(bell ringing)
- [Announcer] Welcome to the annual
Let Freedom Ring Celebration
jointly hosted by
The Kennedy Center and
Georgetown University,
as part of the university's ongoing
Let Freedom Ring initiative
honoring the legacy of Dr. King.
Please welcome the Let Freedom
Ring Celebration Choir,
the Let Freedom Ring Band,
dancers from the Black
Movements Dance Theater
of Georgetown University,
the Black Pearl Dance Theater,
Bobby Goldwater, Marty
Lamar, and Vivian Ogo.
And in his 11th year,
please welcome Reverend Nolan Williams,
the Let Freedom Ring
Celebration's music director.
(audience applauding)
- Two giants roam the earth.
Through courage they did birth two seismic
changing tides.
Anti-apartheid and civil rights.
This song we sing for Martin and Mandela.
(upbeat instrumental music)
- We have come to remind America
of the fierce urgency of now.
Now is the time
to make good on the promises of democracy.
- Sons and daughters of Africa,
under the slogan of full democratic rights
in South Africa,
now we must march forward
to the achievement of a single goal.
The complete overthrow of apartheid
and racist domination.
- We will not be satisfied
until justice rolls down like waters
and righteousness like a mighty stream.
(upbeat instrumental music)
(singing drowned out by instrumentals)
- Now I do not deny
that I planned sabotage,
not in the spirit of recklessness,
nor because I have any love for violence.
But after many years
of tyranny, oppression,
and exploitation of my
people by the whites.
- We must discover the
redemptive power of love.
We must follow non-violence and love.
- Non-violence is a good policy
when the conditions permit.
(choir singing)
- Our society is always
eager to cover misdeeds
with the cloak of forgetfulness.
America owes a debt of justice
which it has not begun to pay.
- I dream of an Africa that
is at peace with itself.
There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere,
but we must use time wisely,
and forever realize that
the time is always right.
- The time is always right.
- To do right.
- To do what is right.
- So we fight.
- So we march.
♫ Marching freedom
♫ Marching freedom
♫ Marching freedom
♫ Accela, Martin,
Soveso, Novella, Jackson,
♫ Martin, Johanasburg, Mandela,
♫ Topeka, Martin, to Victoria, Mandela,
♫ From Little Rock
♫ So we sing of Martin and Mandela
♫ So we sing of Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin and Mandela
♫ Bring on the legacy
of Martin and Mandela
♫ So we sing of Martin and Mandela
♫ So we sing of Martin and Mandela
♫ So we want to sing Martin and Mandela
♫ Bring on the legacy
of Martin and Mandela
♫ So we sing of Martin and Mandela
♫ So we sing of Martin and Mandela
♫ The legacy of Martin and Mandela
♫ Bring on the legacy
of Martin and Mandela
- God never intended
for one group of people
to live in superfluous wealth
while another group lived
in abject poverty.
God intends for all of his children
to have the basic necessities of life.
- So let their be justice for all.
Let their be peace for all.
Let their be work, bread,
water, and salt for all.
Let freedom reign.
- And now let freedom ring.
Let freedom ring.
Let freedom ring.
♫ Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin, Martin, Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin and Mandela
♫ Martin and Mandela
(clapping and cheering)
- [Announcer] Please welcome David Price,
a senior majoring in
government with minors in
African American Studies and Theology
who will give tonight's invocation.
(clapping and cheering)
- Good evening.
50 years ago, hundreds
of thousands of Americans
organized to struggle for jobs and freedom
at the March on Washington.
On that day, Dr. King
delivered the celebrated,
I Have a Dream speech
where he articulated that
now is the time to make
justice a reality for all
of God's children.
So this evening I ask
that we bow our heads
in prayer for freedom, solidarity,
and peace in our world.
And to uplift humanity.
Gracious God our Father,
thank you for assembling us
here today to celebrate
the legacy of Dr. King
and to honor a great woman
who continues to make
his dream a reality Ms. Lecester Johnson.
Oh God we thank you for the life and power
of every individual here tonight.
For each of us are blessed
with the same grace
and mercy that gave Dr. King
the resolve to fight against
injustice in our nation and our world.
Father we realize that our world continues
to suffer from misconducts
against your people
but as Dr. King articulated,
we refuse to believe
that there are insufficient
funds in the great vaults
of opportunity.
So God I pray that you
will use us to uplift
the down trodden and
the meek in our local,
national, and international communities.
And God through you we
reject discrimination.
We reject hatred.
We reject bigotry and we
reject all disparities
that keep us from maximizing the gifts
you have blessed us with.
And Lord we ask that your love would rest
in our hearts so that we
may become men and women
for others.
It is in this spirit that
we submit this prayer
for the entire world in your name,
and everyone joined in
together and said, amen.
(clapping)
- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome Mr. Garth Ross,
Vice President for Community Engagement,
the John F. Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts.
(clapping)
- Good evening.
On behalf of Kennedy Center
Chairman David Rubenstein
and Kennedy Center
President, Michael Kaiser,
it's my pleasure to welcome
you to the John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts.
We're proud to partner
with Georgetown University
and its President, Dr. John
DeGioia in presenting tonight's
Millennium Stage Program,
the 12th Annual Let Freedom
Ring Celebration.
