Sing Out March On

Sing Out/March On is a song by Joshuah Campbell released in 2017. Both the musical style and the lyrics call back to the songs of the civil rights era. The song was notably performed during Harvard University's 2018 commencement ceremony in honor of commencement speaker John Lewis.[1]

Inspiration and first performance

In November of 2015, Harvard students held widespread demonstrations and marches in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.[2] During this time, Campbell first conceived and performed Sing Out/March On. He considers writing and performing this song his most personally gratifying experience at Harvard.[3] At the time, he imagined the song would soon lose its relevance, but realized that as we continue to find ourselves with "more and more reasons to fight injustice and oppression its call to action still rings true".[4]

Subsequent performances and recordings

Campbell officially released a recording of the song on July 4, 2017, with himself as lead vocalist backed by a seven-piece band. All profits from the song went to benefit the Southern Poverty Law Center.[5][6]

In May 2018 Joshuah Campbell backed by a small vocal ensemble performed an a cappella rendition the song during Harvard's 2018 Commencement Ceremony as a tribute to John Lewis, who was the commencement speaker that year.[7]

A similar small a cappella ensemble performed the piece with Campbell on CBS Sunday Morning in October of 2018.[8]

On the evening of November 5, 2018, a chorus of over 600 singers performed the song at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC as part of the Harmony Project's effort to get out the vote on the eve of the mid-term election.[9]

In December 2018, the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers performed the song as part of their Holiday Concert at Ithaca College's Ford Hall. The soloist was Maria Ellis-Jordan.

Composer

Joshuah Brian Campbell is a 2016 graduate of Harvard University originally from Cheraw, South Carolina.[10][3] He was named one of the twelve "most impressive students at Harvard" by Business Insider in 2016.[11]

References
  1. "Joshuah Campbell '16 and Harvard friends beautifully perform "Sing Out, March On"—a powerful tribute to @repjohnlewis, our featured speaker at #Harvard18 Commencement". Harvard University on twitter. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  2. Mineo, Liz (22 November 2015). "A national wave hits Harvard". Harvard Gazette. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  3. Radsken, Jill (26 April 2016). "Sharing his creative gifts". Harvard Gazette. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  4. "Sing Out/March On -Joshuah Campbell". Joshuah Campbell on Facebook. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  5. "Sing Out/March On". joshuahcampbell. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  6. Siegel, A (25 May 2018). "Sing Out March On". dailykos. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  7. Alexander, Brian (5 June 2018). "Harvard Students Deliver Rousing Musical Tribute at 2018 Commencement Program". College A Cappella. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  8. Leonhart, Jamie (17 October 2018). "Sing Out, March On on CBS Sunday Morning". vimeo. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  9. "Over 600 people from different backgrounds, political affiliations and beliefs came together on the roof of the @NationalVMM to deliver one message: Sing Out. March On". Harmony Project Columbus on Twitter. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  10. "Joshuah Campbell Music". joshuahcampbell. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  11. Martin, Emmie (12 April 2016). "Impressive Students at Harward Right Now". Business Insider. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
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