Blupela One World Blue Media Presents:

Blupela One World Blue Illuminations Speaker Series in Support of WZUM FM Pittsburgh, The Afro American Music Institute, and WE#21.org

Sunday December 6th at 7 pm [With a Virtual Window of 72 hours to watch if you cannot make the 7 pm time]

Click Here for Your Virtual Ticket

Click Here for Your Virtual Ticket

Core Programs & Meaning of Logo

Spanish-English programs guide youth through Roberto Clemente’s 21 Personal Attributes (Life Lessons). WE#21 members are a humanitarian service club that includes coed youth baseball/softball teams.

* The logo captures the spirit of “Playing Catch, the essence of WE#21.”

* It depicts catching and throwing (reflecting) Roberto Clemente’s 21 Points of Light.

* The lights unite into a STAR caught by the glove and then reflected into the Caribbean Sea below the glove.

* The reflected light represents those who Catch his Light and emulate him in service to others.

* Their reflected lights unite to carry Roberto, not only to the shores of Nicaragua and Puerto Rico, their combined lights wash up upon and illuminate the shores of every continent/island throughout the world.

* Roberto lives forever when we do as he would do.”

WE#21’s Theme Is Catching & Reflecting Roberto’s Light

In our video “Playing Catch” (in development), Roberto plays catch from right field with Knotholers in the bleachers before the Pirates-Dodgers game at Forbes Field on May 6, 1961. Viewers will discover that was when WE#21 was born!

Please Donate – Let’s Play Catch!

GIVE NOW by clicking below Roberto’s Ball of Light a secure Web-Link.

Catch Roberto’s Ball of Light and then reflect his Light by throwing it to a Friend & Teammate!

Do As Roberto Would Do, Give! – What does your donation fund?

* $21 a youth’s ticket to a Pirate game or a youth’s WE#21 shirt,

* $35 a game ticket, a beverage and treat at PNC Park, and

* $221 a teacher’s, counselor’s or coach’s guidance through WE#21 Life Lessons, and/or a youth baseball-softball team

You Also Can Make a Tax-Deductible Donation by Making Checks Payable to WE#21, 320 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Suite 240, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 • 412-443-3631

A Few of Roberto’s 21 Attibutes

Roberto Clemente from A Major League Tryout in Puerto Rico to Hit #3,000 in Pittsburgh as the Greatest Pirate Right Fielder. Roberto Clemente at Brooklyn Dodgers tryouts in September 1952. This picture was taken by a bystander.

Roberto’s presence at the tryout demonstrates his perseverance to excel and self-discipline to perform at a young age.

Roberto’s drive to excel and his self-less pride enabled him to overcome many barriers, trials, and tribulations. A “payoff” from his fortitude is evidenced by the umpire handing him Hit #3,000 on September 30, 1972 at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA. Roberto knew that he could achieve his goals if he believed he could and that he had to correct his shortcomings to reach them. In his youth, he often wrote his shortcomings on the inside of his forearm and updated this “list” when he overcame them.

Roberto “saw” his achievements as examples for others to follow, especially future Latin ballplayers. He was aware that the what, the how and the why he did “things” on and off the field were an example for his family, friends, teammates and countrymen to follow. He GAVE his “best” not to feed his pride, but to NURTURE others to become a better FRIEND & TEAMMATE and to be proud of themselves.

He wanted others to believe that they could DO AS ROBERTO WOULD DO. Roberto #21 gave his “ALL” – all of the time. Roberto wanted to be known AS A GREAT MAN who happened to excel at baseball.

HE WANTED US to KNOW HIM!

Roberto was A GREAT MAN who was a FRIEND & TEAMMATE. More importantly, he was a wonderful father and husband.

Family, Friends & Teammates are The Heart of WE#21!

Shop Here

Buy Baseball Jersey, Baseball Hat & Shirts with A Slogan on the Back

Donors giving $221 annually or more receive a shirt and a hat.

Facebook

YouTube

Coach Frankie Scurry is in the middle.

