Sweet Honey In The Rock, the venerable and Grammy
nominated a cappella ensemble who've built a legacy for merging an inimitable
and distinct harmonic vocal blend with a veracious commitment to activism,
social justice, equality and freedom have announced their final fall shows to
commemorate their SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK - 40TH ANNIVERSARY: FORTY &
FIERCE year and milestone achievement.
Sweet
Honey launched their anniversary in mid-February of 2014 at the Zellerback Theater
in Berkeley. CA, and have been performing throughout the year. The SWEET HONEY
IN THE ROCK - 40TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW fall run will kick off September 18th at
the University of Nevada/Reno's Nightingale Concert Hall in Reno, Nevada. Sweet
Honey's tour will comprise fifteen shows and culminate on November 22nd at the
Edmonds Center For The Arts in Edmond, WA. It will also include the final SWEET
HONEY IN THE ROCK: 40TH ANNIVERSARY, FORTY & FIERCE larger production on
October 14th at the Thrivent Financial Hall/Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
in Appleton, WI.
Musically,
the show relies on the depth of the ensemble's varied repertoire and newly
arranged medleys and arrangements of some of their classics. Throughout the
show each member will also share their own intimate personal stories in
dialogue and perform influential songs that have highlighted their incredible
journey over the past four decades. Audiences will also be warmed up and
treated to a special pre-show presentation entitled “She-Rocks 5 Radio,” that
will comprise an audio compilation of their most revered songs. The program is
hosted by DJ Merk (Epatha Merkerson) and produced by Louise Robinson and Jordon
Maillard Ware.
"We're
extremely excited and feel blessed to have experienced and enjoyed such
longevity, and we're very thankful to all our loyal fans who have stood by us
all these years," stated Sweet Honey original member Carol Maillard.
"They have been the driving force that has fueled all our artistic
endeavors, and we're elated and happy to celebrate and share this special show
with our fans and show them why we all feel "Forty & Fierce!” Sweet
Honey comprises Louise Robinson, Carol Maillard, Nitanju Bolade Casel, Aisha
Kahlil and Shirley Childress (American Sign Interpreter).
Sweet Honey
In The Rock began creating its adventurous and diverse mixture of blues,
African, jazz, gospel and R & B music as a quartet in 1973. Formed by Dr.
Bernice Reagon (who retired in 2004) the ensemble's patented sound was honed
during a workshop at the D.C Black Repertory Theater Company in Washington, DC.
Since that time, they have performed throughout the world, including Africa,
Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, at many of the premiere venues in the
United States, released 23 recordings, been featured in documentaries and
amassed a distinguished list of honors, awards and accolades.
The
ensemble just returned from a short tour of Belize (August 26th - 31st) as part
of the longstanding Arts Envoy Program and initiative by the US State
Department that's hosted by the US Embassy in Belize. Sweet Honey performed
concerts in Belize City, Dangriga and Placencia and conducted artist exchange
workshops with a couple noted Belizean artists.
Last
year the band successfully launched their first ever fan based fundraising
campaign with the IndieGogo online platform. Funds derived from the campaign
have been used to produce their 40th Anniversary show. They also toured Europe
and Australia and performed at the National Memorial Service for the late
Nelson Mandela presented at the National Cathedral in Washington DC and were
recipients of distinguished awards by the Search for Common Ground Organization
in DC and "The Keeper Of Flame" Award" presented at the national
convention and Signature Gala of the Delta Sigma Theta Society in Washington,
DC.
In 2012,
they performed at the unveiling ceremonies for the Martin Luther King monument
on the National Mall. They also debuted their first ever orchestral
collaboration, providing the lyrics for composer William Banfield’s “Symphony
10: Affirmations for a New World,” co-commissioned by the National Symphony
Orchestra (Christoph Eschenbach, Music Director) and the John F. Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC; the Minnesota Orchestra, (Osmo Vänskä,
Music Director); and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Millennium Park,
Chicago, released a thought-provoking single and video, “Are We A Nation,”
inspired by the controversial immigration law that was enacted in Arizona . The
song captured a Gold Songwriter Award from the 27th Mid-Atlantic Song Contest
and was featured on an all-star compilation, “Bordersongs,” that raised money
for the No More Deaths organization, which provides water and humanitarian aid
along the Arizona/Mexico border. Their latest 2-CD set, “A Tribute – Live! Jazz
at Lincoln Center,” pays homage to some of the great female African-American
vocalists whose songs helped shape the group, including Abbey Lincoln, Odetta,
Miriam Makeba, and Nina Simone.
The
complete list of dates are listed below:
September
18th - University of Nevada/Reno Nightingale Concert Hall, Reno, NV
September
27th - Washington State University, Beasley Coliseum, Pullman, WA
October
8th - Georgia Southern University, Performing Arts Center, Statesboro,GA
October
9th - Wake Forest University, Wait Chapel, Winston, Salem
October
11th - Georgia State University, Rialto Center, Atlanta, GA
October
14th - Thrivent Financial Hall/Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Appleton, WI
October
16th - St. Catherine University, O'Shaughnessy, St. Paul, MN
October
17th - Dimnent Chapel, Holland, MI
October
19th - The Center For The Performing Arts, Carmel, IN
October
22nd - Stoughton Opera House, Stoughton, WI
October
23rd - Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
October
26th - Macomb Center For The Performing Arts, Clinton Township, MI
October
30th - East Tenn.State Univ, Martha St Culp Auditorium, Johnson
City, TN
November
21st - Admiral Theater, Bremerton, WA
November
22nd - Edmonds Center For The Arts, Edmonds, WA
BLUE-EYED HAWK - UNDER THE MOON
