PRAYZEHYMN Online | where gospel music lives [Meet The Brats]

By J. MATTHEW COBB
Founder, Editor-In-Chief of PRAYZEHYMN Entertainment
Updated: May 20, 2006

MANY YEARS AGO, around the 1950s, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Peter Lawford swept the nation with their brand of sophisticated entertainment filled with smooth musical and comedic routines- appearing in movies, television specials and even hitting Vegas. They were labeled the "Rat Pack". Years later, the same concept resurfaced, yet in a very peculiar and strange way. One year, possibly around 1991, the influences of a newly-revised Brat Pack made its strides in the music halls of the Gospel Music Workshop of America; an organization built by the gospel great Rev. James Cleveland to help elevate gospel music to a higher plateau of deserved recognition. The GMWA Youth & Young Adult division, established in 1971, went through much growing pains as they attempted to find their image and their place in the music world throughout most of its early years due to the gripping controls of traditional gospel. But with the contemporary gospel choir sound getting much hype and attention during the early 90s, a revival of many sorts began to take its place within the youth division. All thanks to the new faces on the gospel scene, whom debuted in such a big way that their albums practically reshaped the tone of the mainstream gospel music of the 90s. Those individuals labeled themselves the Brat Pack. They are:

	Hezekiah Walker Known for leading the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir to prominence during the late 1980 and 90s. He is a multiple GRAMMY-award winner and received his first Grammy for the "Live In Atlanta at Morehouse College" project in 1994. Walker founded and began pastoring the Love Fellowship Tabernacle (now with two locations in Brooklyn, NY and Ben Salem, PA). Recently, he recorded "20/85: The Experience" with the esteemed Love Fellowship (Crusade) Choir. Over the years, Walker decided to remove "Crusade" from the choirs' name.
	Ricky Dillard The zealous and most popular choir director of them all, Dillard established himself with the New Generation Chorale of Chicago in 1988. After winning the McDonald's Chicagoland competition, Muscle Shoals/Malaco signed them and recorded a series of memorable projects including "The Promise" and "A Holy Ghost Take-Over". Dillard and the New Generation Chorale went on to perform with Patti Labelle on her PBS "Going Home To Gospel" special and starred in the motion picture, "Leap of Faith", which featured Steve Martin. Crystal Rose Records picked up Dillard during the mid 90s and recently recorded "Unplugged: The Way Church Used To Be". Dillard is a multiple Grammy award nominee and has won a Stellar for "A Holy Ghost Take-Over". "No Limit" (2000) is hailed as being his best project to date. Dillard currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia and continues to perform and conduct music workshops, while New G (New Generation Chorale for short), most of them living in other cities outside of Chicago, performs and tours when available.
	Kirk Franklin Known for writing some of Gospel's most recognized crossover songs during the 1990s, Kirk Franklin burst on the recording scene on various projects on the Malaco/Savoy music labels. The success from songs like "Joy" and "Another Chance" led him to his successful self-titled debut, with The Family, on the newly-formed GospoCentric label in 1992. "Lean On Me", a song from his "The Nu Nation Project", was nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year, an unprecedented honor for a Gospel artist. The majority of his albums, during his first week of release, shoots up the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop and Gospel charts and is no stranger to the Contemporary Christian community. His work with the debut and final project of God's Property is best remembered for being his breakthrough album to mainstream acceptance, which was lead by the successful single "Stomp". His most popular projects to date include: "The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin", "Kirk Franklin and the Family", "Christmas" and his most recent release, "Hero".
	Keith Dobbins What is known about Keith Dobbins, a native of Ohio, is that he began his recording career with the Resurrection Mass Choir in the early 1990s and in 1996 recorded "I Get Excited"; his last major project set for national release and was distributed by Chordant. Dobbins recently became the choir director, leader and minister of music for the World Harvest Church of Columbus, Ohio (pastored by Rod Parsley). No word on what he plans on working on within the gospel music industry in the near future.
	Marichal Monts Currently pastoring the Citadel of Love (Hartford, CT), Monts began his musical contributions as a radio disk jockey and later became instrumental in gospel music, winning numerous awards for singing, choral conducting and radio announcing. There are no available projects of Monts at the current time and have no information on the aggregations and ensembles he assisted with. His church's website can be reached at: www.citadeloflove.org.
	Eric McDaniel Well known songwriter for Hezekiah Walker, Eric McDaniel began his work with the Pentecostal Workshop Community Choir during the early 1990s and penned illustrious songs including "Restore Your Joy In Me", "When We Get Over There" and "The Will Of God". He currently pastors the Lord's Church Cathedral in New York and is continuing his musical career with the 2003 release of "We Are Healed" of his church choir.
	O'landa Draper (deceased) At the age of 22, Draper founded the Associates' Choir of Memphis, TN. After winning a wide popular fanbase, Word Records signed them in 1990. Warner Alliance then signed the group in 1994 and became more popular than before with the release of "Gotta' Feelin"; which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Gospel charts in 1996. Draper was a five time Grammy nominee and won a posthumous Grammy for "Reflections". He passed away on July 21, 1998 due to reports of renal failure. The Associates, his group, recorded one project after his death and decided to bow out gracefully.
	Donald Lawrence This North Carolina native emerged upon the recording scene with the Tri-City Singers during the early 1990s after a brief stint as music director for R&B diva Stephanie Mills. This group recorded several successful records on the GospoCentric and Crystal Rose label (the latter being one he was instrumental in founding). EMI Gospel later signed him with the group and continued to release groundbreaking gospel recordings. Lawrence's productions skills had matured and increased on multiple recordings for other artists including T.D. Jakes, Karen Clark-Sheard and Rodnie Bryant. Lawrence recently announced the retirement for the Tri-City Singers and closed their final chapter with "Finale'"; their last live recording held at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia.

