Sounds of Blackness

Biography

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.

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):

Studio albums

The Evolution of Gospel (Perspective, 1991)
The Night Before Christmas... A Musical Fantasy (Perspective, 1992)
Africa to America: The Journey of the Drum (Perspective, 1994)
Time For Healing (Perspective, 1997)
Reconciliation (Zinc, 1999)
Soul Symphony (Sounds Of Blackness, 2002)
The Night Before Christmas II (Atomic K, 2004)
Unity (SLR/Lightyear, 2005)
Kings & Queens - Message Music From The Movement (P-Vine, 2007)
The 3rd Gift - Story, Song & Spirit (CC Entertainment, 2009)
The Sounds of Blackness (Atomic K, 2011)

Compilations

Journey of the Drum Remix Collection (Perspective, 1995)
The Very Best of Sounds of Blackness (A&M, 2001)
The Collection (Spectrum, 2003)
The Best of Sounds of Blackness – The Millennium Collection (20th Century Masters) (A&M, 2007)

Other appearances

Mo’ Money: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ("Joy") (Perspective, 1992)
When Jesus Left Birmingham by John Mellencamp bonus track on 2005 re-issue of his album Human Wheels
A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield ("Amen" with Elton John) (Warner Bros., 1994)
Soccer Rocks the Globe: World Cup USA 94 ("Gloryland" with Daryl Hall) (Mercury Records, 1994)
Inner City Blues: The Music of Marvin Gaye ("God Is Love"/"Mercy Mercy Me") (Motown Records, 1995)
Songs from Whistle Down the Wind ("Vaults of Heaven" with Tom Jones, "Wrestle With the Devil") (Really Useful Records, 1998)
Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (Image Entertainment, 2004)
Jam & Lewis: Volume One (BMG, 2021)