As part of the center's
Performing Arts for Everyone
initiative every day at
six pm, the Kennedy Center
offers a free performance
on the Millennium Stage.
Since its inception this
program has welcomed
over three million visitors
to the Kennedy Center
and millions more online.
Please allow me now to express our thanks
to a few of our generous
and committed donors
who've contributed to the
success of the Millennium Stage.
To our Millennium Stage
founders Jim Johnson
and Maxine Isaacs, thank you
for your unwavering support
and visionary leadership.
To the Millennium Stage's
co-presenting sponsors
Target and the Marriott
Foundation who remain committed
to free accessible arts
programming here at the center
and to the Meredith
Foundation, Dr. Deborah Rose
and Dr. Yana Stolwick,
the DC Commission on
the Arts and Humanities,
and the US Department
of Education, for their
additional support.
Washington DC, the Kennedy
Family, and Dr. King
had a significant connection
during his lifetime.
It is appropriate that this building
created to celebrate
culture, this living memorial
to a fallen president, this
evening of performing arts
for everyone is paying tribute to the life
and the legacy of Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr.
As individuals, our connection
to Dr. King's legacy
is most powerful when it inspires us
to follow his example of service.
And so, we are pleased to
have with us Lecester Johnson,
Executive Director of Academy of Hope.
(clapping)
Ms. Johnson's leadership through service
right here in the District of Columbia
is an inspirational example for anyone
who feels Dr. King's
spirit stirring inside.
So to Lecester, to our
friends at Georgetown,
and to all of you in the
audience and those watching
the live webcast, we
hope you find inspiration
in tonight's show at the Kennedy Center,
a center for all the people.
It's now my pleasure to
introduce Lydia Diaz,
Senior Group Director of Target Stores.
(clapping)
- Thank you Garth and
good evening everyone.
On behalf of Target, I'd like to thank
our wonderful hosts, Michael
Kaiser, David Rubenstein,
and Dr. John DeGioia and
everyone at the Kennedy Center
and Georgetown University.
It's inspiring to be here
with leaders from all walks
of life.
From members of the cabinet
and Legacy of Dream awardee
Lecester Johnson to the
incredible Dionne Warwick
and all of you.
Tonight we celebrate Dr.
King, his life and work,
and his enduring legacy that
fuels the American spirit
of service.
At Target our reputation
is built on our legacy
of service.
Service to our guests,
service to our team,
and service to our community.
As one of America's largest
corporate philanthropists
our giving includes the time, talent,
and expertise of Target
leaders and team members.
In 2012 Target team
members donated more than
679,000 volunteer hours
to thousands of community
projects across the
country and we are on track
to exceed our company
wide goal, thank you.
(clapping)
And we are on track to
exceed our company wide goal
of 700,000 volunteer
hours by the end of 2015.
Target team members continually volunteer
their time and talent in
their local communities
whether renovating
elementary school libraries,
donating food to the hungry,
or quickly responding
to disasters large and small.
Target recognizes and values
the power of Dr. King's
commitment to service.
Target gives 5% of its profit which is now
over four million per
week to support activities
and volunteer projects in
the communities we serve.
(clapping)
Dr. King once said, our goal is to create
a beloved community and this will require
a qualitative change
in our souls as well as
a quantitative change in our lives.
From our hearts to our
hands by making a difference
within ourselves, we can
all make a difference
in the lives of others.
So on behalf of everyone at Target,
thank you for letting us
join in in the celebration
of Dr. King and enjoy your evening.
(clapping)
- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome back
Reverend Nolan Williams.
(clapping)
- Good evening everyone.
Oh you all can do better
than that, good evening.
- [Audience] Good evening.
- What a blessing it is for
us to gather in this place
this time every year to
commemorate the legacy
of Martin Luther King and
this year as we gather
we remember not only the
legacy of Martin Luther King
but another great warrior
who passed recently,
none other than the Nelson Mandela.
(clapping)
Each year I'm really blessed to be invited
by Georgetown to compose a new work,
especially for this occasion
and I spend a lot of time
reading and looking at videos
and putting my hands on
whatever resources I can
find to find some different
angle that we can take in lifting up
the Civil Right's Movement
and hopefully making it
relevant for us today.
Because it's not just a
movement stuck in the past,
but someone knows we
still have many battles
of civil rights to wage.
And this year I was really
moved by Nelson Mandela
as the world kind of saw
what was beginning to happen
as we were getting
reports that he was sick,,
as we were getting reports
that didn't look good
and I finally started
making the connection
and I had never made this
connection that basically
during the same period, the 40s and 50s
on two different sides of
the globe you had King here
marching and organizing
and you had Mandela
over in South Africa
marching and organizing
and fighting.
And it dawned on me, wow, these two giants
were on the earth and so
that's what really inspired
that initial piece.
And I hope you appreciate that.
(clapping)
You know one of the things
that can happen is we come
to a place like this, we have
a good time, we enjoy music,
and then we leave here
and we're the same as when
we came.
But I hope if we take
anything away from us
I hope we'll be inspired by the lives
of King and Mandela.
They were two men with different views.
They didn't agree on everything,
but they certainly had a shared vision,
a shared dream of unity and they believed
in the importance of serving humankind
and making the world a better place.
Martin Luther King once
remarked, everybody can be great
because anybody can serve.
