For forty years The Rance Allen Group (RAG) has walked the tightrope dividing sacred and secular music with their R&B-infused gospel classics such as “Miracle Worker,” “I Belong To You,” “Ain’t No Need of Crying,” and their Kirk Franklin collaboration, “Something About The Name Jesus.”
Now, the Grammy-nominated group that has influenced gospel stars ranging from BeBe & CeCe Winans and Fred Hammond to Kirk Franklin, is preparing the world for their forthcoming CD/DVD project “The Live Experience II: Celebrating 40 Years of Music & Ministry” that boasts cameos from Shirley Caesar, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Paul Porter.
The first of many potential radio singles is the dramatic “You That I Trust” that features the Christianiares’ front man, Paul Porter. Backed with an intoxicating Memphis soul groove and the Allen Brothers’ rich harmonies, Allen and Porter’s volcanic voices explode over this future gospel classic about learning to trust in God completely.
When asked about RAG’s unique sound, Allen says this: “This is not a brag but I don’t think you will ever hear [gospel done exactly as we do it]. It’s just a wonderful way that God has taken all of my and my brothers’ experiences and has married them together… When we grew up, R&B was not supposed to be in the house but when my grandparents went to work, we’d dig under the couch and find all of The Temptation, The Miracles and other Motown artists and we’d play them. What we were looking for was musical structure. I don’t remember ever wanting to specifically change the lyrics. Motown had a way of putting their music together that was awesome. It was that plus my desire to take the gospel to the world in a different vehicle that fueled what we were doing. The Lord took our gospel lyrics and married them to this Motown-Stax record kind of funky sound to come up with the Rance Allen Group sound.”
CLICK HERE to check out the New Radio Single from The Rance Allen Group-“You That I Trust” featuring Paul Porter:
Look out for more news on the Rance Allen Group’s new Project “The Live Experience II” Coming Soon January 25, 2011!
Influenced by a wide range of vocalists from Donny Hathaway to Fred Hammond to John Mayer, singer and songwriter Brian Courtney Wilson has an up-to-date 21st century approach to modern gospel that might be termed “urban inspirational.” Wilson, a University of Illinois graduate, began singing formally in the university’s black chorus, then continued singing on his own time while working as a pharmaceutical salesman for seven years. Then, in a leap of faith, he walked away from his job and became the music director at St. John’s Downtown Church in Houston, where he was mentored by and became friends with Rudy Rasmus. Through Rasmus he met label owner and music mogul Mathew Knowles, who signed Wilson to his Spirit Rising / Music World imprint. Recorded in Jackson, MS and produced by Stan Jones, Wilson’s inspirationally themed debut album, Just Love, appeared in 2009.
