Members
Cordell Reagon (February 22, 1943 - November 12, 1996)
Part of the original Freedom Singers he was born in Nashville, Tennessee Cordell Reagon became a civil rights acitivist at the age of 16. Throughout his dedication to the civil rights movement he arrested over 30 times. Cordell Hull Reagon died at the young age of 53 in an ongoing unsolved homicide case.
Cordell Reagon was married twice both of which ended in divorce. He was married to Bernice Johnson Reagon, and they had a daughter named Toshi Reagon. He also married a woman named Merble Harrington and they had children named Kwan, and Mariama.
Bernice Johnson (Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon)
Johnson Reagon was one of the original Freedom Singers established in 1962. She was born on October 4, 1942 she still lives today and is 70 years of age. Her parents were J.J. Thompson, and Beatrice Johnson. She married Cordell Reagon, a fellow member of "The Freedom Singers" they had a daughter and her name is Toshi Reagon. Prior to her joining "The Freedom Singers" she attended Albany State College in Georgia in 1959, she studied music.
Rutha Mae Harris
Harris was part of the original Freedom Singer she was a Native of Albany, Georgia at the time she joined "The Freedom Singers" at the age of 21. During her tenure as a civil rights activist Rutha Mae Harris was arrested 3 times. She still resides in Albany, Georgia.
Charles Delbert Neblett
Neblitt was part of the original quartet of the Freedom Singers, but he also became a member of the all male version of the New Freedom Singers established in 1964 by the SNCC. He was born in Robinson County, Tennessee to father Pleasant Neblett and mother Bernice Neblett in the year 1941. Charles Neblett was involved as a civil rights activist at the age of 9, during his tenure as a civil rights activist Charles Neblett was arrested 27 times and endured multiple beatings. As a member of "The Freedom Singers" and his success as a civil rights activist Charles Neblett performed with many decorated celebrities such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, Miles Davis, and Pete Seeger.
Matthew Jones (September 17, 1946 - March 30, 2011)
Jones was a member of the all male version of the "New Freedom Singers" established by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee in 1964.
During Matthew Jones' tenure as a civil rights activist he faced down with the Ku Klux Klan on numerous occasions resulting in multiple beatings, and arrests. Jones was arrested upwards of 29 times resulting from his actions as a civil rights activist. Matthew Jones died at the age of 74 in New York City due to extended deteriorating health.
Matthew Jones also recorded an independent album titled Matt Jones; Then and Now with Relevant Records. It had a total of 12 songs some of which he performed with the New Freedom Singers.
Rafael Bentham
Emory Harris
Marshall Jones
James Peacock
Read more about this topic: The Freedom Singers
Famous quotes containing the word members:
“Religion is the centre which unites, and the cement which connects the several parts of members of the political body.”
—George Berkeley (1685–1753)
“I have more in common with a Mexican man than with a white woman.... This opinion ... chagrins women who sincerely believe our female physiology unequivocally binds all women throughout the world, despite the compounded social prejudices that daily affect us all in different ways. Although women everywhere experience life differently from men everywhere, white women are members of a race that has proclaimed itself globally superior for hundreds of years.”
—Ana Castillo (b. 1953)
“Consider the value to the race of one-half of its members being enabled to throw aside the intolerable bondage of ignorance that has always weighed them down!”
—Bertha Honore Potter Palmer (1849–1918)