Ricky Derae Gospel Promotions presents: Women of Praise Mother’s Day concert
By Lawrence Knight
On May 8, 2016, some of Gospel’s brightest stars will take the stage to celebrate motherhood all across the world through praise and worship. The gospel concert will be held at The University of Miami’s Bank United Center, doors will open at 4 p.m. and the show will start promptly at 5 p.m. The concert will be headlined by the legendary Pastor Shirley Caesar with performances from Vicki Winans, Regina Bel-le, Dorinda Clarke Cole, Lexi and Helen Miller.
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with the organizer and promoter of this year’s Mother’s Day Gospel concert Mr. Ricky Derae. We met for lunch at an old school diner called Lester’s located in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to discuss his upcoming gospel event. During my interview, Derae spoke briefly about his 29 years of experience promoting live gospel events and exactly what it takes to make an event like this concert happen.
Knight: I really appreciate you taking the time out to allow me to do this interview with you. What does it take to organize an event like this concert?
Derae: What they be saying in churches? They say you gotta believe in what you gone do. You gotta be the number one believer and you gotta learn you can’t promote what you want to promote. You gotta promote what the folks want you to promote. When you put all that together then you come out with your vision of how you want things to go.
Knight: Are there any particular companies that helped sponsor the event or is it self-organized through your promotion company?
Derae: Well, the 29 years that I’ve been doing gospel it all came from me and um, it’s hard to get sponsors that sponsor gospel concerts, unless you’re doing a big tour. A national tour… I have been unable to get any type of sponsors, but I’m looking into it now…
Knight: What made you want to hold the concert at the University of Miami?
Derae: …In the 29 years I’ve been promoting gospel music, I’ve played every major arena. I’ve played Sunrise Musical Theater, Broward Performing Arts, War Memorial Theater, Kravis Center in West Palm Beach and James L. Knight Center…The people that use to work at James L. Knight Center, now they at the Bank United Center.
So we talked and things came together.
Knight: So there wasn’t a specific community or area you were targeting?
Derae: I targeted it, because it was down south and down south never really had any big big gospel concerts down there (Miami). So I say why not… I’ma bring the good news to the people on the South end of Florida.
Knight: Who all will be performing at the concert?
Derae: Twelve-time Gram-my award winning Pastor Shirley Caesar, Mrs. Vicki Winans, Dorinda Clarke Cole, Regina Belle… She use to sing R&B, now she’s doing gospel, Lexi (BET) and Helen Miller.
Knight: Where can people go to buy tickets to the concert?
Derae: You can get tickets on my Facebook page Ricky Derae, Ticket Master and the Bank United Center Box Office.
Knight: Thank you for doing the interview with me. I think I’m going to get a ticket for my mother. lol
Derae: No problem just let me know.
