by S. Rotan Hale
Antonio Hash and his UBU production team pulled out all the stops Friday, March 25 for a show that by all accounts rated right up there with anything featured on BET.
It was a night charged with a host of extraordinary performances by national and local singers and dancers backed by an incredibly tight UBU band. The line-up also included spoken word performances and an abbreviated fashion show.
The pristine voice of Lauren Harris as narrator, added a professional touch and perfectly framed the show’s many segments with insightful narratives that often included biblical verse.
Held at Roanoke’s Jefferson Center, the well-attended event was billed as an honors program with the theme “Together We Stand.” Throughout the show that lasted over 3 hours, 23 individuals were recognized for their service in various areas.
Among those was Samuel Clay who received the UBU Legend Award. Clay is a retired veteran with over 30 years service with Roanoke City Sheriff’s Dept.
Recovering from back surgery he made his way toward the stage and said, “I was told not to climb stairs but God told me to get rid of this crutch.”
Tossing his crutch, Clay triggered a spirited uproar and brought the house down as he proceeded to climb the stairs to accept his award.
Accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award, longtime educator Doris Ennis expressed allegiance to her parents who stressed the necessity of “getting an education.”
Ennis began her teaching career at Roanoke’s Booker T. Washington Junior High School in 1962 and amazingly has continued with Roanoke City Schools for 54 years.
“Education is the key to unlocking doors which lead to opening avenues to fulfill your hopes and dreams,” she added and on a more humorous note said it was a joy when young people tell her, “you taught my grandmother.”
One of the most power-packed performances came from local vocalist Dr. Valarie Hash who rocked the stage backed by a young troupe of high-energy UBU dancers that added a hip-hop flair and gave a youthful balance to the entire gospel extravaganza.
Through spoken word, Ashley Rhame and Mellisa May with her biblical cadence, truly delivered powerful and well-articulated presentations that proved to uplift the crowd.
Hash’s rip-roaring performance of Pastor Charles Jenkins’ popular hit “This Means War” raised the roof of the hall and took the gospel way over the top.
National recording artist Kefia Rollerson opened singing “How Great Thou Art.” The soulful and somber beginning quickly morphed into a collaboration with the crowd that totally connected on all levels and the spirit was in the house.
Featured headliner Le’Andria Johnson closed the evening with a set that kept it all real.
With her strong and magnificently controlled voice, she opened with “Thank You Lord” through which she interjected candid confessions about her present abstinence from alcohol.
“I am not the perfect saint and I’ve made mistakes and I’ve fallen but God is the only one who will look beyond my faults and see my needs.”
“Sometimes you have to shut some things down just to hear what the Lord has to say,” she exclaimed holding the crowd in a feverish frenzy.
Getting up close and personal, Johnson proceeded to exit the stage and took her show down into the isles performing “Be Not dismayed,” proving her allegiance to connect with her fans on the deepest level.
Not every city has innovators with the initiative and resources to pull off such a well-organized and elaborate production as the UBU Honors.
Kudos to Roanoke’s own Antonio Hash and his entire team for an extraordinary and spiritually uplifting experience that took the local gospel scene to new heights.
