Barbershop music is rooted in African American music of the late 1800s.  It was slowly appropriated by white men who started the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) in 1938 and charted the destiny of the art form and its practitioners ever since.  Even with recent efforts on diversity and inclusion, the ranks of barbershop singing remain largely older, white males.  

African-American music continued to evolve and has influenced virtually every genre of American music since.  While the musical threads diverged, the shared interest in and love of sung harmony persisted.  But the wound of appropriation has never been addressed.

Roots Re-Visioned is a project of the Great Northern Union Chorus (GNU), an iconic Twin Cities barbershop chorus that, two years ago, set out on a path of radical inclusion.

The goal of Roots Re-Visioned is to look at barbershop singing and barbershop culture through the eyes of the descendants of the communities from which it was appropriated.  We can alter the course of ourselves and our music by re-creating it with Black voices and influences.

Collaborators

The Great Northern Union is bringing together four key collaborators to create Roots Re-Visioned:

• Bruce Henry — An internationally known Black vocalist, composer, storyteller, recording artist and educator.  The Evolution of African-American Music is a major body of work he has created tracing the survival of African culture in America from 1619 all the way to the modern forms of rock, gospel, R&B, soul, jazz and hip-hop.  It is presented as an “informance” which traces the story through the actual performance of the music through every point in the timeline by Bruce and his top-level band.

• Dr. David Wright — One of the most prominent figures in the world of barbershop signing.  He is the top musical arranger and historian emeritus of the Barbershop Harmony Society, and a leading scholar on the African-American roots of Barbershop

• Courtland Pickens and the choir he founded, KNOWN Mpls — An audition-based, Twin Cities community youth choir striving to train and develop the next generation of singers and composers throughout the Twin Cities Area.  Since its inception in late 2019, Known has shared the stage with prominent artists including Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker & Israel Houghton on the Festival of Praise Tour, and Shane & Shane for a National Live TV Broadcast, and recorded music with Kaycyy Pluto, Darnell Davis & Maya Buckner.

• T Mychael Rambo — An iconic figure in the Twin Cities arts and activism scene.  He is a Regional Emmy Award-winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer who has made an indelible mark in the Twin Cities, performing at The Guthrie, The Penumbra, The Ordway, The Minnesota Opera, the Dakota and Crooners.  

Roots Re-Visioned Events

Community Workshop

On Saturday, November 18th, Bruce Henry and David Wright, will combine to present a highly participatory interactive workshop that maps the parallel histories of African American music and barbershop singing.  The workshop is open to the public.  Bruce and his band will perform samples across the entire timeline from 1619 until present, and David will present related barbershop samples via recordings and performances by a GNU quartet.  At every step the attendees will be invited to lend their voices to the demonstrations.

An original piece will be introduced on Saturday and any community participants who wish to learn the piece and sing it with us at the concert on Sunday are welcome.

Roots Re-Visioned Concert

On Sunday, November 19th The weekend will culminate with a public performance featuring Bruce Henry and band, KNOWN Mpls and the Great Northern Union on Sunday afternoon, emceed by T Mychael Rambo.  Each group will perform a set of its own music and all will come together for the world premiere of the newly commissioned piece.

Schedule and Details

All events will take place at the historic renovated Capri Theater, 2027 West Broadway in North Minneapolis.  This exceptional Black-rooted performance and gathering space offers ample free onsite parking.

Community Workshop

Saturday, November 18, 9:30am-2pm in the Paradise Community Hall at the Capri.

Free admission includes complimentary healthy snacks throughout the workshop.

A free will offering will be taken up.

Space is limited to the first 100 community participants. Complimentary tickets must be reserved by clicking here

Roots Re-Visioned Concert

Sunday, November 19, 3:00-4:30pm in the Capri Theater.

“Pay What You Can” ticket prices:  $5 - $15 - $25. All tickets are general admission.

Performance of the new piece

Community participants willing to learn quickly are welcome to perform the finale piece on the Roots Re-Visioned Concert.  Music will be previewed on Saturday afternoon at the workshop and made available on paper and via downloadable learning tracks.