AL.com September 28, 2011 Alabama A&M has connection to civil rights icon Joseph Lowery birthday celebration HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Alabama A&M University will play a special role next month in the 90th birthday celebration of Rev. Joseph Lowery, the renowned civil rights activist and native of Huntsville. Renowned conductor and composer Dr. Henry Panion, an Alabama A&M University alumnus, will conduct a symphony in the Oct. 9 birthday tribute to Lowery. Dr. Panion will conduct the Atlanta Symphony in a performance of "Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery: His Words - Our Gift, A Musical Experience" at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. Hosted by CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien, the event is slated to feature star-studded appearances by Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Holiday, Peabo Bryson, Lady Tramaine Hawkins, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Cicely Tyson, the Morehouse and Spelman College Glee Clubs, and many others. Lowery was the SCLC's longest-serving president from 1977-97 and the 2009 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work during the civil rights movement. Lowery also gave the benediction at the 2008 inauguration of President Barack Obama. In an Alabama A&M press release, Dr. Alease S. Sims, the AAMU alumna and a lead plaintiff in the long-running Knight-Sims higher education desegregation lawsuit, recalled how Rev. Lowery helped with the fundraising for the plaintiffs in spite of threats to dissuade his appearance at an event at Birmingham's Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. "The thought of cancelling the program rested heavily on my heart and mind," says Sims. "... The idea of harm coming to innocent people attending a rally in support of Alabama's black colleges was a bit much." Nevertheless, the rally was a success, Sims said. A producer, composer, arranger, orchestrator, conductor, and educator, Panion possesses a wealth of experiences which span the musical spectrum, from Gospel to Classical, Pop to Rock, Hip-Hop to Be-Bop, and "everything in between." He has worked with such musical greats as Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Ellis Marsalis, Jonathan Butler, Juanita Bynum, American Idol winners Carrie Underwood and Ruben Studdard; Hip-Hop artist Coolio; and more than 50 different symphony orchestras around the world. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.