Paving the Way with Jeral and Percy Gray Jr. The Gray Boys of Gospel

Liz Lampkin CNW Staff Writer

With songs like “Amazing Grace”, “Shackles (Praise You)”, “You’re Gonna Get the Glory”, “Nobody Greater”, and “For Every Mountain”. gospel music was designed to encourage, spread messages of joy and uplift the downtrodden spirit. The origins of gospel music have a deep-rooted history for African-Americans dating back to slavery. Slaves sang spirituals as a means of hope while experiencing hardships. While this genre includes artists from many parts of the world, Chicago has birthed a number of gospel singers, writers and producers who have sung and penned some of the most unforgettable tunes that give listeners an out-of-body spiritual experience.

CNW had the privilege of sitting down with gospel legend Jeral Gray of The Gray Boys. In his early years, Mr. Gray served as the music director for the legendary Chicago Mass Choir and has consistently worked with them for more than twenty years. He is also the founder of New Direction and Joshua’s Troop.

JG: We grew up in church so that (gospel) music was what we were able to listen to at home. Our parents were church people, so we were in church all day on Sunday. We did sneak and listen to other genres but the

JG: It’s an odd story. When the choir first began the founder, James Chambers, it was a workshop choir. It was the James Chambers and Ecclesiastics (ECC) Workshop Choir and they were singing at a one-week workshop at Kennedy King Community College. I got involved because of a close friend of mine. We had songs that we didn’t have the opportunity to get out to people, and we didn’t get out to network. I was going to a workshop with my friend, Kenny Campbell, and he said they (the choir) needed some songs. They rehearsed Monday through Thursday and were having a concert on that Friday. At the workshop, I asked one of the musicians, Mark Taylor, if they needed some songs and he said yes. Kenny said he had a song for them, but the only way he would give Mark the song was if he let me give him a song that I had written too. I called my brother and told him what was happening (he was at work) and he said, I’m at work but I taught you how to teach, so do it. I was nervous because I didn’t know the people, but I was confident because I knew what I was doing and that’s how I began working with ECC before they became the Chicago Mass Choir.

JG: The lyrics especially if they deal with something on how to get through the day and cope with life. Songs that have a message you can relate to. Those types of songs last a long time.

CNW: If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

JG: Go back to church. Not saying go back to the old church, but go back to church songs. Sometimes we get so far away from gospel music that I think we find ourselves competing with secular music. That’s not what our music is meant to be. Our music is meant to encourage people and help them find themselves. We need to have a balance of praise and worship and gospel music. We should be able to have both so the ones coming up in church now won’t lose the culture of gospel music. We can stay current, but we can mix it up so everyone will have something to eat off the table.