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"Youthful Praise: Live - The Praise & Worship" was both critically acclaimed and well received by audiences everywhere. The project is awesome representation of praise and worship music. What does Praise and Worship mean to you?
Well praise gives everyone the opportunity to show appreciation to God for who he is in his or her lives. Whether saved or unsaved, everyone who realizes that they live, and function because of the grace and mercy of God should praise and thank him. Worship is a little different. Worship is the time in which those of us who are in relationship with God take the time to tell him how we feel about him. It’s kind of like a president receiving accolades from his family as opposed to those who are just in the country that he leads. Those in the country’s compliments will be kind of broad. The compliments coming from his family will be much more intimate and sincere, because you know the person or in our case God a little more. I love God more now than I did 10 years ago. And I know his ways a little more now than I did before. Therefore my worship has increased and become much more sincere..
You have been performing with choirs with a while now. I did a little research and learned that you and your choir used to perform as "Teens of
T.F.T.". What was your original vision for the choir and how has that changed from project to project?
Well at first we weren’t even thinking about recording. We just enjoyed singing for our church. It wasn’t until my first lady told us to start writing and singing our own songs that we decided to record. Our first project was just to get our songs out. We were proud of the songs we were singing, and we just wanted people to hear them. We weren’t trying to become famous (still not) or become an artist or anything like that. For the 2nd project we just wanted people to associate us to the songs, and get to know our style and us a little more. Then this last project changed everything. For the 1st two projects there were 2 directors, Shawn Brown and myself. When Shawn left to become a pastor, I found myself on my own. Therefore I had to change the style of the choir totally to my style of music. Now we just worship. Fast, slow, or mid tempo, it’s all worship.
I understand that you have written and directed for Pastor Hezekiah Walker, Ty Tribbett & GA and others. How did you break into the business and get an opportunity to work with these artists?
Well both Pastor Walker and Tye Tribbett are good friends of ours. I look up to them both greatly. Tye didn’t record the song I wrote for him, but I still love him like a brother! LOL! Now we have the opportunity to write for a lot of fellow ministers of the gospel, but that’s because we’ve developed a relationship with a lot of people. So I’d say the more relationships you build, the more opportunities you’ll have.
"Youthful Praise" has been doing an incredible amount of touring lately. Can you tell our readers what they might expect to experience at one of your concerts?
Like I said before, just worship. Fast slow, or medium tempo, it’s all worship. A good friend of ours, Cheryl Jackson from Heaven 1580am in Washington DC called what we do urban praise and worship. I like that. Don’t expect a show or a “star” attitude when you come fellowship with us. We just come to give God glory.
With all the touring that you've been doing, I'm wondering when and if there are plans to begin recording another album?
We’re actually scheduled to record in April of 2007. It looks like we’ll be recording in Baltimore MD, but that’s not definite yet.
Since Gospellinks.com is a site where independent artists can get information about getting into the industry, can you tell our readers the single most important factor contributing to your success with the choir? And what has been your greatest challenge?
I’d say it’s all about God’s timing. I wish I could give some piece of advice any say this is what will guarantee you success, but in gospel music, there are no guarantees. There is no recipe for greatness. What pushed one may do nothing for the other. However, I would say stay true to your calling. Do not start singing praise and worship because it’s popular, or any style for that matter. If you are traditional, stay traditional. If you’re contemporary, stay contemporary. If it’s God’s intent for your message to reach the masses, it will no matter who puts their stamp of approval on it.
That’s what’s helped us. We are who we are no matter where we are. I think that has been our biggest push and our biggest challenge at the same time. We don’t change because of where we are. We’ll worship in the church, and we’ll worship on Broadway. But I believe God honors that and he’s blessing us because of it.
What are your future plans - both individually, and as the director of "Youthful Praise"?
As the director of YP I plan to push more of my singers into the forefront. God has blessed our choir with so much talent, and I want more of it to be heard. In our ministry we have soloists, writers, and even a female quartet group! I’ll be busy promoting the ministry of YP for a while!
Individually I plan to write a lot more for other artists, as well as help promote independent artists. My wife and I are starting a company that will help new artists understand the gospel music industry and help them to build relationships with those who can put their ministry in the forefront. I’m also the Youth Pastor at my church – Cathedral of Praise in Bridgeport CT. So I’d say that’s all enough to keep me busy. But more than any of that, I plan to be a good father and husband for the rest of my life.
Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers?
Yes. Keep God first. Gospel music is a great thing, but it’s not God. You can’t worship your choir director, and you can’t substitute a choir for church. Your relationship with God is more important than music, or anything else for that matter. If you keep him first, everything you need and desire (that’s in his will) will be given to you!
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