And one of his favorite songs was a song
called If I Can Help
Somebody and the second piece
that the choir's going
to do is an arrangement
of this song.
It was a song sung at King's
Funeral by Mahalia Jackson
and the words say this.
Please listen to these
words and let them kind of
wash over your heart.
If I can help somebody as I pass along,
if I can cheer somebody
with a word or song.
If I can show somebody he
or she is traveling wrong,
then my living will not be in vain.
I'm really pleased to welcome
Clifton Ross the third
who many of you will recognize as one of
the contestants on the BET
National Gospel Competition
Television Program, Sunday Best.
Clifton Ross is our
community soloist this year
and he's gonna lead this
song, this selection
with the choir.
Let this message go
with you that everybody
in here can be great.
You can be a Mandela, you can be a King
in your own right because
all of us can serve.
(clapping)
(inspirational music)
♫ If I can help somebody
♫ As I pass along
♫ And if I can cheer somebody
♫ With a word or a song
♫ If I can show somebody
♫ He's traveling wrong
♫ Then my living will not be in vain
♫ Then my living
♫ It will not be in vain
♫ No
♫ My living, it will not be in vain
♫ If I can help somebody
♫ As I pass along
♫ Then my living will not be in vain
♫ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
♫ If I can do my duty,
as a Christian ought
♫ And if I can bring back
beauty to a world of wrought
♫ If I can share love's message
♫ As the master taught
♫ Then my living will not be in vain
♫ My life will stand for something
♫ Then my living will not be in vain
♫ My living will not be in vain
♫ No
♫ My living will not be in vain
♫ If I can help somebody
♫ As I pass along
♫ Then my living
♫ Then my living
♫ Oh my living
♫ Then my living
♫ Oh, oh, oh
♫ Then my living
♫ Then my living will not be in vain
♫ Then my living will not be in vain
(inspirational music)
(clapping and cheering)
- Each year since 2003, Georgetown
University has presented
the John Thompson Jr.
Legacy of a Dream Award
to an individual or a
group who's demonstrated
outstanding service in
Georgetown's Jesuit tradition
of being women and men for others.
The award now celebrates the
extraordinary contributions
of Washington DC's most
inspirational community leaders,
bearing the name of a
man who himself became
one such inspirational leader
when he came to Georgetown
as the head men's
basketball coach in 1972.
Coach John Thompson Jr. Set
an example for all of us.
Born in the heart of Washington
DC, John Thompson Jr.
Matched his extraordinary
ambition with unparalleled
commitment and hard work.
- I lived in Frederick Douglas Projects
on Alabama Avenue for 10 years
but I had every single thing
I wanted.
I never wanted anything that I didn't have
because I knew damn well
I couldn't go in the house
and say, give me a bicycle.
- [John DeGioia] Leading
his high school to multiple
championships he earned a
scholarship to Providence College.
He went on to the NBA and
played for championship
Celtics teams and later
he would find new success
coaching basketball at Georgetown.
- They gave me an
opportunity and it had to be
a conscientious effort on
the part of them in 1972
to hire an African American.
You don't just say come
in with your resume
and come in and go before a committee.
Oh then go here we got this black man,
but when they got me and hired me,
they permitted me to be me.
- [John DeGioia] Coach
was famous for keeping
a deflated basketball on his
desk to remind his players
that the game wouldn't last forever.
- You don't want young people to think
that some total of their
life is nine or eight pounds
of air in a basketball.
- One day that ball is
gonna stop bouncing.
The air, is gonna leave that ball.
So you use the game to prepare yourself
for life after.
- [John DeGioia] He
transformed his students,
he transformed his team,
bringing a new level
of excellence to Georgetown basketball
and ensuring that 97% of
his students graduate.
In 1989 the NCAA put
forward proposition 42,
a proposal regarding
eligibility for participation
in athletics which would
disproportionately harm students
from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Coach Thompson became one of
its most visible opponents
leading the fight against
it, walking off the court
in protest, and boycotting two games.
He helped bring the issue
to national attention
and eventually led the NCAA
to modify the proposition.
Today his legacy lives
on because he stood tall,
so too have countless young men.
- I think it's more important
in life for those kids
when they leave here, they
use the good education
they got here in
Georgetown and they go out
in the world and apply what they did
and they try to help somebody
else or try to educate
somebody else.
- Each year Georgetown University
presents the Legacy of a Dream Award
at a free concert over Martin
Luther King Jr. Weekend
in partnership with the Kennedy Center,
a treasured institution in our city.
In 2013 the university
honored one of the district's
inspirational leaders.
Life Pieces to Masterpieces
co-founder, Mary Brown,
a visionary who saw a
need for an organization
to empower young African
American boys and men
in our nation's capital.
The John Thompson Jr.
Legacy of Dream Award
has provided our community
with the opportunity
to deepen this partnership.
It has created new ways for Georgetown
to serve our community as
women and men for others.
- People that do this
work, it's not about power
and it's not, it's definitely
not about recognition
and so when someone completely
from the outside is saying
we see the love and we
want to show you love,
I don't have the words to
express what this award
means to me.
I don't even have the words.
- [Announcer] Ladies and
gentlemen, John J. DeGioia,
the 48th President of
Georgetown University.
(clapping)
- Well good evening.
