Uncrowned Community Builders

Born and raised in Buffalo New York, Hamlin Park. Educated in Buffalo Public Schools(74, 48, 81, Bennett High School) in the Special Progress Program Gail enjoyed the exposure to the Black Arts movement and became very involved with literature, dance, music and visual arts.

Having Jimmy Lyons, Buffalo's first Black full time D.J. on the radio as her father Gail, Jimmy,Jr, Jo Anne and Gwen were thoroughly immersed in the wonderful world of music and the artists. It would be years before they realized they had to go to a record store to buy records! Music was always a vital part of the Lyons household. Thanks to Mrs. Ora Curry, the first Black teacher at Bennett High School. Gail joined the production Heartbeat as a dancer, choreographer and singer, introducing her to the world of performing and "hitting the road".Very valuable. She was introduced to the Black Dance Workshop her senior year, taking class from Carole Welch at the Humboldt Y. Gail found "her voice" in dance, worked very hard, was accepted as a member of the Black Dance Workshop and made her debut performance August 1971.

Gail was accepted to Simmons College and because of the training she received from Heartbeat and from the Workshop in Buffalo she founded the Imani Dance Workshop at Simmons. The Sisters were very dedicated and committed to the beauty, strength and power of the art of Black Dance, Black Music, Spoken Word and Black Love. Because of Imani Gail was invited to join the Pan African Drum and Dance troupe Boka N'Deye(of the same Mother). Gail was elected Women's Dance Captain at the very first meeting 11-4-72. Djimbe drum and dance was becoming known in this country. It wasn't long before the company was traveling down the east coast of this country(Selma, Tuskegee, Langston University)before people in Buffalo even knew how to spell djimbe! 1976 Gail travelled to Dakar, Senegal to study traditional dance and drum with her director Ibrahim Camara.

When they returned to the states they formed Koumpo Senegales Drum and Dance Co. 1977 Gail left Boston and returned to Buffalo. She was invited to rejoin the Black Dance Workshop Dancemobile. It was then she met Emile Latimer, the drummer. They became partners, personally and professionally, and founded the dance and drum company Sounds and Echoes of Yemenja. Because Gail was a djimbe dancer for years she introduced Emile to the culture. 10 years later Emile went to Senegal and mastered his djimbe playing. Because of Sounds and Echoes and Black Dance Workshop dance and drum culture in Buffalo was blessed.