Sweet Honey in the Rock
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| Sweet Honey in the Rock | |
|---|---|
 Sweet Honey in the Rock live at Ravinia |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Washington, D.C. |
| Genres | Gospel, blues, spoken word |
| Years active | 1973 - present |
| Labels | Flying Fish, Rounder Records, Sony Records, Redwood, Music for Little People, Earth Beat!, Rykodisc, Appleseed, Freedomsong Productions (Australia only), SHE ROCKS! |
| Associated acts | Ladysmith Black Mambazo |
| Website | Official site |
| Members | |
| Ysaye Maria Barnwell Nitanju Bolade Casel Aisha Kahlil Louise Robinson Carol Lynn Maillard Shirley Childress Saxton |
|
| Past members | |
| See list below | |
Sweet Honey in the Rock is an all-woman, African-American a cappella ensemble. They are an American Grammy Award-winning (and many times nominated) troupe who express their history as women of color through song, dance, and sign language.[1] They have together worked from four women to the difficult five-part harmony with a sixth member translating with sign language. Although the members have changed over 3 decades, they continue to sing and have helped to produce several children's records as well as those intended for adults.
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[edit] Musical career
Sweet Honey in the Rock was founded in 1973 by Bernice Johnson Reagon, who was teaching a vocal workshop with the Washington, D.C. Black Repertory Company.[1] Reagon retired from the group in 2004. The name of the group was derived from a song, based on Psalm 81:16, which tells of a land so rich that when rocks were cracked open, honey flowed from them. Johnson has said that this first song in which four women blended their voices was so powerful, that there was no question what the name of the group should be. The name Sweet Honey in the Rock was inspired by Psalm 81:16, a reference to a sweet, nurturing substance and the strength of rock. The ensemble's most powerful messages are proclaimed through an enormous catalog of songs addressing the world's woes. They are currently occupied with immigration injustices, congressional greed and lack of compassion for hurting citizens, the environmental imbalance, racial issues and women's issues.
Sweet Honey in the Rock has received several Grammy Award nominations, including one for their children's album, Still the Same Me which received the Silver Award from the National Association of Parenting Publications. They won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album for their version of Leadbelly's "Grey Goose" from the compilation album Folkways: A Vision Shared.
Their vocals appeared in number animation segments on the long-running PBS series Sesame Street.
[edit] Influences
Sweet Honey in the Rock has been producing music for more than 30 years. Although the members of the group have changed over time, their music has consistently combined contemporary rhythms and narratives with a musical style rooted in the Gospel music, spirituals and hymns of the African-American Church. The ensemble tackles difficult five-part harmonies and composes much of their own music. They have addressed topics including motherhood, spirituality, freedom, civil rights, domestic violence, immigration issues, and racism.[2]
[edit] Members
Over the decades, more than 20 individuals have lent their voices to Sweet Honey in the Rock. Beginning as a quartet, the group is now composed of six African-American women (including a professional American Sign Language interpreter who accompanies the group on concert tours).
[edit] "Are We A Nation?"
On June 22, 2010, Sweet Honey released “Are We A Nation?,” their response to Arizona's controversial immigration law, SB-1070. An official music video of the song was released online on July 2, 2010. Directed by James Lester, the video was shot in New York City at Tainted Blue Recording Studio during a live recording session of the song. Amanda Navarro researched and provided the video’s archival images and Russel Soder was the cinematographer. Ramon Hervey II served as the project’s executive producer. The band donated a portion of the proceeds from the sales of "Are We A Nation?" to The Center for Community Change, and organization founded in 1968 to honor the life of Robert F. Kennedy to assist low-income communities. Sweet Honey In The Rock also joined The SOUND STRIKE boycotting performances within Arizona in protest of the law.
[edit] Current group members
- Ysaye Maria Barnwell
- Nitanju Bolade Casel
- Aisha Kahlil
- Louise Robinson (an original ensemble member)
- Carol Lynn Maillard (an original ensemble member)
- Shirley Childress Saxton (sign language interpreter)
[edit] Previous group members
- Bernice Johnson Reagon (founder)
- Mie
- Dianaruthe Wharton
- Evelyn Marie Harris
- Rosie Lee Hooks
- Ayodele Harrington
- Ingrid Ellis
- Tia Juana Starks
- Patricia Johnson
- Yasmeen Williams
- Laura Sharp
- Tulani Jordan Kinard
- Helena Coleman
- Geraldine Hardin
- Akua Opokuwaa
[edit] Discography
''Sweet Honey in the Rock''
- Released: 1976
- Format: LP
''B'lieve I'll Run On''
- Released: 1978
- Format: LP
''Good News''
- Released: 1981
- Format: LP
''We All...Every One Of Us''
- Released: 1983
- Format: LP
''Feel Something Drawing Me On''
- Released: 1985
- Format: CD
''The Other Side''
- Released: 1985
- Format: CD
''Breaths''
- Released: 1988
- Format: CD
''Live At Carnegie Hall''
- Released: 1988
- Format: CD
''All For Freedom''
- Released: 1989
- Format: CD
''In This Land''
- Released: 1992
- Format: CD
''Still On The Journey''
- Released: 1993
- Format: CD
''I Got The Shoes''
- Released: 1994
- Format: CD
''Sacred Ground''
- Released: 1996
- Format: CD
''Selections (1976-1988)''
- Released: 1997
- Format: CD
''...Twenty Five...''
- Released: 1998
- Format: CD
''Still The Same Me''
- Released: 2000
- Format: CD
''Alive in Australia''
- Released: 2003
''The Women Gather''
- Released: 2003
- Format: CD
''Endings and Beginnings''
- Released: 2004
- Format: CD
''Raise Your Voice''
- Released: 2005
- Format: CD
''Are We A Nation?''
- Released: 22 June 2010
- Format: CD & Digital
- Label: "She Rocks 5"
[edit] Awards and nominations
[edit] Nominations
- Grammy Awards 2008 Best Musical Album For Children -Experience...101
- Grammy Awards 2000 Best Musical Album For Children - Still the Same Me
[edit] References
- ^ a b Post, Laura (2011). "Sweet Honey in the Rock/Biography". Allmusic biography. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sweet-honey-in-the-rock-p3179/biography. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ Cary, Emily (December 1, 2011). "Sweet Honey in the Rock spreads holiday cheer Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/music/2011/12/sweet-honey-rock-spreads-holiday-cheer/1965681#ixzz1hbZP1XOX". The Washington Examiner. http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/music/2011/12/sweet-honey-rock-spreads-holiday-cheer/1965681. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