It's a great pleasure
to be with you tonight
as we celebrate the legacy
of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
As we take a moment to
reflect upon and honor
what is has come to mean within
our Washington DC community.
As you just saw in our
video, Georgetown is proud
to count among the
members of our community
Coach John Thompson
Jr., a leader, a mentor,
a principled voice whose career and life
reflect the legacy of Dr King's dream.
This dream was a call
to action for a march
toward a more just society.
When we talk about Dr.
King's legacy tonight,
we talk about everything
that he and the many
leaders, heroes, and
ordinary citizens engaged
in the civil right's movement
sacrificed and achieved.
At the beginning of the
last decade another leader
of the civil right's movement,
Congressman John Lewis
spoke about what he called
the spirit of history
and reflecting upon the
principles of the civil
right's movement on the
non-violent protest,
the courage, the commitment,
that met great injustice,
violence, and cruelty.
He said, the spirit of
history, it sweeps us up
and commands us to answer hate and fear
with love and courage.
Courage is a reflection of the heart.
Courage makes us march on despite fear
and doubt on the road toward justice.
Courage is not heroic but as necessary
as birds need wings to fly.
This courage embodied
in extraordinary women
and men like John Lewis,
like Martin Luther King Jr.,
like all individuals who
have taken on the work
of building a more just society
is what we honor tonight.
It is what we recognize
with the John Thompson Jr.
Legacy of a Dream Award
and what we celebrate
in Lecester Johnson.
(clapping)
For the past two decades Ms. Johnson
has been an advocate for adult education
in workforce development
and for the past seven years
she has served as the executive director
of the Academy of Hope here in Washington.
The Academy of Hope is an
extraordinary organization
that provides basic education
and adult literacy services
for men and women in
some of our city's most
under served areas.
It's also in the process of transitioning
into an adult public charter
school to open next fall.
(clapping)
Ms. Johnson's work through Academy of Hope
serves a great need within our community.
By 2018, 70 to 80% of the
jobs here in the district
will require secondary education.
Meanwhile, more than 64,000
adults here in Washington lack
a high school credential and
schools and organizations
are currently able to
serve just about 7,000.
This important work, urgent work continues
the legacy of Dr. King,
the legacy we recognize
with the John Thompson Jr. Award.
It is our deep privilege
to honor Lecester Johnson
this year and it is now my great pleasure
to invite you to join me
in watching a brief video
that highlights Ms.
Johnson, the Academy of Hope
and their great work.
(clapping)
- In DC itself there are
an estimated 85,000 people
who read at a very basic level.
So they can't read a
Metro map, they can't read
a medicine label, they
can't read the street sign.
I mean that's a lot of people.
I think of them as people in the shadows.
Right, they're people who
do the uncomfortable jobs
that make all the rest
of our lives comfortable.
- We are a city that has
one of the highest college
education rates in the
country, but we're also
a city that has about 64,000 individuals
who don't have a high school diploma
and about 93,000 individuals
who don't have any
post secondary training.
- My mom had seven of us
and with just only her
and she really, really truly did her best.
As I got into the 10th grade
it just really got hard
and I left because I had no support.
- These are our people,
right, they're our neighbors,
they're residents, they are
people who live in the US
and we should care.
- The Academy of Hope is
an adult education provider
in the District of Colombia.
We help adults 18 and older
to get their high school
credential, get work force training,
and go on to post secondary education.
(peaceful music)
- Since Lecester's been
there, they've doubled
their budget, their income.
They've doubled the number of graduates.
They've added a post
secondary education program
and they just recently
got the charter school
for post secondary education.
- The Academy of Hope has
been a blessing to me.
It gave me the insight
to believe in myself
and to let me know that I can learn.
- Lecester has really become a leader
in the adult education
field because apart from
just the work Academy of
Hope does, she also advocates
for her student population.
- What drives, I think Lecester is
a sense of social justice.
She really does want to
level the playing field.
You go to a session or a
conference and I just know
that there will be a
question from Lecester to
the speakers about adult education.
- We pay one way or the
other if we are not investing
in adult education, we
pay in different ways.
- One of the biggest
predictors of a child's success
in school and in life is the
mother's education level.
When parents learn,
their children prosper.
That really is going to
greatly effect the outcome
of the children in that community.
- I met many, many people who
believe in adult education,
who see the struggles of their students,
and Lecester stands out among them
as someone who cares so
deeply and so broadly
about this very, very
vulnerable population.
- Literacy is such an important skill,
a tool that we use every
day in so many ways.
To provide an individual
with another chance to earn
a high school diploma
really has the ability
to change the trajectory
of people's lives.
- [Pamela] This is more than a job to her.
This is her mission, this is her goal.
- [Kavitha] She is a tireless
and passionate advocate
for the people she serves.
- [Antoinette] And I'm so
happy that she's getting
this award because she's very deserving.
(clapping)
- Please join me and Coach
Thompson in recognizing
Lecester Johnson, this year's recipient
of the John Thompson Jr.
Legacy of a Dream Award.
(clapping and cheering)
- [Announcer] Five time
Grammy Award Winning legend,
Dionne Warwick is an
international music icon.
Over her 50 year career she has garnered
more than 60 charted hits and sold over
100 million recordings.
Known as the artist who bridges the gap,
Warwick's soulful blend
of pop, gospel, and R&B
transcends race, culture,
and musical boundaries.
