Mississippi Mass Choir

The Mississippi Mass Choir
Background information
Origin Jackson, Mississippi
Genres Gospel music
Years active 1988 - present
Labels Malaco Records
Associated acts

Jerry Mannery- Executive Director David Curry Jr.- Minister of Music Jerry C. Smith - Minister of Music Katrina B. Williams- Assistant to Executive Director

Willie Carey- President/Road Manager

Daniel James III- Communication Director
Website https://www.facebook.com/TMMC1/
Members 200

For twenty-nine years, the awesome talent of the Mississippi Mass Choir has touched gospel fans. Some faces have changed, but the choir’s mission remains the same; “evangelizing the world in song."

”Reaching down to the root of this gospel powerhouse, one finds a very humble beginning. They have ministered in song in over 40 states within the USA, including Alaska. They have been fortunate enough to travel to international stages in countries such as Japan, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Bahamas, and Greece; becoming the first gospel group to perform at the Acropolis. While attending the famed Umbria Jazz Gospel and Soul Easter Festival in Terni, Italy, the choir was unexpectedly invited to sing for Pope John Paul II at his summer residence. On Christmas day in 2000 they Performed with the 90-piece Tenerife Symphonic Orchestra on a live telecast throughout the Canary Islands and Spain.

The Mississippi Mass Choir is an American gospel choir based in Jackson, Mississippi.

Musical career

"Serving God Through Song" is the motto and mission of The Mississippi Mass Choir. Although striving to succeed in the gospel music industry, the choir's purpose is to help establish the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. Since its formation in 1988, the choir has won numerous honors and awards for its contributions to gospel music. The group has traveled throughout the United States, toured Japan, Europe, and appeared in Nassau, the Bahamas.

After wrestling with the idea of forming a mass choir, Frank Williams, a member of The Jackson Southernaires and an executive in the gospel music division of Malaco Records, decided to form The Mississippi Mass Choir. First, he got the record company's support. Then, he began calling on Mississippi talents like David R. Curry Jr., who became the choir's music director. Having the foundation laid, open auditions were held and more than 100 voices from across the state came together to form The Mississippi Mass Choir. After months of rehearsals, the choir recorded their first album and video The Mississippi Mass Choir Live on October 29, 1988.

In the spring of 1989, five weeks after their debut album was released, Billboard magazine certified it as the Number 1 Spiritual album in the country. The album stayed on the Billboard charts for a consecutive 45 weeks, setting a new record for gospel recordings. At the 9th annual James Cleveland GMWA Awards, the Mississippi Mass won the Choir of the Year-Contemporary, and Best New Artist of the Year-Traditional. They also walked away with four Stellar Awards in 1989 and were nominated in several categories for the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards and Dove Awards.

The choir's next project God Gets The Glory, in 1990, debuted on the Billboard chart in the Number 16 position, reaching Number 1 position two weeks later. Awards followed with the release of the album. One of the most treasured albums released by the choir was the one on January 1993; It Remains To Be Seen. It maintained the Number 1 position for twelve months. The special part of the album is that it contains the last recorded performance of the choir's founder, Frank Williams, who died on March 22, 1993.

Three albums were released since Williams' passing, I'll See You in Rapture, Praise the Lord, and Emmanuel (God With Us). Jerry Mannery, Executive Director of the choir, states, “We are all about our Father’s business. We are not entertainers, we are ministers for Christ. Our mission remains constant; to serve the Lord and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

In preparation for their ninth recording, the choir held their first new member audition in over five years. One hundred new voices from throughout Mississippi were added to the roster to increase the membership to 250. According to Minister of Music Jerry Smith, “New members are the lifeblood of a choir.”

The choir has ministered in song in over 40 states within the USA, including Alaska. They have traveled to Japan, Italy, Spain, Bahamas, and Greece; becoming the first gospel group to perform at the Acropolis. While attending the Umbria Jazz Gospel and Soul Easter Festival in Terni, Italy, the choir was invited to sing for Pope John Paul II at his summer residence.

