Reverend
Brenda Boone Productions & the Higher Praise Community Choir Presents
Praise in the Music and Praise in the Song
Black History Celebration
Portsmouth, VA, February 10, 2012
On Sunday, February 12,
2012 Classic Urban Harmony’s Charlie and Pam Horner traveled to Virginia to
attend Reverend Brenda Boone's gospel concert at The Mount Sinai Church in
Portsmouth, Virginia. We braved a rough airplane ride plus a snow
storm with thunder, lightning and 50 mph wind gusts on Saturday evening but on Sunday afternoon and evening the
weather was perfect. Our friends Jim Bakay, Holly Heinz and Carl Tancredi
traveled down from Philadelphia and met up with us at the hotel on Sunday.
This was the
second of Reverend Boone's Gospel programs we'd attended. For a review
and photos of the 2010 concert, click
2010
Virginia Gospel Legends Concert. At the hotel, we received
a message from our friend Frankie Davis, that he was tied up with the Golden
Gate Quartet in Paris and would not be on the Portsmouth program. But
the lineup of Gospel singers still looked incredible.
Mount Sinai Church, 900 Portsmouth Blvd., Portsmouth, VA
Mount Sinai Church, Portsmouth, VA
There were three MC’s
for the evening. Brother Steven Alexander is a Gospel comedian and
impressionist, and host of a popular morning radio program on 1400 Radio.
Sister Barbara Jones is a member of Brothers & Sisters in Unity heard on
670 Radio. Minister JJ Johnson is also on 1400 Radio.
Brother Seven Alexander and Sister Barbara Jones
Minister JJ Johnson and son
The Reverend Brenda
Boone started the program off with a welcome to everyone and a prayer.
Reverend Boone asked us (Pam & Charlie) to the stage to introduce us and
have us explain how we’d be documenting the evening’s program with
photographs on our website. Jim Bakay was also asked to tell about his
radio program on WRDV-FM. With so many singers scheduled for the program,
we were impressed by how smoothly everything went.
Reverend Brenda Boone
The first group was The
Chosen Ones, a young vocal trio from Portsmouth. We had seen this group
sing two years ago and were thrilled to see them back this year. We were
told that they had other venues to perform at but choose to sing at this
gospel concert. The group sang superb acappella harmony on “Heaven is a
Beautiful Place” and “Everybody Is Not Your Friend,” sung with
instrumentation. This was a marvelous start to the program.
The Chosen Ones
The Chosen Ones
Evangelist Tracy
Edwards-Wright, who has authored several inspirational books, followed. She
sang a version of “This Battle is Not Yours, It’s The Lord’s”. She also
gave us an inspiring version of “Oh Lord We Praise You” which was sung to a
Caribbean beat.
Evangelist Tracy Edwards-Wright
Evangelist Tracy Edwards-Wright
Gospel comedian Steve
Alexander performed hilarious impressions of President Bill Clinton and
President Barack Obama over the evening. He was very impressive, mixing
audience participation in with his comedy routines. At one point he called
on Pam and a male audience member to get up and “sing”. You had to be
there. It was too funny.
Brother Steven Alexander, Gospel Comedian
Pam Horner on stage
Next we were entertained
by Minister Paul Boone & The Mighty TempleAires from Portsmouth, VA. They
gave us a powerful set of “I Got a Feeling” and “Operator”. We loved the
high tenor’s lead singing in the group’s rendition of “Three Pictures Of The
Lord”!
Minister Paul Boone & The Mighty TempleAires
Tenor Ronnie Dean leading the TempleAires in "Three Pictures
Of The Lord"
Minister Paul Boone & The Mighty TempleAires
Gospel vocalist and
Psalmist, LaNita Wiggins sang with much polish. She gave us “Precious Is
His Name” and “I Can’t Praise Him Enough”.
Gospel Psalmist LaNita Wiggins
The Reverend Brenda
Boone’s Higher Praise Community Choir performed, led by Reverend
Boone on the keyboards. Brother Steven Alexander directed the group. They
opened with “Amazing Grace,” led by Reverend Diane Byrd and then closed
their performance with “What A Wonderful God,” led by Sister Mattie Wood.
The entire choir was fabulous as well were soloists.
