Sounds of Blackness is a 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 and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts in the 1990s. Cynthia Johnson of Lipps Inc. and Ann Nesby are the group's most prominent alumni.
History
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.
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. The group performed the original songs for the 2000 Disney animated short John Henry (based on the folklore character) as part of Disney's American Legends, the short was re-released in 2015 as part of the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection. The original songs were written by Gary Hines and Billy Steele, with a score by Stephen James Taylor.
On September 30, 2018, group member James "Big Jim" Wright was found dead at his home in Rockford, Illinois. Outside of Sounds of Blackness, Wright was best known as a frequent collaborator of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and an in-house producer for their company, Flyte Tyme Productions.
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, five NAACP Image Award nominations and 1 NAACP Image Award.
Sounds of Blackness's "Time For Love" was nominated for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for R&B Song of the year.
Sounds of Blackness has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue. Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.
Members
Vocalists and Instrumentalists, past and present (partial list):
Vocalists
Ronnie Allen
Melissa Belfrey
Jayn Bell
Jamecia Bennett
Kadejsha Kibble
Michael Bowens
Kimberly Brown
Quintin Brown
Salimah Bryant
Ashley Commodore
Nneka Constantino
Charles Cooley
Core Cotton
Ayenna Davis
Tim Davis
Bridget Dawkins
Amy Petersen Demps
Doriel Demps
Steve Dinkins
Melody Doyle
Robert Edwards
Rodney Fair
Graydon Francis
Elwyn Fraser Jr. Terrence Frierson Lacie Glasper Marie Graham Alecia Russell-Hammonds Reginald Haney Carrie Harrington Sandy Harris Angela Henderson Quan Howell David Hurst Dr. Robert Jones Chreese Jones Geoff Jones Len Jones Alexandra King Russell Knighton Patricia Lacy Timothy W. Lee Wanda Lewis Yulanda Lunn Ann Nesby Chanel Perry Carl Pertile Tasha Prince Cheryl Reeves Charles Robinson Greg Sears Cydni Shepard Lynnette Simpson Mike Smith Aaron Keith Stewart Dorothy "DT" Townes Andrea Tribitt Libby Turner Victoria Udeh Anthony Valentino Tamika Wade Jennifer L J Whitlock Freddie Winston David Young