He’s written songs that ministered all around the world and has given gospel music unforgettable anthems and songs of praise. Kurt Carr is one of contemporary gospel music’s foremost composers and continues to inspire generations of believers and music lovers. Whether you know him from the viral vamp from “In the Sanctuary” on short videos all over social media or one of the many interjections derived from him stirring songs and their titles like, “God Blocked It,” “I Almost Let Go,” “For Every Mountain,” “God Great God,” “Be Blessed,” “Let’s Set the Atmosphere,” or “I’ve Seen Him Do It.” Kurt Carr has given words to the many emotions and feelings in the human experience and Project Unity‘s Together We Sing was a chance to re-live the moments when Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers sang the song that touched your soul.
Carr’s expansive discography is too broad for one night so there was a slim chance that your favorite song didn’t make the set list. However, if hearing from Judith Christie McAllister, Nikki Potts, Vonnie Lopez, Kathy Taylor, Dr. Myron Williams, Tamela Mann or the legendary Tramaine Hawkins didn’t touch your soul, we need to talk! This bevy of powerhouse artists delivered unforgettable performances of several of Carr’s hits. The Unity Orchestra under the direction of Leon Lacey and the Unity Choir under the direction of Clark Joseph were the perfect pairing for these performers. The gospel band comprised an assemblage of musical acuity (Joshua Scott, Kiera Jones, JohShun Griffin, Johnte Evans) under the direction of Jay Tillman. This year was the first of its kind as it was the first year the Unity Orchestra wasn’t largely comprised of members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
This year’s Individual “Together We” Unity Award honorees were Dr. Froswa’ Booker (Activism), Dr. Christopher Crow (Advocate), Stacey Malcomson (Legacy). Corporate Unity Awards were given to Highland Springs by Erickson Senior Living (Activism), TRG (Advocate), and Capitol One (Legacy). Organizational Unity Awards were given to The City of Coppell (Activism), the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce (Advocate), and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office (Legacy) and Cynt Marshall was this year’s Unity Trailblazer honoree.
The night reunited Carr with Nikki Potts and Vonnie Lopez, singers who made their mark on the culture during their years as members of the Kurt Carr Singers. Tramaine Hawkins sang her signature Kurt Carr song, “I Never Lost My Praise” and encouraged Carr before beginning her song. The night was a salve for everyone in attendance. With so much going on in our world, the music and memories were healing, encouragement and a reminder of how music has brought us through what we’ve already come.
“My name, when I first started playing for Reverend Cleveland, my name was ‘Lil’ Short Boy that plays with James Cleveland.’ Not anymore.”
On Monday evening at an invitation only dinner, Pastor Richie Butler, Project Unity visionary and founder sat down with Kurt Carr to discuss his lengthy career in gospel music. Carr doesn’t consider himself a legend but acknowledges the legends on whose shoulders he stands. He recounted his days as a musician for James Cleveland, and how instrumental working that closely with the “king” of gospel music was. He also shared his approach to the music he shares with the world. Contemporaries like Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary are “evangelists,” their music reaches people outside the church. Carr is steadfast in his position that his music reaches those in the church though they may have been reached outside but other artists.
“And one of the first people I met when I played for him the first week was Ms. Albertina Walker. And she became like my godmother. And one year they gave her the James Cleveland Award at the Stellar Awards. She said, James Cleveland Award, I made them sing with me. Anybody that knows her know that was her, right? She said, I stood on Mahalia’s shoulders. James Cleveland stood on my shoulders. And then she pointed out that little boy over there, Kirk Carr, stood on James’ shoulders. And I’m sitting here today thinking about those shoulders.“
Together We Sing comes on the heels of Black Music Month and lands just days before the national observance of Juneteenth, now recognized as a federal holiday. Carr spoke to the power of Black music and especially gospel music, saying, “Music has always been the hope of our people. I say during my thing that I do, Black History Month, black music kept us from the belly of the slave ship into the Oval Office. It was music, it was our song that kept us. And the gospel music, of course, even more so.”
Each year, Project Unity chooses an artists whose profound impact on gospel music and the culture deserves recognition. This year, with the election of Kurt Carr as its honoree, the mission and vision of TOgether We Sing was evident. Of this honor and musical tribute, Carr had this to say, “When you know your place, you stay in it. And that’s what I’ve tried to do. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel. I’m not trying to be anybody that I’m not. And I’ve got some more music, some more songs for Big Mama. And you know, we’ve been blessed to sing at, we’ve sung at, I’ve sung at a storefront church before we sang at the White House. You know, at Yale and at Harvard and at this one and that one. All those kinds of places, the gospel’s for everyone. And that’s been my focus, and I think that’s why I’m here today, because my music has touched a whole lot of different kinds And it’s just an honor.”
The music has stopped, but the work continues. Follow Project Unity to be a part of their other community initiatives throughout the year, “Together We Ball,” Together We Learn,” and “Together We Dine.”
