This event has been postponed until Sept. 25-29

Gospel greats Mahalia Jackson and Rosetta Tharpe will appear onstage again.

COURTESY FOREVER JONES

The gospel band Forever Jones stars in “Evolution of Black Gospel Music” July 20-22 at Booth Playhouse.

At least for the performance of Neal Jones’ “Evolution of Black Gospel Music.”

The gospel music stage play will run July 20-22 at the Blumenthal’s Booth Playhouse and stars the gospel family band Forever Jones, which is made up of Dewitt and Kim Jones and their five children.

“The play is about the evolution of gospel music,” said Dominque Jones. “It incorporates drama, dance and singing.”

The play dates back to Africa through today’s genres. In between covers the Middle Passage, emancipation and the civil rights movement.
Dominique Jones says she plays Tharpe, and her mother Kim Jones will make a cameo as Jackson.

Neal Jones and Dewitt Jones are brothers.

“(Neal) contacted us about the play,” Dewitt Jones said. “It’s really exciting for me to see all of us performing onstage.”

Forever Jones, known for their hit “He Wants It All,” says the audience will be educated, entertained and encouraged at the show.

Forever Jones
Most recently, Forever Jones has played the Essence Festival.

The group says being a family band offers them a unique quality that sets them apart from other gospel performers.

“It’s an interesting idea to think that we may be the first African American gospel family band,” Dewitt Jones said. “We are a band, not just singers.”

Dewitt Jones says his siblings, much like his own children, write and sing.

“They come from a very musically inclined family,” he said. “My children just gravitated to it. We put instruments in their hands.”

Aside from Dewitt, his wife Kim and daughter Dominque, other band members include D’Jeniele, Dewitt IV, Judah and Mya Joy Grace. The family lives in Shreveport, La. Their most recent album is “Musical Revival.”

Tickets for the show start at $20. The show is presented by the Harvey B. Gantt Center. For more information, call (704) 372-1000.

On the Net:
www.carolinatix.org

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