History:
Founded in 1986, the choir was the outgrowth of a local annual jazz camp. Kelly, the son of musicians, created the choir in response to demand for a permanent singing group. The organization stands for diversity, tolerance and unity and spreads this message through its music. The full gospel choir includes more than 50 vocalists. There is also a smaller ensemble group and a youth choir. Auditions are held annually.
The choir is now a Bay Area institution known for its annual holiday concerts in Oakland and San Francisco. It performs year-round at local events such as Oakland's Art and Soul Festival and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Choir members also donate their time to perform at prisons, homeless shelters and hospitals.
The choir has toured the country and appeared in New Orleans, Atlanta and Portland, Oregon. The group has also taken its music overseas with concerts in Israel and Australia, where it won the Gold Award from the International Music Festival in Sydney. Its audiences have included Nelson Mandela, South African Bishop Desmond Tutu and Mikhail Gorbachev.
The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir has recorded three albums and contributed tracks to albums benefiting community service organizations.
IN THE NAME OF LOVE THE 8TH ANNUAL MUSICAL TRIBUTE HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Sunday, January 17, 2010 - 7:00 pm
Oakland Scottish Rite Center
Rhythmic Concepts presents IN THE NAME OF LOVE, The 8th Annual Musical Tribute Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at The Oakland Scottish Rite Center – 1547 Lakeside Dr. on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 7:00 pm. Presented each January, this cultural, civic and soulful celebration is Oakland's only non-denominational musical tribute to Dr. King - one of the greatest humanitarians of our time. With Ledisi, one of the most talented rising vocal stars of today, returning to her hometown of Oakland to commemorate Dr. King, along with an amazing array of talent, this year's event promises to be a profound celebration of civil rights and an amazing evening of music.
This year's line-up includes Verve recording artist and two time Grammy nominee, Ledisi, joined by four-time Grammy-nominated percussionist John Santos and the John Santos Sextet; the powerful 60-voice Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir; and the Oakland Children's Community Choir under the musical direction of Melanie DeMore, with over 200 children from our Oakland public elementary schools, backed up by the Oaktown Jazz Workshops. Author, comedian, and radio talk show host Brian Copeland, "Not a Genuine Black Man" will be our illustrious emcee for the evening. Archival footage of Dr. King's moving oratories will be interspersed throughout the evening, and the presentation of the 5th Oakland Citizen Humanitarian Award will be given to an outstanding individual working to make a difference. All these elements help to make this one of Oakland's most significant events of the year.
Tickets available at www.mlktribute.com and by phone: 800-838-3006
Tickets sold at the door on day of show.
Tickets also available at the following Bookstores:
in Oakland - Pendragon, Laurel, Marcus, Walden Pond;
In Berkeley - Reid's Records, and Pegasus.
For additional information call 510-287- 8880 or visit www.mlktribute.com
