James Attlee met up with a bevy of British grassroots gospel acts. Alex Ramsay took the pictures.

Drummer Jerry Brown (incidentally the brother of LCGC's Nicky Brown) also emphasises the closeness of the group. "Were a unit so we look out for each other. When one of us has a problem our performance tends to suffer. I think that's a good thing because we have to make sure our lives are right before God and each other."

"Besides," points out vocalist Dexter Williams-Ollivierre, "our bass player's a minister, so he keeps us in line! God has given us all strong testimonies of His mercy and saving grace which gives us that desire to bring the gospel to those who need it."

"Our style is unique" explains Jonathan, "because it's the way we feel and basically that lights a fire in us. Our lyrics are our everyday experiences what we've done, what we've seen and what we'd like to see. We've only ever done one cover because we need to give our own testimony, rather than the Winans" or Commissioned's."

Surely they have influences?

"There is no one really on the gospel scene who influences us, our biggest influence is prayer, fasting and the Word of God."

New York born Dexter agrees. "We put a lot of emphasis on the spiritual side of our lives. Instead of constantly practicing to become super-technical we'd rather be able to minister to audiences when we perform...we believe you have to leave room for the Holy Spirit to move when you're relaying a gospel message, people need to be fed, and if you lose that - what's the point?"

Members of the group who didn't appear in this interview are Lincoln Beckford, Leslie and Tony Mensah and Paul Hughes, all on vocals; Kingsley Blake on bass, Clive Sinclair on lead guitar and Dorell Thompson on percussion.
Together they make a sound that can only be described as Jubilant. Check them out.

BARBARA BROOKS

Barbara Brooks

Barbara Brooks is a residential social worker from Nottingham. She is also a fine gospel singer with a clear sense of purpose in her life that gives her a quiet confidence when she talks about her music.

"I started singing from about the age of three - my grandmother basically pushed me - my favourite song at that time was 'Surely Goodness And Mercy Shall Follow Me All The Days Of My Life', which I sang with the Youth Choir at my church. Later a friend of mine called Maureen urged me towards going into singing as a ministry, and ever since then I've sung in prisons, at concerts and festivals...I won first prize at the Nottingham Search For A Star competition, and since then I have been asked to represent the Black community in many events, like the Nottingham Festival and Jamaican Independence Day.

"I enjoy singing in a prison better than in a church because I feel that I give more - its like taking a message of hope to people, because when you're locked away you feel like that's it - you can actually see the expression on the prisoners' faces change as the gospel does touch them.

"It's more than just entertainment when you go into places like prisons...I work with children as well and there are times when I do burst into song and its nice to see people sit down and listen not just to the quality of the voice but the words as well - words of peace and hope and life.

"It depends on what gospel music means to you - not just gospel music, what does Christ mean to you? Is it a ministry or are you doing it just to entertain, just 'cause you can sing...I could get up there tonight and sing beautifully but there's a difference when God is actually speaking through you, and people feel that, they can feel the anointing.

'"My aim and ambition is to go full-time in gospel music. At one time I was worried about finance but I've been through a lot, and God's prepared me for so many things. I was unemployed for a year and a half and yes, I was concerned that I didn't have any money, but I realised that God still fed me and clothed me and I could still go where I wanted to go - so I have no fears about going into gospel full time, and I believe God is leading me that way."

Barbara Brooks in her own words. Need we say more?