In 1985 Miller Lite asked me to come up with a "meaningful" project for Black History Month. I decided to arrange and record a celebratory contemporary version of "Lift Every Voice and Sing". I called good friends Al Green and Deniece Williams who agreed to sing the duet, backed by Patti Austin, Roberta Flack, Melba Moore and myself.
The band consisted of the studio musicians who made up John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd's Blues Brothers Band, along with other notable musicians, including the late great Yogi Horton and jazz legend Jon Faddis. One of my favorite arrangers, Leon Pendarvis penned the charts and was Musical Director. Husband and wife actors Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee provided the voice-over narration for the commercials.
Recorded in New York at Clinton Studios, it started out as a jingle but ended up a full length recording.

This is the actual video from the recording session. Al was 8 hours late, which is why it's dark when he's arriving. It's a fun-filled sneak peek inside what goes on (or used to go on) in the recording studio. Enjoy!

WANT IT? Here is the link to order a digital mp3.
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