Tribute for Malcolm-Jamal Warner at City Winery: 'He was an amazing man'
Malcolm-Jamal Warner tribute in Atlanta
A beautiful tribute through the arts to honor the life and legacy of actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner. A tribute took place at the Atlanta City Winery filled with music, poetry and reflections.
ATLANTA - The Atlanta Poetry Community gathered for a powerful tribute to the late Malcolm-Jamal Warner, celebrating his artistic legacy with an afternoon of poetry, music, and live performance.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner: The man, the poet
What we know:
The event, titled The Man – The Message – The Music – The Mission, honored Warner’s contributions as an Emmy-winning actor, spoken word advocate, musician, and cultural force. Dozens of artists from across the country performed during the show, which ran from noon to 3 p.m. All proceeds benefited Warner’s family.
"We are going to grieve, mourn and celebrate together the great man Malcolm was," said organizer Tamika Harper, who helped curate the tribute.
Though widely known for his iconic role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, Warner left a lasting impression on Atlanta’s creative community through his poetry, music, and frequent appearances at cultural events. He built strong ties to the city after moving to Atlanta while filming FOX’s The Resident, which used the High Museum as a hospital set. Even after the show ended, Warner remained an active presence in Atlanta’s arts scene.
"I just hosted three sold-out shows in February with him, and he hosted shows with me," Harper said. "He was wonderful. I met him almost 20 years ago at Def Poetry Jam."
RELATED: Malcolm-Jamal Warner dead at 54: Deep ties to Atlanta
Heartfelt tribute to Warner’s legacy
What they're saying:
Wednesday’s celebration featured performances by renowned artists including Queen Sheba, Georgia Me, J. Ivy, Brandon Thomas, Theresa tha SONGBIRD, Taalam Acey, and Rodney Perry. The blend of poetry, storytelling, and music offered a heartfelt tribute to Warner’s legacy.
"I was hosting poetry events in Atlanta. I'm going to stake the claim that I was the first person to bring him to Atlanta and be part of the Atlanta poetry scene," said radio host Joyce Littel. "I would remember his genuineness — being a good guy and a great friend, a good person on and off camera."
City Winery tribute to Malcolm Jamal-Warner
City Winery Atlanta is hosting a tribute to Malcolm Jamal-Warner on Wednesday afternoon.
Among those paying tribute were Mat and Jasmin Prestbury, who shared a personal connection with the venue.
"We actually came to an event where he was performing right here," Mat Prestbury said. "That’s why it's important — because it's a full circle moment. That’s where I was introduced to him."
"He was an amazing man," added Jasmin Prestbury. "He loved the arts, and the arts are important. We want to make sure we keep the art alive in Malcolm’s memory."
Warner died earlier this month of accidental drowning while vacationing with his family in Costa Rica.
"People remember how you made them feel, and with Malcolm, you felt good," Harper said, quoting poet Maya Angelou.