THE?Barbados Silvertones, one of the island’s prominent gospel groups, will be sharing the stage with a number of international gospel acts at the upcoming McDonald’s Gospelfest 2011: The Mighty Men of Valour at the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey, June 18. International acts include Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Bobby Jones, James Fortune & Fiya, Hezekiah Walker and Bishop T.D. Jakes.
Harold Britton, director of the Silvertones, was quite elated about the opportunity to be on the same stage as these gospel music luminaries.
He said his group “was approached by someone who knows about the Gospelfest and we were asked to send a live video of the group for them to evaluate, and that is what we did. It seemed as though if they had another 40 000 persons that did that”.
Britton said he was not sure of the criteria but the event was an annual one.
The Silvertones, now in their 29th year, comprise 28 people, three dancers and a four-piece band.
“The dancers came in about three years ago.”
He said keeping the group together was a challenging but rewarding experience.
“When the last musical director had to take leave . . . it left us having to look for a new one. We were able to find Allison Norville-Forde, who took on the challenge and she was with us for the last five years.”
Britton also said that the group has recruited a number of young and talented artistes and would be busy right through to 2013 as a result of a number of invitations for overseas performances.
Over the years the Silvertones have produced six albums.
