Lyrics to You Have Won Again Jj Hairston

Tony Cummings quizzed J J HAIRSTON of Youthful praise almost his powerful gospel worship ministry

J J Hairston

Ever since those groundbreaking '60s ensembles put together by James Cleveland and Edwin Hawkins mod black choir music has been one of the staples in Billboard's gospel charts. In the modernistic gospel scene one of the best choirs to emerge has been Connecticut's Youthful Praise featuring J J Hairston. They've been utilised on bankroll sessions for R&B pop luminaries Destiny'due south Child and SWV. And all their offset four albums have registered on Billboard'south Gospel Charts. The release by Low-cal Records of their 5th album 'Resting On His Hope' all the elements of powerful gospel praise and worship have been brought into focus - the choir'south impossibly tight East Coast sound, bright special guests similar Shirley Caesar, Myron Butler and Dorinda Clark Cole and hook-laden melodies and God-centred lyrics from the talented songsmith J J that would make any saint want to get their praise on.

J J spoke about 'Resting On His Promise' and how he felt it compared with the ensembles' previous releases. "Stylistically I think it's a little more balanced than our previous albums. I think most of our albums have either been all praise and worship, or all choir music. This album is a mixture of both. I recollect spiritually it's simply a little more mature than our previous projects. All of our songs are always based on the word of God, but this record has songs which not only quote the Scriptures, simply also talk about how to apply the Scriptures to our every day lives."

J J spoke nigh the appearance of Shirley Caesar and Dorinda Clark Cole on the album. "Actually Pastor Shirley Caesar is our label mate. So I idea it was time to pull on that human relationship to do a vocal together. I had a traditional song, 'High Praise', and who amend to sing it than the reigning queen of traditional gospel. Dorinda Clark Cole has ever been my favorite female gospel singer, and she'due south always been and so supportive of u.s.. So I knew going into the production of this record that I wanted her to exist a part. She'south the only person I know that tin bulldoze a song the style she does. Having her as a role of this project was a dream come true for me."

'Resting On His Promise' was recorded alive at the choir's dwelling church building, the Cathedral Of Praise, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Just as any reviewer of substandard gospel and worship albums will tell you, all the live atmosphere in the world doesn't count for much if the songs aren't memorable. In this album's instance J J's compositions are top notch. He spoke about a couple of the anthology's standout tracks. "The title track 'Resting On His Hope' was inspired by the electric current economic climate. People are really nervous and concerned about what'southward going on, but that vocal was written to encourage the people of God to rest in him even during these uncertain times. Another vocal, 'Hear Me Lord', was really inspired past a message I heard in London, England preached by Bishop John Francis."

Youthful Praise

J J Hairston grew upward a child of the church. He was born in Brooklyn, New York where his grandfather was the pastor of Mt Sinai Cathedral. J J'due south mother was the choir director and the young J J grew upward watching his mom work the choir. Just by the time his family moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, the teenage J J was rebelling against the influence of church building and organized religion in his life. It wasn't until his friend Raheema Harrison was shot and killed that Hairston decided to make a alter in his own life. He directed Cardinal High School Gospel Choir and somewhen joined Youthful Praise. Later on five years every bit a singer with the choir, he became co-managing director of Youthful Praise (otherwise known every bit YP) along with Shawn Brown. It was so that J J began to write and arrange the songs that YP performed. When Shawn Brown left to become a pastor in Norwalk, Connecticut, Hairston became the leader of Youthful Praise.

The 35-member (25 women and x men, ranging in ages from 19 to 40) choir has come up a long fashion since they were founded around 1992 in the Cathedral Of Praise (formerly known every bit Turner's Faith Temple COGIC International). Youthful Praise featuring J J Hairston released their debut album 'Crawly God' on Evidence Gospel Records (a division of Gospelflava.com) in 2001. The bluesy title song became a hit with church choirs all over America and propelled the CD to number 13 on the Billboard gospel albums sales chart. In improver, it earned 2003 Stellar Award nominations for Choir Of The Year and Contemporary Choir Of The Year.

After such a successful debut more albums followed. 2004'due south 'Cheers For The Change' kept the momentum going with songs such every bit "Up There" (featuring Coko from SWV) and "He Rose" that was led past the crusty-voiced Kervy Brown. However, it was their 2005 'Live: The Praise, The Worship' that won them ii Stellar Award nominations and made them a force to reckon with in the gospel manufacture. Their single "Incredible God, Incredible Praise" peaked at number six on Billboard's Gospel Singles chart.

The 2007 album 'Exalted. . .Live In Baltimore' was the choir's most diverse project. There were worship anthems like "Glory And Honor" (with special guest Judith Christine McAllister), the sometime school Pentecostal whoop-upwards "Satisfied" (led by Hairston'southward female parent-in-law, Evangelist Gloria White, a former director and soloist of the legendary New York Institutional Radio Choir that hit with songs like "Stretch Out" in the '70s) and the retro soul groove of "Wonderful God" written and led past Ted Winn of the Stellar Award-winning duo Ted & Sheri. Now 'Resting On His Hope' hits the US record racks on 1st September. It'south the powerful worship chemical element that makes Youthful Praise stand out from near gospel aggregations, every bit J J observed, "In that location aren't many worship choirs out in that location. There are quite a few choirs, but not many sing worship music. I call up that's i of the few things that set us apart from most choirs."

Intriguingly, J J believes that the division between white Christian music and African American Christian music is at long final beginning to crumble. He said, "For years our music was totally different which kept almost of our church services and concerts carve up. Now since our styles of music are becoming similar, our services and cultures don't seem every bit divided."

When asked to proper name a Scripture passage that had impacted this most gifted of choir directors and composers J J quoted Psalm three: 1-3: "Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rising up against me. Many at that place be that say of my soul, there is no assist for him in God. But thousand, o Lord, fine art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." Commented J J, "In that location take been times when I felt like I had more enemies or people who were against me, than people who were for me. But in those times God has always lifted my head."

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reverberate the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Tony Cummings is the music editor for Cantankerous Rhythms website and attends Grace Church in Stoke-on-Trent.

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Source: https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Youthful_Praise_featuring_J_J_Hairston_A_worship_choir_with_a_thrilling_gospel_sound/37340/p1/