| Home | Product Catalog | How To Order | Artist Biographies | Press/Reviews | Upcoming Events |
Press / Reviews
Back To Review List »An inspirational gospel pianist with a flare for jazz
by Harry Porterfield - ABC 7 News February 8, 2007
February 8, 2007 - Gospel music is Geraldine Gay-Hambric's first love. But don't be surprised if you hear a little jazz slipped into the music she plays. At 75-years-young this acclaimed pianist plans to keep playing and playing.
For more than 70 years the piano has been the other heart beat in her life. Even today, that hasn't changed. Geraldine is known for her jazz-influenced gospel sound. She learned in the beginning by watching her sister take lessons.
"I didn't learn. It was a gift. By me seeing my sister, I was carried away by her piano playing," the musician said.
With her late sisters, Evelyn and Mildred, she toured the country in the late1940's and early 1950'S. They appeared at New York's Apollo Theater, Carnegie Hall, the Astrodome and the Washington Mall, among other venues.
"My oldest sister, Evelyn, began to write our music," Geraldine said. "She would teach us the songs. After we would learn the song, she would say, 'Geraldine, you put the style and beat to it.'"
After her years of performing, Geraldine has never learned to read music.
"That's one thing I regret," she said. "Sometimes, I see people playing the piano and I've asked them, 'Could you teach me how to read music?' And they say, 'Geraldine, you don't want to play by music.' They say that I don't want to learn. Yes, I want to learn!"
Geraldine is the minister of music at her brother's church and plays there every Sunday. >> Geraldine Gay-Hambric: legendary gospel pianist, recording artist and someone you should know. ABC7 Chicago would like to thank the Olive Harvey College for supplying the venue for this story. The gospel concerts will continue there through the month of February.