Gospel Great Headlines MCLA Concert

By Jen ThomasPrint Story | Email Story
Marie Knight
NORTH ADAMS - "An amazing voice on an amazing woman." That's how Jonathan Secor, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts director of special programs, describes the sound of gospel great Marie Knight, tonight's "Gospel Fest" headliner. Scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Church Street Center on the MCLA campus, the annual Margaret A. Hart Gospel Fest is a poignant tribute to two amazing women - Hart, the first black to graduate from MCLA and the late Rev. Esther Dozier, the pastor at Clinton AME Zion Church in Great Barrington who was killed earlier this year. For Knight, the opportunity to sing gospel is an opportunity to fulfill her calling. "I've been in gospel music all my life and it happens to me my life. I was born in gospel music and it's where I finally belong," said Knight on Thursday. Knight's performance, expected to last approximately an hour, will feature about 10 songs accompanied by piano. An accomplished gospel singer, Knight has been performing since the 1940s. Best known for her collaborations with Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Knight's pursued a rhythm and blues career in the '60s and '70s and, in 2003, she recorded a track for the album, "Shout Sister Shout, A Tribute to Sister Rosetta." Now a minister at the Gates of Prayer Church in New York City, Knight most recently released "Let Us Get Together," a tribute to the Rev. Gary Davis. "I've been singing 'round here, there and back again," Knight said. "Anything that has to do with music and singing makes me happy." Sponsored by the MCLA Patrons of the Arts and the student group ALANA (African, Latino, Asian, Native American), Gospel Fest will also feature performances by the Williams College Gospel Choir, Price AME Gospel Choir and the North County Ecumenical Choir from North Adams' First Congregational Church. Additionally, this year's winner of the Margaret A. Hart scholarship will be announced at the event. 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 .
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SteepleCats Shut Out on Road

iBerkshires.com Sports
MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Four Vermont pitchers combined to strike out 11 and allow four hits Tuesday as the Mountaineers beat the North Adams SteepleCats, 11-0, in New England Collegiate Baseball League action.
 
Evan Meier, Bobby Stang, Tonny Woodie and Chris Diaz each had a hit for the SteepleCats, who used five pitchers in the loss.
 
North Adams (0-2) comes home Tuesday to host the Mystic Schooners at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Wolfe Field.
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