God's Property

God's Property is a gospel choir known for its collaborations with Kirk Franklin and other recording artists.

Musical career

God's Property Choir was organized and founded by a public school music teacher by the name of Linda Ray Hall-Searight in 1992 in Dallas, Texas. She along with her son, Grammy Award Winner Robert Sput Searight were totally responsible for recruiting all of the original singers and musicians of this choir. They both groomed the choir into an exceptional performing organization that was often featured on national television shows in the mid and late 90's. The choir began to collaborate with Kirk Franklin in 1993 and sang backup on his 1995 album, Whatcha Looking' 4. Franklin, in turn, produced and co-wrote most of the songs on the group's 1997 album (also produced by Scott "Shavoni" Parker and Buster & Kevin Bond).^[1] Kirk Franklin often works out new material with the choir in the studio and has appeared with the choir on the Late Show with David Letterman. The choir itself has performed with Celine Dion at the encore of the "Call The Man/Power of the Dream" concert in Dallas, Texas and on The 10th Annual Essence Awards with Stevie Wonder.^[2] In 1998, they performed a few songs for Kirk Franklin's The Nu Nation Project.

On November 2, 1998, God's Property sued Kirk Franklin. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Franklin's parent label executives Vickie Mack induced God's Property founder Linda Searight into signing an "onerous and one-sided" contract with B-Rite Music.^[1]

Albums

The choir's May 27, 1997 album God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation^[3] with Kirk Franklin won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist, the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video, the Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album, and the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album in 1998. The album, driven by the radio hit Stomp,^[4] sold at least 2.7 million copies and was on the Billboard's gospel chart for at least 71 weeks.^[1] Stomp made it onto the following charts Hot 100 Airplay, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrent Airplay, Rhythmic Top 40, The Billboard Hot 100, and Top 40 Mainstream.^[4] To date, the album is the highest-charting gospel album in history.^[1]

Choir Members

Sopranos: Juanita Blair, Latrina Cooks, Tamryn Cornelius, Ramona Evans, Emma Hawthorne, Marion Hawthorne, Tonya House, Shanika Leeks, Kelly Lewis, Barbara Mitchell, Tia Neal, LaTisha Pope, Paula Pope, Roshanda Swan, Caltomeesh West, Chelsea West, Keisha Williams, Melonye Williams Brandelene Carter

Tenors: Scott Allen, Adrian Brackens, Myron Butler, Rodrick Butler, Greg Brown, Damond Cobin, Victor Evans, James Henderson, Will Horn, Sedrick Jenkins, Vincent Johnson, Terry Miles, Burnis Neal, Darryn Ray, Floyd Spencer, Keith Thompson, Patron Thomas, Laron Vaughn, Tarlton Walker Farrell Mannings Jonathan Burns, Jon "Jontez" Montes

Altos: Aisha Cleavers, Uvonda Collins, Debbette Draper, Phreddra Evans, Shupon Gray, Dondra Harris, Shantael Johnson, Nicole Moss, Satanya Robinson, Shaniqua Robinson, Rachella Searight, Robin Searight, Andrea Wallace, Bridgette Washington, Gwen Williams, Kressy Williams Farrell Mannings

Band Members: Robert "Sput" Searight, RC Williams, Lawrence Peabody Ferrell, Shaun "Fingers" Martin, Keith Taylor, Daniel Jones, Braylon Lacy, Tim Clifton, Terrace Martin, Leon Devers, Jeriel Carter, Jason Davis, David "Paco" Cruz, Lamont Taylor, Shelton Summons, Derrick Harris, Jared Coleman, Greg Brown.

References