Living Legend Dr. Don Lee White Living Legend Dr

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California State University Dominguez Hills Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive for the Study of African Diaspora Sacred Music and Musicians And El Camino College Music Department

Present

African Diaspora Sacred Music Living Legends Festival Concert 2008 A Celebration of African Diaspora Musical Legends and Legacies

Featuring

Living Legend Dr. Don Lee White Living Legend Dr. Rodena Preston The Living Legacy of Glenn Burleigh And The Living Legends Festival Choir

Soloists: Alta Ballard, soprano

Instrumentalists: Anthony Kendrick, organ; Carolyn Kimble-Singleton, piano; Dr. Hansonia Caldwell, piano

Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 4:00 pm

Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd., LA Reverend Henry L. Masters, Pastor

This concert is partially sponsored by The Georgia and Nolan Payton Foundation

PROGRAM

Welcome

Tribute to Living Legend Dr. Don Lee White Composer-arranger, Organist, Educator, and Founding Director, The dlw Community Chorale Presented by Virgie Murray

Living Legends Festival Choir Performing the music of Living Legend Dr. Don Lee White Dr. Don Lee White, conductor

Rejoice, Rejoice Sinner Please Don’t Let This Harvest Pass

Commandment One Commandment Two Commandment Three Commandment Four

SOLO: Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit…….Alta Ballard, soprano

Acts 12 – Trust In The Lord

-- OFFERING --

Tribute to Legacy Musician Glenn Burleigh Presented by Dr. Margaret Douroux, 2007 Living Legend

Living Legends Festival Choir Dr. Hansonia Caldwell, conductor Dr. Rodena Preston, conductor

Were You There…………………….by Harry T. Burleigh You Must Be Faithful…………………by Glenn Burleigh Order My Steps………………………...by Glenn Burleigh

Tribute to Living Legend Dr. Rodena Preston Conductor; National Board Member and Los Angeles Chapter Director, Gospel Music Workshop of America Presented by Carolyn Kimble-Singleton

Living Legends Festival Choir Dr. Rodena Preston, conductor

We’re On Our Way…………………….……by Rev. James Cleveland Oh Jesus…………………………………..….by V. Michael McKay He’s Blessing Me……….………………………………....by Norris Garner

Acknowledgements and Presentations

A Special Thank-You to Holman United Methodist Church SouthWest College, Professor Sallyanne Payton, president of the Georgia and Nolan Payton Foundation

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CSU Dominguez Hills Program for the Study of African Diaspora Sacred Music and Musicians and The CSUDH Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive Advisory Board Dr. Hansonia Caldwell Charline Diggs Danellen Joseph John Mayes Dr. Albert McNeil Dr. Joanna Medawar Nachef Evangeline Stewart Byron Smith Dr. Don Lee White Website address: www.csudh.edu/adsmm

Living Legend DR. DON LEE WHITE has been recognized as a rare musical genius for his masterful performances as an organist, conductor, composer and arranger. A native of Los Angeles, he holds degrees from Los Angeles City Col- lege, California State University Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California, and completed additional graduate work at Stanford University. In 1984, The University of Monrovia, Liberia, awarded Dr. White an Honorary Doc- torate.

Dr. White began playing the piano as a child, and served as organist for New Hope Baptist Church before accepting the position as Instructor and College Organist at Prairie View A & M. As a music educator, Dr. White has also served as an instructor at Jefferson Adult School and at the former Metropolitan Busi- ness College (now known as Los Angeles Trade Technical College). He is a retired professor of music at California State University Los Angeles for twenty- seven years, teaching organ, piano, choral music, conducting and music ap- preciation.

Dr. White’s musical career began at an early age, and he has served a number of churches as organist and director. For almost forty years he was the organist-director of music at Grant A.M.E. Church. Under his leadership, the choirs of Grant gained substantial recognition for their versatility in music and professional performance. In 1998, after requesting a leave from Grant A.M.E. Church, he organized the dlw Community Chorale, an ensemble that is dedicat- ed to the performance of the Negro Spiritual and the extended compositions of African-American composers.

Dr. White also served as music director for the Fifth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church for fifteen years and as Coordinator of Mu- sic for the Southern California Conference of the A.M.E. Church. He is a nationally recognized clinician who, for many years, was Associate Music Director and Organist for the Ministers’ Conference at Hampton University. He has held multiple leadership positions with the National Association of Negro Musicians. Additionally, he is an active member of the American Guild of Organists, and the American Choral Directors Association.

