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Since turning 21 6 years ago last year, I have been a part of 10 groups/choirs. Yes, I have been in 10 groups or choirs. In every choir or group I was a part of, I was caught off guard by random songs that would’ve had me looking like scoop ball the fool had I not listened to gospel music during my personal time. I have compiled this list of must-know choir songs to prepare the novice choir member for their years of service. I tried to make this a top ten, but they aren’t necessarily ranked after #5.

Well, here are the top 10 songs a choir member should know.

1.  Total Praise

This song, penned by Richard Smallwood, is the top choir song to know. It may be pulled out during any service, at any church, on any given Sunday; so be prepared. It seems as if everyone is taught the parts of the verse differently, but that “You are the source of my strength” may land in any medley of songs.

2.  How Excellent (Perfect Praise)

This song, made popular by the Walt Whitman & Soul Children of Chicago and Lecresia Campbell, may have been one of the first songs you were taught in the youth choir. It will carry you all the way into adulthood. The “In all the earth” line may be a part of a random medley also. The “In all the earth” line is also a test of how powerful your tenor section is. lol

3.  We Offer Praise

This song, written by Ricky Minor and made popular by Rodney Bryant and the CCMC, is a “choir out” song. “Choir out” means it is a song that can get a choir director out of a Sunday of bad music ministry. It works almost every time, usually because people think about what they did before coming to church. If you sing this song, the songs that were rehearsed may not be working during service. That last inversion may leave chairs scattered around the room and people screaming, so move out of the way.

4.  Amazing Grace

This is an old standard that transcends denominational and generational lines. This can be sang as a preparation hymn or during devotion at church. When it gets to the 2nd and 3rd verses just humm along, no one will know you don’t know the words, they don’t either.

5.  Order My Steps

This is a song that is mainly carried by the lead singer, but the choir also plays an important role. We all wait in anticipation for two points during this song, the first is “Bridle my tongue.” When the lead sings this you want to stand to your feet and say “Yaaaaaaaaas!” The 2nd point is during the last part of the song when the note is held, “In yooooooooooooour.” lol This song is usually led by the sister or brother that “went to school” to sing or wanted to go to school to sing but got a job at the Post Office and dropped out. lol

6.  Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross

This hymn was revamped by Mississippi Mass Choir and hasn’t been sang the same ever since. It can be a bore or high spirited during communion depending on the version sang. It is usually congregational, but you should still know it to keep the legacy of congregational music going.

7.  More Abundantly (The end of it)

A hyped choir director may pull the ending of this song out at any moment. Ricky Dillard set a standard in gospel music with this recording. Now choir directors will change the words to this portion of the song to fit whatever song you’re singing and bend all the way back to the ground, meanwhile you’re off-beat trying to watch his/her hands about to pass out.

8.  Available to You

This song will be on another list of songs later on called “Songs choirs are most likely to mess up.” This is a must-know for a choir member. The verses are kind of confusing though. The “Ahh Ahhh Ahh” part at the end usually sounds a mess if you don’t rehearse. Lol It sounds easier than what it is.

9.  All In His Hands

A song that will at least get half of the church to stand and praise is this one. Even the most anti-participating churchgoer will feel this churchy tune, but many musicians mess up the drive of the song. You have to push that thang and be in the pocket on that thang!! Lol One of the best versions of the song is by the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer.

10.  Just Want to Praise You Forever

This is one of those songs you can begin almost any service with. It was made popular within the past 10 years. You can sing along and clap like you are at a non-denominational church with flags, video screens, smiling ushers, a step team and dancers, even if you are at Mt. NoNo where the pastor won’t let you cushion the pews.

Honorable mentions: (This is cheating, I know.):

Pentecostal Medley (Bless that Wonderful Name of Jesus, I Love to Praise Him, Can‘t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus)-This is an old standard used for praise and worship at more traditional churches. You may get any random song during this medley, so be prepared for call & response.

God Is-This James Cleveland classic is a must-know. A heavy-set lady named Gwen, Pam or Val usually leads this song.

Let Everything that have Breath (Psalm 150)-I believe it’s an unwritten COGIC rule that you must sing this once in a mass choir that consists of 8 year olds to 79 year olds. You know, the classic COGIC Mass Choir; little kids on the front row, elder members on the middle row, tall teenagers on the back row, no matter what part you sing. lol

Let us know your top 10.

