The full interview with Pastor David Daniel.

Tony:  As LCGC had just formed?

David: When it just formed, yes.

Tony: He left Gladder Rain and formed this new choir didn't he?

David: That's right.  So I was there in the very first rehearsals.  In fact it was something on the TV, I think, the programme was called "Black on Black" and there was a Christmas special that was being put together and I was in the group for that and after which they formed the LCGC.

Tony:  How long did you stay with them?

David: I think I stayed with LCGC up until about 1987/89, when I got married.  I think I had left by the time I got married and I started to do some solo stuff.

Tony:  So you were on the first LCGC records like "Fill My Cup", those kind of things?

David: Yes, "Fill My Cup", the "Gospel Greats"  and also "The  Live In Sweden" as well. That was kinda like  going back a little bit!

Tony: But this is a fascinating history of the British gospel scene.  It's been going quite a while now hasn't it?

David: Yes it has.  I think in recent years there has been a bit of a quiet period.  There used to be lots and lots of concerts, people coming from America,  quite regularly and all sorts of opportunities to get community choirs out there singing on the Christian circuit.  It's not so popular now as it was.  I think it's changing a little bit. 

Tony: One of the things which has always interested  me about the British gospel scene it's brought a new musical flavour to what people consider gospel music.  It's not simply the Brits trying to do an American thing.  It's brought in a Jamaican flavour, it's brought in an African flavour.  It's got its own vibe which is understandable considering it comes from a slightly different culture.  What happened, it's quite traditional really to get married and have kids and settle down and stuff.  Is that what happened to you?  You took a back seat for a while in music?

David:  Maybe in a way I did.  What I actually did, I was still doing a lot of singing.  I did a lot of stuff with people like Graham Kendrick.  I used to tour with Graham Kendrick and then I did some stuff with Gloria Gaynor and a few other people like that.  I was doing stuff like backing singing for a while and sessions, but what I was actually doing behind the scenes was preparing myself for the pastoral role that I am in right now, so I took a few years out and went to the London Bible College.

Tony: What year did you join the Bible College?

David: I went in 1993.