The Total Experiece Gosel Choir was founded in 1973 and led by Pastor Patrinell Wright. Though based in Seattle, the choir toured extensively and performed around the world.

Wright formed a choir at Franklin High School as an alternative activity for African-American students in 1970, but when a school-funding levy failed in 1973, her position was cut and she began the community choir. Membership was initially for African-American children and teens, but adults began participating in the 1990s and the ethnic make-up of the choir changed as the Central District community itself changed. However, learning and introducing Gospel Music to others was always the heart of the choir, which had its last performance in October 2018 after 45 years.

Here, members of the Total Experience Choir perform at Mount Zion Baptist Church, where over 300 people gathered in February 1987 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the African National Congress (ANC), and to protest US policy on South Africa and Nicaragua.

Caption information sources: "Total Experience Gospel Choir (Seattle),' by Peter Blecha, HistoryLink.org Essay 10391; "Total Experience Gospel Choir's last days," The Seattle Daily Times, October 1, 2018.
Caption information source: "U.S. policies ripped at 'party' for African foes of apartheid" by Gil Bailey, February 23, 1987, p. C8.