Ms. Warwick has received many rewards
over her illustrious career.
She is recently honored
with the 2013 Ellis Island
Medal of Honor and Ms.
Warwick is also a new inductee
into the Los Angeles Grammy Museum.
Commemorating her 50th
Anniversary, Ms. Warwick
recorded a new studio album titled Now
which received a Grammy Award nomination
for traditional pop vocal album.
Ladies and gentlemen, please
welcome the legendary,
incomparable, Dionne Warwick.
(clapping and cheering)
(upbeat music)
- Hello.
I said hello.
- [Audience] Hello.
- All right.
Talk to me when I talk to you (laughing).
It's a pleasure to be here this evening
in celebration of a magnificent man
and we certainly do
hope that you will enjoy
the few things that we put together for ya
this evening and if you feel like any time
that you want to open up your mouths
and let some words flow on out of it.
If one of the tunes hits
you, please do that for me.
I'd appreciate it.
So without further, ado.
Here we go.
♫ If you see me walking down the street
♫ And I start to cry each time we meet
♫ Do what
♫ Walk on by
Hey you all know this one huh?
♫ Walk on by
♫ Make believe that
you don't see the tears
♫ Let me grieve in private
'cause each time I see you
♫ I break down and cry
♫ Yes I cry, do what
♫ Walk on by
♫ Don't ya dare stop
♫ And walk on by
♫ Don't ya dare stop
♫ And walk on by
♫ Walk on by
♫ I just can't get over losing you
♫ And so if I seem broken and blue
♫ Walk on by
♫ A little bit louder
♫ Walk on by
♫ Foolish pride, is all that I have left
♫ Let me hide, the tears
and the sadness you gave me
♫ When you said goodbye
♫ Said goodbye, so walk on
♫ And don't you dare stop
♫ Walk on
♫ Don't you dare stop, oh walk on by
♫ Don't, don't stop
♫ Walk on by
♫ Walk on by
♫ Walk on by
(clapping)
♫ Anyone who ever loved could look at me
♫ And know that I love you
♫ Anyone who ever dreamed
♫ Could look at me
♫ And know I dream of you
♫ Knowing I love you so
♫ Anyone who had a heart
♫ Would take me in his
arms and love me too
♫ You couldn't really have a heart
♫ And hurt me like you hurt me
♫ And be so untrue
♫ What am I to do
♫ Every time you go away
♫ I always say, this
time it's goodbye dear
♫ Loving you the way I do
♫ I take you back
♫ Without you I'd die dear
♫ Knowing I love you so
♫ Anyone who had a heart
would take me in his arms
♫ And love me too
♫ You couldn't really
have a heart and hurt me
♫ Like you hurt me and be so untrue
♫ What am I to do
♫ Every time you go away
♫ I always say this time it's goodbye dear
♫ Loving you the way I do
♫ I take you back
♫ Without you I'd die dear
♫ Knowing I love you so
♫ Anyone who had a heart
♫ Would take me in his
arms and love me too
♫ You couldn't really have a heart
♫ And hurt me like you hurt me
♫ And be so untrue
♫ Anyone who had a heart would love me too
♫ Anyone who had a heart
would surely take me
♫ In his arms and always
love me why won't you
♫ Anyone who had a heart would love me too
♫ Anyone who had a heart
would surely take me
♫ In his arms and always
love me, why won't you
♫ Anyone who had a heart would love me too
♫ Anyone who had a heart
would surely take me
♫ In his arms and always love me
♫ Why won't
♫ Why won't you, you
(clapping)
(upbeat music)
♫ You'll never get to
heaven if you break my heart
♫ So be very careful not to make us part
♫ You won't get to heaven if
you, if you break my heart
♫ If you break my heart
♫ You'll never get to
heaven if you break my heart
♫ So be very careful not to make us part
♫ You won't get to heaven
if you, break my heart
♫ Oh no, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
♫ La, la, la, la, la, la, la
(clapping)
(upbeat music)
♫ Scooby doo, sha la la
♫ Tell me, what do you
get when you fall in love
♫ A guy with a pin to burst your bubble
♫ That's what you get for all your trouble
♫ I'll never fall in love again
♫ I'll never fall in love again
♫ What do you get when you kiss a guy
♫ You get enough germs to catch pneumonia
♫ After you do, he'll never phone ya
♫ I'll never fall in love again
♫ I'll never fall in love again
♫ Don't tell me what it's all about
♫ 'Cause I've been there
and I'm glad I'm out
♫ Out of those chains,
those chains that bind you
♫ And that is why I'm here to remind you
♫ What do you get when you fall in love
♫ You only get lies, pain, sorrow
♫ So for at least until tomorrow
♫ I'll, I'll never fall
in love again, not again
♫ No, no I'll never fall in love again
♫ So don't tell me what it's all about
♫ 'Cause I've been there
and I'm glad I'm out
♫ Out of those chains,
those chains that bind you
♫ And that is why I'm here to remind you
♫ What do you get when you fall in love
♫ You only get lies, pain, and sorrow
♫ So for at least until tomorrow
♫ I'll, I'll never fall in love again
♫ Oh no, I'll, I'll
never fall in love again
♫ No not again
♫ You know that I'll
♫ I'll never fall in love again
(upbeat music)
♫ Tell him how my heart just breaks
♫ In two, since he journeyed far
♫ And even though his dreams of fame
♫ They're through, to me
he will always be a star
♫ Spread your wings on New Orleans
♫ Kentucky bluebird
♫ Fly away
♫ And take a message to Michael
♫ Message to Michael
♫ Ask him to start for home today
♫ When you find him please let him know
♫ Rich or poor
♫ I will always love him so
♫ Fly away, Kentucky bluebird
♫ Fly away, Kentucky bluebird
♫ Fly away
♫ Fly away, fly away
(clapping)
Woo Lord.
