On Saturday, Feb. 1, you can be part of a chorus that celebrates Black History Month. And you don’t have to be a professional singer.
“Community Sing: Celebrating the Black Experience” is the brainchild of Stacie Colston Patterson, who describes herself as an attorney with a heart for justice. She’s also the chair of the Butler University Black Alumni Association and a singer in the Indianapolis Women’s Chorus, the two organizations putting together the event.
All ages are invited to sing Black music — gospel, pop and Broadway selections. If you want to rehearse, arrive at 2 p.m. for practice. If you just want to hear the show, then show up at 3 p.m. at Shelton Auditorium, 1000 W. 42nd St. Admission is free.
To get ready for singing, we asked Colston Patterson to share her Black History Month playlist with us. We also asked her to tell us about the community sing.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
What are the connections between music and the work you do?
In my professional life, I’m not directly connected to music. I use it as a tool for professional development and to create a sense of belonging. I like to make playlists that go along with training and presentations that I facilitate.
It’s a great way to help participants remember key points. I have been known to institute ’90s R&B Fridays.
Do you find yourself making playlists to tackle different tasks in your life? Are there songs you go back to for specific reasons?
I don’t know if it’s the sleepaway camp kid in me or the Saturday morning cleaning to Luther Vandross, but I love the help of a good playlist. I have one called “Confidence Builder” that I play when I need to hype myself. It could be for a big meeting or just to get me through a long day.
Growing up in a house where we listened to so many genres of music, my taste is very eclectic. (Thanks, Mommy!) I definitely have songs I go back to for specific reasons.
“Bossy” by Kelis ft. Too $hort is my walkup song. If I’m feeling the fog of grief or sadness coming, I will listen to (and sing) “With You” from “Ghost The Musical” and let the sadness or grief roll over me.
What is something you’ve learned about the history of Black music that you wish everyone knew?
I am going to be honest here. As a Black woman, I’m tired of having to educate others on any or all things Black. If people really want to learn more about Black music and the way it has shaped music in this country, I suggest listening to the 1619 Project podcast, Episode 3: “The Birth of American Music,” and watching episode one of Ken Burns’s documentary “Country Music: The Rub (beginnings to 1933).”
If you could listen to one song for the first time all over again, which song would that be?
That’s such a hard question and I am so glad I don’t have to answer it because I do get to hear songs for the first time again through my kids.
I have a 7 year old who identifies as a girl and a 10 year old who identifies as a boy. It has been so fun introducing them to music. Watching him listen to Green Day and Blink 182 is wonderful. My daughter loves any song she can sing and dance to.
Seeing her dance around the living room while singing along to “& Juliet” and then realizing that I know those songs from their days on the pop charts has been a blast.
What song are you looking forward to singing at community sing?
I am most looking forward to “I Need You to Survive.” Burton, my husband, sang in the Chicago Children’s Choir (now Uniting Voices) for over 10 years. They performed this song at every alumni concert.
I have a particularly fond memory of singing this at a Chicago Children’s Choir alumni concert I attended with my mother-in-law. I am looking forward to making new memories with a different group of people.
Jennifer Delgadillo edits and writes arts and culture stories for Mirror Indy. You can reach her at jennifer.delgadillo@mirrorindy.org.
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