Montana Morgan wreaked so much havoc growing up in his Alton Park neighborhood that he got kicked out of Howard School in 10th grade and sent to jail on gang-related violence charges at age 18.
Two decades later, at 38, Morgan says he's turned his life around and he's using music to help youth and unify Alton Park.
Morgan and his nephew KP Hughes, two former residents of the defunct Spencer J. McCallie Homes, are organizing an Alton Park reunion.
"It's more to do in life than run the streets," says Morgan. "Somebody has got to help talk to kids and guide them. That's where I'm trying to get to."
Morgan and Hughes, owner of South Hit Entertainment, will showcase two bands at Urban Grind Cafe at 7 p.m. Sept. 23.
If you go
› Old School Party With a Purpose: 9-11 p.m. Thursday at The Camp House, 149 E. M.L. King Blvd. $10. Event includes a meet-and-greet with hip-hop legend Kool Moe Dee.› Sophisticated Sunday: 4-9 p.m. Sunday at 2 on the Roof, 313 Manufacturers Road. $20. Tickets available at G’s Detroit Sausages on MLK and Roots Hair & Beauty on Brainerd Road. For more information, call 423-488-6546 or 423-362-7607.› Alton Park Reunion: 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at Urban Grind Cafe, 2193 Park Drive. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Free picnic at 10 a.m. Sept. 23 at new park located on the former Charles A. Bell School site. For information, call Montana Morgan at 423-667-5358 or KP Hughes at 423-355-1061.› Washington Hills Jubilee: 10 a.m. Sept. 23 at Washington Hills Recreation Center. The event also will be the kickoff of a community-wide mentoring program for eighth-graders by area business representatives and professionals. For more information email James.mckameyjr@gmail.com
Several members of both bands grew up in Alton Park. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Morgan is also planning a free community picnic at 10 a.m. Sept. 23 at the new park at the former Charles A. Bell site. Morgan is seeking sponsors for food and activities for youth.
Performers at the Alton Park Reunion also include hip-hop artist Cle Raq of Chattanooga who wrote a song encouraging youth to stop violence.
Morgan is among several organizers using bands and parties to meet needs in the community.
Darian Scott, who does outreach for the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, expects to donate at least $500 to Hardy Elementary School this month from the money made at the Sophisticated Sunday Party, set for 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Hardy Elementary School principal Shannon Braziel will speak during the event.
He donated more than $500 each to Orchard Knob Middle and Orchard Knob Elementary schools in the two previous months when he hosted the party. Reginald Moss and the Nubreed Showband provides entertainment. The event also includes a DJ.
Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist Kool Moe Dee gives a free performance as the opening headliner for the Levitt Amp Chattanooga Music Series at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. An artist performs every Thursday night until Oct. 26.
After the Bessie Smith performance, Kool Moe Dee will join the Sankofa Fund for Civic Engagement as the nonprofit hosts its Old School Party with a Purpose from 9 to 11 p.m. at The Camp House. The event is themed "The Best in '80s & '90s Hip-Hop/Club Classics" and features a meet-and-greet with Kool Moe Dee. Admission is $10. All funds go to Sankofa's community grant campaign that supports local projects. Since Sankofa started in 2015, its contributions include $5,300 for band instruments at Brainerd High School, $2,600 for plumbing work at Heaven on Hughes and $1,723.21 for The Passage mobile classroom.
James McKamey, owner of Eye-Candy Skin Studio and a former Washington Hills resident, is lining up local musicians and choirs to perform at the Washington Hills Jubilee on Sept. 23. T-Mobile is helping to sponsor the event. It starts at 10 a.m. at the Washington Hills Recreation Center. The event also will be the kickoff for a communitywide mentoring program for eighth-graders. Business representatives and professionals volunteer as mentors for youth in the 12-month program designed to expose youth to different careers. Those interested in being mentored should email James.mckameyjr@gmail.com.
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.