(peaceful music)
♫ You see this girl
♫ This girl's in love with you
♫ Yes I'm in love
♫ Who looks at you the way I do
♫ When you smile I can tell
♫ We know each other oh so very well
♫ How can I show ya
♫ I'm glad, so glad I got to know ya
♫ 'Cause I've heard some talk
♫ They say you think I'm fine
♫ Well I'm in love
♫ And what I'd do to make you mine
♫ Tell me now is it so
♫ Don't let me be the last to know
♫ My hands are shakin'
♫ Don't let, don't let
my heart keep breaking
♫ 'Cause I need your love
♫ And I want your love
♫ Say you're in love
♫ And you'll be my guy
♫ If not I'll just die
(jazz music)
This next song, you are
accustomed to hearing
in another form altogether.
But because this song is so
very, very dear to my heart,
I felt it only fair
that it be brought into
the 21st century.
So I took the liberty of
changing it rythemically
and also changing the way
in which I approach it.
I had the pleasure of
re-recording this particular song
not too very long ago as a duet.
And that duet was done with
someone that I happen to
not only adore, but I am
completely, completely
oh I love this man so very, very much.
What can I tell ya.
And that young man that I'm speaking of
happens to be my duet partner
on this particular recording
and he just also happens
to be my eldest son.
(clapping)
Unfortunately he could not
be with us this evening.
Me too.
So I, I'll have to sing
the entire song by myself.
This song comes from that particular CD
that the young lady
announced during the course
of the incredible announcement
she gave bringing me
on stage.
From that CD called Now which is nominated
for a Grammy this year.
(cheering and clapping)
I don't know who was
more surprised than me
when I got a call from
my girlfriend who said,
well girl, I'm congratulate you.
I said congratulate me for what?
Well I thought she was
talking about something else
that happened just last week and I'm also
exceptionally proud of.
I was inducted into the
New Jersey Hall of Fame.
(clapping)
Can't beat that.
The whole state loves me.
She said, no, no, no,
no, because I was there,
I saw you had that.
I said, well what are you
talking about Shirley?
She said well, in the business 52 years
and all of a sudden in 20 years later
they gonna decide to
nominate you for a Grammy.
I said, what?
She said yeah girl, you've been nominated.
So we're gonna do this
particular song for you
and certainly hope that you
enjoy the new rendition of ...
♫ The moment I wake up
♫ Before I put on my makeup
♫ I say a little prayer
♫ I say a little prayer for you
♫ While combing my hair now
♫ Wondering what dress I'm gonna wear now
♫ I say a little prayer,
say a little prayer for you
♫ Forever, forever you'll stay in my heart
♫ And I will love you
♫ Forever and ever we never will part
♫ Oh how I love you
♫ Together, together that's how it must be
♫ To live without you would
only be heartbreak for me
♫ I run for the bus dear
♫ While riding I think of us dear
♫ I say a little prayer, I
say a little prayer for you
♫ At work I take time
♫ All through my coffee break time
♫ I say a little prayer, I
say a little prayer for you
♫ Forever, forever you'll stay in my heart
♫ And I will love you
♫ Forever and ever we never will part
♫ Oh how I love you
♫ Together, together,
that's how it must be
♫ To live without you would
only be heartbreak for me
♫ I run for the bus dear
♫ While riding I think of us dear
♫ I say a little prayer
♫ You know I say a little prayer for you
♫ At work I take time
♫ All through my coffee break time
♫ I say a little prayer
♫ Say a little prayer for you
♫ Forever, forever you'll stay in my heart
♫ And I will love you
♫ Forever and ever we never will part
♫ How I love you
♫ Together, together
♫ That's how it must
be to live without you
♫ Would only mean heartbreak for me
♫ My darlings we're leaving
♫ Only there is no one
♫ Nobody but you
♫ You love me too
♫ Honey love me you
♫ And say my prayer
♫ Say you love me too
♫ I wanna say you love me too
♫ I wanna say you love me too
♫ Say you love me
♫ Say you love me
♫ If you do, I will say
a little prayer for you
♫ I'll say a little prayer for you
♫ I'll say a prayer for you
♫ I'll say a little prayer for you
♫ I'll say a little prayer for you
♫ Say a little prayer for you
♫ I'll say a prayer for you
♫ I'll say a little prayer for you
♫ I'm singing my prayer
♫ Answer my prayer baby
♫ Come on answer, answer my prayer
♫ Answer my prayer baby
♫ Answer, answer, answer my prayer
♫ Answer my prayer baby
♫ Come on answer, answer my prayer
♫ Answer my prayer baby
♫ Answer, answer a prayer for you
♫ Say a little prayer for you
♫ I'll say a prayer for you
♫ I'll say a little prayer for you
♫ I'll say a prayer for you
♫ Say a little prayer for you
♫ I'll say a prayer for you
♫ Say a little prayer for you
(clapping)
♫ I will say
♫ I'll say a little
♫ Prayer
♫ Prayer
See this is David's part.
