Matthew Washington Kennedy (10 March 1921 – 5 June 2014) was an American classical pianist, professor, choral director, composer, and arranger of
Negro Spirituals
Spirituals (also known as Negro spirituals, African American spirituals, Black spirituals, or spiritual music) is a genre of Christian music that is associated with African Americans, which merged varied African cultural influences with the exp ...
. He is widely known as the director of the historic
Fisk Jubilee Singers
The Fisk Jubilee Singers are an African-American a cappella ensemble, consisting of students at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee. The first group was organized in 1871 to tour and raise funds for college. Their early ...
of Nashville, Tennessee from 1957 to 1986.
Early life and education
Kennedy was born in
Americus, Georgia
Americus is the county seat of Sumter County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 16,230. It is the principal city of the Americus Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Schley ...
, the fourth child of Royal Clement Kennedy and Mary Magdalene Dowdell. His father was a postal worker, and died of a heart attack when Matthew was 15 months old. Royal Clement's parents had been enslaved on the Kennedy Plantation near
Andersonville, Georgia
Andersonville is a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 237. It is located in the southwest part of the state, approximately southwest of Macon on the Central of Georgia railroad ...
. Matthew's mother was born to Joseph and Maria Dowdell in
Sumter County, Georgia
Sumter County is a county located in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, its population was 29,616. The county seat is Americus. The county was created on December 26, 1831.
Sumter County is part o ...
. She was a public school teacher.
A child prodigy, he picked out the melodies on the piano of hymns and Spirituals he heard sung by his mother, and composed his first piano piece called “The Bells” at age six. Kate Land agreed to give him piano lessons in exchange for having her house cleaned by Matthew and his cousin. The star of his own radio show at age 11, Matthew played the organ to accompany silent films at the
segregated cinema where he was given the stage name “Sunshine,” and was dressed in a bellhop uniform. In 1932, Matthew and his mother sat in the segregated balcony for a live concert given by famed Russian pianist
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff; in Russian pre-revolutionary script. (28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and Conducting, conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a compos ...
in
Macon, Georgia
Macon ( ), officially Macon–Bibb County, is a consolidated city-county in Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. Situated near the Atlantic Seaboard fall line, fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is southeast of Atlanta and near the ...
.
Frustrated with the segregated South, Mary Kennedy decided to move with her son to New York City. Soon after they arrived, Matthew auditioned at the
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...
, and was admitted because of his imitation of Rachmaninoff's playing style. Lois Adler gave him a personal scholarship for study in the Preparatory Division. He simultaneously studied and graduated from
DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School is a public high school located since 1929 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Opened in 1897 in Lower Manhattan as an all-boys school, it maintained that status for 86 years before becoming co-ed in 1983. From i ...
, and earned a diploma in piano from Juilliard in 1940.
His teacher Lois Adler advised Kennedy to return to the South for his college degree, and arranged for him to study at
Fisk University
Fisk University is a Private university, private Historically black colleges and universities, historically black Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Nashville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1866 and its campus i ...
in Nashville, Tennessee on scholarship. In 1940,
Henrietta Myers was director of the
Fisk Jubilee Singers
The Fisk Jubilee Singers are an African-American a cappella ensemble, consisting of students at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee. The first group was organized in 1871 to tour and raise funds for college. Their early ...
at the time, and she asked Kennedy to serve as piano accompanist for the group. From Fisk, Kennedy was drafted to serve in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, and was sent to North Africa and Southern France. After returning from the war, he graduated from Fisk University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947 (cum laude). Kennedy went on to earn his Master of Arts degree from Juilliard in 1950, and completed coursework toward his Ph.D. from
George Peabody College
Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development (also known as Vanderbilt Peabody College, Peabody College, or simply Peabody) is the education school of Vanderbilt University, a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. ...
in Nashville.
Career
Employed by Fisk University as an instructor in 1947, Kennedy became a member of its music faculty in 1954 as an associate professor. In 1956, he married pianist
Anne Gamble. Kennedy was appointed director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1957, and he mentored hundreds of young students for the next twenty-three years. In 1958, Kennedy made his own solo piano debut at
Carnegie Recital Hall
Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets. Designed by architect William Burnet Tuthill and built by its n ...
. Over the years, Kennedy toured the world as a concert pianist and as director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. He was appointed acting chairman of the Fisk University Music Department in 1975. He retired from Fisk University in 1986.
Kennedy had served on resource panels for the Tennessee Arts Commission, and on boards of the
Nashville Symphony
The Nashville Symphony is an American symphony orchestra, based in Nashville, Tennessee. The orchestra is resident at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
History
In 1920, prior to the 1946 founding of the Nashville Symphony, a group of amateur a ...
Association and the
John W. Work, III Memorial Foundation. He received the Achievement Award from the National Black Music Caucus of the Music Educators’ National Conference, distinguished service awards from the
National Association of Negro Musicians
The National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. is one of the oldest organizations in the United States dedicated to the preservation, encouragement, and advocacy of all genres of the music of African-Americans. NANM had its beginning on May 3 ...
, the Fisk University Alumni Association, and Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Kennedy held lifetime memberships with the
NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is an American civil rights organization formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E. B. Du&nbs ...
and the Fisk University General Alumni Association. He was a member of the Nashville Fine Arts Club where he served as president. He was also a member of the
Nashville Symphony
The Nashville Symphony is an American symphony orchestra, based in Nashville, Tennessee. The orchestra is resident at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
History
In 1920, prior to the 1946 founding of the Nashville Symphony, a group of amateur a ...
