MOONLIGHT DAVIS

Moonlight Davis has been singing Gospel music in the Pentecostal Church since age 4 when he stood up on the offering table and sang the Lord's Prayer. He has opened for the Wynans, conducted gospel choirs and sung in churches all over the East Coast. He plays keyboards and hand drums, having trained with Babtunde Olatunji. He led his own rhythm and blues band, called Magnum Force, featuring Fred Clayton on bass.

He has shared the stage with the legendary Billy Preston, Evelyn Harris of Sweet Honey in the Rock and local musical luminaries including: Erik Lawrence, David Wertman, Derrik Jordan, Vishnu Wood, Bob Weiner.

Moonlight is known for the intense emotional impact and mature musicality that he brings to the many genres his mastery encompasses: Gospel, Blues, Jazz, Pop, World Music. His harmonic expertise and ability to make a standard song into his own unique expression, has wowed audiences of any age, or musical taste, from Canada to New York to Virginia.

In recent years he has joined with his wife, Morning Star Chenven, in the group “Moonlight and Morning Star.” He composes and arranges much of the music for the group. Their collaborations include original songs, spoken word/musical compositions, arrangements of traditional music of the African American and Jewish traditions and choral arrangements. Since 1992 they have performed at concert halls, coffee houses, universities and schools, community events and private functions. They have been frequently funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. They have recorded two albums together, “Thank You to Life” and “Fantasy”.

Mr. Davis has worked devotedly in his community in the Pioneer Valley of Western, Massachusetts to promote social justice, multicultural awareness and empowerment for young people. He leads vocal workshops and teaches voice and drum. He is also known for his visual art work, in mural creation and photographic cards.

MORNING STAR CHENVEN

Morning Star Chenven is a singer/songwriter, poet and educator. Her songs and poems reflect the life of a mature woman, artist and mother. Her themes are many: life transitions, love, laughter, loss, respect for the earth and all forms of life, and an honoring of Spirit. Her musical roots lie in the worlds of classical and folk music and more recently jazz.  Her songs have been compared to those of Joni Mitchell and Laura Nyro; her warm, clear voice to that of Joan Baez. She is at home singing a jazz standard, a children’s song or leading an audience in a

In 1991 she produced a one woman show “One Woman’s Journey”, shown at universities, art centers, conferences and aired on local television.  Her latest show ”Sing, Sister, Sing” explores women’s relationship to their bodies, their relationships, their communities.

Since 1992 she has been performing with her husband, Moonlight Davis in the musical group "Moonlight and Morning Star," bringing her evocative voice to the duo's multi-cultural collaborations. Her Jewish and his African-American heritage come together in original song, spoken word/musical composition and renditions of traditional music. The couple is known for their rich harmonies and intimate performance style. They are frequently funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council to perform at concert arenas, universities, schools and community events.

Morning Star currently directs the women’s community choir” Wings!” and teaches courses on World Music and Music of Social Protest at Western New England College in Springfield, Ma. Since 1980, she has facilitated workshops in all forms of creative expression and self-empowerment for people from ages 5 - 85. She has both accompanied dancers at five local universities and created improvisatory music for dancers since 1988.

Ms. Chenven has been certified by the Massachusetts Cultural Council's Event and Residency Program.