CLC dean brings back acts from early Salute to Gospel concert

With few funds, Eleanor Murkey organized one local group to perform at the first Salute to Gospel concert in 1984 at the College of Lake County.

The next year, Murkey brought the Rev. Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers, led by songwriter and producer Darius Brooks.

Now a renowned gospel artist and three-time Grammy Award winner, Brooks will return to the Grayslake college 24 years later to headline the salute.

Murkey finds him an appropriate artist to perform as she organizes her final event before retiring in December.

"He is coming back to close out my time," said Murkey, who serves as dean of the college Lakeshore campus. "It is a full-circle moment."

The 24th annual Salute to Gospel Music will start at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan.

Murkey said gospel music was once seen as a pure religious experience. Now gospel artists attract a large audience and bring a message of hope, promise and goodness.

Changes

Other things have changed as well.

Time and popularity has changed who Murkey can line up. For the first 20 years, she said top artists were available at a decent price. Now artists like Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin can earn $50,000 to perform.

Murkey recalls other bumps, now funny as she looks back over the years.

Once, after not fully reviewing an artist's contract, Murkey discovered the artist wanted his final payment shortly before a show -- $8,000 in cash.

Two years ago -- the first year the salute came to the Genesee Theatre -- Murkey said a musician got stuck in the elevator.

"The band started playing and played the introduction over and over again because we thought he was on his way to the stage," Murkey said.

This year

Brooks and The Tommies Reunion are among the artists Murkey has planned this year to come to the Genesee Theatre.

The Tommies are former members of the Thompson Community Singers, who helped send the group to the top of the gospel charts in the late 1980s and early '90s.

Brooks has been behind the scenes of some of gospel's biggest songs and stars. For two decades, he has been a successful songwriter, singer, accompanist, arranger and producer for gospel luminaries, including Caesar, Vickie Winans and jazz legend Ramsey Lewis and R&B icons Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Avant.

The concert also will include performances by Shekinah Glory Ministry from Matteson, Ill.; First Corinthian's Vessels of Praise from North Chicago; and the CLC Gospel Choir, under the direction of Charles Clency.

In addition, there will be appearances by Mark Cosey and the CLC Gospel Choir Reunion and Sisters Cotton.

Murkey said in 1987, the gospel choir was sponsored by the college but was a community choir with 30 to 35 members. Today, the gospel choir has become part of the college curriculum. She said 80 students now make up the academic class. They represent a melting pot of people who want to learn gospel music.

"For me, that is a true legacy that I hold," she said. "To have the original community group do a special tribute is the ultimate for me."

To honor Murkey

To honor Murkey's leadership to the college since 1976, she will be given the Sankofa Award. Sankofa is African for "looking back." Murkey said it is surreal just to acknowledge she has served the college 30 years.

"To turn around and have the college say I appreciate your 30 years is quite humbling. It is quite humbling. You go, 'wow,'" she said.

Also at the concert, the College of Lake County's 2008 Harambee Awards of Excellence will be presented to Elder Torrence A. Markham, pastor of Greater St. James Temple Church of God in Christ, North Chicago; and to Rev. R.C. Taylor, pastor of Prayer Garden Church of God in Christ, North Chicago.

A tribute to the late Rev. C.L. Fairchild of Greater Faith Church Baptist of Waukegan also will be presented.

"It is more than a concert. We want to acknowledge churches that support CLC in the educational process," Murkey said.

Effie Rolfe, a radio personality with Inspiration 1390 Radio and V103 in Chicago, will serve as emcee.