♫ For
♫ For
(clapping and laughing)
♫ For you
♫ For you
(clapping and cheering)
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Ta-ta.
Woo, all right.
(upbeat music)
One of my favorite back
rack David compositions
and if you feel like you want to join in
with this magnificent choir who has agreed
to do this with me, well
let freedom ring voices.
Comprised of voices from
Georgetown University
and various churches
throughout this beautiful city
of Washington DC and
that includes you too.
♫ What the world needs now
♫ Is love sweet love
♫ It's the only thing that
there's just too little of
♫ What the world needs now
♫ Is love sweet love
♫ No not just for some, but for everyone
♫ Lord, we don't need another mountain
♫ There are mountains and
hillsides enough to climb
♫ And there are oceans
and rivers enough to cross
♫ Enough to last, til the end of time
♫ What the world needs
now is love sweet love
♫ It's the only thing that
there's just too little of
♫ What the world needs now
♫ Is love, sweet love
♫ No not just for some but for everyone
♫ My lord, we don't need another meadow
♫ There are cornfields and
wheat fields enough to grow
♫ And there are sunbeams and moonbeams
♫ Enough to shine until the summer Lord
♫ If you want to know
♫ If you want to know
♫ What the world needs now
♫ Is love, sweet love
♫ It's the only thing
♫ That there's just too little of
♫ What the world needs right now
♫ Is love sweet love
♫ No not just for some
♫ Oh but just, what, everyone
We're gonna repeat what
the world needs now is love
three times, everybody
♫ What the world needs
now, is love sweet love
♫ What the world needs
now, is love sweet love
Like ya mean it, come on.
♫ What the world needs
now, is love sweet love
♫ What the world
♫ What this world needs
♫ What we need now right now
♫ Right now
♫ We need, we need
♫ We need love
♫ Yes, our world needs love
(clapping and cheering)
From that Grammy nominated CD,
I can't get over it, I
just can't get over it.
It's been a long time ya'll, long time.
But this song is written
by, well the melody
was written by Burt Backrack
and this magnificent choir
has agreed to sing along with me.
It's entitled Love is Still the Answer.
(upbeat music)
(humming)
♫ Yeah yeah
♫ Ooh
♫ Not so long ago
♫ I would have told you
that the world was round
♫ Good and sound
♫ Freedom bound, the future was secure
♫ Now I'm not so sure
♫ It seems that gravity has been reversed
♫ Getting worse
♫ Nothing works and everybody hurts
♫ Well there's a trail of tears
♫ Down through the years of broken hearts
♫ It's still so hard
to let the sunshine in
♫ Well love's the answer
♫ No matter what I swear love is
♫ It's still the answer
♫ Like it always was
♫ Such a simple truth
♫ Love never changes or betrays a friend
♫ From the start
♫ Love was part of some fantastic plan
♫ A brotherhood of man
♫ And now it's up to us
♫ We either shine the
light or darkness rules
♫ Our children lose
♫ We're free to choose
our fate to find our way
♫ Then let the veil of tears
♫ The sky is clear and every star
♫ Stands for a heart
♫ To let the sun shine in
♫ Love's the answer
♫ No matter what I swear love is
♫ Love is the answer
♫ Like it always was
♫ Love's the answer
♫ No matter what I swear love is
♫ It's still the answer
♫ Like it always was
♫ Is the answer
♫ Love, love, love
♫ No matter what I swear it is
♫ Love, love, love
♫ It's still the answer
♫ Like it always was
♫ Love is the answer, yes it is
♫ Love, love, love
♫ No matter how you tie it
♫ Love, love, love
♫ Love is the answer, like it always was
♫ Love's the answer
♫ No matter what I swear love is
♫ It's still the answer
♫ Like it always was
(clapping)
Love is still the answer.
- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome to the stage
soloist Edward Crotty,
Adesa Esafour, and Merone Manuelette,
all students from Georgetown University.
(clapping)
(peaceful music)
♫ And I never thought I'd feel this way
♫ And far as I'm concerned, I'm
glad I got the chance to say
♫ That I did live
♫ I love you
♫ And if I should ever go away
♫ Well then close your eyes and try
♫ To feel the way we do today
♫ And then if you can remember
♫ Keep smiling, keep shining
♫ Knowing you can always count on me
♫ Oh sure, tell me why
♫ That's what friends are for
♫ Sure love
♫ In good times, in bad times
♫ I'll be on your side forever more
♫ That's what friends are for
♫ Oh yeah
♫ Well you came and opened me
♫ And now there's so much more I see
♫ And so by the way I thank you
♫ And then for the times when we're apart
♫ Well then close your eyes and know
♫ The words are coming from my heart
♫ And so then if you can remember
♫ Keep smiling
♫ Keep shining
♫ Knowing you can always
count on me for sure
♫ That's what friends are for
♫ In good times and in bad times
♫ I'll be on your side forever more
♫ Oh, that's what friends are for
♫ Keep smiling
♫ Keep on shining
♫ You can always count on me for sure
♫ See that's what friends are for
♫ For good times and for bad times
♫ I'll be on your side forever more
♫ See that's what friends are for
♫ Keep smiling, keep shining
♫ Knowing you can always
count on me, oh for sure
♫ 'Cause that's what friends are for
♫ In good times and in bad times
♫ I'll be on your side forever more
♫ Oh, that's what friends are for
♫ So all of you keep smiling, shining
♫ Knowing you can count on me
♫ For sure
♫ You see that's what friends are for
♫ Keep smiling
♫ And shining
♫ You can count on me for sure
♫ You see, that's what friends are
♫ That's what friends are for
♫ That's what friends are for
(clapping and cheering)
- Yeah.
