Download Press Release August 2009

Susan Goldbetter, Executive Director &
Producer
Serena Rockower, Director of Marketing &
Outreach
Ph/Fax: (718) 638-4878
[email protected]
Brooklyn, New York – September 1, 2010. Serena Rockower, Director of Marketing and
Outreach at Circuit Productions, Inc., announced the upcoming presentation of Rhythm
Journeys: Masters of World Music and Dance.
Sunday, September 5, 2010, 2:00-4:00 pm: Circuit Productions, Susan Goldbetter producer
presents “gospel at its best” with Sounds of Deliverance” at Dana Discovery Center (inside
Central Park)- 110th Street between Lenox & 5th Ave. Info/Directions: (212) 860-1370 or 718638-4878.
Sounds of Deliverance: Founder and leader Fred Staton
Fred Staton
Fred Staton was born on February 14, 1915 in Pittsburg, PA to Robert and Anna Finch
Staton. His mother who played piano taught him to play on an upright piano. Fred had
three sisters, Catherine and Frances and Dakota. Fred became involved with an acappella
gospel group that appeared in churches and the radio, after the family moved to the
Homewood section of Pittsburgh. From this small group an orchestra was formed. The
groups’ mentor, Thomas A. Vaughn, hosted fundraising events to pay for lessons and
instruments. Although the drum was his first instrument, he was influenced by Johnny
Hodges, Coleman Hawkins, Chuberry and many master Musicians to study saxophone.
After studying the classics, the croup started playing church, popular and jazz music and
took the name “The Moonlight Harbor Orchestra”.
He played in the marching band of Westinghouse High School and he played in the
musical “Fantastic Rhythm”, composed and written by Billy Strayhorn who became
Duke Ellington’s right hand collaborator. In the late 30’s, his band unsuccessfully tried
to form a band with Errol Gamer and Art Blakey.
Because he was a welder in the war effort, he was exempted from military service. So,
he played music part time with Fred Aryretts Dream Band. He did summer gigs with
Roy Franklin, Red Richards, the Holt Brothers and others. After moving to Westport CT,
he hooked up with Horace Silver for a few gigs, long before he became famous. In 1977,
he did a tour of Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland with a quartet of Bross
Townsend, Bernie Nelson and Ron Turso. They were the group laying for Dakota
Staton, vocalist and Fred’s sister. He also toured Scandinavia in 2008 with a group
consisting of both “Sounds of Deliverance” and “Harlem Blues and Jazz Band” members.
Now 95, Fred Staton plays with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band and leads his gospel
group “Sounds of Deliverance”. He also plays in the Bethune Big Band.
Angela Banks-Harris, Vocalist
Angela Banks-Harris is first and foremost a child of God. She is a minister of the gospel,
as well as a renowned gospel vocalist. Angela has had the privilege of working with
great gospel artists throughout her singing career. These artists include the late James
Cleveland, Mattie Moss-Clark and the Clark Sisters, The Hawkins Singers, Bobby
Mitchell, and scores of other gospel greats. Angela has also worked with The Moments,
The Vibrations, Harold Melvin And The Bluenotes, The Delphonics, Fred Staton, Jimmy
“Preacher” Robbins, Greg Bandy and on and on.
Angela is currently a member of The Abyssinian Baptist Church and has been a member
there for over twenty-three years. She is completing her Masters of Divinity at New
York Theological Seminary. She is licensed to preach the gospel through the Abyssinian
Baptist church where Dr. Calvin Butts III presides as Pastor. Angela is a lead vocalist
with The Voices of Praise under the direction of Dr. Jim Davis at the Abyssinian Baptist
Church. Angela has appeared all over the world as a gospel and light jazz artist. She
lived in Germany for three and a half years. While there she sang in the German
churches and nightclubs, as well as the military clubs and American churches on Post.
