Voices Lifted

The fourth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gospel Songfest will bring singers from as far away as El Paso to Friday’s event.

The songfest, which was started to raise money for the Mt. Pilgrim Christian Methodist Church in South-Central, will bring together gospel groups, religious choirs, gospel rappers, a senior citizens orchestra and other talent at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. The First AME men’s choir will open the show at 7 p.m.

“I suggested producing something,” actor and writer Charles Douglass said. “I was into gospel music and I knew gospel performers, and I’m so enamored of Martin Luther King. Plus, we are into helping people at that level. We enjoy this.”

Like that first year, a portion of the proceeds will go to a needy organization, Douglass said. This year’s recipient is the Minority AIDS Project, which was started by the Rev. Carl Bean.

Guests include Andrae Crouch, Tony Award-winner Linda Hopkins, jazz vocalist Dahle Scott and Dee Dee Warwick.

Hopkins will present a humanitarian award in her name to the Rev. Dr. Oswald P. Bronson, president of Bethune Cookman College for 18 years.

The theater is at 4401 W. 8th St.

Tickets are $25, and all seats are reserved. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster, Music Plus, the May Co. and New Life Records, 3612 W. Jefferson Blvd., (213) 737-6488; the Wilshire Ebell Theatre box office, (213) 939-1128 . For group rates and discounts: (800) 303-FEST.