GAYE ADEGBALOLA - "Lift Every Voice and Sing"

GAYE ADEGBALOLA - "Lift Every Voice and Sing" Single release: Feb 24, 2023 Vizztone Records LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING is the second single from Gaye Adegbalola’s Freedom Song Trilogy, Volume II, and it’s February release significantly celebrates Black History Month in the United States. "LIFT EVERY VOICE & SING, written by James Weldon Johnson (lyrics) and his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson (music) in the early 1900s, is also known as the BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM.

An anthem is the uplifting song of a people — full of pride, patriotism and power. In it we rejoice for our survival; we document our difficult past; and, we pray for continued progress. A friend challenged me to play it and I proudly perform it here . . . solo. Resa Gibbs joins me on vocals."

Gaye recorded an introduction to the song, telling of the history of LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING as a poem of pride, patriotism and power that was later adopted as the Black National Anthem. This introduction is included in the longer version of the song.

GAYE ADEGBALOLA (pronounced AH - DEG - BA - LOLA), a Blues Music Award (BMA) winner and a founding member of Saffire -The UppityBlues Women (1984-2009), is a multi-instrumentalist and composer.   Having penned many blues chestnuts, her songs are known for biting social commentary often cloaked in humor.

 Saffire recorded exclusively for Alligator Records.  Gaye has 6 CDs on her own label, Hot Toddy Music (Todd being her maiden name) — 3 of those in partnership with the VizzTone Label Group.  Her CD about LGBTQ issues, “Gaye Without Shame” was nominated for a BMA and her children’s CD, “Blues in All Flavors" won the Parents’ Choice Gold Award. Her 2019 release, “The Griot” (pronounced GREE - OH) chronicles topical blues for topical times.  In the summer of 2021, Gaye Adegbalola’s Freedom Songs were released as three singles; January 2023 marks the first single from Gaye's "Freedom Song Trilogy Vol. II."

Gaye has received the Kristen Lems “Social Change Through Music” Award at the National Women’s Music Festival in 2018 and, in 2019 the “Koko Taylor Queen of the Blues Award” for preserving traditional blues from the Jus’ Blues Foundation.  Along with her music recognitions she is a former Virginia State Teacher of the Year (8th grade science) and has been honored as an OUTstanding Virginian by Equality Virginia. The Library of Virginia has recognized her as one of the 2018 Virginia Women in History Honorees (along with Barbara Kingsolver, Rita Dove and others). 

Mother of son, Juno Lumumba Kahlil, Gaye is a long-time activist, who continues to provide a voice for those who have been marginalized by society.  By definition of her life’s work, she is indeed a griot.