Laurel Canyon Music

View Original

Freedom Singer - Khari Wendall McClelland (27/04/18)

  • Artist: Khari Wendall McClelland
  • Release Date:27th April, 2018
  • Genre: Folk, Americana, Gospel, Roots Music
  • Record Label: Afterlife Music
  • Tracks: 7
  • Website: http://www.khariwendellmcclelland.com/

A modern-day interpretation of songs that have accompanied Khari´s great-great-great grandmother, who escaped US slavery through The Underground Railroad into Canada in the mid 1800s.

Khari Wendell McClelland is set to release the "Freedom Singer" album on April 27th. A true celebration of black history, the album is a collection of rare and forgotten songs that McClelland interprets through the many styles and genres that helped to shape him. Using folk, gospel, country, hip hop and soul to reinvigorate these songs and build a bridge from the 1800's to the present. Khari Wendell McClelland is a diversely talented and everevolving artist. Originally from Detroit, Khari has become a darling on the Canadian music scene with reviewers lauding his performances as a clever mix of soul and gospel. Khari’s songwriting crosses genres and generations, joyfully invoking the spirit of his ancestors who straddled the US-Canadian border in efforts to escape slavery and discrimination. His music draws from this rich history, integrating the rhythms and folklore of early African-Americans with contemporary sounds and stories of struggle. Recently, Khari received critical acclaim for his "Freedom Singer" project, recreating the music fugitive slaves carried on their journey north into Canada.