Date: Sep 4, 2007
Contact: Mary Wimberley , mlwimber@samford.edu, 205-726-2922

Steven Kimbrough to Present  ´Sweet Singer' Tribute to Charles Wesley at Samford Sept. 24

Singer and writer Steven Kimbrough will perform his Sweet Singer musical drama on the life of Charles Wesley at Samford University Monday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in Brock Recital Hall. The public is invited free of charge.

Kimbrough, a Birmingham native and internationally known operatic singer and recording artist, debuted Sweet Singer in 1985 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In the years since, he has presented the one-person narrative and vocal performance to audiences worldwide.  His accompanist will be his sister, Birmingham pianist Mary K. Jackson.

Wesley, co-founder of the Methodist movement, was the author of thousands of hymns, many of which are sung in churches today.

Kimbrough, a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, has had parallel careers as a scholar, performer and minister. He holds a doctorate in Semitic languages and has taught in the U.S. and Europe. During his service on the Global Mission Board of the United Methodist Church, the board collected, published and recorded an array of Christian music from cultures worldwide.

He has performed more than 40 major roles as leading baritone of the Bonn Opera company and with other leading opera houses.  

His Samford performance is part of a two-day workshop, "Charles Wesley and the Church Today: A Celebration of the 300^th Anniversary of the Birth of Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and His Legacy to Christians in Our Time."

The workshop is sponsored by Samford's Resource Center for Pastoral Excellence (RCPE), School of Performing Arts, Beeson Divinity School and Department of Religion.

For information on the Sweet Singer presentation, call the Samford School of Performing Arts at (205) 726-2851. To register for the workshop, call the RCPE at (205) 726-4064 or check the website at  www.samford.edu/rcpe.