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Page 4.. 1 he P o rtla n d O bserver . A p ril 1, 1992
I-Z A Y A
Youthful Ambassadors For The Lord!
R A IS IN S
DOLE
SEEDLESS
by Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
W hile they were busily setting up
equipm ent and getting ready for an
other one of their many performances,
the group “ I-ZA Y A ” paused for a very
informative interview.
After looking at the spelling o f the
group's name, 1 wondered “W ho or
what is an I-Zaya?" 1 discovered that in
January of 1988, at James Madison
High School, the angelic harmonies of
three (of the current seven) young men
were overheard by one o f the schools’
staff members. Although the young men
had only sung together in the halls at the
school or while riding in a car for fun,
the staff member immediately recog
nized the God-given talent of these
three friends and their potential for
success as a contemporary gospel group.
The three young men were asked to
share their harmonious abilities in trib
ute to the late Rev. Dr. Marlin Luther
king, Jr. during a school’s assembly.
After agreeing, the group gave a perfor
mance that will forever live in the hearts
and minds o f everyone assembled for
the occasion.
Following their debut performance,
invitations began pouring in. Tim
H arper, Craig W arren and Rueben
W arren (who has now embarked upon
a career o f his own as a well-known
comedian) were overw helm ed by the
outpouring of opportunities in other
states and invitations in and around the
state o f Oregon. They had answered the
call to m inister in song. They gave
heed to the call and form ed “ ISA IA H .”
A pproxim ately three m onths later,
Marlon Irving becam e a viable part of
this ministry. Their vision was expand
ing.
It is now 1992. The group has
grown to seven: Tim Harper, Craig
W arren, Brian Sims, Alonzo Lincoln,
Jerry H arris, Solom on D avid, and
Marlon Irving. The group’s name has
now becom e “ I-ZA Y A ” which signi
fies that they are the pioneers o f Ghetto
Gospel Music in the state o f Oregon.
The term “G hetto G ospel” refers to a
method o f sending an uncompromised
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Back row: Stan Edwards, Asst. Manager; Brian Sims; Alonzo Lincoln;
Bonda McCuller, Manager; Jerry Harris
Front row: Tim Harper; Marlon Irving; Craig Warren (not pictured,
Solomon David).
message that Jesus can and will save
young boys, young girls, men and
w om cnonthcstreets.Inesscnce,G hetto
Gospel is gospel from and for the
streets.
I-Z A Y A claim s that they are
“Prophets called by G od.”
Vonda McCu Her, the group ’ s m an
ager for nine months and also the group’s
“Spiritual M om,” stated that she has
watched the group grow in size and
spirituality.
“God has truly blessed these young
men and I have been blessed simply by
associating with them.”
Another young man, Stan Edwards,
has been a real source of strength to
Mrs. McCuller. W hile she isat work, he
takes care o f all the business arrange
ments and appointments.
I-ZA Y A ’s music attracts the youth
of today with a healing and uplifting
message. The group’s members write
and produce their own unique sound.
T IM H A R P E R -(soprano)bom in
Portland and graduated from Madison
High School in 1988. He majored in
music and communication at Mt. Hood
and PCC Cascade. He is presently at
Cascade with two years remaining be
fore he obtains his BA degree in Music.
He is one o f two children bom toCheryl
Harper. Tim states that he would like to
give back to the com m unity, in some
way, and continue to work with the
youth. He is presently working as the
choir director and teaching Sunday
School at the Highland United Church
of God.
M ARLON IR V IN G -(tenor)bom
in P o rtla n d and g ra d u a te d from
Jefferson. Currently enrolled in Port
land Suite University as a Business
Administration major. He plans to be
gin his own record company. He is one
o f five children bom to REv. Samuel
and Ella Irving. Rev. Irving is the senior
pastor of AlbinaChurch of God. Marlon
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is one o f the original group members.
He states that he is involved with the
group because of the impact the group
has on the youth o f the com m unity.
"W ithout the music, I-ZA Y A ’s m inis
try is not that effective. W e’re attem pt
ing to be accepted as a pure gospel
group like: A lbertina W alker, Thomas
Dorsey and such. Just as direct and
straight forward as they w ere.”
C R A IG W A R R E N -(alto ) gradu
ate o f Madison High School and now a
student majoring in Business A dm inis
tration and Com puter Data at Portland
Com m unity College/Cascadc. He was
inspired by such groups as Com m is
sioned, the W inans, D eliverance and
others. He is one o f three children. His
fam ily m em bers attend M aranatha
Church w here he has served as a teacher
in C hildren’s Church. He sees I-ZAYA
as a successful business venture as well
as a very powerful ministry. He says
that, within the group, there are those
who w ant to produce and one day we
may have our own record com pany. I-
ZAYA is geared toward youth using
drugs, having babies and living on the
streets. They need to hear the gospel. It
concerns him very much. The one m es
sage he would like to send out to the
community o f youth is “ If you are going
through something hard, try Je su s.”
A L O N Z O L IN C O L N --(d ru m -
mer/back-up vocal) graduate o f M adi
son High School and one o f two chil
dren bom to Brenda and Donald L in
coln. He states that he first wanted to
play a positive part in a male bonding
group and develop his talent on the
drums. He has performed in several
groups, such as: Disciples II Choir,
Zack & Tracy Clay-H arris and differ
ent church music workshops around the
community. He says that the group has
been ordained by God.*He will never
forget the group’s perform ance at the
Apollo. They sang “Children o f the
L ight” and won in two c a te g o rie s-
performance and stage appearance. His
message to the youth is: “ Strive for
something positive in your life and give
Continued on page 6
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Closer To The
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80 N.E. Oregon Suite 260
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Near Lloyd Center
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Pictured from left to right are Job Corp staff members Marco Navarrete,
Vincent Shorte, Poncho Gonzalez, Lana Barr, Kimberly Bridwell, Ollie Smith and
Rafael Arellano.
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