African American crowd enjoying the Gospel concert held in the heart of Compton.
Photo Credit: Shon Smith of D'Angelo's Photos
Saturday's Gospel 2009 in Compton Was a Sell-out Event with 5,000 Attendees
The Gospel 2009 Concert presented by the City of Compton on Saturday, September 12, was hot in more ways than one. The Compton Par 3 Golf Course was basking in high temperatures, but more important to the capacity crowd, basking in high spirits. The weather was hot and so was the music. The gospel concert started at 11 am with Compton Mayor Eric J. Perrodin welcoming the crowd, which attracted 5,000 individuals during the daylong event.
Local community churches, gospel groups and praise dancers, introduced by Mayor Perrodin, led off the music fest and helped the crowd warm up for the headliner acts that followed them. Co-hosting for the day was KJLH 102.3FM Radio Personality Aundrae Russell and Christian Comedian Broderick E. Rice. Both were in high spirits and Rice was especially funny.
Everyone in the three seating sections were thrilled to be there and got into the spirit by getting up on their feet and singing along. While the VIP section (with catering) and Canopy-covered sections sold out early, people continued to line up to get into the lawn seating area. This was an audience that wanted to be there for a day that was full of fantastic music and many praises.
Among the major gospel musicians to take the stage and nearly bring the house down were The Soul Seekers, Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers, Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir. Also on hand were the The Williams Brothers and the legendary Shirley Caesar. Each of the performers took the stage with rocking exuberance that energized the crowd and brought them to their feet. The artists are among the best and they proved it on Saturday, as they thrilled the enthusiastic crowds with sounds of love and praise.
It was definitely a family affair with children welcome and having their own great time on the giant slide and inflatable jumper in the children's area of the golf course.
There was plenty of food and beverages available from vendors who set up an entire section of food booths. Other vendors sold various products and compact discs of the magnificent music of the artists entertaining that day.
In addition to Mayor Perrodin, members of the Compton City Council were in attendance, as were other well-known individuals, including Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
The Compton Parks and Recreation Department provided transportation from the parking lot to the concert so that the well-organized event went very smoothly, allowing everyone to have a good time. It was a time when people of different churches could come together and take part in a unifying praise event.
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