By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU

 

The Alabama State University Choir will perform at a nationwide tribute to America's Negro League Baseball on June19 in Birmingham, Alabama at Rickwood Field. The event will be nationally televised. 

ASU's choir director, Dr. Kristofer Sanchack, explained that the performance is sponsored by the Ron "Papa Jack" Jackson Baseball Foundation, working in partnership with UNINTERRUPTED/Springhill Media - Lebron James/Maverick Carter Media Company for the Tribute to the Negro League's legendary efforts, which began in Birmingham.

The ASU Choir (photo by David Campbell/ASU).

"We are honored and appreciative to have our student-choir members recognized and invited to perform at an event that honors the history and legacy of baseball's Negro League and the many doors that it opened for diversity and inclusion for Blacks in the sport of baseball," Sanchack said. "To perform at an event sponsored by so many important people and entities, especially Lebron James, is a testament to the ability and excellence of our student-singers at Alabama State."

PERFORMED AT HISTORIC RICKWOOD FIELD

The performance will be held at Rickwood Field, the oldest professional baseball park in the United States as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built for the Birmingham Barons in 1910 by industrialist and team-owner Rick Woodward and served as the home park for both the Whites-only team, as well as for the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro League.

Rickwood Field has been preserved and is known as a "working museum" where baseball's history can be experienced. 

ASU'S CHOIR JOINS OTHER HBCU'S

Sanchack shared that the ASU choir will be joined by students from other Alabama-based Historically Black College and Universities, including Birmingham's Miles College and Huntsville's Alabama A&M University. All three choirs will serve as the entertainment for the celebrity game and will perform the classic "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

"This is yet another important performance that our student-choir has been invited to perform, which includes singing on the stage at New York City's Carnegie Hall, as well as several other important venues recently," Sanchack said. "Because of television programming and scheduling, we do not have the exact time yet, but as soon as we do, we will share it with the University." 

News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104.

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