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DR.

ETHEL CAFFIE-AUSTIN
Thomas Dorsey, the FATHER OF GOSPEL MUSIC, referred to singing Gospel Music as singing the good
news. Since childhood, that is exactly what Dr. Ethel Caffie-Austin has done. Acclaimed as West Virginia
First Lady of Gospel Music, and coronated as West Virginias Queen of Black Sacred Music on November 22,
1995, and West Virginias Queen of Gospel Music in 1998, Ms. Caffie-Austin has been sharing the rich and
distinctive sound of Black Sacred Music through performance to thousands for more than a decade. For decades
in USA Ethel Caffie-Austin has been called and distinguishingly awarded the title "West Virginias First Lady
of Gospel Music".
Born in Bluefield, West Virginia Ethel had the opportunity to learn her Afro-American Heritage from her
parents David and Lucy Caffie. David C. Caffie was the son of a first generation slave. He planted roots of the
old songs, and old ways, in the Alabama and indentured slave culture in Ethel as he shared the experiences of
his father, and his own personal experiences as the son of a slave. The immediate family history and community
experiences of the times were passed on to Ethel, Grio Style as portraits of her people were vividly painted
through words, songs, and music from her fathers Gibson guitar.
Ethel was nurtured and protected by her parents who waited many years for her arrival; David Caffie was born
in 1893 and was 55 years old when she was born. Lucy Caffie noticed early that Ethel could play songs she
was hearing her play on the piano and immediately provided Piano Lessons for her. Dr. Ethel Caffie-Austin
started playing piano, publically, at the age of six, at the age of nine she started directing her first choir, THE
SENIOR CHOIR, in her fathers church, and by the age of 14, Dr. Caffie-Austin was organizing and directing
the first state choir in Southern West Virginia for the Churches Of God In Christ, bring together singers from
ten congregations of all ages.
Ethels, outstanding vocal talents were also noticed at an early and began to blossom secularly while attending
Montgomery high school. There her musical talents were sharpened by being the accompanist for the Glee
Club. Ethel was involved with the Thespian Club; she debuted and had leading roles in several plays during her
high school years. At the urging of her aging parents, Ethel enrolled as a student at the West Virginia Institute
of Technology, majoring in English.
As a student at the West Virginia Institute of Technology, Ethel sang and played original compositions with the
schools choral groups and organized gospel groups in four of the states colleges and universities, taking them
on tour throughout the Eastern and Southern United States. Ethel became involved in education in 1971. She is
a graduate of West Virginia Institute of Technology, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Language Arts Degree Dr.
Austin was confirmed an honorary Doctorate of Arts Degree in May, 1997 by Davis and Elkins College.
Christ Inspiration Delegation(CID), The Ethel Caffie-Austin Singers AKA was organized in 1978 for the purpose
of having a small group of voices to travel and spread the cultural and spiritual messages of Black Sacred
Music. Ethel hand picked the vocalist and musicians who participated in the group which made traveling a little
easier. There are 6 CD Recordings attributed to this group. Music and Faith have formed the core of her life
since early childhood. Dr Austin has been asked on numerous occasions to cross-over to blues. The answer
is always a resounding NO, because of the Calling on her life, an extrordinary anointed command of the gospel
piano, her strong vocals, personal mastery of the music, her passionate deliverance of the message in the
music, her songs of deliverance, songs of redemption and songs of praise, compel all who hear to an
emotional response and life changing decisions.
After moving to Charleston, Dr. Austin organized a community choir (AKA) Charleston Area Community
Choir. Her ministry and music impacted the lives of everyone who participated and travel with the choir. Her
ministry with this choir and Youth On The Move For Christ, which both consisted of a diverse congregat of
young people who needed the Lord, was one of the Hallmarks of Dr Austins Evangelistic Minstry during the
years of her tenur with these organizations. Many souls were saved and have gone on to become leaders and
shakers in diverse ministries all over the world. She still continues to organize gospel choirs, gospel groups at
different state universities, innumerable festivals, churches and civic organizations facilitating her tours across
the United States and throughout Europe. Today she still gives Caffie-Austin workshops all over America and
Internationally. .
Ethels background as an educator, for 30 plus years in Fayette and Kanawha County School crosses the public
and private sectors.
