00:00:00.000 - 00:00:34.080

LaVelle White is here, Donna Dukes, Ernie Mae Miller, Pam Hart, Donna Hightower, Chariots, Hope Morgan, where's Hope? Oh, okay, see I'm looking too close there. Morgan. Yeah, not Hope, although we have that too. So just give us a couple of minutes here

00:00:34.080 - 00:01:02.920

and Dr. Jones will be out. And here's Geneva Rollins. Oh, Geneva, hi. Did you want to go back there was right through here where they're okay. All right. Okay, so I'm going to just So wait a couple of minutes for Agnes. Thank you.

00:01:02.920 - 00:02:01.740

Please stand by. th Good afternoon. We are grateful for your presence. And on behalf of the Texas Music Museum, the East Economic Development Corporation and certainly Ebenezer Third Baptist

00:02:01.740 - 00:02:34.780

Church of which I've been a member over 60 years. We want to extend our appreciation to you for being here. Our pastor the Reverend Dr. Marvin C. Griffin has been such an inspiration toward this event, as well as the committee members,

00:02:34.780 - 00:02:51.300

and I'm sure there are other invisible collaborators that we will never know about. But at this time, we say thank you to each of you. It is with pleasure that we will bring now

00:02:51.300 - 00:03:07.680

the Reverend Dr. Marvin C. Griffin, and this is a time of rejoicing, introspect, just appreciating each other. So we are going to applaud.

00:03:07.680 - 00:03:18.660

If you feel like saying encore, I'm not sure that there will be an encore, but you can try it. Depends on what the artist decides, okay?

00:03:18.660 - 00:03:33.480

If you want to say bravo, have at it. At this time, please join me in bringing forth our own Reverend Dr. Marvin C. Griffin, who has just celebrated their 34th anniversary,

00:03:33.480 - 00:03:48.620

he and his wife, Mrs. Lois Griffin, 34th anniversary here at Ebenezer Baptist Church. My pastor, Reverend Griffin. (audience applauding)

00:03:48.620 - 00:04:17.820

Thank you very much. I'm delighted as pastor of this church to welcome you here. It is fitting that you should be here because it was at the church that the arts, music, all all of the things that we treasure in this life had their beginning.

00:04:17.820 - 00:04:36.060

And music is a universal language. Speaks to all people, in whatever mood you may be in. So we welcome you here to relax, to rejoice, to celebrate. Let us pray.

00:04:36.060 - 00:04:52.020

Lord, we lift our hearts in an anthem of praise for your goodness and grace. We praise your name for the gift of music, the rhythm of the seasons,

00:04:52.020 - 00:05:09.720

the harmony of voices, instruments, ports, and profits. We bless your name, oh God, for the contributors to this Texas Music Museum, and for the concern and compassion

00:05:09.720 - 00:05:26.020

that brings about our gathering here today. We ask that our lives may be in harmony with that which is good, true, and beautiful. Amen.

00:05:31.940 - 00:05:55.220

Thank you. - Thank you so much, Master Bridgwood. Mr. Van Druy, Johnson. - Welcome to Ebenezer Village.

00:05:55.220 - 00:06:10.800

This is not just a church, but it's a village. If you look around you, when you came here, you'll see the office building where you had the reception. You will see senior housing, a family life center,

00:06:10.800 - 00:06:26.500

and a daycare center. We're also doing projects in five other cities in the state. Ebenezer Village is a vision that Dr. Griffin had some 15 years ago.

00:06:26.500 - 00:06:42.620

The East Austin Economic Development Corporation was charged by him to bring that vision about. He called it concretizing the gospel. He believed that the gospel was worth nothing

00:06:42.620 - 00:06:58.440

unless you can concretize it and put it into action. So this is the gospel. This is the evidence, these things that you see. We didn't do it by ourselves, but we had partners,

00:06:58.440 - 00:07:16.720

people who came together and made things happen here. One of those partners that we're so pleased to have with us is the Texas Music Museum. And Dr. Sharkey and his team of volunteers

00:07:16.720 - 00:07:28.560

and the work that they do, think about it, what he's doing. This is just one display that he's doing and one thing that he's bringing together.

00:07:28.560 - 00:07:42.360

But one of the things that we're encouraged about, not only do we build things, we have to preserve our past, our history, our culture. And we're forever thankful and grateful

00:07:42.360 - 00:07:58.480

to Dr. Sharkey and the Texas Music Museum for what they do. I would like to, especially, There's so many people that did things to make this possible. But if you ate the food and you saw those beautiful flowers

00:07:58.480 - 00:08:14.920

and all the work that went into organizing that, it was done by another partner without cost to us. Roosevelt Thomas and his daughter Rosemary and Norma Johnson pulled it all together.

00:08:14.920 - 00:08:34.000

[APPLAUSE] And we can't lose because we're always looking for partners. And we are always committed to preserving our history and our culture.