Throughout his career Dr. White has been an active researcher and author, de- veloping a distinguished record of accomplishment and extensive expertise in the music of the black church. He was one of the contributing editors of the popular African American Heritage Hymnal, as well as composer of several choral, solo and organ compositions. His compositions are available from Mar-Vel Publications (P. O. Box 6082; Chattanooga, Tennessee 37401; [email protected]).

Living Legend DR. RODENA PRESTON is a talent of the first magnitude. With music demurely provocative and superbly flattering, she declares, in no uncertain terms and with unrestrained audacity, the liberated Gospel that leads human kind to the glorious gateway of the abundant life.

Our Living Legend was born into a Christian musical family. She began playing the piano at the age of 3. She followed her mother, Robbie, to choir rehearsals and church on Sundays, and would not allow anyone to keep her from the piano bench with her mom. She was also an inspiration to her younger broth- er, Billy Preston to play the piano at an early age. She has played for churches in the Los Angeles area since the age of 11.

In 1972, Dr. Preston was appointed Chapter Representative of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA), founded by Rev. James Cleveland. At the local level she leads its local ensemble in frequent appearances at churches throughout Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Aside from these duties, she is the coordinator of the National Mass Choir of the GMWA, workshop clinician and travels across the U.S. teaching and encouraging others in the gospel music field. In 1973, she was pianist for the young adult choir at Church of Divine Guidance and from this choir, she organized the Voices of Deliverance. Their heart-warming rendition of The Old Rugged Cross won them the title of `Choir of the Year’ in 1974. They signed with BeeGee Records and recorded five al- bums: The Old Rugged Cross; Peaceful waters;; 2nd Anniversary Album; There’s Been A Change; and Holding On.

With her position with the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc., Living Le- gend Dr. Rodena Preston now approves all new music, as well as music by new songwriters, to be presented at GMWA Conventions (for Mass Choir, New Music Seminar and Youth Division). In 2004, WEIS Music Group was formed, taking its name from the motto of the Gospel Music Workshop (“Where Everybody Is Somebody”). For many years, GMWA recorded with several record companies. Now with their own label, they have the vehicle to record and distribute the music of all of the choirs within the GMWA.

Dr. Preston received a Doctorate of Divinity Degree from the Elbon Solutions School of Ministry in 2004. In October 2006 she was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall Of Fame in Detroit, Michigan.

Legacy Musician GLENN EDWARD BURLEIGH (1949 – 2007). Born into a family of ministers in Guthrie, Oklahoma, Burleigh grew up to be a re- nowned pianist, accompanist, conductor and clinician, as well as composers. He has served as principle accompanist and Assistant Music Di- rector for Lyric Theater of Oklahoma and the Ebony Opera Guild of Hou- ston, Texas. He has held posts as Minister of Music in Oklahoma, Ne- braska and Texas, and served as Director of Music for the National Bapt- ist Congress for five years. His gospel songs and arrangements of spirituals are among the most popular in the country, including the wonder- ful Kwanzaa suite – The Nguzo Saba Suite, and the Christmas cantata Born to Die, and the Easter cantata Let God Arise. Indeed, the recording of Order My Steps with the Gospel Music Workshop of America earned several important nominations and awards. Interestingly, this song has been used by choirs, symphony orchestras, college marching bands, and for state funerals, and it stayed on the Billboard gospel charts for 94 consecutive weeks. His music has been performed on every continent in venues ranging from churches to classical concert stages, as well as on the movie screen in the Disney remake of The Preacher’s Wife with Den- zel Washington. When asked about the source of his success, he quick- ly responded Every good and every perfect gift is from GOD! Burleigh, who lived in Oklahoma City, died suddenly in his home on December 11, 2007. His passing has left a void that is felt deeply throughout the country. His quiet spirit and beautiful music touched the world.

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LIVING LEGENDS FESTIVAL PROFILE

In 2003 the African Diaspora Sacred Music Living Legends Festival was organized by the CSU Dominguez Hills Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive to facilitate cultural preservation and awareness and musical exchange within South- ern California. The Festival brings distinguished African Diaspora musicians to work with the choral musicians of the area. This Festival includes a Festival Choir with voices drawn from college, community and professional choirs of Los Angeles. Events typically include a Dialogue/Lecture-demonstration session with the Festival’s Living Legend artists, open Festival Choir rehearsals and a culminating Festival Concert. The Festival is co-hosted by Dr. Hansonia Cald- well, professor of music at CSU Dominguez Hills, and Dr. Joanna Medawar Na- chef, director of choral activities at El Camino College.

