MLK ‘Realizing the Dream’ Concert at UA Presents Benita Washington

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Gospel artist Benita Washington will highlight the 18th annual Martin Luther King Jr. “Realizing the Dream” concert at The University of Alabama’s Moody Music Concert Hall, Saturday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for the performance are $15 and will go on sale Monday, Jan. 8 at the Moody Music Concert Hall box office. For ticket information or a credit card purchase, call the box office at 205/348-7111.

Washington is the winner of the 2003 Gospel Dream talent search competition, a reality show in which she competed against more than 500 singers and won a recording contract. In 2004, Washington released “Hold On” to rave reviews. In its first week, “Hold On” hit multiple slots on Billboard magazine’s charts including: No. 6 on Top Gospel Albums, No. 16 on Top Mainstream Christian Albums, No. 27 on Top Current Contemporary Christian Chart and No. 30 on Top 50 Albums Chart. Washington spent most of 2005 recording, touring and ministering at many different venues. She currently is working on her sophomore album, “Renaissance.”

Local participants in the program will include students from Stillman College, Shelton State Community College, UA and the Tuscaloosa area schools citywide choir.

The annual “Realizing the Dream” event, sponsored by UA, Stillman and Shelton State, serves as a lasting tribute to the life and memory of Martin Luther King Jr. by presenting some of America’s best-known performers from the stage, screen and recording studio. Past performers have included Marlon Jordan Quintet, Yolanda Adams, Al Green, Ossie Davis, Sidney Poitier, Roberta Flack, Harry Belafonte, Cicely Tyson, Take 6 and Tonea Stewart.