Effective period / Period of releases: 1995 - 1997

Members: Linda Tillery, Rhonda Benin, Melanie DeMore, Elouise Burrell, Emma Jean Fiege

The Cultural Heritage Choir is one of the vital performing groups in its field, bringing traditional forms of African American culture to the stage. In 1992, Linda Tillery came across a treasure trove of field recordings of traditional African American music. Within months she had assembled The Cultural Heritage Choir, originally a six-member ensemble to perform spirituals, work and play songs, field hollers and other slave songs in the folk tradition.

Solidly rooted in the past, all the way back to the African-derived Gullah culture of the South Carolina and Georgia Sea Islands, the CHC has a powerful vision of the future, as well. In addition to songs and chants, delivered through such stylistic forms as call-and-response, multi-layered harmonies, and repetitive verse, the CHC repertoire includes intoned sermons, folk tales, polyrhythmic percussion and dance.