The Colorado statesman., 1923-08-11
WILLIAMS JUBILEE SINGERS
They're coming back again.

1
Colorado's favorlte colored vocalists,
the world-famous and internationally
popular Williams Jubilee Singers.
On this, their eighth Colorado tour,
they will appear one night only, in
concert, at the Auditorium, Monday
evening, August 13.
There is a marvellous potency and
fascinating appeal in the true Afro
American songs, from the primitive
| folk songs, lullabies, plantation melo-
dies, river and boat songs, with their
plaintive minor harmonies, to the
rousing camp meeting songs and fer
vid spirituals.
Because they echo the joys and sor-
rows of people they touch the hearts
poignantly, and in their lighter moods
and in the care-free darky comics they
set toes to tapping and shoulders to
swaying with their matchless rhythm.
Dvorak, the greatest composer, knew
the beauty and artistic merit of these
songs and embodied them in several
of his American-created compositions
Musical critics everywhere have de-
clared the Williams Jubilee Singers to
be the finest interpreters of Afro
American harmony. Each member of
the company is a star in his or her
own right and has added to inherent,
native musical talent, the study and
training that has made him or her
finished vocal artist.
Certainly no group of colored sing
ers has the national and international
renow and the perennial popularity
today possessed by the Williams or
ganization. For 20 years they have
been delighting American audiences
and they have toured England, Scot
land, Wales, Belgium, Germany and
France. In London alone they gave
100 performances, appearing in all
principal theaters, including the Coli
scum. While abroad all received ad-
ditional training under Miss Ida Aid
ridge, student of Jenny Lind and one
All members of the company have
been educated in some of Americas
best schools, including Fisk University
at Nashville, the school that intro
duced the original Fisk Jubilee Sing
ers. Mr.. Robert S. Killebrew, the
lyric tenor, was sergeant in the A.
e. F. and participated in several of
the hardest engagements of the Meuse-
Argonne offensive.
The local concert will be heard at
popular prices and the public is urged
to make early reservations to be sure
of obtaining the desired seats. Seats
will be on sale at Knight-CampbelPs
and the Wells Music Co. store on and
after August 8.
There is one element that changes In
lyric fashions have failed to disturb.
That is the music of the Negro, as
he brought it from Africa to the
southern United States, and perpetu-
ated it there through plantation and
industrial life.
such of the race as choose to exploit
its special music, either by voice or in
strument.
Which is apropos of the fact that
williams Jubilee Singers will give a
concert at the Auditorium Monday ev-
ening, August 18th.
This is probably the most accom-
plished and important group of Negro
singers now before the public. Ger
tainly it has international fame and
success to its credit. Among its mem
bers are Charles z. Williams, tenor;
]. S. Crabbe, basso profundo; Julia
Mae Kennedy dramatic soprano; Vera
Love Gretts, lyric soprano; Clara X.
Williams, contralto, and Dixie Ballad
singer; Ethel NJ. Bowmer, soprano and
pianist; Robert S. Killebrew, lyric
tenor, and ]. H. Johnson, baritone and
musical director.
All are graduates of institutions of
higher education.
Their program at the one local con-
cert will include jubilee, plantation,
cabin, river and camp meeting songs,
as well as popular, operate and class
ical numbers.
Tickets will be sold at popular prices
and the public is urged to secure seats
or make advance reservations early
Seats will be on sale on and after
| August Sth, at Knight-Campbell' and
| the Wells Music Co. stores.