Welcomed by the sound of drums and lively chatter, attendees entered the grounds of Fisk University with one goal in mind: to celebrate Jubilee Day—a day of great significance to the school, the city of Nashville, and music history.
Wearing their Sunday best, Fisk alumni, current students and members of the Nashville community gathered at Fisk's Memorial Chapel on Tuesday, Oct. 6., to commemorate the pivotal moment that took place 155 years ago.
In 1871, Fisk Jubilee Singers, a coed group of a cappella singers from the historically Black college set out on a groundbreaking tour across North America and Europe, performing to raise money for the struggling university. At a time marked by financial hardship and uncertainty, the singers' journey became
a defining chapter in the university's history.
During their trek, the Fisk Jubilee Singers raised enough money to build Jubilee Hall, the first permanent structure built in the American South for the purpose of educating Black students.
The group sang hymns and shared the devastating plight faced by Black Americans on a global stage. Naturally, the current Fisk Jubilee Singers performed for those gathered in the chapel, cutting through the silence with their powerful voices.
"Being part of such a rich legacy is something I don't take lightly. I don't consider myself to be a prideful person. But when someone mentions the Fisk Jubilee Singers, I get so excited because it's truly my bread and butter," biology major Jasmin Moore, herself a Fisk Jubilee singer, told The Tennessean.
As a current undergraduate student, Moore understands that her journey has been made possible by the singers who paved the way before her.
"When you think about what they accomplished during that time, it is truly remarkable. These were teenagers, many younger than the average college student, who spent weeks traveling across the ocean on a wooden ship to share their music and make a difference."
The Fisk Jubilee Singers traveled from Nashville to London in 1873 to perform for Queen Victoria. The monarch praised the group as representing "a music city," cementing Nashville's nickname.
"I think The Fisk Jubilee Singers helped audiences understand the different genres of music that have come from Black people. Negro spirituals are at the core of many genres we enjoy today," said Moore.
She, like her fellow Fisk Jubilee singer Tyreek Solomon, underscored the impact the group had on the evolving entertainment industry in Music City.
"I think the Fisk Jubilee Singers have played a big part in shaping Nashville as Music City because we show that Nashville’s musical identity goes beyond just country music. The Jubilee Singers brought spirituals and African American musical traditions to audiences around the world. And that history is still a part of Nashville today," Solomon told The Tennessean.
Solomon, a psychology major, plans to pursue a career in music therapy as a behavioral specialist.
"As a Jubilee Singer myself, I'm proud to be part of that history and to continue showing people that there are so many different voices and stories that make Nashville what it is," he added.
Follow USA TODAY Network and The Tennessean music reporter Caché McClay on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Fisk University's Jubilee Day honors singers who defined Music City
