Twelve-time Grammy-nominated jazz singer Ledisi will headline Ryman Auditorium with the world-renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers® on Sunday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from this year’s 4th Annual Spring Sing concert will benefit the Fisk Jubilee Singers’ Endowed scholarship fund. The concert will feature the Jubilee Singers’ traditional repertoire and collaborations with special guest Ledisi under the direction of Paul T. Kwami, D.M.A. Tickets are $75 and $46.50.
“The Fisk Jubilee Singers® and Ryman Auditorium are two of Nashville’s greatest institutions and I am honored to again work alongside Dr. Kwami and the Singers to present a great night of music for the Nashville community,” says Shannon Sanders, the GRAMMY®, Emmy and Dove award-winning producer, who will serve as co-musical director for the concert with Kwami.
The Fisk Jubilee Singers® are vocal artists and students who sing and travel worldwide. The original Jubliee Singers® introduced ‘slave songs’ to the world in 1871 and were instrumental in preserving this unique American musical tradition known today as Negro spirituals. They broke racial barriers in the U.S. and abroad in the late 19th century and entertained Kings and Queens in Europe. At the same time, they raised money in support of their beloved school.
The Fisk Jubilee Singers® continue the tradition of singing the Negro spiritual around the world. This allows the ensemble to share this rich culture globally, while preserving this unique music. Dr. Paul T. Kwami is Musical Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers® and Mike Curb Jubilee Singers Endowed Chair.
Meet the current Jubilee Singers: Soprano = Kennedi Hall ‘21, Cortney Towns ‘21, Sadara Welch ‘20, and Dartisha Mosley ‘20; Alto = Ariana Okhuozagbon ‘21, Chelseai Cunningham ‘20, Trinity Hervey, ‘23, Kristen Oguno ‘21; Tenor = Andrew Davis ‘20, Sean Webb ’22, Kemani Iwu ‘22, and Hezekiah Robinson ’23; Bass = Tory Westbrook ‘22, Jeffrey Casey ’22, DeJuan Jackson ‘21, and Anthony Kennedy ‘20. The Apprentices are Jada Spight ‘22, Shawna Lewis ‘23, Jillian Lomax ‘22, Eren Brooks ‘22, William Collins ‘22, and Kaden LeGrande ‘22.
Ledisi is a 12x Grammy-nominated vocal powerhouse who has wowed fans ever since she came onto the Bay area music scene. Over the past twenty years, she has earned a place in the pantheon of the best soul singers of her generation. Ledisi is a favorite of The Obamas and has performed nine times at the White House.
Her other fans include icons, legends and current chart-toppers like the late-Prince, Patti LaBelle, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and so many more. She has headlined two national sold-out tours, performed alongside Richie Sambora, Dave Matthews, Kelly Clarkson, Jill Scott, Maxwell as well as jazz greats like Herbie Hancock.
Ledisi has appeared on nationally recognized talk shows. In 2015 she landed a role in the Oscar-nominated movie, Selma, portraying Mahalia Jackson, and had a notable performance in Gabourey Sidibe’s Shatterbox Anthology film, “The Tale Of Four.” In 2017, Ledisi released her ninth Grammy nominated studio album, “Let Love Rule”, which features John Legend, Kirk Franklin, and B.J. The Chicago Kid among others. Ledisi is not only a singer and actress, she’s an author, playwright, film producer and now CEO of her own record label Chinweya Entertainment.
