Grammy Nomination Gratifies "One Voice" Choir

By Cheryl Stewart Osborn

The recent Grammy nomination for One Voice, the debut album from Gladys Knight and the Saints Unified Voices, has been a source of gratification for choir organizer and lead singer Gladys Knight.

"A Grammy nomination is always an honor, but this means even more to me because I share it with my choir," said multi-Grammy award winner Gladys Knight. "We worked hard making this album for the Lord. It's wonderful that it also pleases the music industry."

Since its January release, One Voice has remained in the top-40 on Billboard's Gospel charts for 48 weeks. In the first week, the album soared to Billboard's #1 on the Hot Shot Debut, while it simultaneously shot to the #1 Gospel Album and #2 Inspirational Album on iTunes.

"The Grammy nomination really surprised us because it's not why we recorded an album, but that the industry took a liking to it is a great honor!" said Kenya Jackson, choir member and executive producer of One Voice. "We just wanted to please the Lord and be on His errand. We never imagined we would be recognized by the music industry."

From the energetic, gospel classic "Pass Me Not," to the African beat of "Come Come Ye Saints," to the four-part harmony of "Prayer" to the moving duet "Did You Know," One Voice offers uplifting musical insight into how various cultures worship Christ.

Created and directed by Knight, the Saints Unified Voices is an LDS gospel choir with about 100 members from the Las Vegas area, whose mission is to build faith in Jesus Christ and His restored gospel while breaking down cultural barriers. The choir presents its program "One Voice: An Evening of Music & Testimony" at LDS stakes centers or buildings across the country, and has traveled as far as England and Hawaii to share the gospel.

"The nominated is very exciting, and yet it amazes me to see how the Lord's hand is at work with this choir," said choir member Joe Apo, the soloist on the Hawaiian song "Jesu Me Kanaka Waiwai."

From Knight, to the choir members, to the musicians, to the staff, to the supporters, the news and excitement of a Grammy nomination spread quickly.

"The choir members are like a second family to me, so it's very exciting to share the joy of this nomination with them," said John Fluker, the choir's assistant director, pianist, arranger and soloist. Fluker also just released his first solo album of inspirational music title "The Sound of Peace."

Introduced on One Voice is the multi-cultural R&B group NXL, renamed SOUL-JAH, performing the original song "Prayer."

"It's an honor and a blessing for SOUL-JAH to be part of something that is obviously the Lord's work," said singer and songwriter Mauli, who wrote "Prayer." All four members of SOUL-JAH are LDS and live in the Los Angeles area.

Other nominees in the Best Gospel Album category include the albums, I Speak Life by Donald Lawrence & Company, Live at the Fellowship by VIP Mass Choir, One Church by The Choir of Life (Japan), The Choir of Life (USA) & The Kurt Carr Singers, and 20/85 The Experience by The Love Fellowship Choir. For a complete nominee listing please visit http://www.grammy.com/.

For more information about the Saints Unified Voices please visit http://www.suvchoir.org/.