The recording of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Abby Dobson (produced by Steve Wallace) came about in a short conversation amongst friends Gil Robertson IV and Kevin Harewood. Robertson’s second book Family Affair- What It Means to Be African American Today (Agate Press) had just been released and he mentioned to Harewood that he felt music flowing like “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and wished he had a version to go with the book. Harewood just said, “I know exactly what to do” and called his friends Abby Dobson and Steve Wallace. The result is a soulfully actuating version of song often referred to as “The Black National Anthem” that seeks to become as memorable as the versions that preceded it.
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