The weekend tribute begins Friday at 5:00 p.m. with a free reception for Maureen Lee, hosted by The RIBHS, at Loominous Rug Studio, 122 North Main Street in Providence. The reception will conclude at 6:30 p.m.
A free book party and recital will follow at The First Baptist Church in America, 75 North Main Street in Providence. The recital begins at 7:00 p.m. and will feature introductory remarks from Maureen Lee and musical selections performed by Julianna Tauschinger-Dempsey and Quentin Powell, opera singers from Providence and Boston respectively. Signed hardcover advance copies of Maureen Lees book will be available at both events for $39.00.
On Saturday May 12th at 10:00 a.m., at the intersection South Court and Pratt Streets, just east of Benefit Street on Providences East Side, The RIBHS and the Providence Parks + Recreation Department will dedicate a commemorative plaque to honor Sissieretta Jones.
Maureen Lees biography of Sissieretta Jones, which will be published in May by the University of South Carolina Press, was a labor of love, according to the author. In 2003, I saw a picture of Sissieretta Jones and was just struck by her beauty and accomplishments. I was surprised to find that not much had been written about her.
Raised in Rhode Island, Lee is now a retired public relations professional, newspaper journalist, teacher and magazine editor. Before retiring, she spent eight years as a research associate for child and family research centers at University of South Carolina and Clemson University. The Jones biography is her first book and proved to be quite a challenging project.
A lot of people told me it couldnt be done because there was so little material out thereno letters or diaries, Lee said. My husband and I spent four years conducting research and combing through court documents, microfilm archives and reading the entertainment sections of publications from the time.
Slowly but surely, Lee pieced together the life of this exceptionally famed and well-respected singer, nicknamed Black Patti for her stylistic resemblance to European opera singer Adelina Patti. After all the research and writingnine years since the projects inceptionSissieretta Jones talent still stirs Maureen Lees imagination.
Sadly, no recordings of Sissierretta Jones have been found, said Lee. But she would often conclude a concert, in front of thousands of people, and the entire audience would just sit there silently, in awe, for about thirty seconds before erupting into wild applause.
Lee concluded, It just takes your breath away.
The Rhode Island Black Heritage Society has in its permanent collection two dresses that belonged to Jones, who called Rhode Island home for fifty-seven years, and some medals she was presented with during the course of her extraordinary career.
Sissieretta Jones is truly one of the most fascinating people ever to have lived in Rhode Island and her story is long overdue for local recognition, said RIBHS President Joyce Stevos. We are deeply honored to play a part in organizing these local events and pleased to welcome Maureen Lee back to her home state to celebrate the publication of this book.
Though Sissieretta Jones legacy has undeniably faded with time, Jones was once the most well known and highest paid African American concert singer in the United States, touring the United States and Europe, performing for presidents and foreign heads of state. Maureen Lees biography will no doubt bring this important performer back into the national consciousness where she belongs. The RIBHS expects Rhode Island to play a leading role in Jones posthumous reemergence as the national treasure she truly was.
Both events are free and open to the public. To RSVP, please email will@rickmangroup.com or call 401-421-0606.
For information on how to support The Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, please visit our new website at www.ribhs.org or call 401-421-0606.