Lee Pringle, Founder and Artistic Director of the Colour of Music Festival, the world’s largest orchestra of black classical musicians gave a fitting tribute to American politician and civil-rights leader John Robert Lewis (1940-2020):

The last unmistakable youthful voice to be spoken at the historic civil rights 1963 March on Washington, concluded his journey with us on earth today at the historic South-View Cemetery, in the City of Atlanta, Georgia.

He was among the last remaining prestigious civil rights leaders that garnered admiration from around the globe. Like many black leaders before him, collectively, the sacrifices, including some who gave their lives for a cause that continues to this very moment, carved out a path for an institution like the Colour of Music Festival to exist.

The youngest of all the speakers on that historic 1963 August day in our nation’s capital, his voice was one we thought would go on forever.

His enormous sacrifice and contributions for the betterment of all of God’s children, black, white and other communities, will never be forgotten.

Rest on, John Robert Lewis, your struggle for all of us will never be forgotten.