Sounds of Blackness
The Sounds of Blackness were 40 vocalists and instrumentalists. They were signed to Perspective Records and their debut Perspective/A&M album was The Evolution Of Gospel was released on May 7, 1991.
THE EVOLUTION OF GOSPEL(1991)
By April 1997, The Evolution Of Gospel sold 300,000 copies.
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS--A MUSICAL FANTASY (1992)
By 1997 the album sold 120,000 copies.
AFRICA TO AMERICA: THE JOURNEY OF THE DRUM (1994)
By April 1997, the album sold 330,000 copies.
TIME FOR HEALING (1997)
Call Time For Healing the Sounds of Blackness' 25th anniversary album. From their roots in classic gospel to original musical theatric productions, the group kept growing until Time For Healing's call for world peace. This was the first Sounds of Blackness album not produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and also the first without Ann Nesby. These changes were actually minimal because Jam and Lewis had always wanted the group to sound like itself and not the result of production, and the lead vocals had always been shared by different members of the group.
Promotion for this album began with "Day of Universal Healing" at radio and retail on May 6, 1997. A&M wanted to focus on what individuals can do to heal our corner of the world. A&M sent radio and retail--mainstream and gospel-- the album, candles and signs. The album was worked in bookstores, video outlets and salons that received the CD. All this was supplemented by a print campaign in major daily and mainstream magazines and Christian mail-order catalogs.
OFFICIAL PROMOTION BY PERSPECTIVE RECORDS/A&M RECORDS
Testify: the Very Best of CD booklet
The Very Best Of press release
| Name | Member Years | Instruments |
|---|---|---|
| Alecia Russell Hammonds | 1991-1997 | |
| Angela Henderson | 1991-1997 | vocals, orchestra |
| Ann Nesby | 1991-1994 | vocals |
| Beverly Mahto | 1991-1997 | |
| Billy Steele | 1994-1997 | keyboards |
| Carl Pertile | 1994-1997 | |
| Carrie Harrington | 1991-1997 | |
| Cheryl D. Warder-Reeves | 1991 | |
| Core Cotton | 1994-1997 | |
| Craig Mack | 1991-1997 | |
| Daryl Boudreaux | 1994-1997 | percussion |
| David Brian Young | 1991 | |
| David Wright, III | 1994-1997 | sax |
| Dorothy A. Brown | 1991 | |
| Dorothy Shelby | 1991 | |
| Dorothy Townes | 1991-1997 | |
| Dr. Robert Jones | 1994-1997 | |
| Elizabeth J. Turner | 1991 | |
| Frank Wharton | 1994-1997 | sax, flute |
| Freddie Wilson | 1991 | |
| Gary Hines | 1991-1997 | |
| Geoff Jones | 1994-1997 | |
| Gregory Sears | 1994-1997 | vocals |
| Jamecia Bennett | 1991 | |
| Jayn Higgins | 1991-1997 | |
| Jennifer Whitlock | 1991-1997 | |
| Kimberly Gayle Brown | 1991 | |
| Larry Sims | 1994-1997 | trumpet |
| Levi Seacer | 1994-1997 | |
| Louis Wilson | 1994-1997 | sax |
| Michael L. Bowens | 1991 | |
| Mike Scott | 1994-1997 | guitar |
| Patricia Lacy | 1991-1997 | |
| Paul Johnson | 1994-1997 | bass |
| Quan Howell | 1994-1997 | |
| Renee McCall | 1991-1997 | |
| Robert Edwards | 1991-1997 | |
| Robert J. Jones | 1991 | |
| Rojeem Taylor | 1991-1997 | |
| Russell B. Knighton, Jr. | 1991 | |
| Sandra Harris | 1991-1997 | |
| Shirley Marie Graham | 1991-1994 | |
| Terrence Frierson | 1991-1997 | |
| Trenon Graham | 1994-1997 | drums |
| Valerie Johnson | 1991 | |
| Wanda Lewis | 1991-1997 | |
| William H. Smith | 1991 |
| Name | Birth | Death |
|---|---|---|
| Alecia Russell Hammonds | ||
| Angela Henderson | ||
| Ann Nesby | 1955-07-24 | |
| Beverly Mahto | ||
| Billy Steele | ||
| Carl Pertile | ||
| Carrie Harrington | ||
| Cheryl D. Warder-Reeves | ||
| Core Cotton | ||
| Craig Mack | 1971-05-10 | |
| Daryl Boudreaux | ||
| David Brian Young | ||
| David Wright, III | ||
| Dorothy A. Brown | ||
| Dorothy Shelby | ||
| Dorothy Townes | ||
| Dr. Robert Jones | ||
| Elizabeth J. Turner | ||
| Frank Wharton | ||
| Freddie Wilson | ||
| Gary Hines | ||
| Geoff Jones | ||
| Gregory Sears | ||
| Jamecia Bennett | ||
| Jayn Higgins | ||
| Jennifer Whitlock | ||
| Kimberly Gayle Brown | ||
| Larry Sims | ||
| Levi Seacer | ||
| Louis Wilson | ||
| Michael L. Bowens | ||
| Mike Scott | ||
| Patricia Lacy | ||
| Paul Johnson | ||
| Quan Howell | ||
| Renee McCall | ||
| Robert Edwards | ||
| Robert J. Jones | ||
| Rojeem Taylor | ||
| Russell B. Knighton, Jr. | ||
| Sandra Harris | ||
| Shirley Marie Graham | ||
| Terrence Frierson | ||
| Trenon Graham | ||
| Valerie Johnson | ||
| Wanda Lewis | ||
| William H. Smith |
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