Other artists, whom were highly associated with the Brat Pack, and were labeled auxiliary members of the Pack were:

Danny Eason
After founding the Abundant Life Youth Crusade Choir in 1992, Eason became well known for his choral leadership and his songwriting abilities. This lead him to record "A New Beginning" in 1998; their only recording to date. Eason was a well known favorite at the Gospel Music Workshop of America in both the Men and Youth & Young Adult departments. In May 2004, Abundant Life reunited for a special live recording session and is soon to be released on compact disc in the near future. Eason has also established his own clothing line and a new music label (D&D Music Group).

Mark S. Hubbard
In 1985, Mark S. Hubbard, with his love for choir directing, started the United Voices of Christ. In 1992, they were signed to Tyscot Records and recorded several successful projects and became one of Chicago's most celebrated choirs. Hubbard was also primarily responsible in launching the music ministry of the Sweet Holy Spirit (Full Gospel Baptist) Church to prominence and also served as the National Assistant Minister of Music of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. His recent release "Blessin' Waiting On Me", received a Stellar Award in 2006.

Oscar Hayes
Breaking out on the Tyscot label, Oscar Hayes and his Abundant Life Fellowship Chorale (not to be confused with Danny Eason's group) stormed the recording scene in the early 1990s. His breakthrough track, "None But The Righteous", found on the "Got 2 Tell It" 1991 album, was a popular favorite for youth and community choirs and can be found on a number of Tyscot compilation projects. No word is available on his recent achievements.

Maurice Culpepper
Best known for leading the Cathedral of Faith (COGIC) Choir of Atlanta, Culpepper is best known for his organizational skills and his effective vocal teaching. The Cathedral of Faith Choir recorded two projects on the Savoy music label and is best known for recording "He's Worthy"; a tune penned by the late John Askew. Culpepper also exercised his songwriting skills and knack for production development on several projects which include artists such as LaShun Pace, Keith Brooks & New Creation and Byron Cage. He currently serves as the Minister of Music of the Citadel of Hope Evangelistic Church of God In Christ, pastored by Nathan Simmons.

John P. Kee
Known as the Prince of Gospel Music, John P. Kee established the New Life Community Choir and helped transform the contemporary gospel music genre with hits such as "Jesus Is Real", "Show Up!", "Wash Me", "We Walk By Faith" and "I Must Tell Jesus". John P. Kee, with his famed choir, is a multiple Grammy, Dove, Soul Train Music and Stellar Award nominee and has won several awards and have received gold status for records including "Show Up!" and "Not Guilty: The Experience". His last recording to date, "The Reunion", features a stellar cast of former New Life members and special guests paying tribute to the choir that helped change the music climate of the 1990s for the better.

Dirk Chaney (deceased)
After attending and graduating Morehouse College in Atlanta, Dirk Chaney became a member of the Atlanta Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America and in 1989 attained the minister of music position of the chapter. He was also appointed to Staff Director of the Georgia Mass Choir. This also led him to establish Chosen Aggregation in 1993; which has only released two independent projects to date. Chaney also served as the Assistant Minister of Music of the New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church; pastored by Bishop James Morton. On November 17, 2002, Chaney passed away of AIDS complications.

These individuals were highly responsible for the popularity of the highly-energized and popular Youth Midnight Musicals, which catered to the fastly-growing musical trends of modern contemporary and urban gospel music. The Brat Pack was officially an entity when word began to leak around gospel social circles and notes of its existence embraced the liner notes of Bratt Pack Members. There is also a brief mention of the Brat Pack's existence in the Gospel Music Workshop of America National Mass Choir liner notes, on the "What He's Done For Me" project (MCG Records).

In 1995, it seemed like knowledge of the Brat Pack began to fade as a dawn of a new day emerged. The sudden passing of O'landa Draper may have been a factor to the fellowship's demise. But the group continued to support one another; appearing and contributing material on one another's projects.

At the time, there is no documentation or historical references of the group anywhere. Just in the liner notes and in the minds and memories of those that experienced their brotherhood at annual meetings of the Gospel Music Workshop of America. Important obvious facts that can be highlighted about the Brat Pack can be traced, which include:

The Brat Pack did not publicly acknowledge any females in their organization, unlike the Rat Pack.
The Brat Pack was composed of contemporary gospel choir directors.
The Brat Pack was publicly initated at the Gospel Music Workshop of America.
Not all Brat Pack members experienced a great amount of success and exposure; which include Marichal Monts (no national recording is available by him) and Keith Dobbins.
Both Kirk Franklin and John P. Kee ended their public associations with the Brat Pack when they announced their engagements and married, but continues to associate and work with other Brat Pack members.

OTHER VALUABLE RESOURCES TO LOOK INTO:
We perish because of the lack of knowledge. Get schooled.

We are sorry to inform our readers that there are no online resources and additional outlets available on the Brat Pack as a group. We did attempt to contact one of the members of the defunct Brat Pack, but were unsuccessful in obtaining vital information. If you wish to contribute any factual information to this article, please feel free to email us at: prayzehymn@yahoo.com.