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The city renamed a portion of the 18th Street NW corridor—between M and N Streets NW Washington DC.
A song, a night at the club, and the man who made everyone feel seen.
DJ Kurtis and I had met up three or four times whenever we could squeeze into each other's schedules to work on a tune. We both saw it clearly: DC House meets Afro Roots. An homage to the city's pulse, a tip of the cap to African rhythms, and a dash of Fela Kuti's lyrical joyful dread.
Finally, it was done. "Keep It Together" was born.
DJ Kurtis was a working DJ. He played several nights a week at venues across the city—U Street, Georgia Avenue, Adams Morgan. Anywhere House music was bubbling. His plan was simple: start playing the song in his sets. No formal release. Just let the track find its people.
About a month after we finished the song, he called one afternoon to tell me where he would be playing that night. He asked me to come watch the crowd vibe to it. I grabbed a friend and we arrived around 9 PM. The place was packed.
DJ Kurtis must have been watching the door because no sooner had my friend and I stepped inside than I heard my name. I looked up to the booth. He was waving. And then the song started playing through the speakers.
A cheer went up from every corner of the club. Everyone hit the dance floor.
That was the night I met Sam "The Man" Burns.
The Night Everything Changed
Two weeks later, Sam reached out. He asked me to come to his gig. He had a percussionist lined up—congas and other drums—to accompany me on "Keep It Together." He had the backing tracks ready. All I had to do was show up.
I had not anticipated this. Gigging with Sam was not something I had dreamed of because I did not think it was possible.
Sam was known for playing so hard that you stayed juiced up into the wee hours of the morning. He would slow it down, lay songs you knew by heart, drop rare grooves on you, then speed you up until your footwork needed some forbidden dusting intervention to keep going.
His introduction of me that night was amazing. He was truly inspirational. Here was a man so beloved by everyone, yet he found the words to let me share in some of the love he received so easily from the people.
I did the song. The people sang along. All the way through, from beginning to end.
There is no better feeling.
Sam "The Man" Burns blessed me that night.
The Legacy
I ran into him several times after that. I even performed on the same stage again, this time with my full band. His generosity never waned. His smile never changed.
Now, there is a proposal for a mural on the wall at Ben's Chili Bowl. After a proclamation and a street named after him along the 18th Street corridor, the mural is a must-have. It is the next logical step for a man who gave so much to the city and its people.
Ben's Chili Bowl is collecting submissions to support the endeavor. The campaign closes today. If you see this before it does, head over to benschilibowl.com/new-mural and add your name.
If you miss the deadline, make a mental note anyway. Show up at the wall after the mural goes up. Stand there for a moment. Remember the man who made everyone feel like they belonged.
Long live Sam "The Man" Burns.
#SamTheManBurns #KeepItTogether #BenChiliBowl #DCHouseMusic #LongLiveSam
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