On Wednesday evening, August 29th, the legendary Dixie Hummingbirds kicked off their 90th year anniversary celebration with a live show for the Gospel Roots of Rock and Soul project at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. A standing room only crowd were presented with a concert that was part musical celebration, part history lesson and paid tribute to the Hummingbirds of the past and connected to the current group, Ira Tucker Jr., Carlton Lewis III, Lyndon Baines Jones, Torrey Nettles, Troy Smith, and Roy Smith.
The group was introduced by former Philadelphia mayor former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, and the performed classics including “Good Deeds,” “Morning Train,” “Jesus Walked The Water,” and others, and stopped occasionally to talk to the audience about the original members of the group and their long incredible history.
Watch the show above.
Go here for a full photo recap. Photos by Ellen C Miller for WXPN.
The concert was produced by WXPN for WXPN’S GOSPEL ROOTS OF ROCK AND SOUL. GOSPEL ROOTS OF ROCK AND SOUL has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.