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Sunday Sounds
YOUNGSTOWN
Light rain showers did little to douse the celebration of gospel music throughout downtown Sunday afternoon.
A moderate crowd came out with umbrellas and camp chairs for the inaugural 2DE Gospel Festival on Central Square.
“I think it’s going to be very positive,” Terrill Vidale, owner of 2Deep Entertainment, which co-sponsored the event with the city, said before the start of the show.
The festival featured eight gospel music performers including the Emancipation Community Choir, Yanno, Greater Youngstown Youth Choir and Warren City Wide Youth Choir.
Two-time Grammy Award winner Tye Tribbett was the headliner of the event. A native of Camden, N.J., Tribbett founded a gospel choir, Greater Anointing, consisting of a group of family and friends, according to his website. Tribbett and the G.A. found success in 1998 with their first official recording, “Let Go, Let God,” which appeared in the Dreamworks’ animated film “The Prince of Egypt.” The group went on to tour and perform with other high-profile performers including Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, and Elton John. Tribbett released his first album, “Life,” in 2004. His latest album is “Greater Than.”
Vidale said he brought Tribbett on board to bring unity and hope to the community.
“That’s the key part of it,” he said. “We would want to unite people in the one body of [Jesus] Christ.”
Thousands showed up for the concert segment of the show. Many were on the feet during the many performances with their hands raised reaching out to the sky. Tribbett came on stage energetic, engaging with the audience, who were singing along with him.
Tammy Tomlin from the South Side attended to watch her daughter, A’niya Williams, 10, perform in the Youngstown Youth Choir.
“We need to get the gospel out there,” said Tomlin, a member of New Bethel Baptist Church in Youngstown. She said such events are needed to counter the crime, violence and hate throughout the community and the world.
“Jesus is the answer,” she said.
Lee Ann Wilson, acting secretary of Emancipation Community Choir, said it was a nice idea to have a gospel festival downtown, and that the genre has enough variety to reach out to all ages.
The 2DE Gospel Festival concluded the Summer Festival of the Arts weekend. Other events that took place over the weekend included the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Summerfest, the unveiling of a new Abraham Lincoln portrait in the Mahoning County Courthouse rotunda and the Downtown Jazz Fest.
Vidale said he wanted to thank the city, the sponsors and, most of all, God for making the festival possible.
“This is just the first of many to come,” he said.