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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 29, 2000)
March 29, 2000 Page B3 (Tlje }JorUanò ©bseruer )3ortliutò (ÌMisii mu Metro/Religion Urban gospel demonstrates its important strengths in J2K Since the mid-1980s when young Gospel groups such as The Winans, Commissioned and BeBe & CeCe began to add their unique sounds to the canon o f gospel music, the voice o f Urban Gpspel has become an increasingly important force in the Gospel music marketplace. While those artists moved from the fringes o f Contemporary Gospel to carve out a niche for Urban Gospel, they also spawned a new wave artists that virtually exploded onto the scene throughout the decade o f the 1990s. Many o f the very special artists formed in the birthing chambers o f that period have com e together, loaning their vocal, songwriting and p ro d u c tio n g ifts to c re a te one spectacular event album— J2K. The thirteen original songs included on this project reflect the essence o f the timeless message o f Jesus Christ, retold in a musical language that is entirely timely. Men o f Standard (“Love”) Lowell Pye, Isaac Carree, Bryan Pierce and M ich ael B acon w ere a c c o m p lish e d in th e g o sp el com m unity as individuals years b e fo re c o m in g to g e th e r as an ensemble. Isaac and Lowell were former lead singers with John P. Kee’s New Life Community Choir, while Bryan served as a youth minister with Bishop Paul S. Morton, Presiding Bishop o f the Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship. Michael sang in a number o f local groups in an around Dallas, Texas. When they combined their musical and ministry gifting as Men o f Standard, they became one o f the most promising new artists o f the 1990s. Building on the rich history o f such legendary m ale vocal groups as Commissioned and The Winans, Men o f Standard have firmly established their own place in Urban Gospel history. In ju st over 3 years as national recording artists, their albums Men o f Standard and Feels Like Rain, have spawned numerous hits, including “Winter,” and “In Your Will.” They have also earned the respect o f audiences across the nation appearing in 2 major Gospel tours— Power 98 and Shout 2000—with such well-known artists as Yolanda Adams and Fred Hammond. This year the group won 2 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, including Group/Duo o f the Year. Dawkins & Dawkins (“Enough Said”) Since 1993, the brother duo known as Dawkins & Dawkins have been regarded as one o f the foremost U rban Gospel artists in the business. Their three albums have yielded such U rban g la ssie s as “ E v ery b o d y N eeds •Som ebody,” “ W ord U p ,” and •‘Wrapped Up, Tied Up.” ’ Beyond their work as vocalists, the Paw kins brothers are in an elite p ategory o f you n g so n g w rite r/ producers with the uncanny ability to make hits for themselves and other artists. Having begun their industry education as support musicians and v o c a lists for Fred H am m o n d ’s Commissioned in the early 1990s, their current success is not surprising. While always maintaining a hectic travel scheduleoftheirow n headline dates, this year, the brothers were featured in their first major tour, Shout 2000, with Fred Hammond, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin and Men o f Standard. Anointed (“Help Him Stand”) For the better part o f the past decade, Anointed has developed a reputation for prem ier vocals andauniqueability to move seamlessly between a wide variety o f musical genres. In four album s they have proved their diversity by interspersing cuts that alternately lean toward Pop. Gospel and R&B influences. Da’dra Crawford Greathouse, Steve Crawford and “Nee-C” Walls have amassed four dove Awards, two Grammy nominations, two Stellar awards, and numerous chart-topping singles. Their unparal leled vocal and so n g w ritin g a b ility is o n ly superceded by their performance prowess. In recent years the trio has 3 V e rity Records' T o m m y B o v G ospel's M y rrh Records' COMMISSIONED KIM BURRELL A N O IN T E D M a la co R e co rd s’ DAWKINS & DAWKINS DUAWNE & TIFFANY appeared on several high-profile tours, including the “Big Voice tour”, the “Christmas Celebration Tour” and the “Emmanuel Tour.” They are currently being featured along with Christian artists, Avalon and Nicole Nordeman on the “A Tour.” projects, 1997’s"Free(Yes,I’m Free)", and Relationship with released in 1999. While the flavor ofher music is reflective o f late 1990’s Urban rhythms, her vocal styling carries the unm istakable essence o f church Gospel. Commissioned (“Before It All Falls Down”) G o s p e l’s p re m ie r m ale vocal ensem ble, com m issioned stands alone as the musical group with the greatest impact on the sound ofUrban music today. Combining their unique up-front vocals with live instruments and a huge catalogue o f classic songs written and produced by the group’s m em bers, the 6-man band from Detroit, MI is credited by many prominent artists in both the Gospel and R&B arenas as their primary influence. Artists like Boyz II Men and Brian McKnight have openly credited the group with the origins o f their styles. In recent years Commissioned has become somewhat o f an institution, springborading many o f its lead vocalists into legendary solo careers. Fred Hammond, Keith Staten, Marvin Sapp and Montrel Darrett, have all passed through C om m issioned’s hallow halls, landing in the hearts o f music listeners o f all ages, and further honing their special musical gifts to expand the boundaries o f gospel music. Today the sound o f Commissioned has