Marvin X at the Oakland Symphony Notes from Vietnam concert

Marvin X and Oakland Symphony Conductor Michael Morgan

photo Aries Jordan

Marvin X attended the Oakland Symphony's concert Notes from Vietnam Friday evening at the elegant Paramount Theatre, at the invitation of his adviser Rt. Col. Conway Jones, Jr., a board member of the Oakland Symphony, who wanted Marvin X to connect with Conductor Micheal Morgan, since Michael is planning a concert in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Black Panther Party, founded in Oakland, Ca, 1966.


It was a most beautiful concert featuring traditional Vietnamese music in harmony with the Oakland Symphony's orchestra, conducted by Maestro Micheal Morgan.

 Vanessa was the hit with her haunting vocals and performance on traditional Vietnamese instruments backed by the Oakland Symphony Orchestra, including Vietnamese high school students . We think Vanessa stole the show!

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Rt. Col. Conway Jones, Jr. and Marvin X 

photo Aries Jordan

Rt. Col. Conway Jones,Jr., Vietnam veteran, encouraged the Vietnamese businessman David Duong to support the Oakland Symphony. Mr. Duong said, "The Notes from Vietnam concert will provide the audience with a view of my country, Vietnam, through the lens of symphonic music. Music is a great equalizer among people and cultures. It is essential to our vibrant Oakland community. Saigon was my home, but now my heart is here in Oakland." 

Left to right: Lynette McElhaney, President of the Oakland City Council, President of the Oakland Symphony Board and David Duong, Vietnamese businessman who supported the production of Notes from Vietnam, at the encouragement of Rt. Col. Conway Jones, Jr.

photo Aries Jordan

When Conway informed Marvin that Michael was planning a concert honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Black Panther Party, Marvin told Conway he'd like to read with the Oakland Symphony since key members of the BPP were his associates and he's written about his relationship with them, including an off-Broadway play co-written by Ed Bullins, Salaam, Huey Newton, Salaam, produced by Woody King's  New Federal Theatre in New York. Marvin's play One Day in the Life, includes the scene of his last meeting with Huey Newton in a West Oakland Crack house.



After the Notes from Vietnam concert, Marvin and Michael talked briefly about his possible reading with symphony. The conductor said he is planning a concert for Indigenous Americans and the LGBT community and the Black Panther Party concert is part of his plans. He and Marvin will be in conversation on the BPP concert, especially since co-founder Huey P. Newton said, "Marvin X was my teacher. Many of our comrades came through his Black Arts Theatre, e.g., Bobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver, Emory Douglas, Samual Napier, et al."