Gospel Sensation Richard Smallwood and Vision to Appear at Kimmel Center
October 4, 2005
Grammy award winning composer, pianist, and gospel phenomenon Richard Smallwood and his group Vision, will perform at the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall on Friday, November 4 at 8:00pm. Philadelphia’s own gospel sensation The Dixie Hummingbirds, celebrating 75 years of performing together, will kick off the soul performance.
This concert is part of the Sovereign Bank World Pop Mix series. The next concert in the series will be the Queens of World Music concert, featuring Eva Ayllon and Angelique Kidjo on November 6 in Verizon Hall.
Tickets for Richard Smallwood and Vision with the Dixie Hummingbirds are $39 and $59 and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online or at the Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings. (Additional fees may apply).
Richard Smallwood is at the forefront of the changing face of gospel music. Smallwood’s innovative and soulful compositions combine everything from classical style to energetic hip-hop with a traditional gospel core. Smallwood’s music career took off at the age of eleven, when he formed his first gospel group in his hometown of Washington, D.C. Since then, the composer, pianist, and singer has performed at the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center, and White House, toured with the musical “Sing Mahalia Sing”, and even had one of his songs, “ I Love the Lord,” performed by Whitney Houston in the film The Preacher’s Wife. His first album, ‘The Richard Smallwood Singers,” released in the late seventies, spent over a year on Billboard’s Gospel chart, and successive Grammy nominations followed for later albums. Smallwood’s ensemble, Vision, adds to the warmth and soul found within each song. Smallwood’s music transcends the boundary between the spiritual and the secular, and is, simply, a message of hope and hear.
The Dixie Hummingbirds, Philadelphia’s own gospel legends, will open for Smallwood and Vision.
The Dixie Hummingbirds, gospel music’s own “Iron Men,” will celebrate over 75 years as a performance group during the 2005/06 season. These legendary icons of quartet singing continue to amaze and excite audiences around the world. Formed in 1928 in Greenville, South Carolina, the Dixie Hummingbirds have managed to wing their way into gospel music history. Deemed a “National Treasure” in 2000 by the National Endowment For The Arts, the “Birds” also received their fourth Grammy Award Nomination later that year, for Music In The Air, their 70 Anniversary CD. Currently the group’s time is split between being on the road and working in the studio on their 77th Anniversary CD.
Ira Tucker Sr. the group’s lead singer for sixty-seven years explains the longevity … “it’s just doing something you love and respecting others with you, who are just as talented” he continues…”now, we’re working on this song called ‘Personal Jesus’, for the new CD and I’m real excited about it...it’s like the lyrics... are us, we’re still trying to reach out.”
The Mural Arts Society launched its tribute to the Dixie Hummingbirds with the start of a mural depicting the group’s history. Muralist /Artist Cliff Eubanks will tell the Hummingbirds story in paint at 15th and Ogden Streets, a block and half from the old Met Concert Hall, located at Broad & Popular Streets where gospel music and groups like the Dixie Hummingbirds thrived in a hay-day of great performers, giving great performances. An approach has also been made to gather support to change seven blocks of West Popular Street, from Broad to 21st Street and rename it “Dixie Hummingbirds Way”. It would certainly be a most befitting honor for a group of men who persevered, remained dedicated and committed and who continue to do it, as only they can...their way.
Tickets for Richard Smallwood and Vision with special guests The Dixie Hummingbirds on November 4 range are $39 and $59 and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online or at the Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings. (Additional fees may apply). For group sales call 215-790-5883.
A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning 2.5 hours prior to evening performances and 11:30am for matinees.
Sponsors of the 2005/2006 Kimmel Center Presents season include Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Sovereign Bank, The American Express Company, and Verizon Foundation. Special Student Matinees at the Kimmel Center are generously supported by Merck & Co., Inc. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Jazz and World Pop programming. In-kind support is generously provided by Deloitte and Southern Wine and Spirit.
NBC-10 is the Media Sponsor of the Kimmel Center Presents Sovereign Bank World Pop Mix series.
KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS
Sovereign Bank World Pop Mix
November 4, 2005, 8pm
Verizon Hall
Richard Smallwood with Vision
Richard Smallwood-composer, pianist, singer
The Dixie Hummingbirds
Ira Tucker, lead singer
FREE IN THE PLAZA
Commonwealth Plaza
6:30pm
Agape
An ensemble of singers and musicians, blending jazz and gospel music, rich with lush harmonies and inspiring lyrics. Agape made their debut performance at the Kimmel Center’s Summer Solstice in June 2004. This will be Agape’s second performance on the Free in the Plaza Stage.
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