The Black Voices are an incredibly talented a cappella quintet who bring the musical traditions of their African roots to each and every performance. This cultural experience combines African oral tradition with elements of spirituals, African, Caribbean and English folk songs, pop, reggae, gospel and jazz to create an act that is truly something different. These accomplished singers are a great addition to corporate events, African heritage events, birthday parties and music festivals with their talent only matched by their impressive a cappella creations. Black Voices was formed in 1987 by Carol Pemberton MBE. Her love for music was nurtured in church singing in choirs. Carol learned to play the cello, piano, a selection of wind instruments and even the saxophone. Her love of the singing voice led to her creating Black Voices and creating a platform for musicians to explore the origins of African music. She was awarded an MBE in 2014 for her services to music.
Carol supports an incredible set of voices in her capacity as the musical director. Celia Wickham-Anderson, Evon Johnson-Elliot, Jennifer Wallace, Genevieve Sylva, Shereece Storrod and Sandra Francis make up the rest of group and boast impressive CVs. Shereece graduated from the University of Westminster with a BA (Hons) in Commercial Music and went on her first tour with Black Voices at just 17 years old. Jennifer Wallace has worked with several prominent choirs and also toured with the West End show ‘The Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers’. This is just a small sample of the group’s credentials with each member being a leader in the music and entertainment industry. Black Voices have captivated audiences across the world with their incredible vocal prowess. They employ an impressive vocal range and harmonies to create a once-in-a-lifetime show that has left audiences agog at their talent.
They have had the honour of performing for the Royal British Family, Pope John Paul II and even appeared before former President Nelson Mandela at the Two Nations Concert hosted by the Royal Albert Hall. They have also performed alongside famous musicians and bands such as Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Miriam Makeba, Take 6 and Hugh Masekela. This impressive list is a testament to their incredible talent and unmatched stage presence. The Black Voices are also active in their communities and give back through education and outreach programmes. Since 1989, they have developed strong support for oral traditions at the internationally renowned Dartington Summer School. This stellar a cappella group have not only established themselves as a leading quintet but also paved the way for future generations of singers. On top of this, they carry the torch of oral traditions and their performance will be the highlight of any event.
