Total Experience Gospel Choir

Last updated
Pat Wright, 2016 Pat Wright 01.jpg
Pat Wright, 2016

The Total Experience Gospel Choir was a gospel music group based in Seattle, Washington, United States, founded in 1973 by Pastor Patrinell Staten "Pat" Wright, who led the group [1] [2] until its dissolution in 2018. [3] They have sung in at least 38 states and 22 countries, have performed for United States presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, at the funeral of Jimi Hendrix in 1970, and made at least seven recordings of their own, as well as singing behind Barry Manilow at KeyArena in 2015, and on the song "Save Me" on Dave Matthews's CD Some Devil. They have appeared in television commercials ("to pay our bills") and on the public radio program A Prairie Home Companion [1] as well as numerous other radio programs.

Contents

Founding

Patrinell Wright was born in Carthage, Texas. Her father was a Baptist preacher and her mother a schoolteacher. She sang her first solo at the age of 3 and was directing two choirs in her father's church by her 14th birthday. She graduated as valedictorian from Turner High School in Carthage, Prairie View A&M University in Hempstead, Texas, and moved in 1964 to Seattle. She has had an extensive musical career in her own right, and since 1997 has been pastor of the Oneness Christian Center in Seattle, which she co-founded. Wright began the group in 1973 as a gospel music class at Seattle's public Franklin High School. [4]

Pastor Wright has earned the nickname "The Idol Breeder" and has become once again uniquely distinguished after three of her choir members became finalists on the television series American Idol. Among its former members are American Idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar in 2007, [5] 2004 contestant Leah LaBelle Vladowski, and 2002 contestant Karma Johnson. [6]

Patrinell Wright died on August 30, 2022 [7] at the age of 78 [8] after a long illness.

Until 1992–93, the choir was composed primarily of African-American youth. Since that time, the choir's membership evolved, bearing members from 6 to 65 years of age.

History

Since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast Areas of Louisiana and Mississippi in August 2005, Pastor Wright dedicated many hours for hurricane relief work. One of her own teenage choir members and her younger brother were caught up in the hurricane while in South Mississippi visiting family. Upon their safe return to Seattle, Pastor Wright and the Total Experience Gospel Choir devoted themselves tirelessly to hurricane relief. They visited the areas in August 2006, April 2007, March 2008, August 2008 and August 2015 helping to rebuild lives and property. While there, they were featured on local television a number of times rebuilding, dedicating and celebrating with hurricane survivors during the various mission trips. [9] [10]

For Pastor Wright's efforts, ABC News World News Tonight named her "Person of the Week" in May 2007 as well as one of the "Persons of the Year" on a broadcast aired December 27, 2007.

DirectTV on April 9, 2008, aired their special entitled "Hometown Heroes" where Pastor Wright and Total Experience Gospel Choir were honored for their work on the Gulf Coast of MS as well.

SCAN TV honored Pastor Wright in February 2008 on local television in their Black History programming where she, along with other local community members, were lauded for their contributions to Black History in the Pacific Northwest.

In October 2007, Pastor Wright and members of Total Experience Gospel Choir traveled to Busan, South Korea, where they competed in the Busan International Choral Festival and Competition. The choir placed "second" and won the Silver Medal in "Ethnic" and "Pop" categories. There were 36 choirs from 11 countries in the competition.

In 2008, Pastor Wright and Total Experience Gospel Choir participated in the creation of the first of its kind "campaign CD" in an effort to help elect President Barack Obama. The CD "Seven Songs for America and One For The World" was produced by The Bergevin Brothers. All profits from "Seven Songs For America..." go to support Pastor Wright's "Seattle Artists" foundation to rebuild the lives and homes of Katrina victims in Mississippi and Louisiana.[ citation needed ]

During 2014, The Total Experience Gospel Choir performed "Highway to Heaven" with the Heart Band at the Benayra Hall in Seattle and Victoria, British Columbia as well as many other Washington state locations. Pastor Pat Wright was asked to tour around the United States with Heart to teach the various choirs that accompanied them in each city.

On May 27, 2015, in Seattle at KeyArena on May 27, Pastor Wright and the Total Experience Gospel Choir performed on stage with Barry Manilow on his ONE LAST TIME concert! They sang the background for "Copacabana", "I Write the Songs" and "Miracle".

In July 2015 Pastor Wright took the choir down to New Orleans for the ten-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, working alongside Randy Novak of "Shirts Across America", the choir helped renovate St. Jude Community Center and performed in various locations such as St. Augustine Catholic Church and anywhere there was a need to lift the spirits of the locals.

During a fundraising trip to Seattle in October 2015, Pastor Wright and a select few of the choir members sang for President Obama at the Westin Hotel.

