Gary Hines of Sounds of Blackness talked about the new Paisley Park studio upgrades, Prince's importance in the music biz, First Avenue and a great amount of history of the Minneapolis scene. Pretty cool listen.

Event: Interview with GARY HINES of Sounds of Blackness
Place: "Upper Room with Joe Kelley & Gi Dussault " radio show
Dates: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24th and 25th
Internet Stream: www.upperoomwithjoekelley.com

Listen in as GARY HINES, founder of the Grammy award-winning Sounds of Blackness, visits the "Upper Room with Joe Kelley" for an in-depth interview and music special. This legendary Minneapolis band just released a stellar CD, "The Night Before Christmas II". The CD contains the smash single "Doin' The Funky Chitlin". Hines and the band have been some of the influential musicians in modern times.

With a 10-piece band, 15 singers, and a touring contingent of 15 members, Sounds of Blackness continues to present R&B, Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Spirituals, Rock& Roll, Ragtime, Reggae and Soul - in other words every 'sound of blackness', proudly and unapologetically. Sounds of Blackness have graced stages and studios with Prince, Usher, Ashanti, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Santana, Eric Clapton, Lenny Kravitz, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, LA & Babyface, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Robert Duvall, Yolanda Adams, Lyle Lovett, Vince Gill to name a few.

For all the latest Sounds of Blackness info and CD ordering, please go to www.soundsofblackness.com and www.atomick.com.

The "Upper Room with Joe Kelley and Gi Dussault" radio show has been on the air since 1982. The program is featured on radio, internet and television. Besides its live Monday WVOF broadcast, the show can be heard 24/7 online at www.upperroomwithjoekelley.com. Earlier this year, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer PRINCE featured the "Upper Room" on his official web site www.npgmusicclub.com.