00:08:34.000 - 00:08:55.360

And I'm so glad you're here. Thank you. [APPLAUSE] A favorite of many, a friend to all, our own Representative Donna Dukes.

00:08:55.360 - 00:09:11.880

Good afternoon. Now this is going to be a musical, not a funeral, so y'all need to wake up. I bring you greetings from the great state of Texas and the Texas House of Representatives and I'm absolutely thrilled to be here for so many reasons.

00:09:11.880 - 00:09:25.060

First of all, the fact that African American women in Texas, in music, are being honored today, saluted today. We all know that music is the soul that keeps us going, that makes the beast calm,

00:09:25.060 - 00:09:35.700

but also teaches us so very much about ourselves. And through music, we are able to learn about love and compassion and friendships. And it is African American women

00:09:35.700 - 00:09:46.000

that have been the backbone of our community and have sang us to bed at night and have sang sweet things to us to calm our fears and to teach us nursery rhymes.

00:09:46.000 - 00:09:55.280

So it's so befitting that we would honor those who have brought the passion through music, through their time and their talent to us here in the state of Texas.

00:09:55.280 - 00:10:06.760

I'm especially thrilled because in the exhibit today is one of my relatives, Demita Jo DeBlanc. And I am-- [APPLAUSE]

00:10:06.760 - 00:10:22.320

And a few weeks ago, a gentleman called me on my cell phone, which is a private number. And I was out trying to find some items. And the guy just started talking.

00:10:22.320 - 00:10:31.200

And he said, I understand you're Demita Jove's cousin. And I wanted to get some pictures from you. And I looked at my cell phone. And I thought, who is this person?

00:10:31.200 - 00:10:38.800

"How does he know anything about me?" And he said, "Well, Biddy gave me your number." And I thought, "Biddy, Demita's husband. "This guy has to know something about me."

00:10:38.800 - 00:10:48.720

And it just happened to be Clay Shorkey. And I started having lots of conversations with Clay Shorkey, and I'm so glad that someone gave you my cell phone number

00:10:48.720 - 00:11:04.120

and we were able to get together and that you were able to pay tribute to Demita, who holds a very special place in my heart, someone that I looked up to and had opportunity

00:11:04.120 - 00:11:15.400

to spend much time with. And there's no words that I can add today to pay tribute to Demita other than she was just a person full of love and had a powerful voice

00:11:15.400 - 00:11:28.080

and wanted to share it every moment that she could. With that, there's so many on the program today that I know personally, have a personal contact with. And I just want to tell you thank you

00:11:28.080 - 00:11:45.040

for the music you share, the joy you share, to each and every one of us in the state of Texas salutes you. [APPLAUSE] As our representative has said, we

00:11:45.040 - 00:11:59.760

know that Demita Jo has passed on. But we would like to observe a moment of silence. She was near and dear to so many of us through her recordings. We all remember, I'm sure, "Go Away From My Window,"

00:11:59.760 - 00:12:13.760

"Windmills of My Mind," and so on. And I would just like to say that she also shared her talents with me at an early, early time because I was told that she used to babysit me

00:12:13.760 - 00:12:29.080

when we both lived on Wheeler Street right over here, still in the ghetto, okay? Could we please have a moment of silence for respect? Thank you. At this time, the chariots. The chariots.

00:12:29.080 - 00:13:08.600

[Applause] With the encouragement and sponsoring of Reverend E.M. Franklin, the Gospel Group Chariots formed in 1950 and included Evelyn Franklin Martin and Dorothy Franklin Anthony. There are a lot of things that I could say about this group.

00:13:08.600 - 00:13:25.080

You've been to the reception at Texas Music Museum. You had a chance to read the biographies that are there on the wall. If you did not have a chance after the program, you will go back and read now and find out more about these persons.

00:13:25.080 - 00:13:40.880

As Representative Duke said, this is going to be a time of music, a time of rejoicing, and not a whole lot of, as my chemistry teacher used to say at Anderson High School, not a whole lot of extra yarr-yarr. But it doesn't mean it's not important.

00:13:40.880 - 00:14:06.980

You need to know this about these ladies. pianist, one of their pianists, Mrs. Rosalie Alexander, better known as Aunt Kitty. All right. Could not be here today. She is hospitalized, but you know her spirit is here. In 1952, her niece Emma Jean Eesley Dixon joined the group as a fifth

00:14:06.980 - 00:14:19.720

member and they recorded in 1953 for Duke Records. Della Rout accompanied their vocal harmonies and they sang, Sing with the Angels and Prop Me Jesus, all of which sold well throughout the country.

