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Saints Unified Voices is a American Gospel music choir. The Saints Unified Voices Foundation, the governing organization of the choir, is directed by a 12-member board of directors, which includes Gladys Knight. The SUV Choir’s ability to present firesides outside of Las Vegas is limited as funding for each fireside event comes only through private donations to this nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
Early years
In 2002, Gladys Knight put together a small singing group to perform with her at Women's Conference at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Later, Sullivan Richardson asked her to form a choir to perform at a special fireside event back home in Henderson, Nevada. Vocalists came from as far away as Los Angeles to audition for this special choir. John Fluker, Kelly Eisenhower, Scott Cannady, and Matthew Pittman, professional musicians from Knight's crew at the Flamingo Las Vegas, volunteered to serve as musicians for the choir.
“Except for a few, these wonderful people had never sung gospel music before,” says Gladys. They were also not accustomed to singing without sheet music. Given only the words to the hymns typed in paragraph form, the choir learned to sing the songs by following Gladys. “All they get is the lyrics because I don’t want anybody reading notes on paper. They have to feel this music,” says Gladys. After three months of Saturday rehearsals, the choir's first performance was in August 2002. The performance was very well received, and Gladys held more auditions to raise the choir's performing level and commitment. Eventually she choose 100 culturally diverse voices. All are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. By the end of the year, the choir performed at four stake centers near Las Vegas, one of Deseret Book’s Time Out for Women in Las Vegas and another one in Pheonix, and at the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square.
In 2003, the choir was invited to perform at Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square as part of the anniversary celebration of the priesthood being available to all worthy men.
Recordings
One Voice
The choir released a CD, One Voice, on January 4 2005. In the first week, the album soared to Billboard's #1 on the Hot Shot Debut, while it simultaneously shot to the #1 Gospel Album and #2 Inspirational Album on iTunes. It remained in the top-40 on Billboard's Gospel charts for 48 weeks.
Track Listings
- One Voice (Interlude) - Gladys Knight, Matthew Pittman
- Over My Head - Gladys Knight
- Come, Come, Ye Saints - Gladys Knight, William Clayton
- Love One Another - Gladys Knight, Luacine Clark Fox
- Pass Me Not - Gladys Knight
- Right Here Waiting - Gladys Knight, BeBe Winans
- Prayer - Gladys Knight, Mauli B
- Did You Know - Gladys Knight, BeBe Winans
- I Am a Child of God - Gladys Knight, Naomi W. Randall
- Jesu Me Kanaka Waiwai - Gladys Knight
- Blessed Assurance - Gladys Knight
- He Shines on Me - Gladys Knight, John Fluker
- Uphold Me - Gladys Knight, Fred Manns
- He's Worthy - Gladys Knight
- He Lives - Gladys Knight
A Christmas Celebration
The 100-voice choir released its second album A Christmas Celebration in October 2006.
Track Listings
- Introduction/Opening - Gladys Knight
- Breath of Heaven - Gladys Knight, written by Chris Eaton
- Silent Night/O Holy Night - Gladys Knight, written by Joseph Mohr
- I Wonder as I Wander - Gladys Knight, written by John Jacob Niles
- We Three Kings - Gladys Knight, written by John H. Hopkins, Jr
- Little Drummer Boy - Gladys Knight, written by Katherine Davis
- Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful - Gladys Knight, written by John Francis Wade
- Jesus, Oh, What a Wonderful Child - Gladys Knight,
- The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) - Gladys Knight, written by Mel Torme
- White Christmas - Gladys Knight, written by Irving Berlin
- Winter Wonderland/Jingle Bells - Gladys Knight, written by Richard B. Smith
- The Lord's Prayer - Gladys Knight
Live Performances
The choir presents its program "One Voice: An Evening of Music & Testimony" at LDS stakes centers or buildings across the country, and has traveled as far as England and Hawaii to share the gospel.
Awards and certifications
Shortly after learning that her choir had been nominated for a Grammy Award, Gladys Knight said: "A Grammy nomination is always an honor, but this means even more to me because I share it with my choir. We worked hard making this album for the Lord. It's wonderful that it also pleases the music industry." On February 8th, 2006, it was announced that the album One Voice won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus Album as part of the 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
References
- ^ Stewart Osborn, Cheryl (2005-06-09). "Gladys Knight, Sharing the Gospel with Music". Meridian Magazine. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
- ^ Stewart Osborn, Cheryl. "A Choir is Born". LDS Living Magazine. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
- ^ Osborn, Cheryl Stewart (2005-12-20). "Grammy Nomination Gratifies "One Voice" Choir". Meridian Magazine. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
- www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Annual_Show/48_nominees