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| Michele Norris: Every Voice And Sing Michele Norris, award-winning journalist and host on National Public Radio's All Things Considered, hosts and narrates a 5-part radio series on the history of black choral music entitled Every Voice And Sing! Slated for release during Black History Month, (February), 2007, Every Voice and Sing! explores the importance of Black choirs in the survival and growth of Black colleges from before the Civil War through the post-Reconstruction eras. With unique stories, interviews and performances, the series traces the development of this music, from the early Spirituals and Work Songs, evolving into Blues, Jazz, and Gospel, and reflected in today's popular and world music. The Programs trace how Hollywood and Broadway influenced public acceptance of this music, and details the changes in the music performed by current Black college choirs as well as performers such as Take-6, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Cissy Houston, Donnie McClurkin, and Kurtis Blow and Hell's Most Wanted. The series is comprised of: Episode One: "Every Voice: The Early Legends" -- the founding and growth of Black Colleges, and their choirs. Episode Two: "The Legend Grows" -- the accomplishments of notable early College Choir Directors and Composers. Episode Three: "And Sing!" -- the development of College influenced Black Choral Music. Episode Four: "A Different Drummer" -- the origins and rise of Gospel Music. Episode Five: "A Joyful Noise!" -- the legacy of the Black College Choral Music tradition. Producer/Director Eric V. Tait, Jr. most recently released the 13-part radio series, Then I'll Be Free To Travel Home, about the Africans who created the 17th Century Burial Ground in Lower Manhattan, and the contributions they and their descendants made to the survival and development of New York and the nation. He is the recipient of the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award in Broadcasting from the New York Association of Black Journalists. Down Beat award-winning Jazz pianist, arranger and composer Onaje Allan Gumbs provides musical arrangements and scoring for the series. Duke Markos, esteemed for his technical direction of NPR's JazzSet, provides sound design and audio engineering. In addition to her work at NPR, Ms. Norris has also reported for the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and LA Times. A four-time Pulitzer Prize entrant, she has received numerous awards, including the 1990 Livingston Award and Emmy and Peabody awards for her contributions to the ABC News coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Major stations that have scheduled Every Voice And Sing in late January and early February include: WETA-FM (Washington, D.C.), WBGO-FM (New York City/Newark), and WDUQ-FM (Pittsburgh). write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |