Sounds of Blackness join in World Cup excitement

vezu — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:47:37 +0000

GRAMMY Award-winning group Sounds of Blackness has joined the long list of international groups capitalising on the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The outfit has composed a song for the biggest soccer event, titled We Rise. The single will hit local radio stations early next month. The download is already available. In the song Sounds of Blackness features its former lead singer, Ann Nesby, who has since decided to pursue a solo career. The group – it has been entertaining music lovers since 1971, promoting music, culture and history of African Americans to audiences the world over – is still going strong. The Sounds of Blackness has embraced and presented every sound in jazz, blues, rock ’n roll and reggae. Founded in 1969 by Russell Knighton at Macalester College in St Paul, Minnesota, the group was called the Macalester College Black Voices. It was in 1971 that current director Gary Hines took leadership of the ensemble that the group’s name was officially changed to Sounds of Blackness. The group had acquired celebrity status throughout the years though it had never signed with a record company for various reasons, including the fact that many companies were not comfortable with the group’s name. The group is known for scoring several big hits and has received three Grammy Awards, four Stellar Awards, one Emmy nomination, the International Time for Peace Award, the International Dance Music Award and five NAACP Image Award nominations. The group’s manager, Tim Lee, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

HIT SONG: Sounds of Blackness has composed a song for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The song, We Rise, which is already available on downloads, will hit local radio stations early next month.

Patience Bambalele, The Sowetan, South Africa

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Sounds of Blackness join in World Cup excitement