Ysaye Maria Barnwell
Ysaye Maria Barnwell (Born: February 28, 1946) is an American singer and composer born in New York City. Barnwell became the 15th member of the African American a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock, she was in the group from 1979 to 2013.
In addition to writing many of the group's songs, she conducts music workshops around the United States, UK, Canada and Australia, including a workshop she created called "Building a Vocal Community: Singing in the African American Tradition." In 1977, she founded the Jubilee Singers, a choir at All Souls Church, Unitarian in Washington, D.C.
Barnwell has been known for her popular songs that she wrote and sang with Sweet Honey in the Rock, such as... Breaths, On Children, More Than A Paycheck, Spiritual, Wanting Memories, No Mirrors In My Nana's House, Would You Harbor Me, Prayer, We Are, Sound-bite From Beijing, Hope, Let Us Rise In Love, Chinese Proverb, and Indaba: We Believe In You.
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