The African Diaspora Sacred Music Living Legends Festival Concert is a colla- borative event that brings together Los Angeles organizations that share a mis- sion to prepare the cultural and musical leaders of tomorrow. For the last thirty years, there has been curriculum developed at CSU Dominguez Hills that in- troduces students to the music of the African Diaspora. For the last thirty years, there has been a Jubilee Choir at CSU Dominguez Hills, performing the music of African Americans. For the last fifteen years, there has been a Multi- cultural Festival at El Camino College. All of these organizations are concerned with cultural heritage and preservation, coupled with continuing excellent performance. We are collaborating on behalf of the African Diaspora cultural con- tinuum. In 2008, Los Angeles South West College was added to the collabora- tion. Over the years, the following Living Legends and Legacy Musicians have been celebrated:

African Diaspora Living Legends 2003 Dr. Albert McNeil, conductor, composer, founder/director of the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers, and professor emeritus of UC Davis

Dr. Robert Ray, composer, conductor, clinician, and professor of music and Coordinator of Keyboard Studies at the University of Missouri at St. Louis

African Diaspora Living Legends 2004 Dr. Brazeal Dennard, composer, conductor, founder of the Brazeal Dennard Chorale, Community Chorus and Youth Chorale; retired supervisor of music for the Detroit Public Schools and adjunct professor of music at Wayne State Uni- versity.

Jacqueline Hairston, pianist, composer-arranger, vocal coach.

African Diaspora Legacy Musician 2004 Dr. David Bowick, conductor of the Holman Choir – Holman United Me- thodist Church

African Diaspora Living Legend 2005 Dr. Anton Armstrong, Harry R. and Thora H. Tosdal Professor of Music at St. Olaf College and conductor of the St. Olaf Choir.

African Diaspora Legacy Musicians 2005 Celestine Shambrey and the Members of the Shambrey Chorale Dr. Rose B. Brooks

African Diaspora Living Legends 2006 Dr. Willis Patterson, Professor Emeri- tus, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor & Editor, Anthology of Art Songs by Black American Composers and Dr. Hansonia Caldwell, Professor of Music, CSU Dominguez Hills and author, Afri- can American Music – Spirituals.

African Diaspora Living Legends 2007 Roland Carter, composer-arranger, conductor, music director of the Chat- tanooga Choral Society for the Preser- vation of African American Songs, music director for the Hampton University Ministers Conference, and the Ruth S. Holmerg UC Foundation Professor of Music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Margaret Douroux, composer and founder of Heritage Music Foundation

African Diaspora Legacy Musician 2007 Thurston Frazier, Founder-director of The Voices of Hope Community Choir and Co-Founder of the Gospel Music Workshop of America

African Diaspora Living Legends 2008 Dr. Don Lee White, composer, Organ- ist, Founding Director, The dlw Com- munity Chorale

Dr. Rodena Preston, conductor, Na- tional Board Member and Los Angeles Chapter Director, Gospel Music Work- shop of America

African Diaspora Legacy Musician 2008 Glenn Burleigh, nationally celebrated gospel music composer **************************************************************************************

The 2008 African Diaspora Sacred Music Living Legends Festival Choir features 85 voices drawn from the following college, community and professional choirs:

AKA Sorority Chorus; CSU Dominguez Hills Chamber Singers; CSU Do- minguez Hills Jubilee Choir; Delta Choraliers; dlw Community Chorale; Georgia Laster Branch Symphonic Chorale – GLB/NANM; Gospel Music Workshop of America; Greater New Bethel Baptist Church; Holman Unit- ed Methodist Church; Knox Presbyterian Church; Second Baptist Church Choir; Westminster Presbyterian Sanctuary Choir. Special thanks to the choral conductors who have collaborated in the prepara- tion of this performance: Dr. Hansonia Caldwell; Dr. Sally Etcheto; Dr. Rodena Preston; Barbara Lynn; Herman Jones; Dr. Don Lee White.

