Hines to be honored with A.P. Anderson award

The Anderson Center at Tower View in Red Wing will honor Gary Hines, producer/director of the musical group Sounds of Blackness, with the 2025 A.P. Anderson Award for significant contributions to the cultural and artistic life of Minnesota. The award ceremony will be held on Thursday, June 5, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The A.P. Anderson Gala is a signature event for the Anderson Center at Tower View. Taking place outdoors on the Anderson Center’s Rooftop Deck, the Gala combines the A.P. Anderson Award ceremony program with a fundraising benefit for the venerable non-profit arts institution featuring a silent auction, live music and a gourmet plated dinner.

“Gary Hines exemplifies outstanding arts leadership in Minnesota through his lifelong dedication to music, cultural preservation, and community engagement. As the musical director of Sounds of Blackness, a three-time Grammy-winning ensemble, Hines has profoundly shaped Minnesota's music landscape, championing genres that celebrate the African American experience,” says Dobby Gibson, who nominated Hines for the award. 

“In addition to leading Sounds of Blackness to the highest level of musical achievement, Hines has supported many, many musicians in our state and beyond through collaborations, speaking and teaching engagements, mentorships, and his positive example,” says Stephanie Rogers, Executive and Artistic Director of the Anderson Center. She continues, “Sounds of Blackness has also toured extensively in Greater Minnesota, reaching every corner of our state.”

Hines’ musical expertise spans genres and includes pop, hip-hop, rhythm and blues, jazz, Latin, rock, blues, reggae, ragtime, classical and gospel. He has worked with the biggest names in music, including Quincy Jones, Prince, Usher, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Patti LaBelle, Dolly Parton, and Danny Glover. Gary has performed in every major city in the U.S. and toured Africa, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean with Sounds of Blackness.

Hines has also conducted countless music workshops, seminars, lecture-demonstrations and master classes about the history, impact and evolution of African-American music and culture. Sounds of Blackness and his honors and awards include three Grammys, the International Time For Peace Award, Minnesota Music Academy Awards, Minnesota Music Hall of Fame Award, Distinguished Citizen Award, Golden Scroll For The Promise of Greatness Award and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from his Alma Mater Macalester College, St. Paul. The self-titled Sounds of Blackness album won a 2012 NAACP Image Award. 

“Glory to God for this prestigious award,” says Gary Hines. “I’m honored beyond words and I thank God, my family, The Anderson Center, Macalester College, Sabathani Community Center, HSRA, Progressive Baptist, Prof Mahmoud El-Kati and most of all, The Sounds of Blackness past and present.”

About the award

The annual award is named for Dr. Alexander P. Anderson, who invented the process for creating Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat cereals. An educator, botanist, writer and naturalist, Anderson built Tower View Estate. Today, this historic site is stewarded by the Anderson Center as a hub to develop, foster and promote creative endeavors and the exchange of ideas.

Past recipients include Daniel Bergin, Executive Producer at TPT; musician, composer, and educator Nirmala Rajasekar; author Kao Kalia Yang; choreographer/scholar Ananya Chatterjea; musician Butch Thompson; actor/director Lou Bellamy; sculptor/architect Siah Armajani; poets Robert Bly and William Duffy; sculptor Judy Onofrio; author Louise Erdrich; and storyteller Kevin Kling; among others.

Tickets are $125 and are available at the Anderson Center’s website or by calling 651-388-2009.