00:14:19.720 - 00:14:28.560

Many of the lyrics were written by the late Reverend LaVada Durst, also known as Dr. Hepcat. (audience applauding)

00:14:28.560 - 00:14:42.240

The group disbanded in 1953 as they moved from one place to another, finished high school and went on with their lives. But recently they reunited and sang

00:14:42.240 - 00:15:00.280

at the recent high school reunion, Old Anderson High, and you can see that there are some additional faces with the group. Added to the biographies that are at Texas Museum,

00:15:00.280 - 00:15:14.080

we see Ms. Bernadette Denman Hart, and we see-- (audience applauding) And I can just barely wait to say this other name

00:15:14.080 - 00:15:20.560

because I taught this young lady at St. John's Elementary School. Yes, I did. Ms. Jo Carol Moffitt.

00:15:20.560 - 00:15:30.040

(audience applauding) We will now hear the chariots. Did I get everyone's name? If not, just shout it out.

00:15:30.040 - 00:15:38.680

Brother Bill, down there, Bill Martin, just help me out if I miss any cues or anything, okay? - And my wife, Barbara. - Oh, right then.

00:15:38.680 - 00:15:54.940

(audience applauding) added applause for his wife, his better half, and many of us know the joy, okay? Miss Evelyn Franklin Martin, did I get it right?

00:15:54.940 - 00:16:11.380

(audience applauding) - I'm Emma Jean Easley. (audience applauding) I'm Jo Moffitt.

00:16:11.380 - 00:16:23.220

(audience applauding) I'm Bernadette Denman-Hart. (audience applauding) I'm Willie Jean Landren Denman.

00:16:23.220 - 00:16:32.060

(audience applauding) - And when we speak of legacies, if Brianna is in the audience, you better watch out for Brianna.

00:16:32.060 - 00:16:37.980

She's coming on, she's the granddaughter. Oh, there she is. (audience applauding) Give her about 10 more years

00:16:37.980 - 00:16:50.740

and she'll be standing right here with the chariots. - Praise the Lord. - Praise the Lord, everybody. This is, hey, praise the Lord, everybody.

00:16:50.740 - 00:16:57.780

All right, yes. (audience applauding) - See, I told y'all. - Yes.

00:16:57.780 - 00:17:09.020

I can't help that. That's just what the Holy Spirit taught me. I wanna explain something with the young ladies here. Thank you so much for that gracious introduction.

00:17:09.020 - 00:17:22.860

Joe Carroll and Bernadette are with us today because we have members that are missing. And they have placed themselves in-- I don't know if it's harm's way or our way,

00:17:22.860 - 00:17:36.620

but they are here with us today to make things better and to keep us from having to drop programs and engagements. They're here to help us out today. Bernadette is my daughter.

00:17:36.620 - 00:17:53.060

JoCarola is a relative of my daughter's. Emma Dixon is one of the original chariots. [APPLAUSE] Evelyn Martin is an original.

00:17:53.060 - 00:18:07.100

[APPLAUSE] And I know we don't have time to give history, and we're not going to do a lot of that. But we thank you all for coming, because your faces lets us know

00:18:07.100 - 00:18:20.800

that you do appreciate us also. And we appreciate you, because had it not been for the people that we sang to, we wouldn't be here today with this honor. And we just appreciate Ebenezer so much,

00:18:20.800 - 00:18:31.440

because we've been coming, looking at our little stuff on the walls, and bringing our grandchildren, and whatever. And Breonna was very proud because she

00:18:31.440 - 00:18:43.920

had an opportunity to read all of the stuff on the week before last, I think it was. So we're going to give you two numbers. And as you know, Bernadette and Joe Carroll

00:18:43.920 - 00:18:58.780

have their talents, their own life. They are two dynamic singers. Joe Carroll has been singing, I won't tell how many years. Bernadette's been singing less.

00:18:58.780 - 00:19:11.920

But we're here today, after 53 years now, praise the Lord. And you're looking at a miracle in Evelyn over there. So the miracle is here today.

00:19:11.920 - 00:19:23.980

(audience applauding) And we praise God for it. Some of us believe that we're still thinking well and that we don't forget things, but you know how that is.

00:19:25.460 - 00:19:37.760

We only-- sometimes we only remember yesterday, and sometimes we don't remember yesterday. But there's one thing about it, we're kept by the Holy Spirit. And we are giving you--

00:19:37.760 - 00:19:49.220

I hope it's OK for me to move this. OK. Well, all right. Thank you.

00:19:49.220 - 00:20:03.220

Thank you. We're going to give the chariots another hand, and then we're going to go on. [APPLAUSE]

00:20:03.220 - 00:20:25.400

Bill is over there, if you feel like you need the chair behind you. OK? Lord, keep me day by day.

00:20:25.400 - 00:20:37.040

When you get on the north side of 60, that's the song that you'll sing. So I want you to remember that in a pure and perfect way. And you wanna live until,

00:20:37.040 - 00:20:44.200

you wanna live down here until you go up there and we're not in a line trying to go up there. Am I right? Praise the Lord.