been tailo red for the next generation. Led by founding members Mitchell Jones and Karl Read, their latest album, Time& Seasons features the notable talents o f new members Marcus Cole and Chris Poole. The new Commissioned is poised to re ignite the excitement and appeal that have made the group one o f today's most endearing Gospel talents. Duawne & Tiffany (“Everythang(It’s In Me)”) Duawne Starling and Tiffany Plamer have graced album projects and Gospel stages around the world with their smooth sound. As session v o c a lists both to g e th e r and individually, they have appeared on num erous chart-topping projects with artists including BeBe Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Angle & Debbie, Sandi Patty, Twila Paris, Andrae’ Crouch, Yolanda Adams andCarmen. As featured background vocalists, they have traveled around the world for artists including CeCe Winans, and Donnie McClurkin. Nancey Jackson (“Praise Awaits”) A native o f Newark, N.J., Nancey began singing in the choir at Saint John’s M.E.R. Church, where her father is the pastor. She recalls her years in the church: “As a preacher’s kid, I was raised in the church and knew the church experience before I got saved. I knew when to lift my hands, get my shout on, and respond when I was supposed to respond. But, I didn’t have a true relationship with the Lord.” As Nancey grew, she became in sp ire d to d e v e lo p a c lo se r relationship with the Lord: “ I felt hopeless and down in the dumps. But the holy spirit revealed to me that God called me to do His work.” That revelation pervades her two solo The duo met whi le both were students at Oakwood College, the school that served as the seeding ground for such phenomenal talent as Brian McKnight, Take 6 and Virtue. Soon after meeting, they discovered they were in fact cousins. Their musical skills have proven to be as co m p lem en tary as th eir re la tio n sh ip . As so n g w rite rs, arrangers and vocal producers, they have a heart to inspire their generation with a message o f hope, reflecting their lifestyle o f faith in Christ. LamarCampbell & Spirit o f Praise I n the two short years since the release oftheirself-titled debut album in 1998, Lamar Campbell & Spirit of Praise have established themselves as one o f the bright stars on the horizon o f Contemporary Gospel music. While that first album yielded the soon-to- be-classic “He Won’t Let You Down,” their sophomore release I Need Your Spirit proved they were more than a one-hit choir. With a sure hand for writing hit songs and a dynamic gift for praise and worship, Campbell is quickly becoming one o f the most important young chorale leaders in the industry. His two Stellar Gospel Music Award nominations for 1999’s I Need Your Spirit (Contemporary Male Vocalist o f the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year) highlighted the strength o f his special m usical gift behind the microphone as well as in front o f the choir. Kin Burrell (“Woman”) The daughter o f a pastor/musician father and an evangelist/singer mother, Kim Burrell began her musical career with the Greater Emanuel Church o f God in Christ Choir of H o u sto n , T exas. A fter y e a rs m in iste rin g in chu rch es and performing on numerous recordings, in c lu d in g R ev eren d Jam es Cleveland’sGospel Music Workshop o f America, Kim recorded her first solo project, Try Me Again in 1995. That project earned her a bit of a cult follow ing am ong young Gospel listeners, who responded to the album and promoted the project by word of mouth. With the 1999 release ofher major label debut. Everlasting Life, the Gospel community at large got a taste o f K in’s jazzy vocal style and soulful passion. They quickly embraced her. This year her sophomor ? project was awarded a StellarGospel Music Award for Contemporary Female Vocalist o f the Year. Montrel Darrett (“Save a Seat”) From the time he was a boy, Montrel Darrett has recorded and performed as a professional artist. First as lead vocalist with his family group, the True Notes, and in later years as the energy behind such w ell-know n STOP! GET HELP! FREE COUNSELING! Luke 4:16-21 "The Spirit O f The Lord Is Upon Me, Because He Has Anointed Me To Preach The Gospel... " SAVE MONEY! BUY A HOME OR INVEST! ____________ Oregon » Washington • Africa A-ZERRA Realty Inc. 5 0 3 -2 8 1 -9 9 0 0 317 NE Killingsworth St. Portland, Oregon 3 6 0 -6 9 0 -0 2 8 1 4225 NE St. James Rd. Vancouver, Washington George Hendrix, Broker We Represent Buyers Spring Revival Restoration 2000 artists as John P. Kee & the New Life C om m unity C h o ir and Commissioned, Darrett honed his musical and ministry skills. With the release o f his debut solo album. Chronicles ofthe Soul, in 1999, Darrett carved a unique niche for himselfas a songwriter, producer and vocalist. Drawing from influences as varied as Rock, Blues, R&B, Hip-hop and traditional Gospel, he created a truly memorable sound destined to influence the next generation o f Urban artists. In Memory R oy C urry Sr. January 2 8 , 1934 - A p r i l 9, 1999 A loving devoted, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend Messenger Dr. Ron F. Mays, Pastor (5,000 MemberCongregation) Charity Church in Ft. Worth, Texas Wednesday April 12* 7:00 P.M. Thursday April 13” 7:00 P.M. Friday April 14* 7:30 P.M. Host Church Allen TempleCME Church 4236N.E. Eight Avenue Portland, OR 97211 (503)287-0261 Dr. Leroy Haynes, Jr., Pastor W ho w e al l love, and w ho w e wi 11 keep in our hearts forever. YourFamily Katherine Curry: W ife R oy Curry Jr.: Son JeanetteCurry: Daughter Patrick Curry: Son Rhonda(K K )C urry-T aylor: Daughter ■4
