To open the concert, RPM performed 7 different songs, including traditional spirituals like Jesus Is A Rock In A Weary Land, a fabulous setting of The Color Purple from the musical, a traditional South African work titled Tshotsholoza, and a tribute to the legendary African-American composer Richard Smallwood, who recently died, with a medley of his songs I Love The Lord/Total Praise. RPM brought down the house with these inspirational works!