A Brief History

     In an atmosphere of palpable hostility and resistance, gospel music emerged on the campus of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University by a group of students in the State Room of the Student Union Building under the auspices of the Pentecostal Student Union Council to which Mr. Johnny Olds belonged 59 years ago in 1957. Mrs. Betty Sanders was the first directress; Henry Porter, now a recording artist, was the first student director; and Ira Robinson, the first president, went on to receive a Ph.D. from the University of Florida's College of Pharmacy and who later became Dean of Pharmacy at both FAMU and Howard University. They were succeeded by a bevy of talented, artistic ministers of music including Robert Price, who initiated new vocal arrangements and compositions. The music pattern was continued by subsequent ministers including Lowell Lampkins, Helena Barrington, Oratius Williams, Anthony Siders, Gilbert Walker, Nathan Grisby, Tina Nelson, Sherwood Brown, Troy Sneed, Spencer Smith, Daniel James, Charmaine Hickman, Aaron Snipes, Meachum Clark, Sonya Charleston, Raymond Jackson, Alange Foster, Nathaniel Tanner, Nicholas Burnett, Adrian Ford,  De’Quan Wright, Devin Hagans, and now Nicholas Burnett.

     The annual fall and spring gospel concerts are invariably known for having professional artists. In 2010, Kirk Franklin collaborated with FAMU Gospel Choir for the Homecoming Gospel Concert. In 2011, the Clark Sisters returned to FAMU to partake in a concert featuring the choir. Most recently, J.J. Hairston collaborated with the FAMU Gospel Choir for the 2016 Homecoming Gospel Concert.  The choir has subsequently traveled to various places such as New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Michigan, Jamaica, Hawaii, Virginia, just to name a few. The choir has also opened up a plethora of concerts for James Cleveland, Jessie Dixon, Edwin Hawkins, Yolanda Adams, Vickie Winans, Shirley Caesar, and headlined many others. The FAMU Gospel Choir has been nominated for three Stellar Awards and has been publicized as one of the best collegiate gospel choirs in the nation.

     To add to the resume, the FAMU Gospel has opened for the BET and Bobby Jones Show, and has also made a recording with Twinkie Clark, earning top rankings in the nation. The 1996 collaboration with Twinkie Clark is distinctively entitled Twinkie Clark Terrell Presents the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Gospel Choir.  The FAMU Gospel Choir which in its early years experienced many hardships and was denied acceptance on the Florida A&M University campus 59 years ago is now a school certified organization. In 1996, the founding father of the FAMU Gospel Choir died unexpectedly leaving behind a remarkable legacy. For his final wishes, Mr. Olds passed the torch of continuing the success and growth of the choir to Dr. Frances Stallworth, who was one of the first members of the choir in 1957. She honorably pledged to keep the choir a viable organization and maintained her promise for 20 years, retiring in 2016. Ms. Pamela Zachery served as assistant advisor and/or co-advisor under Dr. Stallworth from 1997 through 2004.  Ms. Valeria Singleton served as the assistant advisor and/or co-advisor under Dr. Stallworth from 2012 through 2016.  Currently, Ms. Singleton and the co-advisor, Mr. John Harris are working diligently to ensure the success and continuation of the FAMU Gospel Choir through devoted service and support of the organization.