Myrna Summers (born March 30, 1949) is a gospel music singer who has performed professionally for over four decades and is now the Minister of Music at Reid Temple A.M.E. Church in Glenn Dale, Maryland.[1] She has a commanding yet distinctive alto voice.[2]
Myrna Summers | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 March 1949 Washington, D.C., United States |
| Origin | Washington, DC |
| Genres | Gospel |
| Years active | 1970 - present |
Biography
editSummers was born in Washington D.C. in 1949. Her parents were members of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), and she performed in services at the Refreshing Spring Church in Riverdale, Maryland from a very early age.[3] She attended the McKinley Tech High School, and went on to the University of Maryland and the Toutorsky Academy of Music.[1]
She formed a group the Refreshingnettes in the early 1960s. The group recorded "Pray Your Troubles / I'm Determined" for HOB Records.[3] Her original compositions "God Gave Me a Song" (1970) and "Give Me Something to Hold on To" (1979) earned her Grammy Award nominations. She was the 1970 recipient of the Gospel Music Workshop of America's Mahalia Jackson Award.[1] Her album entitled "We Going To Make It" became one of her best selling recordings in June 1988 and won a 1989 Stellar Award for Best Traditional Gospel Artist (Female).[4] She is known for her collaborations with Timothy Wright, the Dallas Fort-Worth Mass Choir and Ambassadors for Christ.[5]
She has performed at Madison Square Garden, the Apollo Theater and the Lincoln Center in New York and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.[1] Summers was Minister of Music at Refreshing Spring COGIC before joining Reid Temple A.M.E Church in 1999. As Minister of Music at Reid Temple she is the leader of the church’s five choirs and orchestra, and the Director of the Mass Choir.[6] The choir led by Summers provides a stirring accompaniment to the preaching and prayers at the megachurch.[7]
Discography
editMyrna Summers has recorded on more than 50 albums.[3] A select list follows.
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | God Gave Me a Song | Cotillion / Atlantic | Single, Grammy Nomination |
| 1972 | Tell It Like It Is | Cotillion | |
| 1972 | Now | Cotillion | |
| 1975 | Myrna Summers & The Myrna Summers Singers | Savoy | |
| 1976 | I Found Jesus (and I'm Glad) | Savoy | |
| 1977 | Myrna Summers | Savoy | |
| 1978 | I'll Keep Holding On | Savoy | |
| 1979 | Give Me Something to Hold On To | Savoy | Grammy nominated, Recorded Live at Women's Correctional Facility in WV |
| 1980 | Life Is Fragile: Handle With Prayer | Savoy | |
| 1982 | Uncloudy Day | Savoy | |
| 1985 | Here Comes The Son | Savoy | |
| 1988 | We're Going to Make It | Savoy | Guest artist Rev. Timothy Wright. Stellar award |
| 1990 | I'll Keep Holding on | Savoy | Live recording |
| 1990 | You Are My Miracle | ||
| 1990 | You Don't Have Nothing If You Don't Have Jesus | ||
| 1991 | I'll Tell the World | Savoy | |
| 1993 | Deliverance | Savoy | |
| 2000 | His Mercy Endureth Forever | PGF records | |
| 2006 | Mountain Get Out of My Way | with the Reid Temple A.M.E. Mass Choir |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Myrna Summers Bio". Myrna Summers. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ "Myrna Summers". Malaco Records. Archived from the original on 2010-11-26. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ a b c W. K. McNeil (2005). Encyclopedia of American gospel music. Routledge. p. 381ff. ISBN 0-415-94179-2.
- ^ "Myrna Summers". afgen. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ Stan North. "Myrna Summers: His Mercy Endureth Forever (review)". Gospelflava.com. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ "Evangelist Myrna Summers". Jackson State University. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ Hamil R. Harris (October 1, 2006). "How Sweet the Sound: Five Area Gospel Choirs That Hit All the Right Notes". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-08-07.