*“This too will past,” said Shimmy Jiyane, director of the Soweto Gospel Choir, about the meaning of the title to their newest album release “Hope” on Shanachie Entertainment. “It’s to give people hope, with everything negative going on people need hope.”
The Soweto Gospel Choir is a four-time Grammy Award-winning choir known all over the world for their style of Gospel, Negro Spirituals, Reggae, and American Pop music. The choir of 30 members was formed in Soweto, South Africa by David Mulovhedzi and Beverly Bryer in 2002 with music produced by Andrew Kay, David Vigo, and Cliff Hocking.
“I’ve been in the choir for 20 years and it’s been 16 years as director,” Shimmy said when I asked.
The Soweto Gospel Choir has also garnered six Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, and an Academy Award nomination. They are also an Emmy Award and two-time African Music Award winners. The Soweto Gospel Choir has collaborated with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Beyonce’ and John Legend. They have reached #1 on Billboard and can sing in 11 different languages.
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“The album came about when we came back from touring Australia when Covid hit. During Covid we couldn’t travel,” Jiyane said when I asked about the history of the “Hope” album. “We were missing our people and the studio. We went through trials and tribulations; we lost loved ones through Covid. It was a tough time.”
The “Hope” (Shanachie Entertainment) album is the Soweto Gospel Choir’s sixth project. It includes cover songs such as “I’ll Take You There” (Staples Singers), “Heaven Help Us All” (Stevie Wonder), and “Sechaba” (musical Sarafina!”). Their performances are many, but some major engagements include performing at the Live Earth Tour and being part of the “Down to Earth” soundtrack for Pixar’s WALL-E movie.
“It is spiritual,” said Shimmy about the new album when I mentioned it. “After 2 ½ years of not performing or seeing each other…you see life in a different way. We ‘have’ to seek God and at the end of the day there is ‘hope’.” www.SowetoGospelChoir.com
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations and Business Management Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com EVENTS: “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is into its 23rd year. Next events are coming to Los Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 5, 2022. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Industry Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $17,500 valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com for more information or to RSVP for Zoom Access email [email protected].
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