Thank you.
All right.
See what you all are growing up in here?
You see what you're
bringing to yourselves?
Magnificence, that's what it is.
I guess we're gonna do honey.
(soulful music)
All right.
Go ahead now.
That's the kind of stuff
I am so used to hearing
at my church.
And that's what we getting ready to do.
We getting ready to take all you all.
Every single body in this house
straight to church.
Y'all ready to go?
Are you sure?
All right, yeah.
♫ Rise, shine, give God the glory
♫ Rise, shine, give God the glory
♫ Rise, shine, give God the glory
♫ We are soldiers of the Lord
♫ Oh, come on rise,
shine, give God the glory
♫ Rise, shine, give God the glory
♫ Rise, shine, give God the glory
♫ We are soldiers of the Lord
♫ Well I am climbing Jacob's ladder
♫ I am climbing up Jacob's ladder
♫ Yes, I am climbing Jacob's ladder
♫ We are soldiers of the cross
♫ Everyone goes higher
♫ Oh, everyone goes higher
♫ Oh, everyone goes, we are soldiers
♫ Every, every
♫ One goes, one goes
♫ Up some
♫ Oh every, every
♫ One goes, one goes
♫ A little bit higher
♫ Oh a little higher
♫ We are soldiers of the Lord
♫ Well we are soldiers of the cross
♫ We are soldiers, of the cross
♫ We are soldiers, we
are soldiers of the cross
♫ We are soldiers of the cross
♫ Yeah, we are soldiers of the cross
♫ Yes we are soldiers of the cross
♫ We are soldiers, we
are soldiers of the cross
♫ We are soldiers of the cross
♫ Tell me do you think I
make a pretty good soldier
♫ Do you think I make
a pretty good soldier
♫ And do you, do you
♫ Think I, think I, make
a pretty good soldier
♫ We are soldiers of the cross
♫ Tell me do you, do you, think I, think I
♫ Make a pretty good,
a pretty good soldier
♫ Do you, think I'm a pretty good soldier
♫ Do you think I'm a pretty good soldier
♫ We are children of the cross
♫ Hey ya
♫ Hey ya
♫ Get on up
♫ Give God the glory
♫ Get on up
♫ Give God the glory
♫ Get on up and give God the glory
♫ Get up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory
♫ Get on up
♫ Get on up
♫ Get on up
♫ Get on up
♫ And give God the Glory
♫ Take it on up
♫ Take it on up
♫ Get on up
♫ And give God the glory
♫ Get on up, give God the glory
♫ Get on up, and give God the glory
♫ Get on up, get up,
get up, get up, get up
♫ Get up, get up, get up,
get up, get up, get up
♫ Get up, get up, get up,
get up, get up, get up
♫ Get up, get up, get up,
get up, get up, get up
♫ Get up, get up, get up,
get up, get up, get up
♫ Oh the glory, give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ We are soldiers of the Lord
♫ We are soldiers of the cross
♫ Soldiers of the cross
(upbeat music)
♫ Hey, get up and give God the glory
♫ Get up and give God the glory
♫ Get on up, get up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Get on up, get up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Get on up, get up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Get on up, get up and give God the glory
♫ Get on up, get up and give God the glory
♫ Get on up, get up and give God the glory
♫ And get on up, get up and give
♫ Get on up, get up and give God the glory
♫ Get up, get up, get up,
get up, get up, get up
♫ Hey get up, get on up, get up
♫ Get up and get up, get up, get up
♫ And get up, and give God the glory
♫ Get up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory, get
up and give God the glory
♫ We are soldiers of the cross
♫ We are soldiers of the cross
♫ We are soldiers of the cross
♫ Oh, oh, oh
(clapping and cheering)
(upbeat music)
(cheering)
(upbeat music)
♫ Get up and give God the glory
♫ Get up and give God the glory
♫ Get up and give God the glory
♫ Get up and give God the glory
♫ Get up and give God the glory
♫ Get up and give, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Get up and give, get
up and give God the glory
♫ Oh get up, get up and give God the glory
♫ Get up, get up and give God the glory
♫ Get up and give God the glory
♫ Get up and give God the glory
♫ Get up and give God the glory
♫ Get up, get up and give God the glory
♫ Oh get up, get up and give God the glory
♫ Give God the glory yeah, come on get up
♫ Oh, yeah, yeah, get up
and give God the glory
♫ We are soldiers of the cross
♫ We are soldiers of the cross
♫ Soldiers of the cross
♫ Yeah, yeah
♫ Oh yeah, oh yeah
♫ Yes we are, yes we are, oh yeah
(cheering and clapping)
- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
thank you for attending the 12th annual
Let Freedom Ring Celebration.
