Gospel goes global
The world-renowned South African Grammy Award-winning world music group, the Soweto Gospel Choir, has inked a deal with Universal Music`s prestigious Classics label, in the US, that will see the group`s current album, Divine Decade, distributed throughout North America.
Since their formation in 2002, the Soweto Gospel Choir has racked up a string of accolades that would be the envy of even the biggest global pop star, including, among others:
The number one spot on Billboard`s World Music Chart with their debut album, Voices from Heaven.
An American Gospel Music Award for Best International Choir.
Two Grammy Awards for Best Traditional World Music, for their albums Blessed and African Spirit.
An Emmy Award for their collaboration with U2 for ESPN’s 2010 FIFA World Cup promotion.
An Oscar nomination for their collaboration with Peter Gabriel for Disney’s Wall-E film.
Performances and collaborations with superstars as diverse as Celine Dion, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Josh Groban, Diana Ross, BeBe Winans, Peter Gabriel, John Legend, U2, Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin and many more.
Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO, Universal Music Classics, had this to say about the signing: “Soweto Gospel Choir has been a powerful and important presence on the American scene, bringing their inspiring music to concert halls across the US.
“Universal Music Classics is proud to be part of the choir’s 10th anniversary celebration, as we release Divine Decade in conjunction with their Spring 2014 US tour.”
Universal Music MD, Randall Abrahams, commented: “The choir has been a fixture on the international touring circuit and is one of South Africa’s most significant musical assets. I’m extremely happy to see this landmark album released in the US market. ”
I believe it will garner a diverse audience of listeners who will be enthralled by the choir’s songs and arrangements.”
Divine Decade features collaborations with a host of international and national stars, including, among others, U2, Zahara, Elvis Blue, Robert Plant, Johnny Clegg and Yvonne Chaka Chaka, with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
