Monthly Gospel Hour Series Debuts at Chicago’s Regal

Chicago’s Regal Theater resounded with the sounds of local gospel music Saturday evening, March 27, as choirs, groups, a Christian comedian, praise dancers and soloists participated in the first ChiTown Tonight: the Gospel Hour Series.

ChiTown Tonight was created to provide a regular, affordable, family-friendly gospel program featuring emerging and nationally-known Chicago artists in a theater setting. The goal is to hold the program every fourth Saturday evening at the Regal, 1645 East 79th Street.

The first half of the program featured local choirs and the second half recording artists. Hosts Larry Tabron and Yvonne Wesley kept the audience entertained and the program moving along, as one group after another took to the spotlight, accompanied by a parade of musicians who settled in behind drums and plugged in keyboards, guitars, and bass. A vintage Hammond B3, looking for all the world like a survivor of gospel’s golden era, got a workout all evening.

Highlights of the program included the choir from Pastor Pearley Champion’s Peace, Mercy and Charity Church. The choir nearly sent the Regal’s winged lion statues to holy dancing as it burned up the stage with its sanctified performance.

Later, the legendary Leanne Faine (photo above) paced the stage, singing her current single, the churchy and uptempo “Serve the Lord.” Donald “Buster” Woods and G3, his choir of youth between the ages of 14 and 22, provided an aerobic performance, drawing from the theatricality of Kirk Franklin and Tye Tribbett’s ensembles.

Kenny Lewis and One Voice closed the show, with the diminutive ball of energy Min. Tim White guest soloing with the group. White then rendered Pastor Marvin Sapp’s new single, “The Best in Me,” as a classically extemporaneous gospel solo, demonstrating his seemingly boundless energy. Great things are in store for White, who can just about out-shout any gospel artist out there.

The next ChiTown Tonight gospel program will be Saturday, April 24. Elder Phil Tarver (“Better Than That”), New Direction with Percy Gray and Fellowship’s Anita Wilson,”one of gospel music’s gems,” are the scheduled headliners. Tickets will be available next week from the Regal Theater: (773) 768-9900.

Photo of Leanne Faine: Bob Marovich – The Black Gospel Blog.