Karl Allison reports on the various artists album featuring THE ESCOFFEREYS, DAWN THOMAS, THE WADES, DIVINE, PAUL LEE and others.

Barbara sees the track as a significant stepping-stone for her. "It's great to be on an album with such company. For example, I'm great friends with the Divine girls, but I've never thought of myself as sharing their standards." She has been a soloist with the COGIC Choir for some time now and has met some helpful people along the way. "The Choir did some gigs supporting The Clark Sisters and I got the chance of some voice tuition by their mum, Mattie Moss-Clark. I learned a lot from her."

David Daniels came to prominence whilst playing trumpet and singing with 80s funk-gospel pioneers Clarity, with whom Roatue Jordan also played. David then did a seven-year stint with LCGC before going solo. His other credits include singing on the same Stevie Wonder session as The Escoffereys (a track on the 'Characters' album) and, in complete contrast, has recently worked with honkie praise and worshippers Graham Kendrick and Chris Bowater. At the moment he's very involved in his local church.

Joni Lee

"We've got a big vision for our area, hoping to start up facilities like a youth club and a crèche. I've also just finished helping our youth choir to record an album at ICC studios. I'm praying that a lot of these new young singers who are emerging will not lose their way. We need to remain faithful to God."

David has also just started a two-year course at London Bible College and is looking forward to full-time ministry. "My desire is to see the kingdom of God increase and I'm hoping that this album will speak into people's hearts. I'm looking forward to hearing testimonies of conversion as a result of people hearing it."

JAY HENRY
While some of the singers on 'Soul Stirrings' have experienced little of the showbiz bright lights, R&B, pop and now gospel vocalist Jay Henry has been in their dazzling glare for five years. As a backing vocalist, London-born Jay has worked with such pop luminaries as the Pet Shop Boys, George Michael, Elton John and been on tour with Funkadelic king George Clinton.

Jay has been a Christian for about a year. "I find that my relationship with God helps me in every way in life especially in my career," he says. One of Jay's fondest musical memories was when he was on tour with Steve Dante in Spain; he met Chaka Khan who invited him up on stage for a vocal jam. For the past few months Jay has been writing with Simon Laws (who produced the hit single for Chante Moore) and says his main objective is to complete an album project. R&B or gospel? We'll have to wait and see. Says Jay, "I am not one to limit myself to one form of music. I will just implement them into my style."

JONI LEE
Anyone who watched 'People Get Ready' will remember Joni Lee. She was the lady with the extraordinary voice who won the 'Best New Singer' competition. Which makes it all the more surprising that this is her first recording. She's sung with Rhema, then with LCGC and she's been gigging for years and now has finally made it into the studio.

"I'm so excited to have a track on this album," says Joni, her voice all full of awe for some of the other featured artists. But the song she sings is one that is a testimony to her own faith. "Sometimes you can go through such hard times, but if you keep on trusting the Lord, then you'll hear him say 'Yes, you can do it' -you can have faith to move the mountains."

Her tale is a familiar one. She grew up in the church and can't remember a time when she wasn't singing. Joni never took a decision to become a singer she just was a singer. Asked to explain her rise to prominence she replies, "People heard me and liked it."
Despite her big break on 'People Get Ready' and the promise of what this album might achieve, Joni appears to have little time for selfish ambition. "Obviously, I'd like a record deal, but even if I don't get that I will just carry on singing. If it's God's will for me to get a deal, then I will. I don't mind waiting until the right time and I won't be rushed into anything. In the end, it's God who is calling me to sing and that's why I do it. Although I love to do it, I must remember that I'm singing for God and not for myself."

DIVINE
Anyone reading this who hasn't heard of Tracey Riggan must either be a new subscriber or have the memory of a goldfish. But how much do you know about Divine, of which Tracey is but one quarter?

It is a family affair, the other three being Yvonne, Tracey's sister and the Kerr twins, Marlene and Melanie, who are Tracey's cousins. Just to top it off, two brothers' Kerr help with the backing tracks.

Tracey offers this explanation of their first live appearance together: "It was October 1986 and I'd been asked to perform as a soloist but I was too shy. As we were all singing together in a choir, I asked the promoter if Yvonne and my cousins could sing with me." And so Divine were born.

Paul Lee

Since then, they've turned into a pretty hard-gigging team. As well as the usual round of church gigs they've toured Germany supporting the Remission Choir, accompanied evangelist John Grey, visited US navy bases and sung at anti-apartheid gigs. Well-loved in the Midlands, and virtually canonized in their native Walsall, the girls hope the 'Soul Stirrings' track will break them to a wider audience.

'This song is so strong that it could really take off. It was Marcia Dixon (columnist for the 'Soul Stirrings' page in The Voice and Cross Rhythms) who heard us at a gig on Boxing Day and put our names forward to do a track on the album. Nicky Brown then wrote this song to suit our sound. Apparently it's being considered for the single release and I feel sure it will be a hit."