News
February 25, 2016University at Albany President Jones Welcomes His Former Ensemble to Campus for an Evening of Story and Song
President Robert J. Jones invites the University community and the public to a special presentation by his former ensemble, Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. at Page Hall on the Downtown Campus.
Tickets are free, and registration is required to reserve a seat. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Click here to reserve a seat today!
Sounds of Blackness is a three-time Grammy Award-winning musical ensemble under the direction of Gary Hines. They released a new single this month, “Royalty.”
“There is a deeper purpose and a higher calling in all we do,” notes Hines in the ensemble’s mission statement. He adds Sounds of Blackness seeks to “take that message of healing, reconciliation, inspiration, and restoration through the power of music to the global community.”
Founded in 1971 at Minnesota’s Macalester College, the ensemble’s repertoire encompasses the stylings of jazz, blues, rock & roll, R&B, Gospel, spirituals, hip hop, reggae and soul, and its message is one of hope, unity, love and peace for all humankind.
Sounds of Blackness has appeared and recorded with Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Sting, Santana, Eric Clapton, Usher and many others. The ensemble has performed on five continents for everyone from homeless children and prison inmates to queens and presidents. The group’s worldwide benefit concerts and recordings have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various causes, such as the United Nations Telefood Concert and the United Negro College Fund.
Sounds of Blackness has pioneered the worldwide presence and proliferation of inspirational soul music on radio and at dance clubs, television, theater and on film.
Along with the three Grammy Awards, Sounds of Blackness has received the Soul Train Award, the International Time for Peace Award, seven Stellar Awards, The International Dance Music Award, and has been nominated for an Emmy and five NAACP Image Awards. The group’s self-titled CD The Sounds of Blackness and first single “Fly Again” are inspiring the world as well as a new generation. The Sounds of Blackness CD won a 2012 NAACP Image Award for Best World Music Recording.
