ABOUT ARETHA HARDEN

Aretha Harden, was born February 23, 1971 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and started her gospel singing career at the age of 6 at Pilgrim Rest Baptist church, when there was a call for someone to lead a song, and no one else would volunteer. Needless to say, she shocked parishioners and family alike with her powerful voice. As a lifelong member of Victory Missionary Baptist Church she continued to sing in the choir until the following year at age of 7, when Aretha was the only black child singer invited to sing with the choir at UNLV, which choir was comprised of various professional singers and educators from across the United States. At the age of 14, she sang a solo for Black History month at Chaparral High School, and continued to sing locally, until she gained notoriety at 16 when she sang the National Anthem at the COMDEX Convention in Las Vegas.

Again that same year, she was requested to sing a solo gospel selection for the National Black Attorneys Convention at their Gospel Evening, and to again perform the National Anthem for the convention opening. After graduating high school, Aretha sang as the lead artist for the gospel group F.A.I.T.H. (For Always In Truth and Honesty) and recorded her first album entitled with the same name. Sales of the album continued for nine years, during which time she participated as one of the Section Leaders of the City-Wide Youth Choir in Las Vegas for 20 years; was engaged in local performances; performed studio singing for various gospel artists; and participated in the Gospel Music Workshop of America Choir/Las Vegas Chapter.

Aretha then continued her singing career shortly thereafter with the gospel group Futrell, opening a concert which featured Commissioned and Yolanda Adams. Later, she opened for Brian Duncan, Commissioned, Darryl Coley, and the Dynamic Twins. She also opened several shows at Mandalay Bay Casino/Resort’s House of Blues Gospel Brunch.

Aretha Harden In 2004, Aretha got an invitation from James Smith, Director, of Las Vegas Mass Choir (LVM) to join the choir as a member, Section Leader, and later a Board Member. When the choir launched their debut project entitled Mass Appeal, Aretha was the lead singer on the track entitled New Life. LVM was designated “Choir of the Year” by the 4th Annual Hollywood Gospel Insider Awards in Hollywood, CA. Since then, Aretha, together with LVM, has performed on several television shows, including “I Gospel,” in Charlotte, N.C., “Jeff Majors Gospel of Music,” in Los Angeles, “Bobby Jones Summit” in Nantucket, Conn., Gospel Music Workshop of America, House of Blues Gospel Brunch, and “Heavenly Sent” on the WORD Network in Las Vegas.

In 2006, they received the Las Vegas Black Music Award for Best Performance by a Choir. LVM are proud supporters of the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon and World Vision which provides relief support to children in Africa. LVM also traveled to Melbourne, Australia to participate in the Melbourne Jazz Festival. In 2014 and 2015 Aretha was the featured artist at the House of Blues Kirk Franklin Gospel Brunch, appearing four to five times each year.

She continues to be an exceptional gospel performer in the Las Vegas area, as well as throughout the United States.