COLUMBUS — Thunder rumbled and rain came down hard on downtown Columbus Thursday evening, but inside the Columbus Arts Council, the atmosphere was bright and electric. The “Forever Legends: Melodies That Shaped Us” tribute drew a crowd so large that staff scrambled to fetch office chairs and piano benches to accommodate the overflow. Between the rows of seats, children ran and laughter mingled with music in a night that spanned the breadth of Black musical heritage from the 1940s to today.
Shakia Butler, a music teacher at Hunt Elementary, served as the evening’s MC, guiding the audience through a program that served as a grand finale to weeks of Black History Month celebrations.
The concert’s first half focused on the foundational sounds of spirituals and classic soul. Ja’Quez Griffin opened the night with Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” (Born by the River), a performance that immediately drew emotional cheers from the room.
The momentum continued with Nia Young’s spirited “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” and a moving rendition of “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” by Nevaeh Moore.
The stage stayed busy as a group of Hunt Elementary third-graders performed “Stand Up Dance,” followed by the rich, layered harmonies of the United Harmony ensemble.
The highlight of the intermission was the introduction of a special guest: Grammy-winning sound engineer and Jackson native Courtland Liddell. In a surprise presentation, Mayor Stephen Jones honored Liddell with a city proclamation for his award-winning work on “Your Power” by Lecrae and Tasha Cobbs Leonard.
Liddell took the moment to turn the spotlight back onto the families in the room.
“To the parents of these kids, you are everything,” Liddell said. “My mom invested so much in my dreams… you are their first investors, and they’ll never forget it.”
He left the students with a simple charge: “Keep God first, work hard, and never give up. Your dreams will become reality. I’m living proof.”
The second half of the program shifted toward contemporary icons. Butler herself took the mic for a powerhouse rendition of “I’m Here” from The Color Purple, while Malachi Strong, Daylyn Jackson, Mason Murray, and Jabari Edwards brought the “A-game” with the Jackson 5’s “ABC.” The energy remained high with Jaylon Jones’ stirring “Glory” and Kyia King’s soulful “If I Ain’t Got You.”
Reflecting on the evening, Ward 4 Councilwoman Lavonne Harris noted the event’s importance. “The Arts Council brings the community together, and it’s a diverse group of people,” Harris said. “With everything going on in the world, this just runs it all home. You’ve got the children, you’ve got the grown people … they took us to church tonight.”
The evening culminated in a high-energy set by the AIJC Academy of West Point. Their choir’s rendition of “God Is Keeping Me” flowed into a massive grand finale of “Revelation 19:1,” with every performer and choir member joining together. As the final notes rang out, the audience erupted, ending a night defined by music, community pride, and a legacy that continues to shape the future.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
