Smooth Jazz-Gospel from The Alliance Singers--backup singers on Springsteen's "The Rising"

1 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Smooth Jazz, GOSPEL: Contemporary Gospel



Details:
FROM ADVERSITY COMES INSPIRATION

âThe Alliance Singers...we love âem.â
â-Bruce Springsteen

Joined together by fate, The Alliance Singers came into being from the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Forty-eight hours after that tragic day, local residents gathered and formed The Alliance of Neighbors, an all-volunteer organization to establish emotional and financial support for the families and the community.
It was decided that a benefit concert would be the best vehicle, yet there were only 5 weeks to prepare. Music icons Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi were the first to sign up, followed by Felix Cavalieri, John Eddy, Joan Jett, and Kevin Smithâ-to name a few. One of the many challenges that faced, Co-Producer, Corinda Carford was to find backup singers for the artists., Carford ran to the first place she thought of: The Pilgrim Baptist Church, where she pleaded with musical director Jesse Moorer to âgather some voices and be at my house tomorrow night at 7:00. This was to be the first meeting of many, of the group now known as The Alliance Singers.
Weeks after the successful concert madness, Corinda received another phone call. This time it was Terry Magovern, Springsteenâs Tour Directorâaka âThe Dark Sideâârequesting some of the singers to appear for a week of holiday concerts at Asbury Park Convention Hall. Calling upon Moorer again, Carford arrived with Antonio Lawrence, Michelle Moore, and Antoinette Moore to join in the festivities.
Months later, another call came from Magovern asking if the singers wouldnât mind working on some rough new material with Bruce. That ânewâ material would later become the Grammy Award winning record, The Risingâwhere the singers offered their voices on Maryâs Place, My City of Ruins, Letâs Be Friends, and The Rising.
More concerts with Bruce followed, including an acoustic version of City of Ruins for The Today Show, where Matt Lauer exclaimed: âthey lit up the room!â
Prior to 9/11, these five people had never worked together as a group. Complete strangersâ-yet allies in a time of turmoilâ-the united efforts of the community galvanized our resolve to ârise upâ above the adversity and create true harmony in spirit and song.

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About Wayfaring Stranger: At age 8, Corinda chose a Spiritual to sing at her Third Grade Assembly. The next time she would perform that song would not come until 40 years later at her Motherâs memorial service when âunexpectedlyâshe began to sing . Eighteen months later, facing another devastating lossâthis time of her fatherâCorinda asked The Alliance Singers to join her in a personal tribute to her parents. This is their first jazz-blues recording.
www.thealliancesingers.com or www.corindacarford.com