation that chose to be dominant in popular culture and not in the shadows. May God grant him peace. He was a king.” — William Allen
FRANK’S HOMEGOING
Date: Saturday, December 3, 2022, at noon.
Location: Monticello Middle School, 180 Clyde Ross Drive
Monticello, AR 71655
Important details to note:
If you’re coming from Little Rock on the day of, please begin your drive by 9AM in order to arrive around 11AM.
If you drive through Pine Bluff and Star City, which is via Highway 425, you will have cell reception the entire trip.
If you choose to drive there via Highway 530 South, you will NOT have cell reception for at least an hour of the drive.
Other related news:
ΑΦΑ Kappa Kappa Chapter Memorial HERE.
The Ashe Report (podcast)
Inside The Village Voice.
RIP JP Ramirez
RIP Julio Ramirez
Vandalism in Hell’s Kitchen
