(ThyBlackMan.com) Rodrick Dixon and Alfreda Burke highlight April 13 Detroit concert celebrating the musical legacy of African Americans.
It is often said that the entertainment world provides few examples of African Americans displaying love for each other but Rodrick Dixon and Alfreda Burke sing a different tune, literally.
The husband and wife duo are living proof that a strong black man and an equally strong black woman can make beautiful music together.
The son of a Baptist minister, Dixon possesses a tenor voice of extraordinary
range and versatility that has earned him the respect and attention of leading conductors, orchestras and opera companies throughout North America. Burke, a soprano, and the daughter of a Mennonite minister, features a vocal artistry that has been described as “voluptuous, creamy and luxuriant.”
The remarkable couple will bring their passion and talents to Detroit’s Orchestra Hall on April 13 for the much anticipated, third-annual, Legacy Concert presented by the Brazeal Dennard Chorale.
“We plan on making musical history on April 13, when the immense talents of Rodrick Dixon and Alfreda Burke share the stage with the award-winning Brazeal Dennard Chorale,” said Chorale executive director Don Robinson. “Indeed the love will be felt because Rodrick and Alfreda have deep love for each other and the music they perform.”
Recently Burke and Dixon have brought the story of their lives to the stage through “Songs of a Dream,” which takes audiences on a musical journey of their love story and professional revelations. However, their Detroit appearance on April 13 will focus on celebrating the musical legacy of African Americans through 
the performance of sacred Negro spirituals.
“The Legacy Concert will be a rich and wonderful presentation of Negro spirituals,” said Dixon, whose celebrated career also includes extensive theater and television credits. “Artists such as the singers of the Brazeal Dennard Chorale, soprano Alfreda Burke and pianist Alvin Waddles will excite and thrill audiences with powerful stories told through the genre of spirituals. I can’t wait.”
Burke shares Dixon’s enthusiasm and looks forward to performing again in Detroit where the couple has become fan favorites for past performances in the area, including concerts of “Too Hot To Handel” at the Detroit Opera House.
“I look forward to being part of this wonderful musical experience, “ said Burke, whose body of work also includes recordings, music videos, television, radio and film. “The Brazeal Dennard Chorale Legacy Concert will surely uplift, inspire, energize and transport all who attend. The rich heritage, power and pathos of the Negro spiritual is always deeply moving and never disappoints.”
The master of ceremonies for the Legacy Concert will be Chauncy Glover, a reporter for NBC’s Detroit affiliate WDIV. Prior to coming to Detroit, Glover landed a national exclusive with the alleged “Hollywood Hacker,” Christopher Chaney, who admitted to hacking into the email accounts of A-list celebrities including Mila Kunis, Scarlett Johansson and Christina Aguilera.
“Chauncy is one of the brightest young talents in the broadcasting business, but he also has a deep appreciation for African American music, culture and history,” Robinson said. “We are fortunate to have Chauncy as our MC and he is just the type of person that can help us share the music of our ancestors with new audiences.”
Named after its legendary founder, the late Brazeal Dennard, the Brazeal Dennard Chorale’s mission is to “remember, discover, preserve, and share the Negro spiritual as a part of the artistic community, and to rediscover and perform significant choral works by African American composers.” To learn more about the organization and the April 13 Legacy Concert please contact the Chorale office at 313-331-0378.
Staff Writer; Scott Talley
This talented journalist is owner of a public relations firm; Scott Talley & Associates, Inc….
