Sweet Singer

CHARLES WESLEY, sometimes called the "sweet singer" of Methodism, is one of Christendom’s most outstanding poets. Charles Wesley wrote some 9,000 hymns and sacred poems, hundreds of which became hymns for Christian worship. George Friedrich Handel wrote music specifically for three of them.

On this website you can browse Steven Kimbrough's repertoire of musical plays, operas, and presentations. His one-person musical drama on the life and work of Charles Wesley, Sweet Singer, he has been performed over 500 times across the USA, Canada,, Europe, and Asia, and it can still be scheduled for performances.

Sweet Singer is a one-person musical drama which deals with Wesley's struggle against poverty, reluctant acceptance of Holy Orders, and life as a Church of England clergyman, adventure to America, opposition to slavery, social and spiritual reform, personal transformation, stormy beginnings of the Methodist movement, courage in the face of violence, family devotion and conflict, and poetic genius. Sweet Singer debuted at Carnegie Hall (New York) in 1985. Richard P. Heitzenrater, Emeritus Professor of Methodist History, at Divinity School has commented that “S T Kimbrough’s Sweet Singer is the finest dramatic presentation of the Wesleys that we have today.” Read More ...

Charles Wesley at 300 (1707-2007) offers new and exciting musical settings of some well known Wesley hymns. Imagine a hymn for Holy Communion sung to an African or Caribbean beat, or a Wesley hymn sung to a Latin beat, calypso, or reggae. Or imagine discovering some previously unpublished Wesley hymns for ministry with and among the poor sung to familiar tunes. The 300th anniversary of Charles' birth was celebrated in 2007. Read More ...

A press kit is available for your use. A production of Sweet Singer or other Kimbrough presentation at your church or organization is news. You can use the press kit and related materials to help publicize the event. Press Kit

While you are browsing you can also sit back and listen to some of Charles Wesley's hymns. Just click on the picture of Charles Wesley at the left to listen.