Celebrating 50 Years
The Grammy-nominated African American vocal ensemble, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK® marks its’ 50TH ANNIVERSARY in November 2023 with a powerful three-year celebration that will honor its’ storied past and set the course for the future of the group, which has been described as, “one of the most dynamic, versatile and still relevant musical collectives today.”
Since its’ inception in Washington, D.C. (1973), Sweet Honey in the Rock has thrived as a performance ensemble founded on the missions of empowerment, education, and entertainment.
Their current roster includes vocalists Carol Maillard, Louise Robinson, Aisha Kahlil, Nitanju Bolade Casel, and Rochelle Rice, with Romeir Mendez on upright acoustic/electric bass, and American Sign Language interpreter, Barbara Hunt.
Throughout five decades, the ensemble members have worked to create engaging and socially conscious music that consistently takes an active stance toward making our planet a better place for all in which to live. Their musical landscape embraces multiple genres/generations and addresses civil & human rights, women’s issues, gun violence, death, love, spirituality, children’s songs and so much more.
Connecting to the ever-evolving cultural and political landscape, they were the featured performers at the 125th Anniversary of Paul Robeson and the 50th Anniversary of the Ms. Foundation and were among the performing artists for the Harry Belafonte 95th Birthday Celebration. They have also lent their voices to the Jane Fonda-led, “Fire Drill Friday’s” on Capitol Hill highlighting the urgency of the threats of global climate change, and their music has been included in the soundtracks of Freedom Song, Mercy, Dear Mama and the HBO special, My Family.
On June 19th of 2020, (Juneteenth) Sweet Honey became one of the first artists to address the constraints of the Covid pandemic lockdown by connecting with her audience through an innovative livestream performance at the historical Lincoln Theatre in Washington D.C. Performing live without an audience and separated onstage by individual plexiglass panels, the ensemble employed large video monitors which were filled with the faces of its’ virtual audience. This unique set-up allowed for a two-way interaction between the performers and the audience, which also served as a benefit for the Equal Justice Initiative and was viewed by over 150,000 people worldwide.
In the fall of 2021, the ensemble co-wrote and performed their first theatrical piece, “When Day Comes” in collaboration with Ricardo Khan, the Founding Director of Crossroads Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ.
Sweet Honey in the Rock®…their voices have graced so many of the world stages – Carnegie Hall (over thirty times), Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, The Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center – just to name a few; and they have performed extensively on every continent (except Antarctica – just waiting for the invitation!).