Shining A Light: A Concert for Progress On Race In America

Friday night, new comer Andra Day joined Pharrell, Alicia Keys, John Legend and a star studded line up performing on A&E’s Shining A Light: A Concert for Progress On Race In America.  The event kicked off A&E Networks’ campaign to confront issues of race promote unity. In partnership with AOL and iHeart Media, the two-hour concert special was simulcast worldwide.  The songs chosen and performed by a host of superstar artist were examples of how the conversation on race and  unity continue through music.  Andra Day’s powerful performance of her single “Rise Up” is a modern day take of Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” set to music. “Rise Up” is an uplifting song that one can apply to any number of life’s events.  The special also included conversations with family and community members of those affected by the tragedies of Ferguson, Baltimore and Charleston.

Retro-Soul, classic jazz, R&B and pop music make up Andra’s repertoire– but at heart, she’s a soul singer.  When you listen to Day perform “Rise Up” you hear vulnerability, fearlessness and forgiveness in her voice.  Her voice is memorable and inspiring.  Andra Day’s performance of “Rise Up” is like Teddy Pendergrass’ performance of “Wake Up Everybody” and Donny Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free”,  also performed by Alicia Keys on the A&E special.  It’s the morning coffee, the jolt that says don’t stop talking.  Day’s career is on the rise and so is her debut single “Rise Up”,  already Top 30 on UAC.  She’s performed at the Essence Music Festival, the BET Awards and will perform this Thursday at the 89th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with more to come.  Discovered by Stevie Wonder, her debut album, “Cheers To The Fall” was produced by Adrian Gurvitz and Raphael Saadiq.  Watch the A&E performance http://www.aetv.com/shows/shining-a-light-a-concert-for-progress-on-race-in-america/video/shining-a-light-a-concert-for or hear the conversations http://www.aetv.com/shows/shining-a-light-a-concert-for-progress-on-race-in-america/video/shining-a-light-conversations.

Nick Jonas and Andra Day