- Myrna Summers
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Myrna Summers Born 30 March 1949
Newark, New Jersey
United StatesOrigin Washington, DC Genres Gospel Years active 1970 - present Myrna Summers (born 30 March 1949) is a Gospel Music singer who has performed professionally for over four decades and is now the Minister of Music at Reid Temple A.M.E. Church in Glenn Dale, Maryland.[1] She has a commanding yet distinctive alto voice.[2]
Summers was born in Washington D.C. in 1949. Her parents were members of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), and she performed in services at the Refreshing Spring Church in Riverdale, Maryland from a very early age.[3] She attended the McKinley Tech High School, and went on to the University of Maryland and the Toutorsky Academy of Music.[1]
She formed a group the Refreshingnettes in the early 1960s. The group recorded "Pray Your Troubles / I'm Determined" for HOB Records.[3] Her original compositions "God Gave Me a Song" (1970) and "Give Me Something to Hold on To" (1979) earned her Grammy Award nominations. She was the 1970 recipient of the Gospel Music Workshop of America's Mahalia Jackson Award.[1] Her album entitled "We Going To Make It" became one of her best selling recordings in June 1988 and won a 1989 Stellar Award for Best Traditional Gospel Artist (Female).[4] She is known for her collaborations with Timothy Wright, the Dallas Fort-Worth Mass Choir and Ambassadors for Christ.[5]
She has performed at Madison Square Garden, the Apollo Theater and the Lincoln Center in New York and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.[1] Summers was Minister of Music at Refreshing Spring COGIC before joining Reid Temple A.M.E Church in 1999. As Minister of Music at Reid Temple she is the leader of the church’s five choirs and orchestra, and the Director of the Mass Choir.[6] The choir led by Summers provides a stirring accompaniment to the preaching and prayers at the megachurch.[7]
Discography
Myrna Summers has recorded on more than 50 albums.[3] A select list follows.
Year Title Label Notes 1970 God Gave Me a Song Cotillion / Atlantic Single, Grammy Nomination 1972 Tell It Like It Is Cotillion 1972 Now Cotillion 1975 Myrna Summers & The Myrna Summers Singers Savoy 1976 I Found Jesus (and I'm Glad) Savoy 1977 Myrna Summers Savoy 1978 I'll Keep Holding On Savoy 1979 Give Me Something to Hold On To Savoy Grammy nominated, Recorded Live at Women's Correctional Facility in WV 1980 Life Is Fragile: Handle With Prayer Savoy 1982 Uncloudy Day Savoy 1985 Here Comes The Son Savoy 1988 We're Going to Make It Savoy Guest artist Rev. Timothy Wright. Stellar award 1990 I'll Keep Holding on Savoy Live recording 1990 You Are My Miracle 1990 You Don't Have Nothing If You Don't Have Jesus 1991 I'll Tell the World Savoy 1993 Deliverance Savoy 2000 His Mercy Endureth Forever PGF records 2006 Mountain Get Out of My Way with the Reid Temple A.M.E. Mass Choir References
- ^ a b c d "Myrna Summers Bio". Myrna Summers. http://www.myrnasummers.com/bio.html. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ "Myrna Summers". Malaco Records. http://www.malaco.com/Catalog/Gospel/Myrna-Summers/list.php. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ a b c W. K. McNeil (2005). Encyclopedia of American gospel music. Routledge. p. 381ff. ISBN 0415941792.
- ^ "Myrna Summers". afgen. http://afgen.com/gospel11.html. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ Stan North. "Myrna Summers: His Mercy Endureth Forever (review)". Gospelflava.com. http://www.gospelflava.com/reviews/myrnasummers.html. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ "Evangelist Myrna Summers". Jackson State University. http://www.jsums.edu/cmw/2008/2008speakers.html. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ Hamil R. Harris (October 1, 2006). "How Sweet the Sound: Five Area Gospel Choirs That Hit All the Right Notes". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/28/AR2006092801862.html. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
Categories:- Living people
- 1949 births
- American gospel singers
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