The Mississippi Mass Choir is now featured in the popular Mississippi, Believe It! campaign.[1]

The Mississippi Mass Choir recorded their 9th album and live recording for their 20th Anniversary in June 19, 2009 before 4500 people at the First Baptist Church Jackson

The Mississippi Mass Choir released their 9th Live album "Then Sings My Soul" on February 1, 2011.

In 2009 The Mississippi Mass Choir celebrated its 20th anniversary with the release of "The First Twenty Year" a compilation DVD and CD of songs recorded over the years, and interviews with choir members.

In 2010 at the 25th anniversary of The Stellar Gospel Music Awards The Mississippi Mass Choir was honored with the Thomas Dorsey Notable Achievement Award.

On December 8–26, 2010, the choir made a fourteen city tour of Spain and the Canary Islands. According to concert promoter Luis Manjarres, “Since their first Spanish tour, Mississippi Mass Choir has become a classic of the European and the Spanish Christmas. They will showcase their talent in the main venues of Barcelona, Madrid, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Pamplona, Gijon, and Vigo. This tour of fourteen concerts will culminate on Christmas night, in the wonderful city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife at the Canary Islands, in a very special event with the 92 piece Tenerife Symphonic Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Lu Jia. Mississippi Mass Choir will be the first African American choir to perform with a European Symphonic Orchestra before an audience of 20,000. It is the time for Mississippi Mass Choir…It is the time for Classic Gospel.”

In October 2013 The Mississippi Mass Choir commemorate their 25th anniversary by recording their 10th "LIVE" album in front of a sold out crown in Jackson, MS. On April 11, 2014, the choir released their new single "God's On Your Side" featuring Sunday Best Winner Le'Andria Johnson and Stan Jones. The album was released in June 2014. The choir the begin a 10 city tour and 13 cities Spain tour.

The Stellar Award-winning Mississippi Mass Choir is slated to join the ICAN Foundation in South Africa for the 2011 National Youth Day Celebration. The choir will present various concerts around the country during their visit. This tour will be the choir's first visit to the African continent.-->

On Wednesday January 11, 2017, the choir was featured on an episode of ABC's Show Black.ish. It was a very moving tribute to the transition of our presidency & black culture.

December 27, 2016 rap superstar Snoop Dogg paid tribute to The Mississippi Mass Choir on Instagram by playing/singing one of the choirs popular songs "I'm Not Tired Yet".

Their body of work includes a national commercial for Nissan, and their indefatigable song “I’m Not Tired Yet” just completed a seven-month run as the theme song for the Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN’s Sport Center. Their tenure in the gospel music industry has already reached legendary status and continues to grow. Jerry Mannery, Executive Director of the choir, states, “We are all about our Father’s business. Our mission remains constant; to evangelize the world through music, and to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

On Saturday, March 25, 2017 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV, The Mississippi Mass Choir will be bestowed The Stellar Honor Hall of Fame. The honor exemplifies their remarkable achievement in the Gospel Music industry and dedicated support of the Stellar Awards.

Awards

Impact

The Mississippi Mass Choir has opened doors for fellow Mississippi choirs, groups, and soloists including Mosie "Mama" Burks, Lillian Lilly, Larissa Tate & Romans VIII, Ben Cone III & Worship, The Voices of Hope, Dathan Thigpen & Holy Nation, and the Anderson Sanctuary Choir.

Discography

The Mississippi Mass Choir Live

  • Released: 1988

God Gets The Glory

  • Released: 1990

It Remains To Be Seen

  • Released: 1993

I'll See You In The Rapture

  • Released: 1996

Emmanuel

  • Released: 1999

Amazing Love

  • Released: 2002

Not By Might, Nor By Power

  • Released: 2005

We've Seen His Star

  • Released: 2007

Then Sings My Soul

  • Released: February 1, 2011
  • Tracks: 16
  • Bonus tracks: 4
  • Singles: "God Made Me"

"Declaration of Dependence" June 3rd

  • Released: 2014

References

  1. ↑ Mississippi Believe It!
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