Kenyon Adams & American Restless (see lyrics to “Bright Lights” down below)

“Prayers for the People” 

SUNDAY APRIL 22, 6PM @New York Live Arts Theater TICKETS

2018 marks the 50th Anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, a Radical Visionary. This participatory ritual/performance appropriates the structure of an Episcopal liturgy and brings to life the words of Dr King written in 1963 while in captivity as a response to a joint letter from eight religious leaders urging him to stop disrupting the peace. Conceived by Kenyon Adams (little ray) and directed by Bill T. Jones. The cast of cantors are Cynthia Hopkins, Daniel Moody, Vinson Fraley, Rebecca L. Hargrove, Walker Jackson and Adams. Audience participation(chanting of text and following directions to stand, sit, kneel) is strongly encouraged.

 

 

Lyrics to Bright Lights :

Wake up in New York City

Lying on the floor

Just outside of Marcy’s – West 54 “wow”

You gonna know my name by the end of the night “well”

You gonna know my name by the end of the night “well”

Bright lights, big city going to my head

Bright lights, big city going to my head

Bright lights, big city going to my head

I don’t care no, no

You don’t care

Start up with the bottle

End it up with the bottle

Taking shots, waiting for tomorrow

Trying to fill up, was hollow

You gonna know my name

You gonna know my name

Bright lights, big city going to my head

Bright lights, big city going to my head

Bright lights, big city going to my head

I don’t care no, no

Cause you don’t care

Get lost in this city trying to find myself

I woke up with different versions

Came down somebody else

I know it ain´t right

But its song in my head

Wow I’m surprised

I’m still alive I should breathe in

Bright lights, big city going to my head

Bright lights, big city going to my head

Bright lights, big city going to my head

I don’t care no, no

You don’t care

You gonna know my name

You gonna know my name

You gonna know my name

You gonna know my name by the end of the night, well…

——————————————————————-

Kenyon Adams

Born in Baltimore, MD, and growing up in Orlando, Florida, Adams was raised with music. His family co-founded the Florida Mass Accapella Chorus and enjoyed acapella gospel singing in churches nationally. Adams is Arts Ministry Coordinator at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan.

Kenyon began to write songs on his own at 13 and performed with the group NVision while attending Dr. Phillips High School of Visual and Performing Arts as a theater student. At Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas Adams played with the band Doubting Scholars.

After graduating, Kenyon released his solo debut album Songs of the Road and collaborated with Douglas Feil and Rose Fletcher.

With the release of Songs for the Road, Kenyon moved to New Haven, CT to work closely with Ten Shekel Shirt. Much of his musical life in New Haven was centered around The Space, a music venue owned by Steve Rodgers of the brother duo Mighty Purple. The Rodgers brothers would have the single greatest musical influence on Kenyon’s musical life. While playing wine glasses in Jon Rodgers avant garde orchestra, Kenyon began to perform with a large ensemble of musicians including members of Mighty Purple, Ten Shekel Shirt and many others. The Kenyon Adams Ensemble also served as the launching pad for contemporary soul prodigy Blessing Offor.

His film and theater credits include Lucky Life, Black Nativity, Cinderella, Richard III, Bloodknot, Ah! Wilderness, My Children, My Africa!, Translations and Blind Lemon.

[constantcontactapi formid=”2″]

[20121031_0700]