The Morris Museum of Art concludes the 2015–2016 Budweiser True Music Southern Soul & Song concert series with a very special appearance by gospel pioneers The Fairfield Four (the O Brother Where Art Thou quartet) and the high-powered Queens of Gospel The McCrary Sisters in an electrifying show called “Rock My Soul” at the Imperial Theatre on Friday, February 12, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
 
The McCrary Sisters are the four daughters of the late Rev. Samuel McCrary, an original member of The Fairfield Four, the smooth-singing group that is still going strong more than 90 years after its founding. This show demonstrates how the African American gospel experience influences every American musical genre.
 
The Fairfield Four still sing in the traditional African American a cappella gospel style they have been known for since the group's inception in 1921. They were designated “National Heritage Fellows by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1989, and they won the 1998 Grammy for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album.

For The McCrary Sisters, music is a birthright, a lifelong love affair, and a joy. The Sisters have long been the go-to gospel singers in Music City. Featured on Buddy Miller and Patty Griffin’s spirituals albums, they have backed up such stars as Dr. John, Bob Dylan, The Mavericks, Solomon Burke and a host of other top-tier roots, soul, gospel, and Americana artists.

Recently, columnist Craig Havinghurst described the experience of their performance in the Bluegrass Situation newsletter: “We got The Fairfield Four and The McCrary Sisters singing together in a row, with a range like an organ and sonic energy like a helicopter taking off.” He said it was a “stunning, core-shuddering sound that kept me dabbing my eyes.”

“Rock My Soul,” a once-in-a-lifetime experience, takes place on Friday, February 12 at the Imperial Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at just $15 and are available at the Imperial Theatre box office, by calling 706.722.8341, or online at www.imperialtheatre.com.

Southern Soul and Song’s sponsors include Budweiser True Music, The Augusta Chronicle, Augusta Magazine, WJBF/Channel 6, AtomicStudios, New Country Kicks 99, the City of Augusta, Textron SpecializedVehicles, SRP Federal Credit Union, Drew Expositions, FPL Foods, Inc., GoldMech, Inc., Howard Lumber, Regions Mortgage, American Family Insurance, Augusta Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc., Blanchard & Calhoun Real Estate, Turner’s Keyboards, Inc., Busby’s Heating and Air, CareSouth, Augusta ENT Associates, Wife Saver, The White Horse, Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival, Quick Way Flower Shop, and Dr. Christine & Dee Crawford -McDonald's Medical Center.