This was years and years ago. Back when we were playing music on cassette! I don’t even know how I got this cassette but it was a cassette of Morgan State Choir under the directorship of Dr. Carter. The choir was simply phenomenal. The musical arrangements were so intricate and creative.
On this tape of one of their concerts, there was this song called ‘Have Thine Own Way Lord’. The song started off very classical and then halfway through it switched and went into a gospel music style. When I heard that I was floored. Growing up in the Caribbean, I had never heard anything like that.
Growing up in the Caribbean, I had never heard anything like that.
Getting that exposure really changed my mindset. Like here was this song, half classical, half gospel. And here were these singers who sounded like professional trained classical singers, singing and sounding like Black gospel singers.
As a child, I always dreamed of being a classical singer. I envisioned myself on stage singing opera. I always thought that if you are classically trained, that’s all you can do.
I always thought that if you are classically trained, that’s all you can do.
However, when I heard them it just opened up my mind. You can be classically trained and still kill a Black gospel song! That really left a mark on me.
You can be classically trained and still kill a Black gospel song!
Pretha
Greater Toronto Area, Canada