Alexander Hamilton, RIP: Aretha Franklin’s ‘Amazing Grace’ Choir Director/Arranger Remembered by Documentary Producer

Alexander Hamilton, who died Jan. 30 at age 77, was a conductor and arranger who was in a position so as to add “film star” to his credit within the final years of his life. His work on Aretha Franklin’s 1972 “Wonderful Grace” album — licensed because the bestselling album of her profession — was heard by thousands and thousands over a interval of just about 5 many years earlier than Franklin followers really bought to see in addition to hear Hamilton’s handiwork because the arranger and conductor of that music. When the movie rendering of that recording lastly got here out in 2018, Hamilton loomed as practically as giant a character on-screen as its ostensible stars, James Cleveland and Franklin herself.

The producer of the “Wonderful Grace” movie, Alan Elliott, shares his reminiscences of Hamilton with Selection.

Till the invention of the movie of “Wonderful Grace,” the genius of the work of Alexander Hamilton was not as properly referred to as it’s now. For these acquainted, Hamilton’s co-starring position conducting the choir is pure pleasure. Nice music and nice data usually appear as in the event that they’ve at all times existed. We take it with no consideration — it’s like air or water. And like a Michelangelo sculpture, listeners may assume that the recording comes out nearly as a complete. However getting a terrific recording: that magic is uncommon.

Alex’s loss to in style music and to the gospel group is immense. Alex performed, carried out and organized scores for quite a few music icons, together with Lola Falana, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Lou Rawls, the Staple Singers, Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Natalie Cole, Etta James, James Cleveland, Bessie Griffin, Shirley Caesar and Mahalia Jackson. He additionally co-wrote the gospel hit “He’s a Miracle Employee” with Eddie Kendricks.

And… Aretha Franklin and the Southern California Choir.

With “Wonderful Grace,” Alex invented a language of music {that a} technology grew up with as if it have been sacred and holy — as a result of it’s.

That album blended in to change into part of the material of in style music. Just like the air we breathe, we take with no consideration that an association like “Mary, Don’t You Weep” or “How I Received Over” simply exists, as a result of how might it not? With out Alex, our ears and our souls wouldn’t have identified what we have been lacking! As choir member Mary Corridor stated, “Alex created the sound of ‘Wonderful Grace.’ He was unimaginable.”

Jerry Wexler [co-producer of the “Amazing Grace” album] stated, “I took a profane rhythm part and put it in a sacred place.” Alex was Jerry’s inverse, taking his sacred voicings, voices, rhythms, interpretations and power and incorporating that profane rhythm part of Bernard Purdie, Chuck Rainey, Poncho Morales, Cornell Dupree and Kenny Luper.

Alexander Hamilton is a star in our movie, Alex urges, cajoles, teases the choir — and the cameras (he knew carry out!) — to exultancy. Driving the crest of musical power like a zen surfer, Alex introduced out the most effective in his choir and in doing so revealed a typical therapeutic musical expertise that introduced the world collectively.

I met Alex shortly after getting the rights to “Wonderful Grace.” We met at a piano. How I used to be thrilled to look at his palms play these voicings that I grew up with. Alex and his wife Alicia grew to become household. We traveled to the Telluride Movie Competition the place Meryl Streep fan-girled Alex and, by way of many risks, getting Alex’s masterpiece of “Wonderful Grace” into the general public consciousness…

“Wonderful Grace,” the movie, took the persistence of 47 years of ready to come back out. After I met Alex, it was 12 months 36 of ready for his close-up. He confirmed up at most of the movie screenings as we tried to lift cash, invariably unsuccessfully. We handed the hat and it often got here again with lint. Alex was affected person. He was a person of religion and good humor. He had the solidity of realizing.

He was the good Alexander Hamilton. When Lakers coach Phil Jackson met Alex at a screening, Phil famous that Alex regarded nothing like he did on the $10 invoice.

Alex’s connection along with his choir — the Southern California Neighborhood Choir, which Alex carried out for James Cleveland — continues. It’s anticipated to say that it’s everlasting, as a result of the trope is a trope, and likewise as a result of it’s true. The choir had lunches collectively nearly 50 years after “Wonderful Grace.” The laughter and the intimacy continued.

With out query, the spotlight of the “Wonderful Grace” rollout, again when films performed in theaters three years in the past, was the premiere in Los Angeles, again on the unique church. The present choir members got here collectively. The L.A. Metropolis Council gave the church historic designation, and the choir lastly bought its film premiere.

Alex, battered by a collection of strokes that had robbed him of his movie-star strut, got here down the aisle in his wheelchair to guide the choir again on this most sacred area. The one-time film home turned Baptist church as soon as extra was graced by the remaining Southern California Neighborhood Choir.

As Alex carried out and commanded the choir as they sang two songs previous to the screening, the enjoyment of those moments felt overwhelming.

Nonetheless, this was solely a preview. When the movie began, the choir, like a Baptist choir model of “Cocoon,” watched themselves from 47 years prior.

The choir talked amongst and to themselves, now and 47 years earlier than. And when the music began, the seated choir members began to sing. Loudly. As in the event that they have been there 47 years earlier than.

And the tears and the laughter and the fourth-dimensional feeling of the presence of one thing bigger engulfed the church. “We Are on Our Means,” sang the choir.

As a result of we have been being led by Alex.

 

In 2019, Anthony Hamilton was acknowledged by Los Angeles County with a particular proclamation, as Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas counseled him for “a long-lasting and excellent profession within the music trade, and for all that you’ve achieved and proceed to do within the lives of musical artists all around the world.” Hamilton started enjoying piano at 4 and started his skilled profession at 9 when he performed organ on a gospel recording. His gigs through the years ranged from serving as Lola Falana’s conductor for 10 years to conducting the New York Symphony at Carnegie Corridor forJames Cleveland. For 45 years, Hamilton served because the director of such ensembles because the Voices of Inspiration group choir, the New Technology Singers and the Immanuel Gospel Neighborhood Choir. Most not too long ago, he had pastored the Philadelphia Church Fellowship of Los Angeles. ““I attempt to take my present enterprise experience and apply it to gospel music,” he informed the Los Angeles Instances. “The message would be the identical. However with the suitable manufacturing values, it might cross over all boundaries and attain extra individuals.”