The FAMU Gospel Choir
The FAMU Gospel Choir was founded in 1957 on the campus of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
At the onset, things weren't easy for the choir and the student members. They were initially denied use of the school's pianos, organs as well as the auditorium. The Department of Music's Chairman, Dr. William P. Foster gave a mandate "Scholarships will be revoked if students studying voice participate in this gospel choir, their singing style is damaging to the voice, and is unacceptable for anyone desiring to gain a degree in vocal performance or choral arts".
In 1995, Evangelist Twinkie Clark Terrell became the guiding force behind the choir's latest musical milestone, their debut recording, entitled, Twinkie Clark Terrell Presents the Florida A&M Gospel Choir for Detroit, Michigan based Crystal Rose Records.
Until 2012,The FAMU Gospel Choir was a part of the Florida A&M University music department, along with the Incomparable Marching 100 and the FAMU Concert Choir. With the retiring of Dr. Julian E. White, the Gospel Choir is now a club on FAMU's campus.
Read more about The FAMU Gospel Choir: Directors, Performance Collaborations
Famous quotes containing the words gospel and/or choir:
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And was a poure persoun of a toun,
But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk.
He was also a lerned man, a clerk,
That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche.
His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche.”
—Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?–1400)
“O thou, with dewy locks, who lookest down
Through the clear windows of the morning; turn
Thine angel eyes upon our western isle,
Which in full choir hails thy approach, O Spring!”
—William Blake (1757–1827)