March 1:  It’s not warm when she’s away…  “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone” by Bill Withers.  Sending love and sunshine to those who’ve lost a love one.  xo  LYRICS & SONGFACTS  SPOTIFY

February 28:  Today’s Sing Daily post is actually several songs from a recent Black History Month Virtual Concert shared with me by my friend and mentor, Anne Ward Hadden, who taught general music and chorus at Long Lots Elementary School for many years.  Anne wrote:

This new video from the Chicago Children’s Choir is quite moving (and has the lyrics, too!).  I thought maybe you would like to feature the song “We Shall Overcome” (which begins at 48:54 on the video) again as BHM comes to a close this weekend?  

The full video is educational as well as entertaining (and part of it is a request for donations by the CCC), but if you want to skip directly to the songs & poems, use these time stamps to find each song:

• 9:35 “Turn Me Around”
• 16:27 “Black Heroes” poem by Chloe Johnson, CCC alumna
• 21:17 “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
• 27:40 “Juba”
• 30:23 “Wade In The Water”
• 33:20 “Wade In The Water” from Rainbow Beach
• 35:10 “Freedom Calls My Name” from Rainbow Beach
• 39:06 “If Not Now, Then When” poem by Kai Love
• 42:02 “Freedom”
• 45:31 “Right On Be Free”
• 48:54 “We Shall Overcome”

SPOTIFY BLACK HISTORY MONTH PLAYLIST

February 27:  Join the heavenly band… “My Lord, What A Morning” by Marian Anderson, whose birthday is today.  Thanks to Elaine Camerota for the song suggestion.  SPOTIFY BLACK HISTORY MONTH PLAYLIST

February 26:  Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-hi… “Minnie The Moocher” by Cab Calloway, Irving Mills and Clarence Gaskill and performed here by Cab Calloway and his band.  My grandfather Sydney Alexander Sherman was born on this day in 1908, two months after Cab Calloway was born.  I like to imagine my grandfather in his early 20s listening to this back in 1931.  No lyric video today, but, if – after echoing Cab – you want more, here’s a KARAOKE VIDEO so that you can sing along. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY BLACK HISTORY MONTH PLAYLIST

February 25:  People all over the world… “Love Train” written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and performed by The O’Jays. Happy Birthday to Lindsey Ogilvy! xoxo LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY BLACK HISTORY MONTH PLAYLIST

February 24: Excuse me while I kiss the sky… “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix.  LIVE VIDEO LYRICS & CHORDS SONGFACTS SPOTIFY BLACK HISTORY MONTH PLAYLIST

February 23: Together we’ll be home… “Cry No More” by Rhiannon Giddens.  Happy Birthday to Madeline Seidman. xo LYRICS  SONG HISTORY  BLACK HISTORY MONTH PLAYLIST

February 22:  We make a mean team… “My Adidas” by Run-DMC (written by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels & Rick Rubin). Happy Birthday to Artie Spangel, Tyler Burke & Ned Hardy! LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY BLACK HISTORY MONTH PLAYLIST

February 21: Don’t be shy, be proud! “IDK But I’m LOL” by Sweet Honey In The Rock.  LYRICS  SONG HISTORY SPOTIFY BLACK HISTORY MONTH PLAYLIST

February 19:  Life is like a song… “At Last” written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film Sun Valley Serenade (1941) and performed here by Etta James.  Thanks to Sharyn Taymor for the song suggestion!  LYRICS & SONGFACTS  UKE CHORDS SPOTIFY