Baseball-Softball – Ages 9-12

Participating in MLB Programs

East Boros/Turtle Creek Valley & Beechview-South Hills Area

WE#21 Values & Unites: FAMILY, FRIENDS, TEAMMATES & COMMUNITY

Call Coach Scurry 412-657-3868 or Click “Register” at: http://clubs.bluesombrero.com/we21

Players become Friends & Teammates (F&T) by being Reliable, Loyal & Generous.

Player’s wear #s from the 1971 World Series Champion Pirate’s roster. F&Ts may enroll in the WE#21 Life Lessons Program to be guided through Roberto’s 21 Points of Light (his values, acts, deeds and achievements).

Gifts to #21 of $2.21 or More Welcome

We celebrate Roberto’s birthday on or near August 18.

Roberto’s Virtual Birthday Card highlights past Friend’s & Teammates Celebrations in English and Spanish

If you wish to attend a Pirate game as a WE#21 group with 12 members or more, discounted WE#21 tickets can be purchased from Dev Kumar at dev.kumar@pirates.com

Go Here to Purchase Game Tickets

Contact Us

WE#21

Address:

320 Fort Duquesne Blvd,

Suite 240

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Phone:

(412) 443-3631

We#21. Continuing Roberto Clemente’s legacy by “doing what Roberto would do.”

It is safe to say that meeting Roberto Clemente changed John Serrapere’s life. When John was just nine-years old, he asked the great Pittsburgh Pirate outfielder for his autograph. What he received was a lesson in living. Roberto waved his hand as if to say, “It’s not that important.” Then he looked at John and said, “If you want to become like one of my family, do as I do!”

Those words became John’s personal passion and the driving force in John’s financial consulting career. “Roberto Clemente led by example on the ball field and in his private life,” John emphasized.

Every year, John and several friends would meet to celebrate Roberto’s birthday at PNC Park. In 2013, they decided to “do what Robert would do” and started We#21. We#21 serves at-risk youth 8-18 (both abled and disabled) in urban, suburban and rural communities.

What makes We#21 different is what made Roberto Clemente special. “Roberto dedicated his life to Reliability, Loyalty & Generosity,” John points out. “Through our We#21 Life Lessons Program, we teach kids to adopt those values.” At groups meetings, members learn about Roberto’s 21 Points of Light—his virtues, acts, deeds and achievements. They tell inspiring stories from Roberto’s life, and then tell how they have been a Friend and Teammate to others in their community.

Over the last several years, We#21 has treated kids to Pirates games, their annual Roberto birthday bash, a Manny Meal in honor of Roberto’s friend and team mate (and WE#21 supporter) Manny Sanguillen, and a Love Gumbo Fiesta promoting community pride.

In 2018, the group provided We#21 shirts to the Braddock-Rankin-Swissvale youth baseball team and the Casa San Jose Latino Outreach Program in the Beechview section of Pittsburgh. This year, they have become involved with the Base-Pittsburgh’s Baseball Urban Classic tournament.

For 2020, they are planning a variety of activities including a Love Gumbo Fiesta scheduled for March, and spring and fall baseball seasons in Pittsburgh RBI League affiliated with Major League Baseball and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Currently, the organization is looking to expand its programs and activities. For example, We#21 wants to organize several baseball teams including a team for kids with disabilities. It is also seeking volunteers to participate in spreading the message of “Do as Roberto would Do” to others. It is also looking for designers to animate cartoons depicting stories from Roberto’s life.

To date, a number of organizations have become involved including Dick’s Sporting Goods and PNC Bank. To become part of the team, visit www.We#21.org or contact John at johnserrapere@we21.org .

Roger Humphries is a living jazz legend. He is the bearer of the torch of the music, and a long-standing pillar of Pittsburgh’s illustrious and continuous contribution to America's art form.

"People have all kinds of ideas about what others should do or not do with their lives. You can do whatever you wanna do in life; you just gotta go for it. Often, this takes the strength of the mind not to be discouraged by other people's opinions."

- Roger Humphries

Roger grew up in a large and extremely musical family. At the age of 3-1/2, his family already recognized his talent and aptitude for the drums. Roger's uncle Frank Humphries, a multi-instrumentalist and veteran jazz recording artist, was undoubtedly a significant influence on Roger.

At the age of just 4-1/2, Roger sat in with the Tab Smith Big Band, who Frank Humphries was working with at the time. Roger was encouraged by his older brothers to hone his craft and harness his gift.

