Sounds of Blackness

Sounds of Blackness is a vocal and instrumental ensemble based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, widely recognized as a contemporary gospel group. The ensemble was founded in 1969 at Macalester College as the Macalester College Black Voices. Gary Hines has served as the group's musical director since 1971. The group was renamed Sounds of Blackness in 1971 to reflect their goal of performing all styles of African American music. The ensemble performs a diverse range of genres, including gospel, R&B, soul, and jazz, and is known for blending traditional gospel with urban contemporary styles. In 1990, the group became the first act signed to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis's Perspective Records. Their debut album, *The Evolution of Gospel*, was released in 1991 and includes the song "Optimistic." Sounds of Blackness has released several albums, including *The Night Before Christmas* (1992) and *Africa to America: The Journey of the Drum* (1994). The group has received three Grammy Awards and four Stellar Awards for their work.