00:20:44.200 - 00:20:57.020

So we're going to sing Lord, keep me day by day. And we're gonna do it the old fashioned way. Sister Agnes and-- Sister Rollins.

00:20:57.020 - 00:21:04.780

Sister Rollins. They're going to catch up with us. You all haven't sang like that, have you? We'll start out and they'll catch you.

00:21:04.780 - 00:21:14.640

That's what it is. These are people who can play anything. Hallelujah. OK.

00:21:20.580 - 00:21:43.220

Hallelujah. Lord, keep me day by day. Lord, keep me day by day. Keep me in a pure, in a pure and perfect way.

00:21:43.220 - 00:22:00.960

I want to live. ♪ I wanna live on ♪ ♪ In a building, in a building not made by hand ♪ ♪ Lord, keep me day by day ♪

00:22:00.960 - 00:22:17.820

♪ Lord, keep me day by day ♪ ♪ Keep me in a pure, yeah ♪ ♪ In a pure and perfect way ♪ ♪ I wanna live, yes ♪

00:22:17.820 - 00:22:34.040

♪ I want to live ♪ ♪ I wanna live on, yes I do ♪ ♪ Live in a building, in a building I made by hand ♪ ♪ Lord, keep my body strong ♪

00:22:34.040 - 00:22:48.920

♪ Lord, keep my body strong ♪ ♪ So that I ♪ ♪ So that I ♪ ♪ I cannot do no wrong ♪

00:22:48.920 - 00:23:08.640

♪ Give me grace, yes Lord ♪ ♪ Give me grace so I can run ♪ ♪ Oh, to a building ♪ ♪ Lord, keep me day by day ♪

00:23:08.640 - 00:23:30.640

♪ Lord, keep me day by day ♪ ♪ Keep me in a pure, yes Lord, and perfect way ♪ ♪ Oh, I wanna live on ♪ ♪ I wanna live on, yes I do ♪

00:23:30.640 - 00:23:55.660

♪ In a building, in a building not made by hand ♪ [APPLAUSE] All right. Praise God.

00:23:55.660 - 00:24:05.900

The next number we're going to do-- we're going to do it-- is I love to praise him. OK.

00:24:05.900 - 00:24:36.560

And if you could, could you start us? It's a catchment, man. (clapping) I'm gonna speed it up just a little bit.

00:24:36.560 - 00:24:56.120

♪ I love to praise him ♪ ♪ I love to praise him ♪ ♪ I love to praise him ♪ Come on.

00:24:56.120 - 00:25:11.000

♪ I love to praise him ♪ ♪ I love to praise Him ♪ ♪ I love to praise His name ♪ ♪ Oh, I love to praise Him ♪

00:25:11.000 - 00:25:18.960

♪ I love to praise His name ♪ ♪ How I love ♪ ♪ I love to praise ♪ ♪ Let's speed it up ♪

00:25:18.960 - 00:25:35.160

♪ Oh, His holy name ♪ ♪ Oh, I love to praise Him ♪ ♪ I love to praise His name ♪ ♪ I love to praise Him ♪

00:25:35.160 - 00:25:47.500

♪ Oh, I love to praise His name ♪ ♪ Oh, I love to praise Him ♪ ♪ I love to praise His name ♪ ♪ I love to praise ♪

00:25:47.500 - 00:25:54.080

♪ I love to praise ♪ ♪ Praise ♪ ♪ Holy name ♪ ♪ Let's do it again ♪

00:25:54.080 - 00:26:08.660

♪ I love to praise Him ♪ ♪ I love to praise His name ♪ ♪ I love to praise Him ♪ ♪ I love to praise His name ♪

00:26:08.660 - 00:26:21.140

♪ Oh, I love to praise Him ♪ ♪ I love to praise His name ♪ ♪ Oh, I love ♪ ♪ I love to praise ♪

00:26:21.140 - 00:26:30.000

♪ Oh, come on ♪ ♪ Yeah, he's my rock ♪ ♪ He's my rock ♪ ♪ My sword ♪

00:26:30.000 - 00:26:40.080

♪ My rock, my sword and shield ♪ ♪ Yeah, he is the wind ♪ ♪ He's spinning in the middle ♪ ♪ Of the wind ♪

00:26:40.080 - 00:26:47.980

♪ Hey, I know he'll never ♪ ♪ He'll never ♪ ♪ Never let me down ♪ ♪ Let me down ♪

00:26:47.980 - 00:27:01.380

♪ He's just a jewel ♪ ♪ Just a jewel ♪ ♪ That I have found ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah, I love ♪

00:27:01.380 - 00:27:19.020

♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah, oh I love, I love, I love ♪ ♪ I love, I love ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah, I love ♪ ♪ I love to praise his name ♪

