Al Green
with Goapele, The Glide Ensemble, KALW DJ Wonway Posibul
Free GA Lottery Open: July 5 @ 10am - July 12 @ 10am
Al Green
Al Green was the first great soul singer of the ’70s and arguably the last great Southern soul singer. With his seductive singles for Hi Records in the early ’70s, Green bridged the gap between deep soul and smooth Philadelphia soul. He incorporated elements of gospel, interjecting his performances with wild moans and wails, but his records were stylish, boasting immaculate productions that rolled along with a tight beat, sexy backing vocals, and lush strings. The distinctive Hi Records sound that the vocalist and producer Willie Mitchell developed made Al Green the most popular and influential soul singer of the early ’70s, influencing not only his contemporaries, but also veterans like Marvin Gaye. Green was at the peak of his popularity when he suddenly decided to join the ministry in the mid-’70s. At first, he continued to record secular material, but by the ’80s, he was concentrating solely on gospel. During the late ’80s and ’90s, he occasionally returned to R&B, but he remained primarily a religious performer for the rest of his career. Nevertheless, Green’s classic early- ’70s recordings retained their power and influence throughout the decades, setting the standard for smooth soul.
Goapele
Goapele (born Goapele Mohlabane) is an Oakland-born soul and R&B singer-songwriter known for her emotionally rich vocals and genre-blending sound that spans neo-soul, jazz, and pop. Emerging in the early 2000s, she gained widespread recognition with her breakthrough single “Closer,” a Bay Area anthem that helped launch her career and establish her as a distinct voice in contemporary R&B.
The Glide Ensemble
Under the musical direction of Zoe Ellis, the Glide Ensemble performs every Sunday in the Glide Memorial Church Sanctuary at 9:00 and 11:00 am for our legendary Sunday Celebrations.
From its humble beginnings on Christmas Day, 1966, when it was only 10 singers and jazz legend John Handy, the Glide Ensemble grew to include more than 100 voices and eight musicians. Beginning with the first choir director, Faith Winthrop, the Glide Ensemble has benefitted from the direction of such talented leaders as Donnell Hickman, Ronald Sutherland, John F. Turk, Jr., Clifford Coulter, and Vernon Bush, and has teamed up with a host of notable musicians such as Sammy Davis Jr., Leonard Bernstein, Marvin Gaye, Bono, Bobby McFerrin, Maya Angelou, and Joan Baez.
