Evening star., 1941-01-21
Noted Co|ored Artists
Heard in Closing
Inaugural Fete
Mrs. Roosevelt and Davies
Attend Concert Given by
Southernoires, Others
(Ptcture on Page A-14.)

of noted colored artists, ending
with a solemn prayer for national
unity and answering faith in the
Nations leaders, brought the his
toric inauguration day celebration
to a close last night.
More than 1000 music lovers,
among them Mrs. Franklin D.
Roosevelt and Joseph E. Davies,
chairman of the Inaugural Com
mittee, gathered in the Depart
mental Auditorium to hear the
Southernaires, well-knoWn radio
and concert singers; Anne Virgins
Brown, soprano, and other talented
artists.
Mr. Davies was unable to stay
for the entire program. Before
leaving he made a brief address in
which he expressed his gratitude
to Emory B. Smith, chairman of
the Inaugural Committees Com
mittee on Special Entertainment,
and other members of the COM
mittee for their cooperation. Then
he added:
This is a fateful time in the
history of the world. and it is en-
cheney, devotion to idealism. democ-
racy, human freedom and liberty
and to the Christian religion which
has animated all of our people
everywhere throughout this day.
God bless America. God keep
America. God help our President" ."
Mrs. Roosevelt in Front Row.
Another festivity had detained
Mrs. Roosevelt until after the in
augural concert had begun. She
came in an entrance to the left
of the stage and quietly took a seat
in the front row while Miss Brown
was singing
The Southernaires, composed of
William Edmonson, bass; Homer
Smith, first tenor; Jay Stone Toney,
baritone; Lowell Peters. second
tenor, and Spencer Odom, accom-
panist-arranger, sang a number Of
the songs they have made familiar
to radio listeners on their Sunday
morning broadcasts.
They sang first spiritual. when
Get Home and the stirring Boys
of the Old Brigade Called back
for an encore, they responded with
the familiar I'll Take You Home
Again. Kathleen" In their final
appearance the Southernaires dedi-
Gated their first number, "Dedica-
ton" to Mrs. Roosevelt and then
presented scenes from the weather.
beaten, Whitewashed church'-a
feature of their broadcasts.
Carol Brice, gifted contralto. was
/ heard in four selections-"Mornin
Hymn by George Henschel: the
lively Come to the Fair" by Es-
thope Martin: Gladys Rich's Amer
ican Lullaby and an arrangement
by Hall johnson of Hold On"
The audience next heard two vio-
lin solos by Louia Vaughn Jones,
violin instructor at Howard Uni
versity. He played the familiar
Deep River" and Wieniawski s
"Scherzo- -Tarentelle.
Miss Brown, former star of
"Porgy and Bess," delighted her
listeners by coming back to the
stage and singing Summertime, ="
one Of that shows most popular
tunes" after she had sung "Ah,
Love. But a Day." by Mrs. H. H. A.
Beach; Loves Philosophy" by
Roger Quilter. and Massenet's S
"Pleurez. Pleurez Mes Yeux," from
lie Cid"
Clyde Barrie Sings.
Clyde Barrie, baritone Of radio
fame, was heard in four selections,
THE Hills of Grauzih." by Medni-
kof; Guion's Home on the Range"
Spross' Minor and Major" and
Lord. I Want to Be a Christian"
by Still.
Kennth Spencer, basso. was una
| able to appear on the program be-
cause of illness. the audience was
informed by Mr.. Smith, who pre-
sided.
The program was brought to a
close with the artists and audience
joining in singing God Bless
America" after Mr.. Smith thanked
the artists for coming here ito pay
tribute to our great leader" and
voiced plea for national unity
irrespective of party, race or creed"
Handbills urging citizens to pro-
test discrimination against Ne
groes in the inaugural enter
tainment program" were distributed
to those entering the Labor De-
partment Building for the concert
by group of 10 or II colored men
and women. The handbills pro-
tested that the general Inaugural
Committee had practically no Ne
gro representation" that a special
all-Negro committee was provided
to arrange entertainment for COL
ored people
The handbills carried the names
of a committee of colored leaders,
among them DR.. DoXey A. Wilker-
son, Howard University professor
and chairman of the Committee on
Civic Affairs of the Washington
Council of the National Negro Con-
gress, who led the delegation which
lodged protest with the Inaugural
Committee last Friday.