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Anointed

© Carol Allen

Anointed a Wilmington, Delaware based group of Gospel Singers was founded in 1992 by Deloris Barr. They released their first recording, "What An Amazing Child", in December of 1992(CDs & Cassettes). All of the songs were written and arranged by Deloris.

"We were just teenagers in a choir ten years ago," says Da'dra Crawford Greathouse, "but we really felt like God said, 'Look, I want you guys to come together as a group and just watch what I'll do.' A lot has happened in those years, but now it feels like we're just getting started on a whole new level. It's like that was all warm-up and now we're standing at the starting line and the race is about to begin."

For Da'dra, Steve Crawford, and Denise "Nee-C" Walls, that ten year "warm-up" included four albums, three Dove Awards, two Grammy nominations, one Stellar Award, and numerous chart-topping singles. Crisscrossing the country in the last three years, they've garnered spots on the "Big Voice Tour" as well as the "Christmas Celebration Tour," made the rounds of shows like the 700 Club and Cece's Place, and participated in numerous crusades with Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, and Mario Marillo. In short, they ought to be tired by now. But from all indications, they're just getting primed.

Anointed, the group's fourth Myrrh Records project (and the first record jointly marketed by Myrrh's new Black Music Division) is a vivid exploration in seasoned songwriting, immaculate instrumentation, and music that transcends traditional barriers. An all-star production team consisting of Keith Crouch (Boyz II Men, Brandy, CeCe Winans), Tony Rich (Michael Bolton, Aaron Neville, Tony Braxton), Mark Heimermann and Chris Harris (producers of Anointed's best-selling project Under the Influence), and Wayne Tester have added their considerable talents to the record.

Anointed's reputation has long been built on premier vocals and a unique ability to move seamlessly between a wide variety of genres, proving their diversity on each of their previous offerings by interspersing cuts that alternately leaned more toward pop, gospel, and R&B influences. But it's only with this project that Anointed feels they've finally made the record they have always wanted to make, a "dream record" successfully representing who they are with a consistent blending of their many musical roots. The result is a crafted, textured and accessible sound that promises to bring demographically scattered audiences together.

"It was always part of our original vision to create music that everyone can feel and be touched and changed by," Steve adds. "Anointed has always been about bringing people together across musical boundaries and across racial and denominational lines, as well as across generations."

The copyright of the article Anointed in Christian Music - Gospel is owned by Carol Allen. Permission to republish Anointed in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.