From NOLA.com:Sherman Washington Jr., the leader of the Zion Harmonizers and the godfather of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival’s Gospel Tent, died early Monday at his home in Boutte after a long illness. He was 85.
What Ellis Marsalis is to jazz, Mr. Washington was to gospel. For three decades, he hosted a Sunday morning gospel show on WYLD-AM that served as the gospel community’s town hall. He led the Zion Harmonizers, New Orleans’ longest-running gospel vocal group, since the 1940s. The Harmonizers appeared at the very first Jazz Fest, staged in 1970 in what is now Armstrong Park.
After the festival moved to the Fair Grounds in 1972, he oversaw the growth of the Gospel Tent, building it into a cornerstone of the festival’s roots-music presentation. The tent introduced a music largely unknown outside the African-American churches where it was born to a much broader audience.
Until deteriorating health finally slowed him down in recent years, he administered the Gospel Tent with a steadfast integrity and intimate knowledge of the music, musicians and singers. Given that many acts consist of large choirs, the tent features more performers than any other stage at the festival.
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"Gospel, even after jazz and blues came down to the front of the bus, was still in the back of the bus," said Jazz Fest producer/director Quint Davis. "To a large extent, Sherman’s work through the Gospel Tent has helped bring gospel music to the front of the bus. An enormous debt is owed to him by the festival, and the whole gospel world."
And here they are: The Zion Harmonizers.
Back in the 1970s when the Jazz Fest was smaller and more intimate, and when the music was all New Orleans or Louisiana, we went as a family. You know that was a long time ago. I spent a good part of my day in the Gospel tent jivin' with one excellent performer or group after another. My family could hardly pry me out of my chair to join them for at least part of the day. Sherman Washington did a great job organizing the Gospel tent year after year.
I hear the music in the Gospel tent is still very good, but as the Jazz Fest grew and grew, and the large crowds came, we stopped going, but I still have the fondest of memories for the early days.
The Lord hears Sherman Washington's prayers now. Pray for us, Sherman.