Brother Steven Alexander directing Rev. Brenda Boone's Higher
Praise Community Choir
Reverend Diane Byrd leading the choir
Sister Mattie Wood leading the choir
Reverend Brenda Boone's Higher Praise Community Choir
Reverend Brenda Boone's Higher Praise Community Choir's CD
The next group was very
enjoyable the last time we saw them in Portsmouth and were once again
sensational. Van Jones & King David’s Harp, a vocal quintet from Portsmouth
VA, has been singing together for 40 years now. They showed their
versatility in the material they sang. They did a short version of
“Saving My Soul” which is similar in tune to Smokey Robinson’s “Being with
You,” but with Gospel lyrics. In fact, some call Van, the Smokey Robinson of Gospel.
The group then did three numbers acappella, “Jesus Keeps Me Near The Cross,”
“One Day” and “Seek, Seek and You Shall Find”. Knowing how we like
acappella, the group sang those for us. They ended their excellent program
by harmonizing to their own great rendition of “Three Pictures of the Lord”.
Van Jones (left) and King David's Harp
Van Jones leading the group
King David's Harp
Bass singer, Otis Jones
Van Jones & King David's Harp CD
We also saw the next
group in 2010 and they are remarkable. Elder Ronnie Harper & the
Harmonizing Echoes, from Chesapeake VA, put on a lively set of inspiring
music. Favorites include “I Don’t Believe He Brought Me This Far To Leave
Me Now” and “I Want to Be Real”.
Elder Ronnie Harper & The Harmonizing Echoes
The Harmonizing Echoes
The Harmonizing Echoes
Jim Bakay, Carl Tancredi and Holly Heinz
The Word Singers from
Portsmouth, VA, have been singing for over 30 years. They sang a very
uplifting set which included “Today”, “My Soul Has Been Uplifted” and “Jesus
Will Be Waiting”.
The Word Singers
The Word Singers
The Word Singers
The Word Singers' CD
This was the first time
we’d seen the group Brothers In Christ, a group from Franklyn, VA, and they
didn’t disappoint us. They definitely set a high level of excitement in the
room. A favorite of ours was “Peace in the Valley”.
Brothers In Christ
Brothers In Christ
Dr. Maggie Ingram was
born on July 4, 1930 on the Mulholland’s Plantation in Georgia. She worked
with her family as sharecroppers when she was pulled out of school at an
early age and learned to sing in church. Raising five kids on her own,
Maggie moved her family to Virginia and has been a Gospel recording
superstar since the early 1960’s.
(From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives)
Dr. Maggie Ingram and her granddaughter, Cheryl
Pam Horner & Maggie Ingram
WRDV's Jim Bakay & Maggie Ingram
Dr. Maggie Ingram & Rev. Brenda Boone
Maggie Ingram performed
with daughters Almeta and Christine, and granddaughter Cheryl Beaver as the
Ingramettes. During her performance one daughter told the story of Maggie’s
struggle to provide for her children. Maggie was awarded an Honorary
Doctorate of Music degree from the Richmond Theological Seminary. She was
also honored at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
Maggie Ingram & The Ingramettes
The group sang a very
powerful set beginning with “It’s A Wide River”. They closed with “Until I
Die”. We met Dr. Maggie and found her to be a beautiful, warm woman.
Maggie Ingram & The Ingramettes
The final singers for
the evening were Luther Barnes and the Sunset Jubilaires. Luther joined his
father’s group the Sunset Jubilaires. The group has been singing in their
refined style for over 35 years. Luther who is the lead of the group also
produces, directs and is a composer. The Sunset Jubilaires have performed
at the Apollo Theatre as well as in other countries. They are a highly
respected gospel group. The powerful group performed a long set.
Highlights from their presentation included “Looking Back,” “I’m Still
Holding On” (which was led by Luther’s sister), “He Keeps On Blessing Me”
and “Yet Love”.
Luther Barnes (left) & The Sunset Jubilaires
Luther Barnes & The Sunset Jubilaires
Luther Barnes & The Sunset Jubilaires
Just as in 2010, this
was a concert that was over six hours long. While food was available across
the way and we’d ordinarily spend some concert time in the hallway greeting
singers, on this occasion, we didn’t want to leave our seats for fear of
missing some of the singing. What a collection of talent on one program,
singing to praise God.
Charlie Horner with King David's Harp's Van Jones (left) and
Otis Jones (right)
The next morning in the hotel lobby.
From left: Carl Tancredi, Pam Horner, Jim Bakay, Holly Heinz, Rev. Brenda
Boone
Thank you Reverend
Brenda Boone and all who took part in this wonderful event. We can’t wait
until next year!
Copyright © Classic Urban Harmony LLC, 2012. All
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