Photo via @christylezbacon

How important was Godfather of Go-Go Chuck Brown to D.C.? Enough to merit his own commemorative day and a go-go museum named after him, according to one person.

Alexandria resident Tiki Bennett has started an online petition requesting that Brown’s birthday be declared “Chuck Brown Day” and that a museum be built to recognize the musical genre he came to exemplify. The petition has picked up steam in recent days, attracting over 2,000 signatures. The full text of the petition, which is addressed to Mayor Vince Gray, is below:

ON AUGUST 22, 1936 CHUCK BROWN WAS BORN. AUGUST 22, 2012, The Entire Go-Go Community is asking that the city of Washington DC to Proclomate ”CHUCK BROWN DAY” and we ask that each year in his honor there be a majo concert planned to celebrate his life. Chuck Brown is responsible for birthing a new culture and new genre of music for this city, a life and culture that the rest of the world took notice to. A culture that Chuck Brown built and that culture is Go-Go!! We will take the necessary steps to begin a “Chuck Brown Foundation” which will raise money to award scholarships to high school students in the metropolitan area that excel in their classroom. This would allow our youth to continue their education and attend college.

We would also like to raise money to fund the building of a historical Go-Go Museum to be opened in the Washington, DC and ask that it be named “The Chuck Brown Museum”. Asking that there be a statue built in his likeness on display inside the museum. We are requesting that the museum also display all of our great artists that have paved the way for this culture and genre of music that were born and raised in this area ( IE; MARVIN GAY ETC ), GO-GO IS D.C. and this should be available as an added attraction for our tourist. We have lost a great man and many more before him.

LETS PLEASE DO THIS TO SAVE OUR CULTURE AND SAVE WHAT D.C. AND THE METROPOLITAN AREA has been raised on. This is a vision to heal this city, our culture, our youth and the negative outlook that has been placed on this genre of music. Let’s honor the Great Chuck Brown, his name will live forever through these monuments, the foundations, the scholarships and the yearly celebration of his life. LONG LIVE THE MAN, THE ICON, THE KING, ”THE GODFATHER OF GO-GO – CHUCK BROWN…..

A street in front of the Howard Theatre has already been named after Brown, and the D.C. Council and the mayor in the past has approved commemorative resolutions recognizing important D.C. figures or events. In 2006, it passed a resolution “To recognize and acknowledge the legendary talents of Chuck Brown.” (The resolution is below.)

Brown’s publicist announced today that his funeral would likely take place next week, and various D.C. councilmembers have openly discussed the best venue for it. Last week Gray announced that D.C. flags would be flown at half-staff on the day he is laid to rest. Last week on WAMU, Ward 7 candidate and anti-violence activist Ron Moten proposed that Brown lie in state.

Moten also published a letter in the Post over the weekend explaining the extent of Brown’s influence on the city. “What made Chuck Brown even more incredible is that his creation, go-go music, built an underground economy that generated millions of dollars during bleak times for our city,” he wrote. “The blueprint he created produced income for hundreds of musicians, promoters, sound technicians, graphic designers and security guards. Aside from Ben’s Chili Bowl, go-go was about the only thing that brought night life to now-rejuvenated U Street NW after the riots. Go-go could survive anywhere.”

Another petition seeks to have Brown given a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.

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