Award-winning vocalist to perform at Gospelfest
Submitted by Lake County Forest Preserves
Powerhouse vocalist Tina Jenkins Crawley will perform live at this year's free Gospelfest event at Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago from 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 25.
"Bring the family for an uplifting, inspiring musical event," said Angelo Kyle, president of the Lake County Forest Preserves. "Tina, with a mezzo-soprano voice, is influenced by multiple genres. She offers jazz-inspired and gospel messages through her singing style, lyrics and music."
The Greenbelt Cultural Center is at 1215 Green Bay Road, North Chicago. Admission and parking are free. All ages are welcome. Concertgoers should bring a blanket or lawn chair and pack a picnic. No food or beverages will be available for sale this year.
The performance will be livestreamed and recorded at @YouTube.com/LCFPD.
Growing up in Springfield, Crawley sang in church with her mother. At age 11, she began writing songs. In the sixth and seventh grades, she earned roles in school musicals and entered music competitions in high school. She studied music at Eastern Illinois University and graduated with a degree in communications.
In 2000, Crawley won the Gospel Music Association's Music in the Rockies Award for songwriting and, in 2015, was voted Chicago's Best Gospel Entertainer of the Year.
"The Longest Journey," her debut album released in 2012, portrays Crawley as an inspirational gospel vocalist.
"Tina blends jazz and gospel and uplifting contemporary music together as a way of reaching wider audiences and to provide a positive influence to so many," Kyle said.
She has shared the stage with Cyndi Lauper, Celine Dion, Bad Company, Nelly and others, and recently appeared on Fox TV's hit show "Empire" in seasons five and six.
For more information about Gospelfest, call (847) 968-3477. For information about other summer events at the Lake County Forest Preserves, visit www.LCFPD.org or call (847) 367-6640.
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