Grammy-Winning Singer, Regina Belle, to Perform at Rev. Joseph Lowery’s 98th Birthday Celebration
Grammy-winning recording artist, Regina Belle, will perform at the 98th birthday celebration of civil rights icon, Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery. Hosted by the Joseph and Evelyn Lowery Institute for Justice & Human Rights (Lowery Institute), the event will take place 6:30 p.m. at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot in Atlanta. Roland S. Martin, host of Roland Martin Unfiltered, will serve as MC for the evening and BET’s “Sunday Best” winner, Y’Anna Crawley will also perform.
People from across the country unable to attend the party can join in paying tribute to Dr. Lowery by visiting LoweryInstitute.org to submit their name to go on a giant card that will be presented during the birthday celebration.
Known as the “Dean” of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Lowery assumed and executed a diverse series of roles over the span of his life: leader, pastor, servant, father, husband, freedom fighter and advocate. Two major milestones during his journey came when he delivered the benediction during President Obama’s Inauguration and later that year when President Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his lifelong commitment to the nonviolent struggle for justice, human rights, economic equality, voting rights, peace and human dignity.
Regina Belle began performing in church at a young age. She went on to study jazz and classical music in college. After signing with Columbia Records she released her debut album which included her first hits “So Many Tears” and “Show Me the Way.” Belle recorded a duet in 1991 with Johnny Mathis, “Better Together,” and teamed up with Peabo Bryson for the songs “I Can’t Imagine,” “Without You” and “A Whole New World,” which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and won a Grammy Award an Academy Award for Best Song. After suffering a Brain Tumor and undergoing surgeries that left her deaf in one ear, in 2012. Belle released her Testimony album ,” HIGHER.”
Funds raised from the biennial birthday celebration are used to fund the Lowery Institute’s 2019-2020 civic engagement and social justice initiatives, including their notable Change Agent program. The Change Agent program focuses on civil and human rights, social justice, education and community health and has grown to over 100 Change Agents each year spanning five metro Atlanta college campuses. In 2019, Change Agents were awarded $5,000 for social justice initiatives, $12,000 in stipends, and earned five internships.
To sign the birthday card, purchase tickets, or for sponsorship opportunities visit loweryinstitute.org or call 404.524.8406.
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