Gospel Choir releases CD: UAB Gospel Choir unveils new CD/DVD at spring concert
Ryan Headley, Staff Writer
Published On: 04/28/2008
The UAB Gospel Choir released their first CD featuring their award winning music on April 21st after their Spring Concert in the Alys Stephens Center during a release party held in the Hulsey Building.
Director Kevin Paul Turner is very excited about the CD and the future of the UAB Gospel Choir. The CD is titled: Gospel 101: GO DOMINATE., and it sets out to celebrate college life and American Gospel music.
“The goal of this project was to feature the students of UAB and to keep it as ‘Alabama’ as possible. It's written, produced, performed, mixed and mastered by Alabamians. We did bring in a professional mobile recording unit from Alabama who specializes in large live recordings and who has recorded numerous gospel artists -- many of which have won Grammy, Dove and Stellar Awards. That was indeed necessary to capture the moment. I served as Executive Producer and Melvin "Jay" Terry Jr. is the Producer. Donnel Perry did the video work and Christina Jones was the head choreographer” said Turner.
The DVD features the Gospel Choir, the refurbished Hulsey Center, the Marching Band, instructors teaching class and celebrates UABs new honor as an All-Steinway School. “This project has Spoken Word, Steppers, the Dance team from the choir and the genres featured on the project go from traditional, to rock & roll, to pop. Local jazz guitarist/recording artist Eric Essix is featured on the Resurrection Anthem track.”
The Choir also recorded a music video for one of their songs “After You’ve Prayed about It” at the UAB Spencer Honors House and Choir members, people from the community, students from Epic School and well wishers came as far as Tuscaloosa, AL to be a part of the video.
“This project is current and was developed in 2007 with 2008 & 2009 in mind. If you love traditional, its there, if you like Country/Western, its there, if you really like simple, plain traditional American Gospel Music without all the bells and whistles, well that's there too. However, if you like to sing along, and like the more current-styled gospel feel, we made sure that's on there as well.”
Kevin Turner played a much larger role than just director, because he also wrote and produced the CD as well as its music. Turner said the process was time consuming but not difficult.
“We prepared for the project during the Fall Semester of 2007 and recorded on Nov. 19, 2007. We listened and listened over the holidays and began work at the end of Jan. 2008. From Jan. to Mar. we did what most professional artists do in eight months to a year. I commend the choir, musicians, supporting cast, etc, who were able to meet the deadlines to have our project completed by April of this year. It wasn't rushed, it is 100% finished and something that everyone can be proud of,” said Turner who wrote 90% of the project and served as executive producer.
Turner is adamant however that others should receive credit for their hard work just as much as he does.
“It was incredible to see that students could operate at such a high level and all of that was being captured as we were on campus from 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and no one got tired and no one wanted to leave. We had sound checks in Stephens Center, a professional make-up artist on site to make sure everyone was on point for the video and camera shots. Family members and friends had come from all over the country in support of the Gospel Choir and the students. It was just one of the days where everything was clicking and going well.”
Turner and his Choir don’t have time to rest just yet. On April 29th they will be performing with the Israeli Choir group while it is in town to perform at Samford Theater. The two choirs will meet and perform together as part of a musical cultural exchange, on Tuesday April 29 at 5:30 p.m. in the UAB Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. S.
The public is invited; the event is free. For details call Joyce Spielberger at 205-879-0416.
This is another event that will continue to increase the popularity and success of the UAB Gospel Choir and hopefully lead to future releases such as the new CD. “Believe me when I tell you that they are ready to do another one.
However, I am still recovering and still working on getting this out to the masses. I would welcome the opportunity to feature the UAB Gospel Choir again and again (with a little help from my friends),” said Turner.
Email: aheadley@uab.edu
