Singing our Story – A Windrush Celebration

On SATURDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2018 a special first-of-a-kind event is due to take place at the heart of what is known to be the Windrush generation’s most established institution – the black churches. SINGING OUR STORY: WINDRUSH GENERATIONS FROM THE FRONT ROOM TO THE PALACE will feature the leading luminaries singers, musicians and other creative artisans telling the story of the groundswell of music, faith and power which burst through the barriers of ignorance and prejudice impacting the very heart of British society.

The public is invited to participate and experience ‘the birthplace of the sound of British Gospel’ inside three of Britain’s legacy black churches an exciting evening of celebration gathering people across three cities to share their journey; the people, the music, the songs! Noted “Queen of Black British comedy” Angie La Mar, TV Channel Sky One’s winners of Sing: Ultimate Acapella supremo group Vade, MOBO award winners Lurine Cato and Volney Morgan & New Ye, number among the guest performers. Plans also include reunion acts by artists from across the decades including 1970s The Doyley Brothers, siblings who were hailed “The British Jackson 5” when they won the Hughie Green’s Opportunity Knocks – which today is equivalent to the current light entertainment show Simon Cowell’s Britain’s Got Talent. Bazil Meade, dubbed ‘the godfather of British Gospel’ founder of the UK’s most celebrated Gospel collective – the London Community Gospel Choir, earlier this year received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his services to the music industry and especially Gospel Music. As a GMIA Ambassador he states, “We’re all ecstatic about this great music that helped our parents and pioneers to strive, overcome and articulate through music hope and inspiration. Many people are unaware of the back stories that’s given us opportunities, for example like that recently experience by Karen Gibson and Kingdom Choir singing at the Royal Wedding. It’s shaped our lives and given us this incredible ability to share and engage with people regardless of who and where they come from. Technology is allowing us an unprecedented opportunity across the cities and, through live streaming, out to world. We will sing our story: It’s an untold story for the generations and the public to experience, learn and understand. It really is going to be an amazing time”! This initiative has the support of The Windrush Foundation the organisation which was set up to commemorate, recognise and celebrate the contribution of the original Windrush generation and their descendants.