The presentation features music that has been banned or censored or has sounded a call for social change, and it invites audiences to experience the First Amendment in a new way.
This entertaining, irreverent and inspiring program is packed with live music, video and narration, and showcases hit songwriters, engaging performers and Grammy Award winners.
This celebration of the power, passion and poetry of music has featured a wide range of artists, including Judy Collins, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Steve Earle, Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals, John Kay of Steppenwolf, Mark Volman of the Turtles, Dobie Gray, Ashley Cleveland and many more.
Most recently, the Freedom Sings concert series has grown to include a new live presentation, “Fight the Power: The Music That Changed America.”
"'Fight the Power' offers an engaging look at some of the most controversial songs in American history,” said Ken Paulson, president and chief executive officer of the First Amendment Center. “It’s part concert and part conversation. The First Amendment has never been so entertaining.”
Freedom Sings recognizes the full spectrum of political views, an approach praised by journalists including nationally syndicated columnist Cal Thomas, who wrote in his column that the program is “fun … scrupulously well-balanced” and appealing to “all political perspectives.”
The First Amendment Center works to preserve and protect First Amendment freedoms through information and education, and does not lobby or litigate.
Freedom Sings band members vary from show to show, but frequent performers include:
Shonka Dukureh
Freedom Sings was written by Ken Paulson, president and chief executive officer, First Amendment Center.
Freedom Sings production:
Narrators: Gene Policinski, vice president/executive director, First Amendment Center
Ken Paulson
Technical director: Chris Amacher, First Amendment Center
Producer: Denise Philp, First Amendment Center
2011 schedule
Feb. 10
Tennessee Press Association, Nashville
March 23
North Central Michigan College, Petoskey, Mich.
April 13
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, S.C.
May 14
Leadership Music, Nashville
June 25
Youth Leadership Summit, Holocaust Museum, D.C.
2010 schedule
Jan. 22
Chips Quinn Scholars (Free Speech in Music), Nashville, Tenn.
March 16
Free Spirit Conference, Washington, D.C. (Fight the Power)
April 27
Americana Free Speech and Music Award to Mary Chapin Carpenter, Washington, D.C.
May 15
Leadership Music, Nashville (Fight the Power)
Sept. 23
AP NewsTrain, Nashville (Freedom Sings)
Sept. 24
Louisville Bar Association, Louisville, Ky. (Freedom Sings)
Oct. 26
Martin Methodist College, Pulaski, Tenn. (Freedom Sings)
2009 schedule
March 10
University of Illinois, Champaign
April 29
Berry College, Rome, Ga.
May 16
Leadership Music at First Amendment Center, Nashville
May 18
Community performance at First Amendment Center, Nashville
Sept. 15
Tennessee Tech, Cookeville
Sept. 16
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro
Sept. 17
University of Kentucky, Lexington
Oct. 19
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.
Oct. 21
Bluebird Café, Nashville
Oct. 21
Tennessee History Conference
2008 schedule
Jan. 10
The Tennessean at First Amendment Center, Nashville
March 19
At the Newseum, Washington, D.C.
May 10
Leadership Music at First Amendment Center
May 17
Chips Quinn Scholars program at USA Today, McLean, Va.
Sept. 10
University of Missouri, Columbia
Sept. 13
Belmont University, Nashville
Sept. 15
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Sept. 18
Americana Music Conference, Nashville
Oct. 9
Al Neuharth Media Center/University of South Dakota, Vermillion
2007 schedule
March 17
Southeastern Commission for the Study of Religion
First Amendment Center, Nashville
March 20
Free Spirit Scholars
Arlington, Va.
March 27
Monroe Community College
Monroe, Mich.
March 29
Center for Innovating College Media
First Amendment Center, Nashville
March 31
Fisk University
Nashville
April 12
University of Nebraska
Lincoln
May 12
Leadership Music
First Amendment Center, Nashville
May 19
Chips Quinn Scholars
First Amendment Center, Nashville
Sept. 17
LaSalle University
Philadelphia
Sept. 19
Bellarmine University
Louisville, Ky.
Sept. 21
First Amendment Center, Nashville
Oct. 11
Al Neuharth Center
Vermillion, S.D.
Oct. 24
First Amendment Summit
Washington, D.C.
Nov. 7
University of Wyoming
Laramie
Nov. 8
Laramie County Community College
Cheyenne, Wyo.
Nov. 14
Syracuse University
Syracuse, N.Y.