Where The Love At - Buddy MClain
Andre Locke (aka Buddy Mclain) has always had his heart in the right place - whether during an earlier time in robbing a bank to secure money to support a kidney transplant surgery for both of his brothers or more recently successfully convincing Minnesota state legislators and the governor to ban no-knock arrest warrants throughout the state.
This effort for a change in police tactics began following the killing of Andre's son, Amir, on February 22, 2022, by a Minneapolis police officer in a case of mistaken identity. Amir's name was not on the arrest warrant when the special tactical unit, without announcing its presence, busted into the apartment early one morning when Amir was asleep. This campaign for justice has been featured in previous stories on the MWAH! website's 'Recent Stories' page.
As part of his campaign for justice reform, Andre was a special guest of honor at the 2023 State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and he plans to continue his efforts on a national level to secure a ban of nation-wide no-knock warrants.
Amir was an aspiring musician, following in the footsteps of his father, who has become a well-known rap music artist in the Minneapolis-St Paul area and other parts of the country.
Andre began developing his musical talents in 1984 when he became a founding member of the traveling Explosonic Rockers Street Jazz Theatrical Troupe, which in 1993 morphed to the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe.
On January 19, 2024, Andre (aka Buddy Mclain) released his latest single record 'Where the Love At.'
Two additional former Explosonic Rockers were part of this release - Marc Ellus Smith from the Las Vegas, Nevada area and Steve ('Stevo') Brewster of Wichita, Kansas. Marc did the music production and Steve designed the record cover. All three at one time lived in Chicago’s near-west suburb of Maywood, where the Explosonic Rockers originated from Explorer Scout Post #75, a service-oriented program with Steve as post president.
Featured in Andre's new release is River Smith, daughter of Marc.
The release, including a sampling of the song, has been posted on Spotify and Apple Music.
The photo below spotlights Andre and Steve as Explosonic Rockers in about 1986 in the second floor troupe rehearsal space of the Alpha Baptist Church in Maywood. The backdrop and the linoleum breakdance floor artwork were designed by Steve. The name of the song was 'You Look Like Me.'
Their acrobatic-oriented street dance style looked like no other, and the duet won dance competitions in various parts of the country with Steve the primary choreographer.
