The term “Negro Spiritual” chosen as part of our name usually modifes the word ‘song’. When taken together the three words ‘Negro spiritual song’ identify a particular body of work deriving from the slave era. (‘Negro spiritual’ is the shorthand version.) African slaves brought with them tunes and rhythms that they matched with new words to create songs telling about their plight. This historic group of uniquely American songs is now recognized universally as a distinct genre of music literature. We have adopted the Negro spiritual as the focus and centerpiece of our agency’s mission.

“Come spend a world-class evening with our Foundation’s friends, patrons and corporate sponsors on Saturday 10th March 2012 at the fabulous Portofino Bay Hotel in Universal Orlando Resort!” Click the READ MORE button for event details and to purchase tickets.

“Join PGA Seniors Tour golfer Jim Thorpe at the ATLANTIC JUSTICE Celebrity Tournament on Monday 12th March 2012 on the links of the exclusive Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe in Windermere!” Click the READ MORE button for registration info (individuals and foursomes) or to purchase a sponsorship.

The nonprofit “Negro Spiritual” Scholarship Foundation is preserving a heritage within America’s musical legacy – the Negro spiritual song – and supporting a future for deserving young people as they transition from high school to college. Along the way our GRADY-RAYAM PRIZE vocal programs develop and showcase talent that is suited to classical singing.

Our ‘Suitable Airs’ concert outing in October of 2007 was more memorable than most for one reason in particular. Miss Darlean Coleman – then Director of the Jones High School Concert Choir – was extremely ill with cancer, and would be on the choral conducting stand for what turned out to her last public outing with the Foundation. (Miss Coleman retired from her teaching post in early December of 2007 and died the following year.) Moses Hogan was among her favorite composers, so Miss Coleman programmed his soaring treatment of the spiritual “I’m Gonna Sing ‘Til The Spirit Moves In My Heart” to take advantage of having tenor Samuel McKelton – her all-time favorite “sweet-voiced” singer – headline a work chosen to express the fullness of faith and dedication still evident in her work and her person even at that late stage of her earthly life. As this archival recording so richly demonstrates, Mr. McKelton did not disappoint, nor did the crowd of angelic voices backing him!