She was written up in the Stars and Stripes newspapers for her professionalism and
dedication to the military. Angela has also lived and worked in Montreal Canada, in
Rockheads, The Queen Elizabeth Hotel and the Capri Hotel chain. Angela was blessed to
do a gospel tour in Sweden and Amsterdam with Fred Staton and The Jazz Gents. While
there, she worked in historical Churches, museums and clubs. Angela also worked with
this group in Harlem’s acclaimed Copeland’s Restaurant. In 2008 Angela toured
Scandinavia with a combination of members from “Sounds of Deliverance” and “The
Harlem Blues and Jazz Band”.
Stephen (Steve) Sink, Vocal and bass guitar
Steve has performed with Gospel, Blues and Jazz groups for over 30 years. He has
performed with such greats as Dakota Staton, Laurel Watson, Terri Thornton and Dina de
Rose. His jazz and blues experience includes playing with pianist Frank Owens,
saxophonist Percy France, Jimmy “Preacher” Robbins, blues singer Cecil Morgan and
The Gospel Missionary Baptist Church Ensemble. His music has taken him to Ghana,
Switzerland and in 2008 to Scandinavia where he performed with a combination of
members from “Sounds of Deliverance” and “The Harlem Blues and Jazz Band”.
He currently appears with several groups including The Original Jazz Gents, New
Amsterdam All-Stars, and the Gospel Missionary Baptist Church.
Mitch Margold, piano and Keyboard
Mitch is a New York City based piano player, organist and synthesis. He has performed
and recorded with R&B/Jazz studio legend Cornell Dupree, Jamaica’s foremost jazz
guitarist Ernest Ranglin, legendary father of ska and reggae Toots Hibbert of Toots & the
Maytals, and the British singer-songwriter Graham Parker. He has also performed with
blues artist Otis Rush, Lightning Hopkins, Fenton Robinson, Hubert Sumlin, Roy Gaines
and Howard Tate, and with early rhythm & blues artists Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and
Otis Blackwell. Mitch also performed with other varied artists including Phylicia
Rashad, Evelyn Champagne King, Rebecca Pidgeon, and the Savannah Band.
Mitch has worked as the organist and musical director at Bethany Baptist Church and the
Church on the Hill in New York, and has also performed with the Arlithia Lindsey
Gospel Group. He’s performed in the on-stage cast band of the Love, Janis (Janis Joplin)
show at the Village Gate Theater in NY and toured in the US, Europe and Japan with
Toots and the Maytals and the Graham Parker Band from 1984-1999. In addition Mitch
has appeared as a sideman on TV with the Ramsey Lewis Show and the Conan O’Brien
Show and on tour with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and music festivals
worldwide.
Rick Anthony Jr.
Rick grew up in South Carolina and followed in the tradition of his Father and
Grandfather, who were both heavily involved with local Gospel groups. Later in
Camden, SC, Rick founded “The Soul Empera Singers”, the first African-American vocal
group to win the local Marin Talent Competition. He also formed and directed “The
Wesley Chapel Ensemble” of the Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church of Camden,
SC. He has appeared on Television and shared the stage with the late James Brown,
Brook Benton, and Peg-Leg Bates. In the gospel field, he has worked with Vicki
Winans, Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Helen Baylor, Reverend Hezekiah Walker, Reverend
Timothy Walker and Cissy Huston. He currently sings gospel with “Sounds of
Deliverance”. Recently he traveled to Sweden with the group appearing with the
legendary Harlem Blues and Jazz Band.
About Circuit Productions, Inc.
Susan Goldbetter founded Circuit Productions, Inc. in 1986 as a non-profit
organization dedicated to the promotion, production and preservation of the uniquely
American art forms of jazz and tap dance. Our mission is to inspire, entertain and
educate underserved audiences in New York through performances, public classes,
workshops, and arts education programs featuring senior and emerging artists who are
living legends of the city's rich tap, jazz, blues, swing and world music and dance
history. Annually, Circuit provides booking and management services for these artists
placing performers in museums, libraries, local colleges, public schools, senior
centers, and music festivals.
This program is supported, in part, with public funds to Circuit Productions, Inc. from the New
York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the NY City Council,
For press and publicity please contact:
Serena Rockower, Director, Director of Marketing and Outreach at Circuit Productions, Inc.
T: 718.638.4878, Fax: 718.638.0110, E-Mail: [email protected] or website:
www.circuitproductions.org
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