B. McCoy

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My site: BMCCOY.ning.COM | Facebook me: Facebook.com/RightsChamp | Tweet me: @RightsChamp

So, once they get an invitation to a conference or event, you feel like you got a golden ticket from Willy Wonka himself. You now begin posting statuses and telling everyone that you are going to this event and will be seen by “major labels” and “headed to the top.”  Lies.

Every time I see or hear of this, I want to tell the artist to look closer at the decision to enter into the competition or go to the event. Can you afford to travel and miss your 9 to 5 job to go to a conference or enter into a competition that shows no return? Does the registration fee include publicity in a conference booklet or web advertising? Will the money spent on traveling introduce you to others in the industry that are not accessible via Facebook?

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These are questions that artists should ask before entering into competitions or performing at conferences primarily for “exposure.”

Is it worth it all of the time? My answer is: no.

Can you pay Centerpoint Energy , Exxon or Hilton Americas with “exposure.” No, Sorry.

Many artists can barely afford to pull off their annual concert or big event. They must fundraise to build bank enough to bring in a guest artist or to pay for the basic needs to pull off a professional concert.

Is paying $3500 in traveling expenses worth performing at a conference event that will many times only consist of maybe 300 irrelevant people in music that just paid $10 to see a show before the buffet opens in their hotel?

My suggestion to an artist would be to take the money that would be used for traveling and invest it in a demo project or advertise an old project or booking opportunities on music blogs/radio/print.

Advertising these days is cheaper than most people think. You could split $1,000 amongst some of the top “underground” music blogs and reach 1 million people or spend $1,000-$3,500 to perform in front of 300 and sell 20 CDs.

It’s all about being in the right place at the right time but it’s also about taking time in planning, praying and not rushing into the first thing that sounds good.

There’s an awesome example of this foolishness in action. There is a prominent gospel music label that held an “Artist Showcase” that allowed vocalists, groups and choirs to submit an original recording. If you were selected you received a packet that included a registration contract.

In this semi-finalist packet you had to pay a registration fee, pay a fee for them hosting your music on their site and also pay travel expenses to sing in the semi-finalist showcase. If you won, you had to pay again for your own traveling expenses as a finalist.  (cough) Stupid.

This sounded like a good opportunity but to this day no one knows who the winner of that showcase is. (cough) Thieves.

The group I was doing publicity for decided to decline the offer while others sent their money hoping to be heard. I remember sending out press releases, using the semi-finalist title to our advantage and creating online buzz about the group for free.

My question is this; if you have the funds to spend on traveling and registration fees, do  you not also have the money to pay a public relations company to handle your marketing/promotions and get the word out about your product or talent? You can also hire a real manager if you can afford these costs. The guidance and contacts that public relations industry professionals have places you in the right place, at the possible right time.

Showcases, competitions and out of town travels are great for exposure, fellowshipping and educating youth but I say conquer your hometown church circuit first, and then expand from there.

This information goes for artists in any genre and of any talent.

In the words of Booker T. Washington, “Cast down your bucket where you are.”

Let us know what you think. Comment /Recommend/Share.

B. McCoy

Twitter ME: @RightsChamp | Facebook ME: facebook.com/RightsChamp | Website ME: BMCCOY.ning.COM

BET’s Sunday Best premiered season 4 to 1.8 million viewers Sunday. What makes the program special is its Houston connection, with Yolanda Adams serving as guest judge last season, Nikki Ross working on the music staff and Kim Burrell serving as mentor to the contestants, Houston is a major force in the attitude and overall sound of the show.

We also got a glimpse of Johnny Johnson Jr. from the Houston group Created for Purpose and Brandon Johnson in the premiere episode.

Social networks were booming during the show and many people did not like  judge, Tina Campbell’s attitude. As one contestant was auditioning she put her hands up within 5 seconds to stop her and said with disgust, “No.”

We could cut her some slack, since she has to listen to people that can not sing all day. Also, the show may be edited to show more of her since Donnie McClurkin and Ericka Campbell are not the most comedic/entertaining television personalities for prime-time.

I honestly could not sit through the entire two-episode premiere. I was bored. I’d rather watch the show when it gets to the top 10. Then, you will see Donnie in his element, screaming to the top of his lungs (an anointed scream) and Mary Mary may ‘shout’ this season.

Kirk Franklin’s wardrobe from Baby Gap is also one of the features of the show as it is every season.

What do you think about the new season of Sunday Best?

B. McCoy

Twitter ME: @RightsChamp | Facebook ME: facebook.com/RightsChamp | Website ME: BMCCOY.ning.COM
Check out this Sunday Best Spoof