Taught in Fayette County Public Schools
Taught in Kanawha County Public Schools
Substituted in Counties throughout West Virginia Public School System
She taught in the private sector with Charlestons Opportunities Industries Corporation
The organizer and director of a community arts program sponsored by the City Wide Improvement
Council of Charleston, West Virginia and satellite center in Montgomery, West Virginia;
Visiting professor in the music department of Davis and Elkins College,
Teagle Fellowship recipient for two years; and
Artist In Residence for Randolph County School and Fayette County Schools from 1994 to 1996.
Dr. Austin was requested in 1997 by Kanawha County Schools to return to work with students in
Capitol Academy, an Alternative High School for at risk students who have one last chance to receive
an education in the public school system
Today, Dr. Caffie-Austin conducts Folk Life Cultural workshops, residencies and sabbaticals throughout West
Virginia, the United States and abroad. The Ethel Caffie-Austin experience is a daylong workshop in which
volunteer voices from the community are brought together in a gospel choir, from various church and all levels
of experience from none to active choir members, culminating the day in a public concert. A memorable
emotionally moving experience for all.
Because of her versatility, Dr. Caffie-Austin has many talents and titles; she focuses not only on various styles
of Cultural Heritage Music, she also incorporates historical narratives, slave songs, ring games, and cultural
characters into her workshops with an ambition to expose people to various styles of Black Heritage Music.
She is the founder and director of WEST VIRGINIAS BLACK SACRED MUSIC FESTIVAL, which
afforded a vast repertoire of cultural heritage wealth to its participant; the festival brought the finest cultural
heritage clinicians in the nation to Charleston, West Virginia encompassing all of the styles of Black Cultural
and Sacred Music in existence. Dr. Caffie-Austins passion is to pass the old songs and sacred music to this
generation so that the rich cultural heritage of the African-American Black Heritage and Cultural Music not be
lost to this generation. Dr. Ethel Caffie-Austins broad repertoire enables her to embrace every style of music
from the simplest slave songs to the accompaniment and singing of the most complex symphony.
Always keeping the boundaries of her faith in God in her music in view, Dr Austin has given lifetime service
and dedication to her ecumenical ministry. She has been a member of the Church Of God In Christ for her
entire life. When she made her home in Charleston, there was no COGIC. Dr. Austin prayed and fasted until
Good Shepherd COGIC came into existence. The church evolved through several Bishops, Pastors and
Ministry Name Changes into Brookside COGIC where Dr. Bruce Hogan is her Pastor. Dr. Austins dedication
to God and her call to work the works of Him who sent her has found her serving in almost every capacity of
her churches ministry including Pastoring, First COGIC in Kimberly, West Virginia and serving as Associate
Pastor at Rimson Memorial Church of God In Christ. She has successfully navigated all aspects of her callings
and assignments, which she attributes to the Grace of God.
Dr Austin has directed written or arranged the music and narration for two plays relating to black heritage
music. She served as Coordinator of the Community Arts Program for the City of Charleston where she
developed drama, dance, visual arts, piano, voice and choir opportunities youth and young adults.
Dr Ethel Caffie-Austin met Rev James Austin while directing one of her plays in Charleston, WV. Rev. James
K. Austin walked into the church where she was directing the musical rehearsal and immediately stated, Ethel
is going to be my wife. In spite of Ethels every effort to steer him in other directions, Love won and they were
married on August 14, 1982. Their storybook romance was challenged when he became critically ill on their
first wedding anniversary in 1983 they fought a good fight of faith. He died a short 3 years later on September
1, 1986 from complications of Cardiomyopathy.
Dr. Austin has had numerous appearances in concerts and workshops throughout the US and Europe, and has
had numerous honors awarded to her. She was guest soloist at Wolf Trap in conjunction with the reissuing of a
prominent anthology of folk music for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC; guest conductor for a
children's choir in concert in LaCarno, Switzerland; toured in Europe with the Ethel Caffie-Austin Singers
numerous times. In 2001, Ethel visited Zimbabwe, Africa and sang in King Theater and Greyfriars's Kirk
(Cathedral) in Edinburg, Scotland, and Brecon Cathedral in Brecon, Wales. Ethel was the first to sing Black
Sacred Cultural Heritage music in the New, Poland and she continues to take traditional music throughout
Europe via Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, Estonia, and Spain, to mention a few
countries. In 2004 The Ethel Caffie-Austin Singers were first to sing Black Sacred Cultural Heritage in the
concert halls of Estonia, a formerly Russian controlled European country and were guest once again of the
Government of Estonia in 2012
Ethel Caffie-Austins honors are many. To mention a few:
2014 WVA Civil Rights Day WVA Human Rights Commission Advancing Civil Rights Through
Advocacy Award
2014 10
th
Family circuit Court and Bench Bar Outstanding Dedication to the Arts Award
2013 Montgomery West Virginia Wall Of Fame
2013 All Black Schools Hall Of Fame
2012 Recipient of YWCA 100th Year Celebration Outstanding Women of Achievement Award
2006 Recipient of the Vandalia Award West Virginias Highest FOLK LIFE Honor
June, 2002 RECIPIENT OF
The First West Virginia African American Women of Distinction Awards
From West Virginia Womens Commission
On May 2, 2002 year at a special ceremony a documentary film of her life debuted.
