By J. MATTHEW COBB
Founder, Editor-In-Chief of PRAYZEHYMN Entertainment
Updated: August 7, 2006
WHEN THE WORD "MASS CHOIR " WAS FIRST INTRODUCED publicly in the late sixties and the nineties, it was generally accredited to be chapter organizations of Cleveland's Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA), Inc. Thomas A. Dorsey's National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses had chapters as well, but they were called choral unions (Later on, Savoy Records also recorded a number of recordings of the annual choir meetings and were labeled as the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses (NCGCC) Mass Choir). The first live recording of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (National) Mass Choir, made up of 3,000 voices, was held in August 1971. Held in Dallas, the event featured special musical guests Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, the O'Neal Twins, Sarah Jordan Powell and Thruston Frazier. Over the years, the GMWA Mass Choir recorded exclusively for themselves until Savoy Records, at the time based in New Jersey, contracted the choir for a series of yearly recording releases on their label. Because Cleveland was one of their front runners on their label and they were aware of Cleveland's involvement with the Gospel Music Workshop, they pretty much figured that signing the GMWA Mass Choir was a wise decision on their part. And it definitely was, especially since the super-sized organization usually taught the new compositions back to their music ministries and choirs. This normally created a buzz to own a performance track of the "hot" material. The strongest of their efforts took place in the early eighties on the "He's Worthy: Live In Los Angeles" (1982) and "Live In Houston" (1983) projects. The first set of highly recognized mass choirs that were GMWA-related and were extensions of the Cleveland juggernaut included the New Jersey Mass Choir (Donnie Harper, music director), the Florida Mass Choir (Arthur T. Jones, director), the Triboro Mass Choir (Albert Jamison, director) the Indianapolis Mass Choir (Al Hobbs, former music director) and the Texas Mass Choir.
In the early 1980s, labels became more interested in the mass choir concept, even though they were costly for touring and big risks for audio recordings, when they began to notice the immense popularity and quantity of them increase. Savoy Records launched a case of mass choirs including the Florida Mass Choir, the Dallas-Fort Worth Mass Choir and the Georgia Mass Choir which recorded extensively during this time period, while Light Records wasn't far behind. The historic label, in which took on a contemporary direction during this era, acquired the New Jersey Mass Choir (of the GMWA) and also released projects from the L.A. Mass Choir and the Chicago Mass Choir. Edwin Hawkins established his Music and Arts Seminar Mass Choir, in which was named after him, in the 70's but enjoyed greater success on the Birthright music label; helping to open doors for many gospel artists and musicians influenced by the Hawkins sound including Kevin Bond, Lawrence Matthews, Richard Smallwood and John P. Kee. 
OTHER VALUABLE RESOURCES TO LOOK INTO:
We perish because of the lack of knowledge. Get schooled.
Malaco Records - Mega-soul music group housing some of the greatest choirs in music history including the Mississippi Mass Choir, Georgia Mass Choir, Florida Mass Choir and the Wilmington Chester Mass Choir.
Gospel Music Workshop of America - Home of the GMWA.
Chicago Mass Choir - Discography, photos, event calendar and much more.
Joe Pace - Homepage of songwriter/choir director Joe Pace and more info on the Colorado Mass Choir.
Rodnie Bryant & CCMC - Homepage of Rodnie Bryant & the Christian Community Mass Choir.
Mississippi Mass Choir - The offical website on America's beloved mass choir.
About Us | Donate | Advertise With Us | Contact Info
© 2005, 2006 PRAYZEHYMN Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