In 2018, the choir celebrated its 45th anniversary with a free concert at the Moore Theatre and the release of a documentary, Patrinell: The Total Experience , detailing Wright's life and the history of the choir. After that, Wright stepped down from her position as director and the choir was disbanded. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waveland, Mississippi</span> City in Mississippi, United States

Waveland is a city located in Hancock County, Mississippi, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city of Waveland was incorporated in 1972. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,435. Waveland was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Camille on August 17, 1969, and by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biloxi, Mississippi</span> City in Mississippi, United States

Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. It lies on the Gulf Coast in southern Mississippi thirteen miles east of Gulfport along US-90. The adjacent cities are both designated as seats of Harrison County. The population of Biloxi was 49,449 at the 2020 census, making it the state's 4th most populous city. It is a principal city of the Gulfport–Biloxi metropolitan area, home to 416,259 residents in 2020. The area's first European settlers were French colonists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'Iberville, Mississippi</span> City in Mississippi, United States

D'Iberville is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States, immediately north of Biloxi, across the Back Bay. The population was 12,721 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Gulfport—Biloxi Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulfport, Mississippi</span> City in Mississippi, United States

Gulfport is the 2nd most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi after the state capital, Jackson. Along with Biloxi, Gulfport is the co-county seat of Harrison County and the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport–Biloxi metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the city of Gulfport had a total population of 72,926, with 416,259 residents in its metro area. The city lies along the Gulf Coast in southern Mississippi, taking its name from its port on the Mississippi Sound. It is also home to the U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet Seabees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Beach, Mississippi</span> City in Mississippi, United States

Long Beach is a city located in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 15,829.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gautier, Mississippi</span> City Gautier in Mississippi, United States

Gautier is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States, along the Gulf of Mexico west of Pascagoula. It is part of the Pascagoula Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,572 at the 2010 census, up from 11,681 at the 2000 census. In 2002, Gautier had annexed land more than doubling its area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocean Springs, Mississippi</span> City in Mississippi, United States

Ocean Springs is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States, approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Biloxi and west of Gautier. It is part of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 17,225 at the 2000 U.S. Census. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the city of Ocean Springs had a population of 17,442.

The economic effects of Hurricane Katrina, which hit Louisiana, Florida, Texas and Mississippi in late August 2005, were far-reaching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Effects of Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi</span>

Hurricane Katrina's winds and storm surge reached the Mississippi coastline on the morning of August 29, 2005. beginning a two-day path of destruction through central Mississippi; by 10 a.m. CDT on August 29, 2005, the eye of Katrina began traveling up the entire state, only slowing from hurricane-force winds at Meridian near 7 p.m. and entering Tennessee as a tropical storm. Many coastal towns of Mississippi had already been obliterated, in a single night. Hurricane-force winds reached coastal Mississippi by 2 a.m. and lasted over 17 hours, spawning 11 tornadoes and a 28-foot (8.5 m) storm surge flooding 6–12 miles (9.7–19.3 km) inland. Many, unable to evacuate, survived by climbing to attics or rooftops, or swimming to higher buildings and trees. The worst property damage from Katrina occurred in coastal Mississippi, where all towns flooded over 90% in hours, and waves destroyed many historic buildings, with others gutted to the 3rd story. Afterward, 238 people died in Mississippi, and all counties in Mississippi were declared disaster areas, 49 for full federal assistance. Regulations were changed later for emergency centers and casinos. The emergency command centers were moved higher because all 3 coastal centers flooded at 30 ft (9.1 m) above sea level. Casinos were allowed on land rather than limited to floating casino barges as in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ship Island (Mississippi)</span> Island in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States of America

Ship Island is a barrier island off the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, one of the Mississippi–Alabama barrier islands. Hurricane Camille split the island into two separate islands in 1969. In early 2019, the US Army Corps of Engineers completed the first stage of a project rejoining the two islands and recreating one Ship Island. Ship Island is the site of Fort Massachusetts, as a Third System fortification. Part of the island is included in the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLOX</span> ABC/CBS affiliate in Biloxi, Mississippi

WLOX is a television station licensed to Biloxi, Mississippi, United States, serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast as an affiliate of ABC and CBS. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power MeTV station WTBL-LD. WLOX's studios are located on DeBuys Road in Biloxi, and its transmitter is located in unincorporated southern Stone County near McHenry.

American Idol Extra is a television show that was shown on the Fox Reality Channel and Star! and billed as "the show that picks up right where American Idol leaves off". The program featured the first full-length interview with the most recent eliminated contestant and various behind-the-scenes material.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biloxi Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse in Mississippi, United States

Biloxi Lighthouse is a lighthouse in Biloxi, Mississippi, adjacent to the Mississippi Sound of the Gulf of Mexico. The lighthouse has been maintained by female keepers for more years than any other lighthouse in the United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and declared a Mississippi Landmark in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanjaya Malakar</span> American singer (born 1989)

Sanjaya Joseph Malakar is an American singer, who was a finalist on the sixth season of American Idol. He gained national attention on the series, controversially advancing to 7th place with public votes, despite being poorly received by the show's judges, particularly Simon Cowell.

