Arts & Entertainment
Lawrence to write the treatise, “The Basis
for the Creation of the Spirituals.”
Ada Louise Lawrence, who died in 2014 at
age 93, had the same first name as Burleigh’s
sister. Ada Lawrence kept Burleigh stories
alive, and would vividly recall that at the end
of every visit Burleigh had made to her family,
he would kneel on the family steps and pray.
Charles Kennedy, Jr.
Born in 1950, Charles Kennedy Jr.,
never met Burleigh, but he was the
founder of Erie’s Harry T. Burleigh
Society. He brought Burleigh’s life to
the stage for many performances.
No one has done more to expand the
legacy of Burleigh than Kennedy, who
called Burleigh the “father of the spirituals.” Being a musician, singer and composer
himself, Kennedy explored the scope of
Burleigh’s music. He wrote and performed
a one-man show about Burleigh’s life,
which he performed in a variety of venues throughout the U.S. and overseas.
Kennedy presented the show at the
The grave of Harry T. Burleigh is marked at the Erie Cemetery in Erie. Burleigh was an Erie
native and an early 20th century musical composer, arranger and singer. FILE PHOTO/ERIE
TIMES-NEWS
Chautauqua Institution and performed
excerpts with the Erie Philharmonic.
Kennedy traveled extensively across
the country laying a foundation for the
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rediscovery of and a renewed appreciation and interest in Burleigh’s works.
Kennedy’s death in 2009 left unfinished a
book that he was writing about Burleigh. LEL