*“I grew up on this choir,” said Stan Jones who is the lead singer on the Grammy-winning Mississippi Mass Choir’s new single “The Promise” (Malaco Records). “I am blessed to be a part of this legacy.”
Stan Jones is a writer/producer that has a bigger-than-life persona and vocals to go with it. The Mississippi Mass Choir has not released new music for ten years. I asked the choir’s executive director Jerry Mannery if the new music is because of their outstanding vocals of Stan.
“You said it outstanding,” Jerry told me. “His name is outSTANding! Stan is a Mississippi boy. It’s great coming together. We recognized it. Stan just happened to come at the right time.”
I commented on the music video for “The Promise” being inspiring, Stan’s performing chilling, and the colors the Mississippi Mass Choir wore being bold and beautiful. I mention the many many members the choir had in the video and asked how many voices the Mississippi Mass Choir consist of.
“140 voices,” Mannery said. “They come from all over Mississippi. Some drive four hours one way. We are constantly replenishing every year. We had 64 pass vocals, but we have a process called Upper Room, to see where they are Spiritually. They could have vocals and be devils! The 64 passed the process though…210 members, most were young. Before, the ages were 45 – 50, we’re down to 35 years old now.”
The Mississippi Mass Choir was launched in 1988 by Malaco Records and Frank Williams of the group The Jackson Southerners. He called in David R. Curry Jr. to be the choir’s minister of music. It was a 100-member choir. They debuted with a live album recorded at the Thalia Mara Hall with an accompanying music video. Their debut album was certified #1 by Billboard some weeks later. It stayed on Billboard’s Chart for 45 consecutive weeks. Williams passed away five years later, and his assistant Jerry Mannery became director of the choir.
“I didn’t realize it then, but Frank was preparing me for 3 – 4 years,” Jerry told me. “He had me doing all the paperwork. I was business manager day one with the choir. Frank’s shoes should have been bronzed. The Lord has blessed me.”
Frank lived to see the Mississippi Mass Choir release three highly successful albums, and under Mannery’s guidance, they went on to release eight more albums. The choir garnered a Stellar Hall of Fame honor; a Grammy nomination, as well as a win; two Stellar Award nominations; a Dove Award nomination and a win for Album of the Year, and five Stellar Award wins. The new single “The Promise” debuted at #30 on Billboard and Media Base Gospel Radio Charts. Billboard Magazine named them Gospel Artist of the Year, awarded them with a Special Achievement Award, and Gospel Record of the Year. www.MississippiMassChoir.org www.Malaco.com
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations and Business Management Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com EVENTS: “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is into its 24th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday April 15, 2023, and to Los Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 11, 2023. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Industry Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $18,000 valued in cash, product and services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com, a 501 c3 organization, for more information or to RSVP for Zoom Access email info@ThePulseofEntertainment.com.
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