by Noella Noelophile®
(Graphic courtesy of Jean Tsang, and used with permission.)
What do love and appreciation sound like?
If you’re in San Francisco on Thursday evening, November 9th, you’ll have all kinds of answers to that question.
That’s the date of the 2023 GLIDE Annual Holiday Jam. A beloved annual event, the Holiday Jam always celebrates love and community through incredible live music.
But this year carries an extra measure of stardust. (Here’s the link for more information.)
(Photo courtesy of Alain McLaughlin, and used with permission.)
Themed “Keep On”, the 2023 GLIDE Annual Holiday Jam celebrates Reverend Cecil Murray’s 60th anniversary at GLIDE.
The program will be headlined by songwriter/performer Valerie Simpson, and feature the music of legendary duo Ashford & Simpson.
(Photo courtesy of Alain McLaughlin, and used with permission.)
With hits including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “I’m Every Woman”, and “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”, Valerie Simpson and her late husband Nick Ashford are among music history’s most successful singing and songwriting duos.
The program–and a story
(Royalty-free image by Desire Dazzy K-e-k-u-l-e from Pixabay.
Leading the evening with love, once again, will be KQED’s Priya David Clemens, who will serve as the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies.
And a number of special guests will share their tributes to Reverend Murray through the music of Ashford and Simpson, during this all-star live performance.
(Photo courtesy of GLIDE, and used with permission.)
These special guests include blues guitarist, producer, composer, and philanthropist D’Wayne Wiggins (from Tony! Toni! Toné!);
(Photo courtesy of GLIDE, and used with permission.)
As well as prolific R&B and soulful visionary Goapele ;
(Photo courtesy of GLIDE, and used with permission.)
And captivating soul singer Martin Luther McCoy.
And performing with all of them will be the nationally renowned GLIDE Ensemble and the Change Band, led by Vernon Bush and Zoe Ellis.
Incidentally, the GLIDE Ensemble and Change Band has its own Christmas story.
(Royalty-free image by Frauke Riether from Pixabay.)
On Christmas Day, 1966, the group made its debut. At the time, they were comprised of only 10 singers and jazz legend John Handy.
Over the years, the GLIDE Ensemble and Change Band has grown.
(Photo courtesy of Alain McLaughlin, and used with permission.)
Today, their membership includes more than 100 voices, along with eight musicians. Gifted leaders who have guided them include their first choir director, Faith Winthrop, as well as Donnell Hickman, Ronald Sutherland, and, presently, Vernon Bush and Zoe Ellis.
(Photo courtesy of Alain McLaughlin, and used with permission.)
Along the way, the GLIDE Ensemble and Change Band has worked with notable musicians including Sammy Davis Jr., Marvin Gaye, and Joan Baez.
The pandemic did not stop them from inspiring positive change through their music.
In solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, the GLIDE Ensemble recorded ‘Say Their Names’ remotely in 2020.
A legacy started with love
Now–about the evening’s honoree.
(Photo courtesy of GLIDE, and used with permission.)
Unconditional love, justice and community have been the cornerstones of Reverend Murray’s ministry since his arrival at GLIDE in 1963.
“I am proud to have built a legacy at GLIDE that begins with love, liberation, justice, and freedom,” said Reverend Murray, in a recent press release.
“We all have to keep on keeping on and continue to work in unity, and lead with love!”
Love moves forward
And while the music’s going to be incredible, the evening’s mission is even better.
Funds raised support nonprofit GLIDE’s work in transforming lives.
As a nationally-recognized center for social justice, GLIDE offers numerous services. These include daily free meals, a women’s clinic, an unconditional legal clinic and a family, youth and childcare center.
They’ve also expanded their services since the start of the COVID pandemic, to include COVID testing and vaccines in the Tenderloin, expanded access to health, housing and other services and more than 10,000 free, nutritious meals daily.
Now you’re invited to celebrate with them–and honor Reverend Murray–as he and his team move forward in love.