By the age of 14, Roger was playing professionally, and at just 16 years old, he led his own band at Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh. His drumming was strongly recognized by his elders, who kept a close and exciting eye on his development.

At 16 as well, Roger had already met and sat in with two of his biggest influences, and two of the most celebrated drummers in jazz history, Max Roach and Art Blakey.

"My early concept of what my sound would be was to combine the elements that I loved of three of my biggest drumming influences, Max Roach, Buddy Rich, and Art Blakey. I've had a love of music for as long as I can remember, and I listen to and learn from everything."

In 1962 at the age of 18, Roger was recruited by the great Tenor Saxophonist and fellow Pittsburgh native, Stanley Turrentine. Turrentine was married to organist Shirley Scott, and it was in this context that Roger joined their group.

From there, in 1964, Roger went to New York to audition for the legendary Horace Silver and landed the job with Horace's quintet. Also auditioning for Silver at that time was another drummer who would also rise to international acclaim, Billy Cobham. Cobham would go on to play with Miles Davis and was later recruited by another Davis disciple, John McLaughlin, for his new fusion concept called The Mahavishnu Orchestra.

"Horace heard in me the sound he was looking for at that time. It's not important to be preoccupied with being "the best in the world," which is a very subjective thing. I was given a gift, and I honed my craft, and I'm extremely grateful for the blessing of music."

While with Silver, Roger toured Europe twice and appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival. There, Humphries was interviewed by renowned jazz writer Leonard Feather. A summary of that interview is included in the Encyclopedia of Jazz in the Sixties.

Roger recorded three albums while working with Horace Silver. They were "Song For My Father," "Cape Verdean Blues," and "Jody Grind." The Song For My Father Album is one of the most legendary of our time, still being played by most jazz radio station as a popular hit. His tenure with the great Horace Silver lasted a little over three years from 1964 through 1967.

During the recording of these albums, he played with such giants as Joe Henderson, James Spalding, and Tyrone Washington (saxophone), Teddy Smith, and Larry Ridley (bass), Woody Shaw, and Carmell Jones (trumpeters) and J.J. Johnson (trombone).

In 1965, Roger recorded with the great trumpeter Carmell Jones, for the album called "Jay Hawk Talk." He has also recorded with such artists as Geri Alan, Herbie Mann/Phil Woods, Richard Groove Holmes, Kenny Blake, Frank Cunimondo, Dwayne Dolphin, and Nancy Wilson (2004 Christmas CD.) He also appeared on Oprah Winfrey and Bryant Gumbel's TV show with Nancy Wilson.

Roger is widely considered as one of the most exciting percussionists in the business. He has provided the rhythmic beat for such greats as: Ray Charles, Horace Silver, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Stanley Turrentine, James Moody, Lee Morgan, Dr. Billy Taylor, Benny Green, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins, Clark Terry, J.J. Johnson, Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, Jon Faddis, Slide Hampton, Randy Brecker, Joe Williams, Milton Jackson, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Witherspoon, Nathan Davis, Pete Henderson, Don Patterson, Gene Harris, Grant Green, George Harris, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Doggett, Jack McDuff, and a long list of great musicians that seems endless.

After playing with various groups around the country, ace drummer Roger Humphries decided to organize his own group. in 1972 he formed RH Factor and in 1996 he assembled Roger Humphries' Big Band. Roger gives special thanks to Dr. Harry Clark, principal of The Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) who has allowed him to have such a beautiful experience teaching the kids at the school.

The late Dr. Nathan Davis also gave Roger an opportunity to teach and share with the students at the University of Pittsburgh. Roger has influenced the careers of a number of his students and musicians also through participation in a number of clinics such as the, Slippery Rock University Summer Jazz workshop, Mellon Jazz Masters Class and Concerts and the teaching goes on especially on the stage.

Roger Humphries continues to be a beacon of light in the world of music, and education. He is not only one of the most celebrated drummers in jazz history till today, he is a tower of strength, inspiration, generosity, and kindness to all who know him and know of him.

May the Almighty bless Roger with great health, happiness, strength, long life and endless music. If you are a music fan, make your way to Pittsburgh and catch Roger wherever and whenever you can.