January  03, 2008

Westbrook Singers to keynote Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration at Augustana College

Rock Island, Ill. - The Quad Cities' own Westbrook Singers will headline a commemoration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., later this month at Augustana College. The college will host its annual community-wide tribute to the civil rights champion beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, January 19, in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave., Rock Island). With sponsorship from the Martin Luther King Community Center, the Rock Island County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Augustana College, the program is open to the public, free of charge.

The Westbrook Singers will anchor a program that will also feature a community gospel chorus singing under the direction of Sandra Solomon, the Metropolitan Youth Program Drill Team and the Augustana Choir. The program will intersperse gospel music with spoken messages, all responding to the theme "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" (from King's 1963 Letter from Birmingham Jail). Berlinda Tyler-Jamison will serve as mistress of ceremonies and Jerry Jones, executive director of Rock Island's Martin Luther King Community Center and Lauren Loftin, chairman of the Rock Island County chapter of the NAACP, will speak on behalf of their organizations.

April Johnson, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the Office of Diversity at Augustana College, has worked with community leaders to plan the celebration, which is scheduled for the weekend prior to Martin Luther King Day (Monday, January 21). "This celebration brings together a diverse group of talented musicians who have all benefited from the vision and courageous leadership of Dr. King," said Johnson. "I'm looking forward to a night of great gospel music that will inspire us all to carry his vision forward."

The Rev. Charles and Mrs. Barbara Westbrook formed the Westbrook Singers in Rock Island in 1975 and began performing gospel for church functions and other community events. Thirty-two years later the Westbrooks have seen four generations of family members contribute to the Westbrook Singers' tradition. Current members are Gary Westbrook, Delores Westbrook Tingle, Cynthia Westbrook Bryson, Brenda Westbrook Lee and Larry Westbrook, Jr. The Westbrook Singers have performed across the United States, opening for such singers as Andre Crouch, The Clarks and The Winans. The group has recorded two albums, "Fire and Rain" and "Loved."

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Kirby Winn
Director of Public Relations
Office: (309) 794-7473 Mobile: (309) 912-1532 Fax: (309) 794-3461
publicrelations@augustana.edu