Myrna Summers (born March 30, 1949) is a gospel music singer who has performed professionally for over four decades and is now the Minister of Music at Reid Temple A.M.E. Church in Glenn Dale, Maryland.[1] She has a commanding yet distinctive alto voice.[2]

Myrna Summers
Born (1949-03-30) 30 March 1949 (age 75)
Washington, D.C., United States
OriginWashington, DC
GenresGospel
Years active1970 - present

Biography

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Summers was born in Washington D.C. in 1949. Her parents were members of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), and she performed in services at the Refreshing Spring Church in Riverdale, Maryland from a very early age.[3] She attended the McKinley Tech High School, and went on to the University of Maryland and the Toutorsky Academy of Music.[1]

She formed a group the Refreshingnettes in the early 1960s. The group recorded "Pray Your Troubles / I'm Determined" for HOB Records.[3] Her original compositions "God Gave Me a Song" (1970) and "Give Me Something to Hold on To" (1979) earned her Grammy Award nominations. She was the 1970 recipient of the Gospel Music Workshop of America's Mahalia Jackson Award.[1] Her album entitled "We Going To Make It" became one of her best selling recordings in June 1988 and won a 1989 Stellar Award for Best Traditional Gospel Artist (Female).[4] She is known for her collaborations with Timothy Wright, the Dallas Fort-Worth Mass Choir and Ambassadors for Christ.[5]

She has performed at Madison Square Garden, the Apollo Theater and the Lincoln Center in New York and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.[1] Summers was Minister of Music at Refreshing Spring COGIC before joining Reid Temple A.M.E Church in 1999. As Minister of Music at Reid Temple she is the leader of the church’s five choirs and orchestra, and the Director of the Mass Choir.[6] The choir led by Summers provides a stirring accompaniment to the preaching and prayers at the megachurch.[7]

Discography

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Myrna Summers has recorded on more than 50 albums.[3] A select list follows.

Year Title Label Notes
1970 God Gave Me a Song Cotillion / Atlantic Single, Grammy Nomination
1972 Tell It Like It Is Cotillion
1972 Now Cotillion
1975 Myrna Summers & The Myrna Summers Singers Savoy
1976 I Found Jesus (and I'm Glad) Savoy
1977 Myrna Summers Savoy
1978 I'll Keep Holding On Savoy
1979 Give Me Something to Hold On To Savoy Grammy nominated, Recorded Live at Women's Correctional Facility in WV
1980 Life Is Fragile: Handle With Prayer Savoy
1982 Uncloudy Day Savoy
1985 Here Comes The Son Savoy
1988 We're Going to Make It Savoy Guest artist Rev. Timothy Wright. Stellar award
1990 I'll Keep Holding on Savoy Live recording
1990 You Are My Miracle
1990 You Don't Have Nothing If You Don't Have Jesus
1991 I'll Tell the World Savoy
1993 Deliverance Savoy
2000 His Mercy Endureth Forever PGF records
2006 Mountain Get Out of My Way with the Reid Temple A.M.E. Mass Choir

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Myrna Summers Bio". Myrna Summers. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
  2. ^ "Myrna Summers". Malaco Records. Archived from the original on 2010-11-26. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
  3. ^ a b c W. K. McNeil (2005). Encyclopedia of American gospel music. Routledge. p. 381ff. ISBN 0-415-94179-2.
  4. ^ "Myrna Summers". afgen. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
  5. ^ Stan North. "Myrna Summers: His Mercy Endureth Forever (review)". Gospelflava.com. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
  6. ^ "Evangelist Myrna Summers". Jackson State University. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
  7. ^ Hamil R. Harris (October 1, 2006). "How Sweet the Sound: Five Area Gospel Choirs That Hit All the Right Notes". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-08-07.