Wake Up Everybody: SATB Choral Octavo
Words and music by Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, and Victor Carstarphen / arr. Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0001036
$1.90
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Recently released by John Legend & The Roots on their album Wake Up!, this soulful R&B single was originally performed by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes as the title track on their 1975 album. Still socially relevant today.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Pop Choral Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0001036
More about this title
About the Composer: Gene McFadden
Gene McFadden was a songwriter and producer who helped define the sound of Philadelphia soul in the 1970s. Working alongside John Whitehead and Victor Carstarphen, McFadden crafted songs that merged social consciousness with infectious grooves, creating music that moved bodies and minds simultaneously.
McFadden's songwriting legacy extends far beyond his original recordings. His compositions have been interpreted across genres and generations, proving that great songs transcend their era. For choral directors, his work offers an accessible entry point into R&B songwriting that carries genuine emotional weight and cultural significance.
Why we love this
Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the soul of the original while making it genuinely singable for SATB voices. The piece gives your choir access to material that feels contemporary and relevant without sacrificing musicianship or harmonic depth. Programming a song your students actually know and care about shifts their engagement entirely.
What to expect
Warm, purposeful, and grounded. The arrangement balances contemporary R&B sensibility with the accessibility SATB choirs need. You feel the invitation in every phrase, an earnest call to pay attention and show up for something larger than yourself.
Who it's for
Choirs ready to program music that speaks to today's world while honoring its roots in soul tradition. This works for high school treble and mixed choirs, collegiate programs seeking contemporary repertoire with substance, and any director who wants students excited about what they're singing.
How to get the most out of it
- Honor the rhythm section feel by locking the bass and rhythm carefully with accompaniment. This song lives in its groove, so precision in the lower voices matters as much as it does in any swing chart.
- Balance the soprano line so it sits above the supporting voices without forcing volume. The top voice carries melody, but this arrangement rewards blend over projection.
- Let the message land. The lyrics address social awareness and collective action. Direct your singers to understand what they're singing about rather than treating it as pure entertainment.
How to use it
Pair this with other socially conscious repertoire to build a concert theme around music that advocates and awakens. It works equally well as a stand-alone closer that sends audiences out energized or as part of a set exploring how popular song can carry meaning. The recorded accompaniment makes it practical for concert seasons where rehearsal time is tight.
Skills your students will build
- Singing over contemporary R&B groove patterns
- Balancing lead melody with supporting harmonic lines
- Interpreting text with social and emotional awareness
- Ensemble rhythmic cohesion in syncopated contexts