UNITED SOUTHERN BAND
President: Sis. Yvonne Rice
Monthly Meeting: Third Saturday each month
Mission: The mission of this group is to preserve and maintain African-American traditional "song-style." The hymns and spirituals are rhythmic call and response.
Purpose: The United Southern Prayer Band was organized in 1940 in Baltimore, MD. The group convenes each month singing and praying at various churches in the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina. The hymns and spirituals were developed by slaves at camp meetings and revivals before the nineteenth century.
The United Southern Prayer Band is a part of the 1997 Smithsonian Institution Folk life exhibit Wade in the Water. Central Baptist Church joined the United Southern Prayer Band in 1976 as Prayer Band # 3.
“As the spirit leads you…join us, you are welcome!”