Editorials

The legacy of musician, professor and minister W. Hazaiah Williams will be honored during a memorial concert Saturday night at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Oakland. 

Williams (1930-1999) played an influential role in the life of the Bay Area. He was the first African-American Impresario in the country of a major classical music concert series. For 40 years he presented world-class musicians in San Francisco, the East Bay, New York City and in Paris under the auspices of two organizations which he formed: Today’s Artists Concerts and Four Seasons Concerts. 

For 20 years Williams was professor at the Graduate Theological Union and was the founder of the Center for Urban-Black Studies. He founded and pastored the Church For Today in Berkeley for more than 40 years. He served on the Berkeley Board of Education for eight years and was active as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s. 

Saturday’s night’s concert is titled “Three Generations: A Program of African-American Spirituals.” The three featured artists, all baritones, presented in this memorial concert were all part of Williams’ concert programming. William Warfield was presented in a solo recital on Williams’ first concert series at the Oakland Auditorium Theatre (now the Calvin Simmons Theatre) in 1958. Benjamin Matthews was presented many times by Williams, including his Carnegie Hall recital debut performance. Robert Sims joined Williams’ roster of artists in 1987 in a concert at Oakland’s Scottish Rite Auditorium. 

This concert is offered free of charge by its sponsors as a gift to the community, but reserved seat tickets are required. To reserve tickets, which will be held at the box office the night of the concert, call 510-451-0775, or e-mail foursc1@juno.com. Sponsors are: U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Berkeley Vice-Mayor Maudelle Shirek, the Scottish Rite Center, Marcus Book Stores, Pro Piano, The Church For Today, The Center For Urban-Black Studies, the Post Newspaper Group, Four Seasons Concerts, and Emeryville Performing Arts. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at the Scottish Rite Auditorium at 1547 Lakeshore Drive, Oakland.