College of Lake County to present Salute to Gospel Music
The College of Lake County’s 29th Annual Salute to Gospel Music program Saturday, March 2, will feature the Grammy Award winning groups Sounds of Blackness and Reverend Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago.
The program will begin at 7 p.m. at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N Genesee St., Waukegan. The program will be a spirited musical tribute to the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Sounds of Blackness is a Grammy Award-winning group directed by Gary Hines since 1971. It has consistently performed and proclaimed the music, culture and history of African-Americans to audiences all over the world.
In 2012, the “The Sound of Blackness” CD won a 2012 NAACP Image Award for Best World Music Recording. The group has also won the Soul Train Award, International Time For Peace Award, seven Stellar Awards and the International Dance Music Awards.
It also was nominated for an Emmy Award and five NAACP Image Awards. The group’s new self-titled CD, “The Sounds of Blackness,” and first single, “Fly Again,” are inspiring the world and a new generation once again.
The group has performed benefit concerts for many organizations and conducts master classes and workshops. They have also performed on the soundtracks of the many films, including “Batman,” “Demolition Man,” “Panther,” “House Party II,” “The Posse,”and “Precious.”
Reverend Charles Jenkins, a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, wrote the praise and worship anthem “Awesome,” which was No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart for more than 16 weeks.
The single entered at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Song chart, entered at No. 1 as the Best Selling Christian/Gospel Song on Amazon and is the third best-selling digital gospel song of 2012.
In October 2012, Jenkins & Fellowship of Chicago received eight Stellar Gospel Music Award nominations for their “The Best of Both Worlds” CD. The nominations include artist of the year, song of the year, new artist of the year, CD of the year, choir of the year, traditional CD of the year, traditional choir of the year and recorded music package of the year.
The CLC Gospel Choir, under the direction of Dr. Charles Clency, will open the program. The 2013 Harambee Award of Excellence will be presented to the Rev. Henry Lee Jordan, Jr., pastor of Greater Faith Church Baptist, Waukegan.
Fundraising opportunities for local groups will be offered. For groups of 30 or more, tickets may be purchased at $4 off the general admission price of $19. The group discount includes a private, preshow reception.
Each group or organization is entitled to reassign the price of tickets and keep all proceeds raised above the discounted price. For groups of 20 or more, tickets may be purchased at $3 off the general admission price of $19. For details on group tickets and discounts, call (847) 543-2112.
Regular priced tickets are $19 for general public; $17 for CLC students, staff, alumni, seniors, and children 12 and younger. Tickets are on sale at the CLC Lakeshore Campus; by phone at the James Lumber Center Box Office, (847) 543-2300; or at www.geneseetheatre.com.