<i>Idol Gives Back</i>

Idol Gives Back was the name of a charitable campaign that spanned two episodes of American Idol during its sixth season. A second Idol Gives Back concert and fundraiser occurred on April 9, 2008, during the seventh season of the show. Idol Gives Back was not held in 2009 due to the economic crisis and recession. The executive producer released a statement saying that it was not the time to be asking for money from the American public. However, the fundraiser returned on April 21, 2010 during the top 7 results show of season 9. It did not return in future seasons.

Mark Edward Mullen is a television journalist and the anchorman for NBC affiliate KNSD-TV in San Diego. He joined the station in June, 2010 from ABC News, where he served as a Los Angeles-based correspondent. Prior to ABC, he was Chief Asia Correspondent for NBC News, regularly reporting news on notable Chinese and East Asian current events and contributing in-depth stories about China's changing culture, economy and political system. Mullen also has visited war zones to deliver stories from Iraq. He's covered stories from Europe and from across the U.S., including the aftermath of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. He's also drawn on his experience as a pilot to report on major plane crashes.

Lori K. Gordon is an artist and Founder and Co-owner of Marrakech Henna Art Cafe in Marrakech, Morocco. She is also Founder and President of Six Degrees Consortium, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the creation and dissemination of art that addresses compelling social issues and that builds bridges across cultures. She is Founder and President of El Fenn Maroc, a NGO based in Marrakech, Morocco and dedicated to supporting artists in Morocco. She is known for The Katrina Collection, her series of mixed media assemblages which incorporates debris from the massive hurricane which ravaged the Mississippi Gulf Coast in August 2005; for The Labat Project, which has been acquired by the Smithsonian Institution, and for Six Degrees: West to East" which addresses the gulf between the western and Islamic worlds.

Christine Kozlowski is an American beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Mississippi on June 28, 2008. Kozlowski, a native of D'Iberville, is of Polish and Latina descent and is the first Miss Mississippi of Latina heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Waveland Cafe and Clinic</span> Disaster response center in New Waveland

The New Waveland Café and New Waveland Clinic together formed a disaster response center consisting of a combination café, soup kitchen, medical clinic, donation center, and market, that operated free of charge from September 5 to December 1, 2005 in immediate Post-Katrina Mississippi Gulf Coast in Waveland, Hancock County, Mississippi. The cafe and clinic were founded in response to Hurricane Katrina and provided free food and free medical care to hurricane victims for three months. They were located in tents in the parking lot of Fred's Department Store at 790 Hwy 90 in Waveland, across the street from the destroyed and gutted Waveland Police Department. The New Waveland Cafe served three free meals every day to thousands of residents and volunteers. The New Waveland Clinic provided free health care to over 5,500 patient contacts. As well, a group of hippies and Christians came together to form a unique group which worked together to provide emergency relief.

The Bergevin Brothers are an American Seattle-based band. Founded by brothers Joe and Jon Bergevin, the band promotes political and other causes through their music. They are most famous for their song "Fired Up, And Ready to Go", that was inspired by United States President Barack Obama's inauguration. The band is currently signed to their own record label Bergevin Brothers Music.

References

  1. 1 2 Total Experience Gospel Choir: Founder/Director Bio Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine , Total Experience Gospel Choir official site. Accessed online 25 October 2008.
  2. ↑ Berson, Misha (25 October 2008). "Pat Wright's Total Experience -- Seattle's Mistress Of Music Lives The Gospel She Sings". The Seattle Times . Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 Beason, Tyrone (1 October 2018). "Total Experience Gospel Choir's last days: Pat Wright built legacy with gusto of a freedom fighter". The Seattle Times . Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "Patrinell Wright". totalexperiencegospelchoir.org. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  5. ↑ Haley Edwards, "Idol" contestant Sanjaya once distracted teachers; now it's a nation, Seattle Times, April 1, 2007. Accessed online 25 October 2008
  6. ↑ http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/pid/1102
  7. ↑ Blecha, Peter. "Wright, Pat (1944-2022)". HistoryLink. Retrieved 26 Feb 2023.
  8. ↑ Yoon-Hendricks, Alexandra (2 September 2022). "Seattle's 'first lady of gospel,' Patrinell 'Pat' Wright, dies at 78". The Seattle Times . Retrieved 26 Feb 2023.
  9. ↑ Karla Redditte, , "Seattle Choir Delivers Music And Message", www.wlox.com. Accessed online June 23, 2009
  10. ↑ Don Culpepper, , "Seattle Choir Helps Gulfport Family Rebuild", www.wlox.com. Accessed online June 25, 2009
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.