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Shout OUT: A Tribute to Gays in Gospel Music

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Wed, 05/29/2024 - 12:05am by laughingcat

Singer, composer, and bandleader Lucy Smith, a native of Chicago’s South Side, is proud to present the special Pride Month show Shout OUT: A Tribute to Gays in Gospel Music on Sunday, June 9 at 3 p.m. at the Beverly Arts Center (2407 W. 111th Street, Chicago). Tickets are on sale now for $15 at thebeverlyartscenter.com/event/shout-out-a-tribute-to-gays-in-gospel-music.

Shout OUT is a joyous concert celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community through the music of gospel and rock ‘n’ roll legends Richard Penniman (“Little Richard”), Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Rev. James Cleveland, Clara Mae Ward, Billy Preston, and more, all performed by Lucy Smith and her Lucy Smith Quintet. Throughout the concert, Chicago media personality Cheryl Corley, the show’s writer and narrator, shares the history of these queer musical greats and their relationships to the church and the Civil Rights Movement, during which gospel was an empowering soundtrack.

Many musicians of faith struggled with their sexuality and coming out publicly due to historically unwelcoming religious institutions—but all of the artists featured in Shout OUT joyfully expressed their faith through music that has been treasured for generations. Their songs crossed from the sacred to the secular and inspired other musicians, such as the “Godmother of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who was a major influence on Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, and Chuck Berry.

Tickets for Shout OUT: A Tribute to Gays in Gospel Music on Sunday, June 9 at 3 p.m. at the Beverly Arts Center (2407 W. 111th Street, Chicago) are now on sale for $15. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit thebeverlyartscenter.com/event/shout-out-a-tribute-to-gays-in-gospel-music.

The Lucy Smith Quintet includes Lucy Smith (vocals), Ernie Adams (drums), William Kurk (keyboards), Ivan Taylor (bass), and Derrick Tate (alto sax).

Lucy Smith is a singer, composer, bandleader, cultural programmer, and producer whose quartet/quintet is a dynamic part of Chicago’s music scene. She was born and raised in the Englewood community on the South Side of Chicago. Her musical collaborations include works for theatre, film, and spoken word productions.  Lucy's holiday album, Singing Christmas, ranked No. 1 on the Americana Charts in January of 2023. She leads a myriad of musical combinations exploring the worlds of traditional jazz, blues, gospel, and other popular music, including her project, Autumn in Augusta (AIA), a folk and soul-fused tribute to her mother. AIA’s first CD release, Songs My Mama Would Like, garnered rave reviews, and Lucy and her band were featured at the 2015 Chicago Jazz Festival. She worked for eight years as the music director for Chicago’s Fourth Presbyterian’s “Jazz at Four” service, where she created a new jazz-infused paradigm for worship while rearranging centuries-old hymns and keeping alive the legacy of sacred jazz music.

Lucy’s other music director work includes projects at the Park West Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Steppenwolf Theatre, where she shared the stage with blues legend Koko Taylor and others. She has composed and performed music for the feature film Hannah Free and the documentary Woke Up Black. She cast and directed a reader’s theatre production of Jewell Parker Rhodes' Ghost Boy. Lucy was the lead vocalist for the Center for Black Music Research's Stop-Time Ensemble (Columbia College) and the Concord Orchestra. Lucy was the producer/coordinator for the music stage at the Artists of the Wall Festival in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood for nine years. Lucy performs often for organizations working on social and economic justice issues. Lucy completed jazz vocal (M. Mus) and jazz studies (B. Mus) under the tutelage of Bobbi Wilsyn, Orbert Davis, Jennifer Shelton and Patricia Barber. Before full-time musicianship, Lucy was the Associate Director of the Crossroads Fund in Chicago. For more information, visit lucysmithjazz.com.

About the Beverly Arts Center

The Beverly Arts Center (BAC) is a vibrant and multifaceted not-for-profit organization serving the Chicago metro area with high-quality programs in dance, visual arts, music, film and theater. The 40,000 square foot space houses a 400-seat theatre, art gallery, exhibition spaces, music and dance studios, art classrooms and event rental spaces. Founded in 1967 and located in Chicago’s historic Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood, the BAC is also home to an extensive community outreach program.

 

 

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