The Living Artist Society in Cortlandt Manon, NY is set to present “Here I Stand” in commemoration of Paul Robeson’s book of the same title.

The series of two concerts will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Peekskill Riots on Sept. 12 and 15, 2024 at the Hollow Brook Golf Club and Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, respectively. Mark Doss will headline the program alongside Pegasus: The Orchestra and Karen Hakobyan. Hosting the showcase will be Aaron Mair, a leader in the national movement for environmental justice.

“I am honored to perform at this year’s events and am excited to celebrate the life and legacy of Paul Robeson through his music,” said Doss in an official press release. “I have been awestruck on more than one occasion after hearing online commentary of Robeson’s where he mentions his rationale for placing certain songs in a particular order, where he said, ‘I put this song here, because it belongs there;’ in my own rendition of ‘Ol’ Man River’ I put Paul’s name at the end, because it belongs there!”

“On this 75th anniversary of the Peekskill Riots, we will commemorate this national history and share important memories of our local community,” added Wendy Talio, Founder of the Living Artist Society and Event Chair. “We’re very honored that Grammy Award-winning bass-baritone Mark S. Doss will be joining us in this mission with a performance that will take attendees on a journey through Robeson’s life with his repertoire and that is fitting of Robeson’s enduring legacy as one of the most influential artists and advocates of social justice in his era.”

Robeson was a beloved artist and figure in 20th century civil rights history. He sang an outdoor concert outside Peekskill to benefit the Harlem chapter of the Civil Rights Congress despite threats of violence.