Carnegie Hall: Gospel Sing Along with Donnie McClurkin and Kim Burrell

Sing

Ray Chew, Donnie McClurkin, Kim Burrell

CARNEGIE HALL PRESENTS  Wednesday, December 9, 2015, 8 PM Gospel Sing Along with Donnie McClurkin and Kim Burrell.

Join voices with Grammy Award–winning singer Donnie McClurkin, exuberant vocalist Kim Burrell, and an all-star ensemble led by acclaimed musical director Ray Chew in a joyous gospel sing along. Songs include “Every Praise,” “Stand,” and the classic “Walking Up the King’s Highway.”

Performers: Donnie McClurkin; Kim Burrell; and, Ray Chew, Musical Director.

Donnie McClurkin: Three-time Grammy winner Donnie McClurkin–known worldwide for his powerful and rich vocal delivery–has proven that he is far more than a gospel singer. The man behind the multi-platinum and gold-selling recordings is an amazing songwriter that has penned chart-topping tunes like “Stand” and “We Fall Down,” and has also worn the hat of producer on his projects. He has found a new audience as a judge for five seasons on BET’s Sunday Best.

Besides being one of the best-selling gospel recording artists in the history of the genre, he has hosted The Donnie McClurkin Show for eight years, drawing more than five million listeners in over 60 markets, including international audiences in London, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. Syndicated by Oceanic Tradewinds / Westwood One, The Donnie McClurkin Show sent shockwaves throughout the radio industry when it snagged the top spot in two of the nation’s biggest markets: New York and Philadelphia. The show also rated number-one in the highly coveted 25-54 age demographic and ranked especially high in the top 19 US radio markets.

On the film and television side, McClurkin penned songs for such soundtracks as The Ladykillers, The Prince of Egypt, and A Goofy Movie. From concert stages to big and small screens, fans have also seen the singer shine in cameo appearances on The Parkers, Girlfriends, Meet the Browns, The Fighting Temptations (starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyoncé Knowles), and countless televised specials and awards presentations. However, it was in The Gospel, starring Boris Kodjoe and Idris Elba, that McClurkin made his debut in a character role. Additionally, he has been featured on the pages of USA Today, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, Ebony, JET, Billboard, and The Hollywood Reporter.

Kim Burrell: The dynamic, instantly recognizable, and captivating voice of Kim Burrell is undeniably one of the most powerful in music today. Her undying passion for ministry and music coalesce on her recently released sixth solo recording, From a Different Place, which showcases her unrivaled instrument, impeccable musicianship, and ability to tap into the human experience and emotion.

The Grammy-nominated and Stellar-winning singer has collaborated with diverse artists from Harry Connick Jr. to funk master George Clinton. She has also worked with R. Kelly, Stevie Wonder, and Shirley Caesar. Burrell’s soulful vocal runs have influenced a generation of mainstream recording artists, ranging from Jazmine Sullivan to Justin Timberlake. She has a burgeoning A-List fan club that includes Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Omarion, Jessica Simpson, P. Diddy, and Chaka Khan. Whitney Houston once declared Burrell to be “one of the greatest voices of our time.”

This year’s Essence Festival honored Burrell with tributes from such stars as India.Arie, Yolanda Adams, Lalah Hathaway, Chrisette Michele, and others in an exhilarating six-hour concert that effortlessly united artists from the worlds of gospel, R&B, and jazz.

A Houston native, Burrell appeared at the inaugural celebration of President Barack Obama and at Yankee Stadium for a mass led by Pope Benedict XVI. She has also performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and other notable venues and ministries around the world. Burrell has been featured on BET’s Celebration of Gospel and Lift Every Voice in London. A favorite on Bobby Jones’s long-running gospel program, Burrell will appear on the last episode as the show takes its final bow.

In recent years, Burrell has added yet another title to her growing list of accomplishments, becoming a mentor on BET’s Sunday Best. This fall, she also headlined the blockbuster Festival of Praise Tour with Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker, and Israel Houghton.

Ray Chew: Music director Ray Chew performs at the helm of award-winning musical events with the world’s most popular artists, including Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, Prince, Justin Bieber, Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz, Barry Manilow, Queen Latifah, James Taylor, Shirley Caesar, Jennifer Hudson, and Quincy Jones. He recently concluded his fourth season as music director of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and previously served as music director for FOX’s American Idol, where he inspired some of the best talent in the competition’s history and produced more than 300 contestant iTunes downloads.

Chew has also served as music director for several other network television series, including It’s Showtime at the Apollo and BET’s Sunday Best. His longstanding history with BET–heading up the music for its biggest annual events–includes the BET Honors, Celebration of Gospel, and the BET Awards.

Chew’s music direction is sought after for prestigious music specials and historic landmark events, including the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, the 2015 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony, the 2008 Democratic National Convention, President Obama’s Neighborhood Inaugural Ball, and the 44th Annual NAACP Image Awards.

In 2014, Chew was handed the baton to musically direct NBC’s broadcast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, succeeding Milton DeLugg, who held the seat for 50 years.

Chew’s work with orchestras as a conductor and a composer has carried him to prestigious venues all over the world. From the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles to the Nobel Peace Prize broadcast in Norway, his in-demand sound can be found on various television and film scores.

At Carnegie Hall, Chew curated “A Night of Inspiration” in 2010–a sold-out, all-star concert to promote musical and cultural diversity at the famed venue. For the event, he conducted a 63 – piece orchestra that was joined by a 125-voice mass choir, performing alongside notable artists from the gospel and secular communities.

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