Lattimore to headline LMC Gospel Celebration

By Roni Gehlke

As a professor at Los Medanos College, Silvester Henderson has worked hard to develop a presence for the college's gospel choir. For the past 15 years, with the help of former students, Henderson has worked to produce an annual concert that shows the best in up-and-coming African-American and Christian music artist from throughout the state. Despite budget constraints, this year will be no different, as Henderson promises the annual Gospel Celebration will offer a wide variety of talent.

At the concert, which takes place May 2 at LMC, Henderson promises various categories of musicians, including the famous to the college's own gospel choir.

"This isn't only an opportunity for the public to see gospel at its best, but it is also a chance to let the kids work with professionals on a variety of arrangements," Henderson said.
Included in this year's guest performers is pop artist Kenny Lattimore. Some may recognize Lattimore for his pop charts hit single "For You," which is from his "Timeless" album.
Henderson said that he has been lucky to have the help of his former students in putting the LMC concert together.

"I've made a lot of contacts by keeping in touch with my former students who have gone on in the music industry and are working with famous musicians. They recommend me as their mentor and the artists are kind enough to come and perform," Henderson said.

"It is pretty rare to get someone of Lattimore's magnitude to come to this kind of venue, but one of my former students from when I taught at UC Berkeley works with Lattimore and convinced him to come out and perform for us," he said.

Although Henderson said that he was forced to downsize this year due to budget issues, he has in no way sacrificed talent. Instead, he did things like move the concert from a bigger location and bring it back to the college. Henderson said that he moved the concert to a bigger auditorium a few years ago because the concerts were getting popular. But being back at the college would not inconvenience those attending the event, he said.

Henderson said that budget constraints have also forced him to ask for donations for the choir department this year. He hopes that there will be proceeds from the concert so that he can put money into the department and programs for the rest of the year.

Appearing along with Lattimore will be featured guests Carlena Henderson and Mount Calvary Baptist Church Choir. Carlena Henderson is not only Henderson's daughter and a graduate of Deer Valley High School, but she is also a member of the cast of San Francisco's "Beach Blanket Babylon." Carlena has performed in several vocal performances throughout the Bay Area. She studied music and performance arts at Diablo Valley College and is currently attending UC Davis. She has been performing with "Beach Blanket Babylon" in San Francisco for nearly two years.

The Mount Calvary Baptist Church Choir is from Suisun City. Henderson said that the church is one of the prominent churches in Suisun County. He said that the music director is world-renowned and that the choir is making quite a name for themselves in their field of music.

Another of his former students helped Henderson bring to the concert a new group from Pittsburg called Seed of Faith Christian Fellowship Choir. Also performing will be Celebrations Choir from the Abundant Life Christian Fellowship Church, Mary Williams from the Word Assembly Church and gospel singer Angelo Luster from Oakland.

The LMC Choir students will also be performing throughout the concert.
If you go

WHAT: LMC Gospel
Celebration
WHEN: 7 p.m. May 2
WHERE: Los Medanos College, 2700 E. Leland Road, Pittsburg
INFO: 925-439-0200
COST: $14 in advance;
$16 at the door