Dr. Marlena Smalls is the founder and director of the internationally known group "The Hallelujah Singers." Smalls, a vocalist and historian began her singing career in Ohio and went to Central State University, but found her way back to South Carolina in the 1980s to discover her Gullah heritage. A sacred music vocalist, Marlena also ventures into gospel, contemporary, jazz and blues. Dr. Smalls’ talents have taken her around the globe and she has toured heavily in Europe, performed for the Queen of England, and held a concert in the Frankfurt Opera House in Germany. The Hallelujah singers have been performing with Dr. Smalls for over 30 years as a way to keep Gullah culture alive.