For over 30 years, under the leadership of founder and director Juan Huey-Ray, The Sound of the Northwest has presented programs of African American music and Spirituals to appreciative audiences. Huey-Ray, who announced his retirement plans last December, will be honored by the organization for his years of service with a motorcade tribute on June 27.
Founded in 1987 by Huey-Ray, The Sound of the Northwest is among a small number of choirs nationwide that that focus on the performance of African American music and Spirituals. The group has performed throughout the Puget Sound region and beyond, for diverse audiences in schools, concert halls, civic centers, and churches of many different denominations. They have performed with the Seattle Opera, the Seattle Choral Society, and in 2012 had the distinct honor of performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
As director of The Sound of the Northwest, Huey-Ray saw to it that concerts included not only music but a generous dose of history, culture, and inspiration, designed to promote awareness and appreciation of the African American heritage and awaken spiritual connections to encourage love and peace among all people.
Huey-Ray’s broader vision was to provide a nurturing environment for Blacks in the performing arts, as creators or performers. As part of this vision, he founded Cultural Pursuits, a nonprofit organization that served as the umbrella for The Sound of the Northwest and a variety of other artistic and cultural programs which include the musical “Look What a Wonder Jesus Has Done” based on the Denmark Vesey Slave Conspiracy of 1822, and “Fortune’s Bones”, a collaboration between Cultural Pursuits and the Seattle Theater Group.
To appreciate the depth of Huey-Ray’s experience and talents, it is necessary to look at the totality of his life experiences. Born in the South into a family of musicians and raised in the Midwest by a great-aunt, Juan Huey-Ray is steeped in the music of the African American heritage. He started singing in the All-City Boy Choristers in St. Louis, Missouri while in fifth grade. Growing up in the 1950s, he was part of an award-winning doo-wop group that distinguished itself by singing vocal jazz in addition to the more popular R & B tunes of the era. His gifted musical ear enabled him to teach the complex harmonies and rhythms of jazz to his peers.
Huey-Ray’s many accomplishments include serving as rehearsal director for Jester Hairston. He was also recruited to teach and sing with the Seattle Peace Chorus on a peace mission to the then Soviet Union. In 1987 he was chosen to assemble a choir for the convention of the International Association of Minister’s Wives and Minister’s Widows – this was the beginning of The Sound of the Northwest.
In December 2019, Huey-Ray announced his retirement plans for June 27, 2020. Plans to honor their beloved Maestro Huey-Ray at a retirement concert were postponed because of Covid-19. The choir has decided to recognize Huey-Ray’s legacy with a motorcade tribute to be held on June 27 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Motorcade participants will gather in the Mount Zion Baptist Church parking lot, 1634 19th Ave. in Seattle, at 1:30 pm to form the line for the motorcade and drive past the home of honorees Juan and Doris Huey-Ray. The event will include a recorded virtual video musical tribute, and a presentation to Huey-Ray by The Sound of the Northwest’s President, Eldridge Harding.
In keeping with Huey-Ray’s tradition of community networking and involvement within the local African American community and beyond, The Sound of the Northwest welcomes community members to join in the June 27th event to show their appreciation for retiring Founder and Director Juan Huey-Ray. Community members wishing to participate in the June 27th Motorcade should RSVP to Eldridge Harding at (301) 787-8064 or via email eldridgeharding@hotmail.com or Jessilyn Head at (206) 949-5012 or via email Rockwood.la@prodigy.net.
Following Mr. Huey-Ray’s retirement, The Sound of the Northwest will strive to maintain and expand on the legacy of Huey-Ray, working under the direction of Dr. Stephen Newby with Huey-Ray as esteemed Director, Emeritus.
