At Beacon Senior News, we are proud to sponsor and partner with the Aging with Altitude podcast — and this Black History Month episode is one our readers won’t want to miss.

Through a powerful local lens, the episode highlights the enduring legacy of Fannie Mae Duncan and her iconic Cotton Club, which operated in Colorado Springs from 1948 to 1975 with a bold and welcoming message: all people welcome. While her story has been told in books and films, listeners hear it firsthand from JJ Frazier, who began singing with the Cotton Club orchestra at just 17 years old. Today, JJ continues that same spirit of service and community impact across our region.

We also feature Shirley Martinez, who is making history of her own by bringing Yolanda Renee King — granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr. — to keynote the annual All Peoples Breakfast hosted by the MLK Legacy Preservation Society on 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Hanks, Shirley and JJ for sharing their fascinating stories and preserving the history that continues to shape our community today.