Book Launch with the Melodious Nnenna Freelon, "Beneath the Skin of Sorrow."
Tue, Oct 21
|Medgar Evers College
In partnership with Medgar Evers College Center for Black Literature, we're honored to present "Beneath the Skin of Sorrow;" debut memoir by legendary jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon.


Time & Location
Oct 21, 2025, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Medgar Evers College, 1638 Bedford Ave, AB1 Dining Hall, Brooklyn, NY 11225
About the Event
About the Book: In this elegiac and lyrical memoir, celebrated jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon outlines how drawing on her musical skills of improvisation helped her deal with her grief in the wake of losing her husband and her sister over the course of six months.
Over a period of just six months, eminent jazz vocalist and composer Nnenna Freelon’s life changed irrevocably. Her soulmate and husband of nearly forty years, the renowned architect Phil Freelon, passed away from ALS, her sister Debbie succumbed to cancer, and the family dog, Basie, died as well. In the immediate wake of these compounding losses, Freelon could not find a way to process or understand her grief and lost the ability to read, sing, and improvise. The inner melody that had vibrated inside of her since childhood went silent. She then realized that the only way to move forward was to lean into her…
Tickets
Community Offering
Books and bookish events are not the province of the privileged. This ticket is for those who most need the help. If you can afford the $5.00 charge for general admission, please save this for someone who can’t.
$0.00
Sale endedGeneral Admission
This ticket grants entry to the event; it does not include a book. In addition, it does not guarantee a signed book. Purchase of a book is entirely dependent on stock availability at the time of the event.
$5.00
+$0.13 ticket service fee
Sale endedGen Adm + Book
This ticket grants entry to the event and guarantees a signed book during the event. If for any reason, you are unable to attend, you will receive an email outlining the options on how to receive the book. Please do not worry; your book will not be sold.
$32.95
+$0.82 ticket service fee
Sale endedONLY the Signed Book
This ticket does not grant entry. This ticket is only for folx who are not able to physically attend the event AND who like a signed book. 1-2 business days after the event, you will receive an email outlining the options for receiving the book: a. ship or b. pick-Up. If you opt for shipping, you will receive an invoice with shipping cost. Once paid, the book will ship. If you choose pick-up, you will receive an email with pick-up information.
$27.95
+$0.70 ticket service fee
Sale ended