00:27:19.020 - 00:27:25.820

♪ I love to praise ♪ ♪ I love to pray ♪ ♪ His holy ♪ ♪ His holy ♪

00:27:25.820 - 00:27:34.260

♪ Yes, he's my rock ♪ ♪ He's my rock ♪ ♪ Hey, my rock, my soul ♪ ♪ My soul, my soul is healed ♪

00:27:34.260 - 00:27:44.100

♪ And he's been a wheel ♪ ♪ He's a wheel ♪ ♪ Spinning in the middle ♪ ♪ Hey, I know he'll never ♪

00:27:44.100 - 00:27:53.500

♪ I know he'll never ♪ ♪ Never let me down ♪ ♪ Never let me down ♪ ♪ So glad he's a Jew ♪

00:27:53.500 - 00:28:01.780

♪ 'Cause I ♪ ♪ I am heaven ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ It's hallelujah ♪

00:28:01.780 - 00:28:15.440

♪ How I love ♪ ♪ I can't help it but say hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love ♪ ♪ Hey, hallelujah ♪

00:28:15.440 - 00:28:22.920

♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ How I love ♪ ♪ I love to praise his name ♪ ♪ I love to praise ♪

00:28:22.920 - 00:28:30.260

♪ I love to praise ♪ ♪ I love to praise ♪ ♪ I love to praise ♪ ♪ How I love to praise ♪

00:28:30.260 - 00:28:38.140

♪ How I love to praise ♪ ♪ Oh, how I love to praise ♪ ♪ I love to praise ♪ ♪ Early in the morning I'll praise ♪

00:28:38.140 - 00:28:45.400

♪ I love to praise ♪ ♪ Oh, in the midnight hour I'll praise ♪ ♪ I love to praise ♪ ♪ How I love ♪

00:28:45.400 - 00:29:02.860

♪ I love to praise ♪ ♪ The Spirit to praise ♪ ♪ The God to praise ♪ ♪ His holy name ♪ ♪ His holy name ♪ (audience applauding)

00:29:02.860 - 00:29:41.780

[applause] We want to thank one of the chariots, Bernadette, who is delivering our love from Texas Music Museum. We have so many mentors, and we just

00:29:41.780 - 00:30:02.100

want to present each of the singers with a fresh stem. And we hope that you will enjoy it as a memory from today. [APPLAUSE] [ Applause ]

00:30:02.100 - 00:30:22.120

>> Ms. Hope Morgan, a native New Yorker, I think she almost apologizes for that now that she's been in Austin so long, arrived on Austin's jazz scene in the mid-1980s, and she began singing in the church,

00:30:22.120 - 00:30:34.960

as most of us have in one way or another at the church, helping with the choirs or being in the choir. But she also studied classical voice, violin, and piano throughout her teens in New York City.

00:30:34.960 - 00:30:47.940

During her college years, Hope had the opportunity to learn from such jazz greats, including Marion Brown, Ken McIntyre, and Max Roach. And in Austin, she has continued this trend,

00:30:47.940 - 00:30:56.480

working with many of the finest members of the city's jazz community. For instance, in the late 1980s, she joined the great Gene Raimi.

00:30:56.480 - 00:31:06.320

Many of you will remember him as a bass player as he re-emerged on the jazz scene here in Austin. And as one of her mentors, Gene encouraged her, counseled her,

00:31:06.320 - 00:31:15.140

and cajoled her a whole lot. We all know how Gene can do that, could do that. Locally, some of the musicians that Hope has performed with include

00:31:15.140 - 00:31:30.300

jazz greats James Polk, Tony Campisi, Mitch Watkins, Doug Hall, and the late A.D. Manion. In 1995, the city of Austin declared June 8th as Hope Morgan Day for her contributions

00:31:30.300 - 00:31:41.300

to the city's live music scene. And that year, Hope was also named the best female jazz vocalist by the Austin Jazz Players and Critics Poll.

00:31:41.300 - 00:32:01.420

Let's hear now Miss Hope Morgan. (audience applauding) [ Applause ] >> Ms. Morgan will be accompanied

00:32:01.420 - 00:32:17.660

by Ms. Geneva Taylor-Rollins, who is another musician in her own right. [ Applause ] Thank you, Doctor, for all the kind words

00:32:17.660 - 00:32:26.940

and the wonderful introduction. And I just want to say thank you to everybody here for such an honor. I mean, first of all, you adopted me into Texas.

00:32:26.940 - 00:32:33.140

You know, I said I'm on-- well, I am in Texas, literally. So I guess that works, huh? Because-- [LAUGHTER]

00:32:33.140 - 00:32:44.700

--and been here for quite some time, over 25, 26 years. So it's, you know, more than half of my life. And it's a great pleasure to be here. I'm going to do two tunes for you today.

