April 15, 2014

Soweto Gospel Choir

Soweto Gospel Choirat the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts presents the Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir, celebrating the unique inspirational power of African gospel music.

The Soweto Gospel Choir has become an international musical phenomenon, bringing its message of love, joy and hope to audiences around the world. The choir draws on the best talent from the many churches in and around Soweto. Its vocal performances, athletic dance numbers and traditional attire create an unforgettable concert experience.

Founded in 2002, the Soweto Gospel Choir quickly earned widespread acclaim when its first single, Voices of Heaven, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s World Music Chart. In 2006, the choir performed as invited guests at the 75^th birthday celebration of its patron, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in front of an audience that included former President Nelson Mandela, Samuel L. Jackson, Alfre Woodard and Carlos Santana. The choir has made television appearances on Conan, Leno and The Today Show, and has garnered two American Gospel Music Awards in 2003 and the Grammy Award for “Best Traditional World Music Album” two years in a row: in 2006 for Blessed and in 2007 for African Spirit.

The Soweto Gospel Choir recently released its fifth album, Divine Decade (Decca), a celebration of the ensemble’s past 10 years of artistic collaborations and accolades, and embarked on a major U.S. tour honoring the life and legacy of the late Nelson Mandela, who was a friend of the choir.

Divine Decade showcases the diversity of the group’s style as a gospel choir that sings across all genres of music. Opening with an address from Archbishop Tutu, the recording features collaborations with a wide range of guest artists that exhibit the choir’s breadth of repertoire, from U2 and Robert Plant to Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Among the featured tracks are the choir’s popular hits such as Sedilaka, Sarah McLachlan’s Angel, The Jackson 5’s I’ll Be There and the Fish Out of Water remix of Put On Your Boots, its collaboration with U2.

PHOTO BY LORENZO DI NOZZI

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale

Sat., April 19, 2014, 8 p.m.

Tickets $39/$49/$69

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