Soprano Alto Tenor Bass Christina Aguinaga Jeanne Anderson Demmer Brooks Fred Brooks Dolores Alexander Priscilla Anderson Reginald Fields George Davison Patti Anderson Brenda Branch Iris S. Gill John N. Grayson Alta Ballard Estella Creighton Dante Johnson Carter R. Hanna Bettie Lucas Banks Deedra D.L. De- Henry C. Johnson Gabriella Becerra Coster Annette Johnson Julius Levy Katherine E. Bedford Lindy Dougherty Earl H. Jones, Jr. Grady Mixon Beverly Breaux Cheryl D. Henry Herman Jones Vertis Neven JamesEtta Busby Janice Kenner Danellen Joseph Frank Olszyna Rebecca Carter Rose Kimble Sang Kim Judith I. Cooper Paula Morales D. Ann Gattord Elonora Owens Barbara Lynn Dorothy L. Grayson Cherie Parks Jose Macias Aleen Grumbach Alexis D. Patrick Herman Mollete Margaret Haywood Clemontine Ratliff Harriette Monroe Mona Herbert Sharon Robinson Luis Orellana Phyllis Holley Shirley Robinson Clinton Stewart LaRue Hollins-Tittle Hazel Royal Carolyn Kimble- Singleton Johnie M. Simons James W. Wilson, Jr. Lois Leake Mary Small Linda Marsh Lessie Stepter Dawnna Ashay Mathieu Pamela Taylor Marjorie McConnell Patricia Voltaire Laverne McCoy Willetta Washing- Patricia Page ton Dr. Carol Smith Lilla Wesley Flora L. Synigal Gail Williams Lottie Taylor Ada L. Williams Onyeka Uzomah Barbara Young- Margaret M. Watley Knott Lisa Webb Sandra Wheeler Ethel Williams Leona Young

BECOME A SUPPORTER OF THE GEORGIA AND NOLAN PAYTON ARCHIVE

• Become a MEMORIAL DONOR - Honor a musician and/or a loved one with a memorial gift in any amount. • Become a FRIEND of the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive - By donating $50 - $499 you may become a Friend of the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive. • Become a PATRON of the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive - By donating $500 - $4,999 you may become a Patron of the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive. • Become a BENEFACTOR of the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive - By donating $5,000 - $24,999 you may become a Benefactor of the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive. • Become a BRONZE BENEFACTOR of the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive - By donating $25,000 - $49,999 you may become a Benefactor of the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive. • Become a PLATINUM BENEFACTOR of the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive - By donating $50,000 and above you may become a Benefactor of the Georgia and Nolan Payton Arc- hive.

• Donate materials to the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive - The primary goal of the Archive is to facilitate research and documentation of collections of African Diaspora sacred music (church music and religious concert music) created and/or performed by the multicultural population of Southern California. The Archive collects manuscripts (published and unpublished); scholarly monographs; personal papers/correspondence; photographs; programs; newspaper, magazine and journal articles; hymnals and songbooks; audiotapes; videotapes. A special emphasis of the archive is on the evolution and performance of the Spiritual in Southern California. Both historic and contemporary items are accepted. In donating to the Archive, individuals ensure that their materials will be held secure, preserved, and made available for scholarly research, according to their instructions. Individuals who have items they wish to give to the Archive should contact the Arc- hive staff before sending materials. The ADSMM follows the donation policies of the Society of American Archivists for the donation of personal, family and organizational records. • Volunteer at the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive - The Archive offers volunteer opportuni- ties for individuals in the Dominguez Hills service area with relevant experience and skills. Prefe- rence is given to supporters of the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive. • Become a Student Intern/Research Assistant - The ADSMM Program and the Georgia & Nolan Payton Archive provides opportunity for students to participate in oral history interviewing and to work with the ADSMM collections for course credit. ADSMM has established a Community Ser- vice Program to provide Jubilee Community Music Interns to the organizations and churches of the community.

Contact – by Phone, E-mail, or Letter: Dr. Hansonia L. Caldwell Professor of Music Emeritus California State University , Dominguez Hills LaCorte Hall Carson , California 90747 Phone: 310-243-2463; E-Mail: [email protected]

Checks are to be made out to the CSU Dominguez Hills Foundation. All donors, except those who wish to remain anonymous, will have their names listed at our new web site and on our various concert programs. Donations are all tax-deductible. All gifts will be gratefully acknowledged. Your interest and generosity are greatly appreciated.