By Christopher Younger,
Contributing Author,
Oh, what an evening of creative excellence at Thee I Love’s Rose Embly McCoy auditorium Wednesday, April 2, 2025. How may it’s something however sheer celebration while you mix Jerry Smith & Youngsters of Israel choir with soloists Katie Graham, Rhonda Chambers Davis, and Shelia Ramsey embracing gospel picks of the undisputed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
The Queen grew up in Detroit’s New Bethel Baptist Church and was nominated forty-four instances for Grammy Awards – successful eighteen, together with eight consecutive years (1968-1975). Though most of her Grammy wins have been within the Rhythm & Blues class, she additionally gained for Soul Gospel Efficiency in 1973 and 1988, and Gospel Efficiency in 2008. She was twice named by Rolling Stone Journal as the best singer of all time. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.
Dr. Mark G. Henderson served as narrator for the free live performance sponsored by Jackson State College’s Division of Speech, Communication and Theatre the place he serves as chair, in addition to the JSU Workplace of Pupil Success/Title III. Henderson based the famend MADDRAMA Efficiency Troup in 1998 and continues to function creative director.
Whether or not it’s with the world famend Mississippi Mass Choir – the place he served because the founding first assistant director and nonetheless serves as minister of music; the Mississippi Youngsters’s Choir; Jerry Smith & Youngsters of Israel – which he based in 1983; or as minister of music and pianist on the historic Farish Road Baptist Church in Jackson, you hardly discover when Jerry Smith first walks into the room – he’s simply that humble and unassuming. However when he sits down at these magical keys, oh how you’re feeling him. As choir director, songwriter, arranger, musician and minister of music, he’s inhabited by his music – you see it wash in and thru him in efficiency.
On this inspirational evening, almost all members of Youngsters of Israel carried out underneath his path – Antirnita Hill, Jessica Winston, Jonathan Winston, Shirley LaBranche, Cedric Robinson, Harvey Johnson, Stephan Johnson, Dennis McDonald, Alisa Patrick McDonald, LaToya Knight Hubbard, Jane Graham Crowner, Sonja Powe and Sandra Thomas.
The live performance started with a excessive voltage rendition of The Greatest is But to Come. Picks that adopted included Treasured Lord Take My Hand, with Sheila Ramsey out entrance; What a Pal, led by Alisa Patrick McDonald, musical director of MADDRAMA and the NADSA (Nationwide Affiliation of Dramatic and Speech Arts) Intergenerational Choir; Katie Graham, who Henderson described as being “mild years past what music can comprehend,” led Treasured Recollections; alongside Dennis McDonald and Rhonda Chambers Davis who was soloist for When Morning Come.
When Youngsters of Israel took a quick break, Katie Graham returned for By no means Develop Outdated, her heavenly voice with seemingly limitless vary, delivering to the viewers of over 100 college students and visitors.
Sheila Ramsey got here subsequent with Wonderful Grace, with a deeply private lead-in. The Youngsters of Israel returned to the stage, with Rhonda Chambers Davis’ highly effective rendition of Mary Don’t You Weep. Graham, who spends most of her time in Atlanta, however returns to her native Jackson usually, then got here with How I Acquired Over, bringing the home to its toes – oh how she sang.
Simply earlier than the ultimate choice, Henderson handed the mic to Jerry Smith. Whereas acting at quite a few occasions all through Mississippi and as far past as Spain, Smith acknowledged that the Youngsters of Israel haven’t carried out publicly in Jackson itself in over twenty-five years. He gave thanks for the invitation. He thanked the one unique member of Youngsters of Israel, Alisa Patrick McDonald, who additionally serves as his enterprise supervisor. He thanked different soloists Sheila Ramsey, Katie Graham, Rhonda Davis, and naturally the opposite unimaginable musicians – Barry Bolden on organ, Marcus Singleton on drums and Micha Could on bass guitar.
Whereas it was gospel all through, the ultimate choice shifted to the favored for a rousing rendition of RESPECT by LaToya Knight Hubbard who introduced it so propah! Absolutely if our Queen Aretha was nonetheless with us – gone seven years this August – to witness this tribute live performance, we might have little doubt seen her incomparable glow, her timeless smile, and her significant nod – her unquestionable stamp of appreciation and approval.
