Newark residents can obtain tickets for the Christmas concert from Symphony Hall box office or the Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs. “It’s a Christmas gift from the City of Newark to its residents,” Dr. Lewis said. Most of the performers are from the Newark area. Giving homegrown talent a chance to shine—whether they are seasoned professionals or new in the game—is what Dr. Lewis likes to do. “We don’t have to go far to put together a great show; we have great performers here.”

Development of this concert took place over several years. “The first time we did this, about three years ago, Mayor Sharpe James and I agreed that in place of the large summer Gospel event like we had done the previous three years, we would present smaller Gospel concerts in each ward of the city throughout the year.”

The concert series finale at Christmastime was held at New Point Missionary Baptist Church, one of the larger churches in the East Ward of the city. The New Point Christmas concert proved so successful that Dr. Lewis proposed going back to doing one concert in a central location during the holiday season. At last year’s concert the Metropolitan Gospel Big Band, Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, and Luther Barnes and the Sunset Jubilaires played to a packed house at the 2800-seat Newark Symphony Hall.

The Christmas concert, as well as other musical projects for the city, including the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which takes place on December 1. Concerts celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., as well as many of the programs for Gospel Music Month, are just a part of what is a full plate of activities for Dr. Lewis. He has been in the Word and music ministry for 51 years. Mentored by his mother Hattie and his late aunt, well known Gospel organist and choirmaster Anna Lundy Lewis. Lewis was taught early the importance of working in the community, honoring local legends and bringing along new talent.

“Bernice Bass, the late, longtime WNJR radio talk show host (Community News & Views) was one person who stayed behind me to not forget the pioneers of Gospel in this community,” he said remembering other local legends and mentors. “Bishop Jeff Banks always encouraged me, always saying to me ‘you can make it in due season.’”

Gospel radio personality Herman Amis was responsible for his first time on stage with one on his choirs; Professor Robert Banks urged him to explore television; Brother Fred McGriff told him to stop walking and get a car.

Known as one who could organize choirs, Dr. Lewis has established many. One of his first choirs was the 100-plus member United Children of God, a favorite in the 1980’s. That choir was the forerunner of the Voices of Victory, the signature choir of the World Gospel Musical Association (WGMA), an 11,000-member organization spread over five chapters that produces Gospel programs for radio and television including The Dr. Albert Lewis Gospel Hour Special, a program aired live from Boston and seen throughout New England.

Dr. Lewis founded the WGMA 36 years ago. The organization is currently developing a music academy that will give young people the opportunity to perfect and display their talent.

“We will be teaching and auditioning talented young people,” he said. “More importantly, we will be giving them a platform. There’s so much talent out there to display and a lot of it never gets its deserved exposure. We want to bring it forward.” He is the founder of Gospel Music Month, which is now in its 26th year. This celebration started as Gospel Music Day in Newark and has since spread throughout the state of New Jersey. During the month, the pioneers and legends are faithfully and lovingly remembered, however, the major focus is on the music created and sung in neighborhood churches and with community Gospel choirs.

In addition to directing seven other choirs and choral groups in South Orange and Newark, Dr. Lewis can be heard on Harvest Radio, WKMB/ 1070AM in Plainfield. He also hosts three television programs, which can be seen locally and internationally through the United States Armed Forces Network.

Lewis serves on the national board of the Annual Thomas A. Dorsey Convention, the oldest religious music convention in the world, where he is helping to form a radio and television guild that will focus on Gospel radio and television announcers. He was among those inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2004, along with such other Gospel greats as CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Milton Biggham, Bill Moss and the Celestials, and the O’Neal Twins. Lewis received 11 million votes nationally, due in part he believes, to his visibility on television.

Now serving on the organization’s executive advisory board, he researches legendary Gospel performers and makes nominating presentations to the board. This year, he nominated yet another local legend—another mentor, Rev. Dr. Lawrence Roberts, formerly of the First Baptist Church of Nutley, NJ. Rev. Roberts was part of the first live Gospel recording.

Half a century toiling in the field of Gospel music has gained Dr. Lewis a great measure of respect, admiration, and honors, including the naming of Dr. Albert Lewis Jr. Blvd. (the corner of Lyons Avenue and Parkview Terrace) in his hometown of Newark. Attaining success was by no means easy, however. “When I started out there were people who thought I was of little consequence,” he said.

“I was a mouse among lions. But God marks all of us for some measure of greatness, and, if you hold out and don’t give up, you will get the victory.”