Sounds of Blackness Release New Single ‘Hold Up Your Light’

3x Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness, have released the trailblazing new single, “Hold Up Your Light.” Produced by Sounds member Carrie Harrington, the song is a universal message of Hope and Inspiration for all of Humankind.

“Know who you are
You’ll see all the strength you have inside
Sweep out the ashes in your soul
Find your fire, find your fight
And hold up the light”

UB spoke to Gary Hines in 2011 and asked him; what he wanted The Sounds of Blackness legacy to be? “I want it to continue to be what it’s been and that’s first and foremost, by glorifying God by lifting people everywhere through the music of the African American experience. To put it in one sentence, To glorify God by lifting all people through black music.”

Gary went on to say; “That’s our legacy oppose to just one style of music, we bring the family of African American Music. We tell people all time for example, you can’t fully appreciate the glory Hallelujah of gospel, without the pain of the blues, spirituals, work songs and field hollars. That’s all apart of our testimony as a people. So it’s our job to bring that full testimony to people everywhere and they can relate to that and are encouraged by that. So we want our legacy to continue to be one of glorifying God by inspiring and motivating, encouraging people everywhere.”

Sounds Of Blackness just may have been the most unlikely musical success story of the ‘90s. A genre-defying choir performing original music that blended gospel, blues and R&B, should not have been popular at a time of gangsta rap and New Jack Swing. But it was; uplifting, joyful, celebratory, positive and soulful, The Sounds Of Blackness was exactly the alternative many fans wanted, and needed, to hear.

Founded in 1971 in St. Paul, MN, and directed by Gary Hines, the group naturally came in contact with homeboys Jam and Lewis, former members of the Time. In fact, the Sounds were featured on the Batman soundtrack thanks to Prince.