00:32:44.700 - 00:33:17.740

The first one is a tune entitled "Willow Weep for Me" written by a woman named Anne Ronell about 1921. (gentle piano music) [ Music ]

00:33:17.740 - 00:33:41.740

Willow, weep for me. Willow, weep for me. Bend your branches down along the ground that runs to sea. Listen to my plea.

00:33:41.740 - 00:34:07.760

♪ Bend over low and weep for me ♪ ♪ Good, my lover's dreams ♪ ♪ Lovely summer dreams ♪ ♪ Good, and left me here to weep my tears ♪

00:34:08.220 - 00:34:32.940

♪ Tears into the stream ♪ ♪ Listen to my plea ♪ ♪ Bend the willow and weep for me ♪ ♪ Whisper to the wind ♪

00:34:32.940 - 00:34:49.640

♪ And say that love has sinned ♪ ♪ To leave my heart a-breaking ♪ ♪ And making a moon ♪ ♪ Murmur to the night ♪

00:34:49.640 - 00:35:07.620

♪ To hide her starry light ♪ ♪ So none will find me saying ♪ ♪ And crying all alone ♪ ♪ Weeping willow tree ♪

00:35:07.620 - 00:35:20.540

♪ Bend and rescue me ♪ ♪ Lay your branches down ♪ ♪ Along the ground ♪ ♪ That runs to sea ♪

00:35:20.540 - 00:35:34.440

♪ Listen to my plea ♪ ♪ Bend, oh willow ♪ ♪ And weep ♪ ♪ To me ♪

00:35:34.440 - 00:36:01.240

(audience applauding) ("A Connection") ("Introduction") ("Song of Illuminati")

00:36:01.240 - 00:36:13.560

(gentle piano music) (gentle piano music) (gentle piano music) (gentle piano music)

00:36:13.560 - 00:37:07.100

[ Music ] Whisper to the wind and say that love has seemed to leave my heart a-breaking and making her moan. Murmur to the night to hide her starry light

00:37:07.100 - 00:37:37.260

So none would find me sighing and crying all alone. Weeping willow tree, lay your branches and rescue me. Lay your branches down along the ground and cover me. Listen to my plea.

00:37:37.260 - 00:37:53.460

Bend the willow and weep. Willow, won't you weep? Willow, won't you weep? Lay your branches down and cover me.

00:37:53.460 - 00:38:03.380

Lay your branches down and cover me. Willow, won't you weep? Willow, won't you weep? ♪ Willow, won't you weep ♪

00:38:03.380 - 00:38:13.080

♪ Willow, won't you weep ♪ ♪ Willow, willow, willow, willow ♪ ♪ Weeping willow tree ♪ ♪ Lay your branches down and rescue me ♪

00:38:13.080 - 00:38:21.420

♪ Rescue me ♪ ♪ Praise the Lord ♪ ♪ Rescue me ♪ ♪ Praise the Lord ♪

00:38:21.420 - 00:38:41.540

♪ Rescue me ♪ ♪ Weeping willow tree ♪ [APPLAUSE] Thank you.

00:38:41.540 - 00:38:58.500

Geneva. Geneva Rawlings. [APPLAUSE] This next tune is entitled "Sugar."

00:38:58.500 - 00:39:28.380

It's written by the late, great Stanley Turrentine. (snaps) (upbeat piano music) ♪ The sugar drips from his sweet lips ♪

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♪ The sugar is mine ♪ ♪ You bet your life a sweet man like this would be ♪ ♪ Hard to find ♪ ♪ He picks me up ♪

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♪ He makes me feel nice ♪ ♪ He makes me think twice about paradise ♪ ♪ He's sugar and spice and everything nice ♪ ♪ He's sugar ♪

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♪ Oh sweet sugar to me ♪ ♪ Sweet sounds of joy come into my ear ♪ ♪ When sugar is near ♪ ♪ He smells so sweet ♪

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♪ My heart skips a beat ♪ ♪ When my sugar is near ♪ ♪ He picks me up ♪ ♪ He makes me feel nice ♪

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♪ He makes me think twice about paradise ♪ ♪ He's sugar and spice and everything nice ♪ ♪ Sweet sugar ♪ ♪ Oh sweet sugar to me ♪

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(scatting) (scatting) (scatting) (scatting)

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(scatting) (scatting) (scatting) (scatting)

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(scatting) (scatting) (scatting) (scatting)

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[SCATTING] (scatting) (scatting) (scatting)

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(scat singing) (scatting) (scatting) (scatting)

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(scatting) (scatting) (scatting) (scatting)

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(scatting) (scatting) ♪ To the earth, oh, Merite ♪ (audience applauding)

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(audience applauding) ♪ The sugar drips from his sweet lips ♪ ♪ The sugar is mine, Geneva Rollins ♪ ♪ You bet your life a sweet man like this would be ♪

