Contact: Benita Bellamy, 240-305-4082

ATLANTA, Sept. 8, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Award winning gospel songwriter and vocalist Oscar Williams, Jr. returns from the summer 2011 Rhythm Road American Music Abroad Tour. Williams and his Band of Life toured Columbia, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Guatemala throughout May and June sharing gospel music and American culture as well as learning the culture of the places they visited.

Oscar Williams, Jr and the Band of Life will be featured in a series of free U.S. concerts in September. On Sept 8, Oscar will play in Washington DC at the Grosvenor Auditorium and on September 10 at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York. The free concerts will feature various genres of music from bands that participated in this year's Rhythm Road Tour.

The Rhythm Road Tour is sponsored by the Jazz at Lincoln Center and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The mission of The Rhythm Road is to share America's unique contribution to the world of music and to promote cross-cultural understanding and exchange among nations worldwide. Since 2005, Jazz at Lincoln Center and the U.S. Department of State have produced ten tours each year that represent American music to overseas audiences.

This year marks Williams' second Rhythm Road tour having been selected from over 100 auditioning bands and musicians based on artistic integrity, musical ability, and educational skills. Last year his group toured Eastern Europe and Lebanon. Williams continues to employ this opportunity as a platform to share Jesus Christ with new audiences around the world.

Williams recently earned a Masters of Music Composition from Southern Methodist University. He also relocated to Atlanta, GA taking on a new position serving as Worship and Arts Director at Elizabeth Baptist Church where Craig L. Oliver, Sr. is Senior Pastor.

September 8
National Geographic Society, 1600 M St. NW.
Washington, D.C.
6pm, Kate McGarry Quartet (jazz)
7:15pm, Oscar Williams Jr. and the Band of Life (gospel)

September 10
Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Time Warner Center, 5th Floor
New York City
Seating is first come, first served. No tickets required.
12:30pm, Kate McGarry Quartet (jazz)
2:30pm, Oscar Williams Jr. and the Band of Life (gospel)


www.reverbnation.com/oscarwilliamsjr