To call Sweet Honey in the Rock an all-female a cappella group is kind of like calling U2 an all-male rock-and-roll band: Neither description begins to inform their stature in the world of music or the richness of the cultural experience the have delivered to listeners worldwide.

Sweet Honey in the Rock

Sweet Honey, as the group is called for short (the name comes from Psalm 81:16), was founded in 1973 at the Washington, D.C., Black Repertory Theater by Bernice Johnson Reagon. In the years since, it has become a staple of the Beltway music and concert scene, garnering numerous Grammy nominations for their 20 full-length recordings to-date.

In February, the group performed for First Lady Michele Obama at the White House, and tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 24) their work will be featured on the season premiere of the ABC TV show Grey’s Anatomy. On Saturday [online copy corrected], you can find out for yourself why this pioneering group of singers, whose repertoire leans as much on the songs of the black church as it does blues, jazz, reggae, hip hop and traditional African rhythms, has received such attention when they take the stage at 7 p.m. at the Koger Center for the Arts.

The concert is presented by the Renaissance Foundation to help raise funds for the renovation of the Bethel AME Church on Sumter Street downtown as a cultural arts center.
Commenting on the group’s preference for music that connects with social injustice, founding member Carol Maillard told The Washington Post in a 2005 interview that “sometimes we just voice what people are feeling and have no place to express it for many reasons.

“We offer what we have from our hearts and hope that someone is uplifted, challenged, inspired and that they learn something they didn’t already know. We realize we’re not in the public the way many groups are, but we love reaching new people and will continue to work at that.”

Sweet Honey currently is comprised of six singers: Aisha Kahlil, Maillard, Louise Robinson, Nitanju Bolade Casel, Shirley Saxton and Ysaye Barnhill. Between them, their experiences run the gamut from Broadway to acting (stage and film) to dance to musical publishing and everything in between.

Sweet Honey even makes a point to reach out to deaf audiences, as part of their performance group includes Shirley Childress Saxton, a sign-language interpreter. Additionally, group members augment their unique a cappela sound with hand percussion instruments.

When asked what drives their sound and their selection and what she hopes audiences can take away from Sweet Hooney’s performances, Maillard was direct: Hope.
“Hope springs eternal,” Maillard told the The Washington Post. “The moment people become so disillusioned that they lose hope, then you know something is wrong. Life is beautiful, living is challenging. This is a very delicate time we’re in, and the wheel can turn either way.” 

Tickets range from $31 to $41 and may be purchased at capitoltickets.com or at the Carolina Coliseum Box Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 251-6333 for more information.