The Paramount Theater on the Downtown Mall had a line out the door Friday for the Black History Month Gospel Concert featuring opening act Madison Ryann Ward and five time-Grammy Award Winner Chandler Moore. The concert — presented by the University’s Division for Community Engagement and Equal Opportunity — was rooted in Christian faith and served as a worship event as well as a musical one.
The concert opened with a short video with photo visuals and voiceover that reminded the audience of the importance of gospel music in Christian faith and the African American community. The video grounded the music in its historical context as a part of American history and emphasized how the evolution and dynamic nature of gospel over time reflects the growth of the Black community in America.
After a brief introductory video, Ward took the stage, and she began her set with her song “Amen” where she sings the Lord’s prayer followed by a chorus of “Amens” over a pop beat. Ward, an Oklahoma native and faith-based singer-songwriter, became popular after a video of her singing in a University of Oklahoma dining hall went viral on social media…