Formal Announcement of the Passing of Dr. Edna Tatum, "The Voice"

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From TBGB Friend Sande Rose:

After a lifetime of dedicated service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to the Gospel music industry, we sadly announce the passing of “The Voice,” Dr. Edna Tatum. Dr. Tatum peacefully made her transition from labor to reward on Friday, March 14, 2014 in Los Angeles, CA.

Edna Tatum is widely known as a legendary commentator in the Gospel music arena. Her career began extending words of welcome, reading the Sunday morning church announcements and introducing choirs, groups and soloists at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Los Angeles, CA.

Her ability to articulate eloquently, expressively and enthusiastically launched her into a vast arena of narrating concerts and introducing Gospel artists from coast to coast. Ms. Tatum is also widely recognized as “The Voice” of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc. (GMWA), founded by Rev. James Cleveland and presently headed by Bishop Albert Jamison.

Rev. James Cleveland recognized Edna’s talents and requested that she personally introduce him and the Southern California Community Choir on numerous occasions. Ms. Tatum’s career has included hosting the “Gospel Music Academy Awards” at the Apollo Theatre in New York; “Gospel Music at the University of California” (San Diego) and concerts for Charles Fold and the Charles Fold Singers in Cincinnati, OH and many other choirs across America. She was invited to perform at the McDonald’s Gospel Fests in Northern California, Detroit and Los Angeles, as well as serving as one of the guest hosts at the largest outdoor Gospel Festival held each year in Chicago. Edna proudly holds the sole distinction of narrating a Gospel music concert at the Sultan’s Pool in Tel Aviv, Israel.

In addition to her many appearances, Edna can be heard on recordings with such artists as: Rev. James Cleveland, the Los Angeles Gospel Messengers, The Northern & Southern California Chapters of the GMWA, the Southern California Community Choir, Rev. Albert Jamison and the New York State Mass Choir, Institutional Church of God In Christ Radio Mass Choir (Brooklyn, NY), Kurt Carr & the Kurt Carr Singers, Bishop Walter Hawkins & The Love Center Choir, Rev. Daryl Coley, Dottie Peoples, Ami Rushes and so many others.

Edna recorded her own CD, “Words and Music Volume 1” with the famed Billy Preston. One of the selections, “Praise God” is played daily on radio programs across the country. In July 2013, to critical acclaim, Edna released her latest 3 record single, “How Great Thou Art”, produced by Pastor Rudolph Stanfield, Jr.

Over the past 40 years, Edna has hosted various Gospel music radio programs. For more than the past two decades, until her demise, she was host of the Gospel Classics with Edna Tatum radio show, heard Sunday mornings from 6am – 8am (PST) over Pacifica Radio KPFK 90.7 FM and live-streaming over the internet at www.kpfk.org. God gifted Edna with an unusual ability to vibrantly, vividly and vivaciously orate, which she used to glorify and lift His name.