WCL Spotlight Celebration

Celebrating 20 Years of Live Music & Impact

Thank you to all that joined us on Friday, October 4th for WCL’s 20th Anniversary Spotlight Celebration.

Mic'd Up All Stars Student musicians from the school district of Philadelphia

SPOTLIGHTS 

Carole Haas Gravagno

Carole Haas Gravagno – Visionary Champion

Carole Haas Gravagno is a philanthropist and activist who is committed to improving the lives of children and youth in Greater Philadelphia.

A former elementary and high school teacher, Carole has served as a board member, volunteer, and supporter of numerous education and arts organizations in the region, including: Arden Theatre Company, Beyond Celiac, Intercultural Journeys, The National Liberty Museum, Morris Arboretum, People’s Light and Theatre Company, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philadelphia Zoo, Play On, Philly!, Please Touch Museum, Settlement Music School, Stoneleigh Foundation and the William Penn Foundation. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and was appointed a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania in 1999 by Governor Tom Ridge.

Carole holds a bachelor’s degree from Lenoir-Rhyne College and a master’s in education from Temple University.

Frank Machos

Frank Machos – Collaborative Connector

Dr. Frank Machos is the Executive Director for the School District of Philadelphia’s Office of The Arts & Creative Learning, and previously served as the district’s Director of Music Education. He relocated from his native Edison, New Jersey to Philadelphia to attend the University of The Arts where he received a B.A in Music Composition, an M.A. in Music Education, and a Ph.D. in Creativity. He also earned an M.A. in School Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. Before transitioning to administrative roles, Frank taught music at Grover Washington Jr. Middle School and School of the Future, specializing in instrumental music with a focus on expanding innovation in music education by integrating popular and contemporary music, technology, and college and career skill development. He serves on boards and committees for various non-profit organizations and founded Limelight Arts, a performing arts community center focused on supporting artists of all ages, abilities, and interests. He remains active in the Philadelphia music community as a saxophonist, performing with a variety of musicians and performing artists, covering a wide range of musical genres, and enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.

Kristal Oliver

Kristal Oliver – Innovative Educator

Kristal “Tytewriter” Oliver is a Grammy-nominated, platinum songwriter signed to Sony ATV Music Publishing with over 25 years of professional experience. She has collaborated with artists such as Ty Dolla $ign, Estelle, Kanye West, Ledisi, and Justin Timberlake and many more. Kristal has served as Vice President and Board Member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy, contributing to music advocacy and special projects.
As a lead teaching artist at World Cafe Live, she guided students in songwriting and music production residency at Hill-Freedman World Academy, featured in the HBO documentary “Stand Up & Shout: Songs from A Philly High School.” In her role as Director of Literacy for the DASH Program, Kristal develops engaging curricula focused on songwriting and music literacy. She has also led workshops and lectured at institutions like Berklee College of Music, Rowan University, Temple University, and Drexel University.
Kristal has been featured in Billboard Magazine, Hip Hop Weekly, and Playback Magazine, and has spoken at events like the ASCAP I Create Music Expo and Grammy in the Schools.
Billy Allen & the Pollies

World Cafe Live is proud to spotlight Billy Allen & the Pollies, an emerging band whose musical performance at the Spotlight Celebration will surely get everyone moving.

Billy Allen & the Pollies: There is a ferocious Southern engine inside of Billy Allen & The Pollies’ debut album Black Noise. It thrums to life atop a classic rock chassis and expertly weaves in and out of gospel, grunge, funk and soul along its eleven-song journey. From the explosive top of the album (a liberating anthem of self-worth called “All of Me”) to the spiritually haunting final track (the wurlitzer fueled “Go on Without Them”) Black Noise is a genre-defiant haymaker that lands.

The band is a hybrid of four-piece rock outfit The Pollies and fellow Alabamian, and frontman, Billy Allen. The story of what fused Allen and The Pollies is one that begins in a bar 8 years ago. This particular bar was on Allen’s gig circuit and it just so happens to be where Jay Burgess (founder of The Pollies) was having a drink that evening. While there was intrigue and potential in that first chance meeting, the two would remain ships in the night, each building their own careers, until years later when the stars would align at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals.