Sweet Honey in the Rock Launches 40th Anniversary "Forty & Fierce" 2014 US Tour

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, the venerable and Grammy nominated a cappella en emble !ho"ve b#ilt a le$acy %or mer$in$ an inimitable and di tinct harmonic vocal blend !ith a veracio# commitment to activi m, ocial &# tice Ne! Yor', NY, (ebr#ary )*, +,)* - SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, the venerable and Grammy nominated a cappella ensemble who've built a legacy for merging an inimitable and distinct harmonic vocal blend with a veracious commitment to activism, social justice, equality and freedom has announced the launch of the SWEET !"E# $" T E %!&' ( )*T +""$,E%S+%#.!%T# / .$E%&E 0*1) year and 2ic2ed off their premiere show at the 3ellerbach +uditorium at 4& 5er2eley, &+6 The 5er2eley performance 2ic2(offs a West &oast run that also includes performances during 5lac2 istory month at the &enter for the +rts in Grass ,alley, &+, 0718, the "ewmar2 Theater in 9ortland, 071:, and The Triple ;oor in Seattle, W+, 071<(1=6 The ensemble will finish up their initial run of dates with performances at the >usic &enter at Strathmore in "orth 5ethesda, >; on >arch 1 and as part of the popular &elebrity Series at Symphony all in 5oston, >+ on >arch 06

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK has configured two different productions to honor and celebrate their )*th +nniversary throughout the year6 The enhanced .!%T# / .$E%&E production ?which is being presented at 3ellerbach, Strathmore and Symphony all@ is their most adventurous live performance presentation to date6 $t's their first fully scripted show with a storyline, which is helmed by noted ;irector7&horeographer ;ianne >c$ntyre6 The show fuses a video projected montage of archival images of the ensemble and poignant historical moments that are woven into

a scrapboo2 and retrospective motif that will be synced to some of the musical segments6 Throughout the show each member will also share their own intimate personal stories in dialogue and perform influential songs that have highlighted their incredible journey over the past four decades6 The show will feature Sweet oney's core members Aouise %obinson, &arol >aillard, "itanju 5olade &asel, +isha 'ahlil and Shirley &hildress ?+merican Sign $nterpreter@ with special appearances by guest vocalist "avasha ;aya, bassist 9ar2er >c+llister ?acoustic upright and electric bass@ and percussionist Samuel Turner6 >usically, .!%T# / .$E%&E will rely on the depth of the ensemble's varied repertoire and newly arranged medleys and arrangements of some of their classics6 +udiences will also be warmed up and treated to a special pre(show presentation entitled S E(%!&'S 8 %+;$!, that will comprise an audio compilation of their most revered songs6 The program is hosted by ;B >er2 ?Epatha >er2erson@ and produced by Aouise %obinson and Bordon >aillard Ware6 The more intimate format SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK ( )*T +""$,E%S+%# features the core group and guest bassist 9ar2er >c+llister and incorporates some of the storyline and staging elements of the larger production6 owever, it will not include the same audio visual and lighting components in intimate spaces such as the &enter for the +rts in Grass ,alley, the "ewmar2 Theater in 9ortland and The Triple ;oor in Seattle6 CWe're eDtremely eDcited and feel blessed to have eDperienced and enjoyed such longevity, and we're very than2ful to all our loyal fans who have stood by us all these years,C stated Sweet oney's &arol >aillard6 CThey have been the driving force that has fueled all our artistic endeavors, and we're elated and happy to celebrate and share this special show with our fans and show them why we all feel C.!%T# / .$E%&E6C SWEET !"E# $" T E %!&' began creating its' adventurous and diverse miDture of blues, +frican, jaEE, gospel and % / 5 music as a quartet in 1=:F6 .ormed by ;r6 5ernice %eagon ?who retired in 0**)@ the ensemble's patented sound was honed during a wor2shop at the ;6& 5lac2 %epertory Theater &ompany in Washington, ;&6 Since that time, they have performed throughout the world, including South +frica, +frica, Europe, +ustralia, "ew 3ealand, Bapan, at many of the premiere venues in the 4nited States, released 0F recordings, been featured in documentaries and amassed a distinguished list of honors, awards and accolades6 Aast year they successfully launched their first ever fan based fundraising campaign with the $ndie Gogo online platform6 .unds derived from the campaign have been used to produce the .!%T# / .$E%&E show6 Some of the supporters who made donations were awarded per2s including being special guests of Sweet oney at selected )*th +nniversary Shows6 They also toured Europe and +ustralia, performed at the "ational >emorial Service for the late "elson >andela presented at the "ational &athedral in Washington ;& and were recipients of distinguished awards by the Search for &ommon Ground !rganiEation in ;& and CThe 'eeper !f .lameC +wardC presented at the national convention and Signature Gala of the ;elta Sigma Theta Society in Washington, ;&6 $n 0*10, they performed at the unveiling ceremonies for the >artin Auther 'ing monument on the "ational >all6 They also debuted their first ever orchestral collaboration, providing the lyrics for composer William 5anfieldGs HSymphony 1*- +ffirmations for a "ew World,I co(commissioned by the "ational Symphony !rchestra ?&hristoph Eschenbach, >usic ;irector@ and the Bohn .6 'ennedy &enter for the 9erforming +rts, Washington, ;&J the >innesota !rchestra, ?!smo ,Kns2K, >usic ;irector@J and the arris Theater for >usic and ;ance, >illennium 9ar2, &hicago, released a thought(provo2ing single and video, H+re We + "ation,I inspired by the controversial immigration law that was enacted in +riEona 6 The song captured a Gold Songwriter +ward from the 0:th >id(+tlantic Song &ontest and was featured on an all(star compilation, H5ordersongs,I that raised money for the "o >ore ;eaths organiEation, which provides water and humanitarian aid along the +riEona7>eDico border6 Their latest 0(&; set, H+ Tribute L AiveM BaEE at Aincoln

&enter,I pays homage to some of the great female +frican(+merican vocalists whose songs helped shape the group, including +bbey Aincoln, !detta, >iriam >a2eba, and "ina Simone6 .or more information go to- www6sweethoneyintheroc26org Contact: &hip SchutEman >iles igh 9roductions 96!6 5oD =F18: ollywood, &+ =**=F F0F(<*N(*)** chipOmileshighproductions6com http-77www6mileshighproductions6com PPP