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♪ Hard to find ♪ ♪ He picks me up, he makes me feel nice ♪ ♪ He makes me think twice about paradise ♪ ♪ He's sugar and spice and everything nice ♪

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♪ He is sugar, a sweet sugar to me ♪ ♪ Sweet sounds of joy come into my ear ♪ ♪ When sugar is near ♪ ♪ You bet your life a sweet man like this would be ♪

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♪ So hard to find ♪ ♪ Picks me up, makes me feel nice ♪ ♪ Makes me think twice about ♪ ♪ The place they call paradise ♪

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♪ A sugar and spice and everything nice ♪ ♪ That is sugar ♪ ♪ Sweet sugar to me, that is sugar ♪ ♪ Sweet sugar, that is sugar ♪

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♪ Sweet sugar, that is sugar ♪ ♪ Sweet sugar ♪ (audience cheering) Thank you.

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(audience applauding) Miss Hope Marg and Miss Geneva Rollins. (audience applauding) [ Applause ]

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>> They said it's a little hard to talk about yourself. Most of you here, all of you here know how hard that is. I'm just like you. I can tell you I'm a native Austinite, and I've told you how long I belong to this church.

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My mother was a standout in the Ebenezer Bright and Early Choir, and maybe you read that over at the museum. She was the third person on the second row from the left. So when we go back to eat some more sandwiches, I understand that they're just trays of sandwiches

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that we must go back and eat. So if you didn't see mother when you were over there earlier, we'll look on the second and she's third person from the left. Mother also took piano to sort of monitor what I was doing

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to measure my progress or lack thereof, whichever was the case. And my father was an usher here and a deacon until he passed some years ago.

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My grandmother was a songster in the local community and studied voice with-- Okay, my voice broke. That's okay. studied voice with the aunt, the sister of the man in the sound room, Mr. Al Dodson,

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and her name was Miss Annie, and she would go around to the different homes and give voice lessons. I was so happy when Miss Annie would come, and I've had the opportunity to sit at the feet of the late Mrs. Virgia Carrington DeWitty and others as I came through the Austin Public Schools,

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PV, A&M, TSU, and additional studies at UT and abroad, and completed doctoral studies with much music manuscript assistance from the lady right here to my left at the piano.

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Because, okay. (audience applauding) Because I was one of these non-traditional students and I stayed in the dormitory

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while I was completing my doctorate, and of course I fell in the dorm and broke this right wrist arm and, you know, just... And I called upon my dear friend Geneva. She and members of my family and other churches in the community helped provide material.

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So again, we say so much to our mentors, so many thanks to all our mentors. Bill Carmack, I met Dr. Clay Sharkey and others of the Texas Music Museum. Maybe this would be a good time to ask all the members of the Texas Music Museum who are present to please stand. All the members on the board of the Texas Music Museum, please stand. Dr. Sharkey,

00:46:38.700 - 00:46:55.400

please raise your hand. Okay. Thank you. And that has been a work in progress ever since. I think that was in the early '70s or mid '70s that we met, and it has gone on and on. Even before the hotel down there became Waller Creek,

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it was another hotel, and they had this wonderful conference there. I'm a former member and soloist for the Austin Civic Chorus and the Ordinary People Chorale.

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And some of my former students include Judy Arnold, Carmen Bradford, Louie Carrington, Helania Johnson, who's on the Trinity Broadcast Network. And watch out not only for Brianna over there,

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but watch out for a young lady named Melanie Wilkinson, a rising star. In May of this year, I was given the citation of the Lifetime Achievement Award

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from the Texas African American Historical Organization. Thank you. (audience applauding) Ms. Rollins and I have known each other for years.

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And Ms. Rollins has been a part of the work in progress where Texas Music Museum is concerned. As a member and co-chair and sometimes chair and wearing all the hats of the African American music portion

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of the Texas Music Committee. She's made her home in Austin since 1963 when her military family became stationed at Berkshire May Air Force Base.

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She was actually raised in Wichita, Kansas, and from an early age had a special calling for music. Her mother, a church pianist, and her father and uncle, who performed rhythm and blues in their local area,

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were influential in her love for music. Geneva Gee graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in communications. From 1965 through 1979, she performed in Austin

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and other places as pianist and vocalist in the popular music group called Geneva and the Gentleman. And doesn't that bring back memories? She is currently director of music

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and director of the Intergenerational Choir and Men's Chorus of Wesley United Methodist Church. Gee and I will render at this time a song composed by our own Mrs. Virgie Carrington DeWitty,

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"Look Where the Lord Has Brought Us." And that's a testimony today for all of us. So if you would, if you would like to clap your hands, well, feel free.

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(audience applauding) (piano music) So here's some of Miss DeWitt's ohs and oohs that she always said be sure to include in the songs.

