Several Gospel groups and soloists will be praising the Lord through song in next weekend?s annual concert.

The Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts will hold its third Annual Black History Month Gospel Music Spectacular on February 4.

Praiz director Judith Mills, and mother and son Merlin and Brandon Morris spoke to The Royal Gazette about the group?s history, what the audience can expect, and their plans for the future.

The group has existed in many forms and spellings for about 18 years and was originally called Prayze.

?At that time it consisted of three members Helen Mills, Judith Mills and Nicole Pitcher,? she said.

?In the early 1990s, the group changed members to include Sarah Cheshire, instead of Nicole Pitcher.?

It was not until 2001, under the vision of Judith Mills, that the group became serious about its ministry.

?I decided that I wanted to have a youth service at my church, the Wesley Methodist Church, and I wanted to have a gospel singing group made up of the young people,? Ms Mills said.

?The group performed Denise Williams? ?My Soul?s Desire? and were an instant hit. The members included Paul and Sarah Cheshire, Robin Simmons, Helen Paynter, Nicole Outerbridge and myself. Shortly after that Terri-Lynn Richardson, Alice Simmons and Wesley Hall joined.

?The group enjoyed a successful year in 2002-2003, and in 2003 we were joined by Keina Rewan and Angela Christopher.

?Some of the relationships go back as far as primary school and it goes to show that God has a plan for all of us.?

The current Praiz members are sopranos Keina Rewan, Alice Lightbourne and Terri-Lynn Richardson; altos Helen Paynter and Angela Christopher; and tenors Wesley Hall and Judith Mills.?

Praiz cross the genres of music sing a lot of Gospel styled Praise music, added Ms Mills.

?We sing a lot of praise and worship because it is what we do, but we also have a mix of reggae and R&B style gospel songs. We usually take a familiar song and add the Praiz twist to make it our own. We have an awesome version of Yolanda Adams? song ?Yet Still I Rise? ? we took a song sung by one and turned into a song sung by six. The harmonies are tight.?

Ms Mills said the group has a unique blend of voices ? ?they just seem to work?.

?We have a committed group of people whom I can call on at the last minute to minister,? she said, ?And we are committed to using the gifts God has given to us.

?We rehearse each Tuesday evening at Wesley Methodist Church upstairs in the sanctuary and most people will find us there the second Sunday of each month. But we have not limited ourselves to that one ministry opportunity and have accepted many invitations to sing around the Island.

?We have sung for birthday parties, school fundraisers, Christmas functions and in 2004, we were asked to be one of the opening acts for Gospel Hip-Hop artist Mark J and for Trintee 5:7.?

Their plans are to record a CD and one of their members will release his debut album in the Spring. ?In the summer of 2004, the group released its first single a reggae flavoured remix of the gospel classic ?His Eye is on the Sparrow? and that song is still being played on local radio stations today,? Ms Mills said.

?But you can only get that single by contacting us on 295 3749. We are in the process of working on our debut CD. We have a number of original songs ranging from slow R&B to reggae. We hope to be able to release that in the very near future.

?One of our members, Wesley Hall is about to release his debut album and it will feature Praiz so please look out for it. From what I have heard of it, it is off the hook.?

Ms Mills said: ?Praiz will definitely be in da house,? during the Gospel Music Spectacular.

?We will get up on stage and do what we do best, praise. Our songs will have people dancing in the aisle and clapping to the beat. We just want to go out there and have a good time.?

Other musical guests for the evening will include the New Creation Worship Centre Liturgical Dancers, Septimus, the R.O.Y. Adult Dancers, Praize, Lavette Fuentes, John Duncan and the concert will also feature some of Bermuda?s finest gospel young artists such as the Vernon Temple Youth Choir, Tamara Simons, Nhoj Steede, Christina Belboda and Brandon Morris who will be ministering in song and dance.

The daughter of a Baptist pastor, Merlin Morris and her sisters travelled around Atlanta and rural Georgia singing in churches before their father preached.

?I was always a part of our church choirs and later on in college as well,? she said.

?My favourite genres of music are Praise and Worship, and Gospel. ?Gospel because it is what I was ?raised? on and find it touches my heart the most. Gospel greats like Shirley Caesar and the Hawkins family and Andr? Crouch?s music was always being played at my house. ?Gospel music also tells of life?s struggles and how God is able to bring us through. Praise and Worship because it touches God?s heart the most when I can love him and tell him how much he means to me.?

Mrs. Morris sings because she believes that God gave her this gift. ?I owe it to Him to share my talents with others,? she said.

?Many people have said to me over the years, that song you sang was just what I needed to hear today, thank you. The other reason I sing is I find it blesses me when I do it. I feel uplifted and encouraged.? Over the years, she has sung with various choirs and groups, but at the moment she ministers as a soloist at Radnor Road Christian Fellowship Church.

But on the night of the annual concert she said: ?I will be singing a song that I believe symbolises our struggle as a race of people and how God has kept us through it all.? The mother and wife of Andr? Morris said her love of music and singing has inspired both of her sons to sing.

?Brandon loves gospel music and Deondr? writes and performs hip-hop gospel music. Stay tuned, I hope we will all produce a project either together or individually.?

Dellwood Middle School student Brandon Morris has been singing for eight years and his favourite genre of music is gospel.

?I sing because I love the Lord and it calms me down when I am mad,? said the 11 year old.

?I found the love of gospel music in church. I can?t wait to get to church every Sunday because singing is my favourite part.

?I also sing solos at church every now and then.?

He also sings in the choir at his school and during Christmas they also sang at various branches of the Bank of Bermuda.

All proceeds from this event go towards the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts Theatre Development Fund.

The show will start at 7.30 p.m. Patron tickets are $30 for adults and $20 general admission available at the Christian Bookstore and Gift Centre, People?s Pharmacy and Caesar?s Pharmacy.

For further information call 296-5ART.