Tri-City artist promises ‘soulful rhymes and music’ at Black History Month showcase
A well-known Tri-City musician, poet and activist will play a set Friday, Feb. 16, on the Washington State University Tri-Cities campus in honor of Black History Month.
“Get ready for a captivating experience as we embark on a journey through the powerful words, soulful rhymes and music that captivates us all,” Bryan C. Hearne, who plays music under the stage name HEARNE, said in a statement.
The free performance is open to students and the public, and is 3-4:30 p.m. in the university’s Student Union Building.
Hearne, 35, is well known for his work as co-CEO of the Urban Poets Society, a nonprofit that provides spaces for artists to share their talents. He also shared the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award with his wife, Daishaundra Loving-Hearne.
His career in the arts began with acting. Hearne worked alongside Keanu Reaves and Michael B. Jordan in the 2001 film “Hardball,” and also appeared on Nickelodeon’s “All That.”
The Tri-City artist describes himself today as a “multifaceted poet, actor, community organizer and musician who uses his artistry to transcend boundaries and blend genres while promoting Black liberation.”
Hearne has published his music online, including his 2020 EP “I Won’t Move.”
His Feb. 16 show — titled “MARTYR: Hip Hop As a Form of Resistance” — is named after a new collection of music he plans to release this month.