She was confirmed an honorary Doctorate of Arts Degree in May, 1997.
She was honored as alumna of the 1998-99 school year for the College of Business, Humanities, and
Sciences at WV University Institute of Technology.
She has been teaching school for over thirty years,
.Recently she has been a subject of documentation by APPLESHOP "His Eye Is on the Sparrow".
The Mid-Atlantic Magazine
The October SING OUT! THE FOLK SONG MAGAZINE: THE FOLK SONG MAGAZINE; the
country's leading traditional music magazine. and in
LIFESTYLES in the Charleston Daily Mail, October, 1995.
She was the subject of documentation on two different segments of NORTH CAROLINIAS
BROADCASTING STATIONS "Great American Music Company".
In addition, she was recipient of the esteemed JEFFERSON AWARD FOR Humanity and
Named one of the Most INFLUENTIAL BLACK WONEN IN CHARLESTON West Virginia with the
BROTHERHOOD AWARD;
1984 edition of OUTSTANDING YOUNG WOMEN OF AMERICA;
A former member and pass secretary of THE WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC RADIO ADVISORY
BOARD;
Representative for the MID-ATLANTIC ARTS COUNCILS meeting on Minorities in THE Arts IN
WASHNGTON, DC charter
Member of the BOARD OF FRIENDS OF CULTURE AND HISTORY OUTSTANDING BLACK
EDUCATOR IN CHARLESTON
In February 1994 and the 1995 THOMAS STAFFORD AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING RADIO
COVERAGE in presenting, "BLACK GOLD" on West Virginia Public Radio in documentaries and
interviews:
Appointed to the WEST VIRGINIA COMMISSION OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
A TEAGLE FELLOW ARTIST in Residence at Davis & Elkins College;
Performed on WEST VIRGININS MOUNTAIN STAGE with Joan Baez; Kathy Mattea; and Sweet
Honey in the Rock;
Made her debut at the KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS in "Women of the
Gospel" in February 1991.
The 1997 winter edition of WV Golden Seal Magazine features an eight page biography of her life.
On May 2, 2002 year at a special ceremony a documentary film of her life debuted.
Dr Austin is currently featured in Kanawha County School's Eighth grade West Virginia History
textbook-
Dr. Ethel Caffie-Austin and Singers have been guests of THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE
TRADITIONAL ARTS, at American Folk Art Festivals throughout the United States; the relationship
continues with appearances in several other state Festivals
Dr Austin has sung in Zimbabwe; her traditional cultural teaching and choral training has revolutionized the
lives of many participants in England, resulting in an invitation to Israel, and during the 2006 European Winter
Tour The Ethel Caffie Austin Singers, were the first to bring Black Sacred Cultural Heritage Music to the
largest church in Vienna, Austria.
In 2007 Ethel received life changing information while talking to a lifetime friend. Ethel discovered that she
was born in Bluefield, West Virginia but not to Elder David C. and Lucy Caffie. She discovered that she was
not an only child, but was one of nine children, and that her natural parents were both still alive. Her story is so
interesting that her book; Chosen: Jeremiah 29:11 will soon be published which documents this life changing
development
Dr. Ethel Caffie-Austin will tell you that Music is a Universal communicator which breaks all cultural, ethnic,
gender, and age barriers, given the opportunity I can bring out the sing, in everyone, even those who thought
they had no songs in them. Music and singing bring about unity, peace and understanding that spoken words
cannot equate, and the generational communication continues. We all have a LIFE song, if we are just allowed
TO SINGOUT.!
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