Sounds of Blackness
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| Sounds of Blackness | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Genres | Gospel, R&B |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Labels | Perspective Records A&M Records Zinc Records Atomic K Records |
| Associated acts | Ann Nesby James "Big Jim" Wright Paris Bennett |
Sounds of Blackness is a Grammy Award-winning vocal and instrumental ensemble from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota who perform music from several genres music including gospel, R&B, soul, and jazz. The group scored several hits on the Billboard R&B chart and Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the 1990s. One of the group's current members is Cynthia Johnson, who rose to fame with Lipps, Inc.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Origins
The group was founded in 1969 by Russell Knighton at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the group was called the Macalester College Black Voices. It was in 1971 when current director Gary Hines took leadership over the ensemble, and the group name was officially changed to Sounds of Blackness (SOB). The group had acquired local celebrity status throughout the years though never signed with a record company because of various reasons including the fact that many companies were not comfortable with the group's name. Some companies even suggested to Hines that the group's name be changed to "The Sounds of Music."[citation needed]
The chief lead singer of the group was Ann Nesby until 1995 when Nesby left the group to pursue a solo career. The group continues to perform internationally.
[edit] Awards and honors
The group 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.
Sounds of Blackness's "Time For Love" was nominated for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for R&B Song of the year.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio Albums
- The Evolution of Gospel (Perspective, 1991)
- The Night Before Christmas...A Musical Fantasy (Perspective, 1992)
- Africa To America - The Journey Of The Drum (Perspective, 1994)
- Time For Healing (Perspective, 1997)
- Reconciliation (Zinc, 1999)
- Soul Symphony (Sounds Of Blackness, 2002)
- The Night Before Christmas II (Atomic K, 2004)
- Unity (SLR/Lightyear, 2005)
- Kings & Queens - Message Music From The Movement (P-Vine, 2007)
- The 3rd Gift - Story, Song & Spirit (CC Entertainment, 2009)
- "The Sounds of Blackness" (Atomic K, 2011)
[edit] Compilations
- Journey Of The Drum Remix Collection (Perspective, 1995)
- The Very Best Of Sounds Of Blackness (A&M, 2001)
- The Collection (Spectrum, 2003)
- The Best Of Sounds Of Blackness - The Millennium Collection (20th Century Masters) (A&M, 2007)
[edit] Other appearances
- Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (Image Entertainment, 2004)
[edit] See also
- Grammy Awards of 1992
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