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♪ Oh, look where the Lord has brought us ♪ ♪ Look where the Lord has brought us ♪ ♪ He has brought us from a mighty, a mighty long way ♪ ♪ Led us by a pillar of fire by day ♪

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♪ And a pillar of fire by night ♪ ♪ Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, blessed be the name ♪ ♪ Blessed be the name ♪

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♪ Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, blessed be the name ♪ ♪ Blessed be the name ♪ ♪ Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord ♪

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♪ Look where the Lord has brought us ♪ ♪ Oh, look where the Lord has brought us ♪ ♪ He has brought us from a mighty long way ♪ ♪ Oh, he has led us by a pillar of fire by day ♪

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♪ A pillar of fire by night ♪ ♪ Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord ♪ ♪ Please join me ♪ ♪ Blessed be the name ♪

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Blessed be the name. ♪ Blessed be the name ♪ ♪ Blessed be the name of the Lord ♪ ♪ Of the Lord ♪

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♪ Oh, blessed, blessed be the name ♪ ♪ Oh, blessed be the name ♪ ♪ Oh, blessed be the name ♪ ♪ Of the Lord ♪

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[ Applause ] >> The next selection has often been called a song, a folk opera about black music, derived from black music. There are different schools of thought about it and its derivation.

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At any rate, you'll recognize the song. (gentle piano music) ♪ Sometime ♪ ♪ And the living is easy ♪

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♪ Fish are jumping ♪ ♪ And the cotton is high ♪ ♪ Oh, your daddy's rich ♪ ♪ Is rich ♪

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♪ And your ma is good looking ♪ ♪ So hush, little baby ♪ ♪ Don't you cry ♪ ♪ As you cry ♪

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♪ One of these mornings ♪ ♪ You're gonna rise up singing ♪ ♪ Then you'll spread your wings ♪ ♪ And you'll take to the sky ♪

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♪ But till that morning ♪ ♪ There's nothing, nothing can harm you ♪ ♪ With daddy at Robbie's side ♪ ♪ Standing by ♪

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( Maximillian, "I'll See You faces the Sky " ) (gentle piano music) (gentle piano music) (gentle piano music)

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(gentle piano music) (gentle piano music) [MUSIC PLAYING] (piano music)

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(gentle piano music) (piano music) (piano music) Ms. G.

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[MUSIC - "ONE OF THESE MORNINGS"] (SINGING) One of these mornings, you're gonna rise up singing. Then you'll spread your wings, and you'll Take the sky, the sky, but 'til that morning,

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there's nothing, nothing, nothing can harm you. With daddy and mommy standing by. (audience applauding) Thank you very much.

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Right hand. We thank you. We thank you so much. See, she helped my right hand get well, didn't she?

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I can shake hands with my right hand. Yes. It's been suggested that this would be the time to, as we say in the Baptist church, to take an offering,

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to pass the plates, to lift an offering. And we're going to leave that to the discretion of the ushers, and don't we like to say urshers? But we're gonna leave it to the discretion of the ushers

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as to whether you will walk around or whether they will pass the plates. That is going to entirely be their decision. Everyone knows that all of the talent today

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is being donated. And so many other things that are connected with this to help make this a success are all being donated, as has been earlier pointed out

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by some of the things that Brother Johnson said. So just whatever the ushers decide, and we will have an offering at this time. I heard someone say, I wish I had brought my check.

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We will take credit card. [LAUGHTER] foreign currency, just whatever you decide. Maybe if you exercised your applause privilege,

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maybe Ms. Rollins would play some music while the plates are being passed. (audience applauding) Right, right.

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And we do want to remind you that this will benefit Texas Music Museum. Ebenezer Baptist Church is not the beneficiary of this offering.

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Whatever is given today will go directly for Texas Music Museum. And we thank the church for that, okay? [APPLAUSE]

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[MUSIC PLAYING] This kind of reminds me of when Geneva and the Gentleman were playing. She's playing and we're talking.

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There are some more names that I've been given, and this would perhaps be a good time to call those names. There are many persons who have helped. In the back, we see Brother Robert Oregon,

01:00:44.260 - 01:00:59.060

Mrs. Mary Hurst. Certainly we want to thank the church custodian. As we said, everything is being volunteered. And newspaper coverage,

01:00:59.060 - 01:01:11.260

persons who are here from the newspapers and who have previously given space in the newspapers. All the spaces were given, but some of the spaces were given.

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Some of the research was given. We would like to think about Mr. Michael Cochran, who did that wonderful review and research documentation on Arizona drains.

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And if you haven't read it, you really need to read about her as another Texas musician. (soft piano music) - Pastor Griffin, would you give us a prayer please

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for the offering? Would you give us a prayer please for the offering? - Let us pray. Lord we thank you for the gifts made for the furtherance of this praiseworthy objective.

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Use us continually to your glory. Amen. [BLANK_AUDIO]