Sweet Honey in the Rock

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Sweet Honey in the Rock


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Genre = Gospel
Years_active = Start date|1973 - Present
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Current_members = Ysaye Maria Barnwell
Nitanju Bolade Casel
Arnaé
Aisha Kahlil
Louise Robinson
Carol Lynn Maillard
Shirley Childress Saxton
Past_members = Bernice Johnson Reagon (founder)
Mie
Dianaruthe Wharton
Evelyn Marie Harris
Rosie Lee Hooks
Ayodele Harrington
Ingrid Ellis
Tia Juana Starks
Patricia Johnson
Yasmeen Williams
Laura Sharp
Tulani Jordan Kinard
Helena Coleman
Geraldine Hardin
Akua Opokuwaa

Sweet Honey in the Rock is an all-woman, African-American a cappella ensemble.

Musical career

Sweet Honey in the Rock was founded in 1973 by Bernice Johnson Reagon who formed the group out of singers from a vocal workshop she was teaching with the Washington, D.C. Black Repertory Company. Reagon retired from the group in 2004. The name of the group comes from a religious parable from Psalm 81:16 which tells of a land so rich that when rocks were cracked open, honey flowed from them. [citeweb|url=http://www.sweethoney.com/FAQs.html|title=Frequently asked questions|accessdate=2007-12-20]

Sweet Honey in the Rock has received several Grammy Award nominations, including one for their children's album "Still the Same Me" which received the Silver Award from the National Association of Parenting Publications. They won a Grammy in 1989 in the category of Best Traditional Folk Recording for their version of Leadbelly's "Grey Goose" from the compilation album "".

Influences

Sweet Honey in the Rock has been producing music for more than 30 years. Although the members of the group have changed over time, their music has consistently combined contemporary rhythms and narratives with a musical style rooted in the Gospel music, spirituals and hymns of the African-American church. The ensemble tackles difficult five-part harmonies and composes much of their own music. They have addressed topics including motherhood, spirituality, freedom, civil liberties, domestic violence, and racism.

Members

Over the years, more than 20 individuals have lent their voices to Sweet Honey in the Rock. Beginning as a quartet, the group is now composed of six African-American women (including a professional American Sign Language interpreter who accompanies the group on concert tours).

Current group members

*Ysaye Maria Barnwell
*Nitanju Bolade Casel
*Arnaé (on leave during the 2006-07 season)
*Aisha Kahlil
*Louise Robinson (an original ensemble member)
*Carol Lynn Maillard (an original ensemble member)
*Shirley Childress Saxton (sign language interpreter)

Previous group members

*Bernice Johnson Reagon (founder)
*Mie
*Dianaruthe Wharton
*Evelyn Marie Harris
*Rosie Lee Hooks
*Ayodele Harrington
*Ingrid Ellis
*Tia Juana Starks
*Patricia Johnson
*Yasmeen Williams
*Laura Sharp
*Tulani Jordan Kinard
*Helena Coleman
*Geraldine Hardin
*Akua Opokuwaa

Discography

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = "Sweet Honey in the Rock"
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Released = 1976
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Type = studio
Name = "B'lieve I'll Run On"
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Released = 1978
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Type = studio
Name = "Good News"
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Released = 1981
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Type = studio
Name = "We All...Every One Of Us"
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Released = 1983
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Type = studio
Name = "Feel Something Drawing Me On"
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Released = 1985
Format = CD
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Type = studio
Name = "The Other Side"
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Released = 1985
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Type = studio
Name = "Breaths"
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Released = 1988
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Type = Live
Name = "Live At Carnegie Hall"
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Released = 1988
Format = CD
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Type = studio
Name = "All For Freedom"
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Released = 1989
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Type = studio
Name = "In This Land"
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Released = 1992
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Type = studio
Name = "Still On The Journey"
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Released = 1993
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Type = studio
Name = "I Got The Shoes"
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Released = 1994
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Type = studio
Name = "Sacred Ground"
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Released = 1996
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Type = compilation
Name = "Selections (1976-1988)"
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Released = 1997
Format = CD
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Singles = Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = "...Twenty Five..."
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Released = 1998
Format = CD
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Type = studio
Name = "Still The Same Me"
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Released = 2000
Format = CD
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Type = live
Name = "Alive in Australia"
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Released = 2003
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Type = studio
Name = "The Women Gather"
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Released = 2003
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Type = studio
Name = "Endings and Beginnings"
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Released = 2004
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Type = studio
Name = "Raise Your Voice"
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Released = 2005
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Awards and Nominations

Nominations

*Grammys 2008 Best Musical Album For Children - Experience...101

References

External links

* [http://www.sweethoney.com/ Official homepage]
* [http://www.thisisrealmusic.com/features/features1/features1.htm T.I.R.M. Interview]
* [http://www.singers.com/sweethoney.html/ Singers.com Profile]