Guild, Gamma Phi chapter of
Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. () is a List of African-American fraternities, historically African-American Fraternities and sororities, fraternity. It was founded on November 17, 1911 at Howard University. Omega Psi Phi is a founding member of ...
,
First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill
The First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill is a Baptist church in Nashville, Tennessee. During the Civil Rights Era, many sit-in participants were trained in non-violent civil disobedience there. Formerly known as the First Colored Baptist Church.
H ...
, and an inductee into the
Georgia Music Hall of Fame
The Georgia Music Hall of Fame was a hall of fame to recognize music performers and music industry professionals from or connected to the state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It began with efforts of the state's lieutenant governor Zell Mill ...
in Macon, Georgia. At Fisk he was inducted into
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (legally Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha, PMA, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social Fraternities and sororities, fraternity for men with a special interest ...
music fraternity.
In 2003, Kennedy released his first album, ''Familiar Favorites''. In 2006, he received an honorary
Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Fisk University.
In September 2006, The Honorable
Jim Cooper
James Hayes Shofner Cooper (born June 19, 1954) is an American lawyer, businessman, professor, and politician who served as the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative for (based in Nashville and containing parts of Davidson ...
, representative of Tennessee, entered a statement honoring Dr. Matthew Kennedy into the
Congressional Record
The ''Congressional Record'' is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress, published by the United States Government Publishing Office and issued when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record Ind ...
, which took place during the Proceedings and Debates of the 109th Congress, Second Session in Washington, DC.
Kennedy continued to play the piano for the congregation at
First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill
The First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill is a Baptist church in Nashville, Tennessee. During the Civil Rights Era, many sit-in participants were trained in non-violent civil disobedience there. Formerly known as the First Colored Baptist Church.
H ...
in Nashville after he was into his 90s. He died on June 5, 2014, at the age of 93.
Appearances in film
In 2007, Kennedy's daughter
Nina Kennedy
Nina Kennedy (born 5 April 1997) is an Australian athlete who holds the national record in the pole vault. She won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, 2023 World Athletics Championships (shared with American Katie Moon) and at the 202 ...
, also a concert pianist, directed and produced a documentary film, ''Matthew Kennedy: One Man's Journey'', which won the award for Best Film by a Black Filmmaker at the 2007
Nashville Film Festival
The Nashville Film Festival (NashFilm), held annually in Nashville, Tennessee, is the oldest running film festival in the South and one of the oldest in the United States. In 2016, Nashville Film Festival received more than 6,700 submissions from ...
(NaFF).
He also appears in a short video titled ''Matthew Kennedy: The Nashville Student Sit-Ins'' (2006), produced by The Visionary Project.
Publications
TWO SPIRITUALS, Abingdon Press, (c) 1974:
*''
Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit''
*''
Steal Away
"Steal Away" ("Steal Away to Jesus") is an American spiritual. The song is well known by variations of the chorus:
Songs such as "Steal Away to Jesus", "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", "Wade in the Water" and the " Gospel Train" are songs with hid ...
''
Selected discography
* ''Matthew Kennedy: One Man’s Journey'' - Soundtrack CD, Kennedy Music Group, 2008
* ''Familiar Favorites'', Kennedy Music Group, 2002
* "The Dream Boogie" by
David N. Baker, ''Eye of the Storm, Fisk University 43rd Annual Arts Festival'', 1972
* ''Fisk Jubilee Singers In Performance'', Matthew Kennedy, Director. Century Records
*
Toccata in C Major, Op. 7 by
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann (; ; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and music critic of the early Romantic music, Romantic era. He composed in all the main musical genres of the time, writing for solo piano, voice and piano, chamber ...
, Nola Recording Studios, Broadcaster Records, 1953
* Étude in G-flat major, Op. 25 No. 9 by
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin (born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin; 1 March 181017 October 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period who wrote primarily for Piano solo, solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown ...
, Nola Recording Studios, Broadcaster Records, 1953
* ''Harmonies du Soir'' by
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic music, Romantic period. With a diverse List of compositions by Franz Liszt, body of work spanning more than six ...
, Nola Recording Studios, Broadcaster Records, 1953
* Toccata by
Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (; 7 January 189930 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include mélodie, songs, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Among th ...
, Nola Recording Studios, Broadcaster Records, 1953
* ''Triana'' by
Isaac Albéniz
Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz y Pascual (; 29 May 1860 – 18 May 1909) was a Spanish virtuoso pianist, composer, and conductor. He is one of the foremost composers of the post-romantic era who also had a significant influence on his con ...
, Nola Recording Studios, Broadcaster Records, 1953
* "
''Ol' Man River'' by
Hammerstein
Hammerstein is a municipality on the river Rhine in the district of Neuwied in Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany.
Near the village, is the Hammerstein castle. The ancient German noble family Hammerstein, which have sponsored the Hammerstein Ball ...
and
Kern
Kern or KERN may refer to:
People
* Kern (surname), includes a list of people with the name
* Kern (soldier), a light infantry unit in Medieval Irish armies
Places
* Kern, Alaska, a ghost town in Alaska
* Kern, Austria, see Sankt Marienkir ...
, performed by the Jubilee Singers, direction:
Mrs. James A. Myers,” Pathé Records, 1947
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Matthew Washington
1921 births
2014 deaths
African-American classical composers
American classical composers
African-American classical pianists
African-American male classical composers
American classical pianists
American male classical composers
American male classical pianists
American military personnel of World War II
Classical musicians from Tennessee
Fisk University alumni
Fisk University faculty
Juilliard School alumni
Musicians from Nashville, Tennessee
20th-century African-American musicians