NORTH ADAMS - Gospel singer Marie Knight will headline Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ Patrons of the Arts Margaret A. Hart ’35 Gospel Fest on Friday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Church Street Center.
"We are really excited about the multiple communities coming together for this event – from the annual favorites from Price AME church in Pittsfield and the Williams College Gospel Choir, to newcomers the Northern Berkshires Ecumenical Gospel Choir, a group of 40-plus singers from churches throughout the Northern Berkshires,†said Jonathan Secor, MCLA director of special programs. "And headlining the event is gospel veteran Marie Knight – an amazing voice on an amazing woman who has had an amazing career that dates back to the 1950s and includes not only gospel, but R&B as well.â€
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, "Marie Knight sounds irresistibly soulful and spirited ...†And blues singer Madeleine Peyroux said, "Marie’s music is the sort of music that infects one with joy, from an artist that is incredibly rare and sacred."
Knight began recording performing gospel in the 1940s with Sister Rosetta Tharpe. In the 1960s and ’70s she left gospel to perform R&B with such greats as Brooke Benton, the Drifters and Clyde McPhatter. Knight is a minister at the Gates of Prayer Church in New York City and recently released the album “Let Us Get Together,†a tribute to the Rev. Gary Davis.
Knight will be joined at MCLA by the Williams College Gospel Choir, Price
AME Gospel Choir, and the North County Ecumenical Choir from North Adams’ First Congregational Church.
This event, co-presented with MCLA ALANA (African, Latino, Asian and Native American) students, celebrates the life of Margaret A. Hart ’35, the college’s first graduate of color, while raising funds for a scholarship in her honor. This year’s scholarship recipient will be announced at the Gospel Fest.
In addition, this year’s Gospel Fest will be dedicated to the celebration of the life of the late Rev. Esther Dozier, the Clinton AME pastor who died last June.
Tickets to the Gospel Fest are $12 for general admission, $5 for MCLA faculty and staff, and free to Patrons and MCLA students. For more information or to order tickets, call 413-662-5543, or go to www.mcla.edu/patrons. For more about Knight, go to www.myspace.com/1marieknight .
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