Professor Craig A. Hayes and The United Voices of Trenton, New Jersey
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The United Voices founded by Professor Craig Hayes began February 8, 1989 at the Grace Pentecostal Church located on the south side in Trenton, New Jersey. Professor Hayes called together singers and musicians from across the city and the Delaware Valley to form the group. On that cold winter evening the first selection introduced was "We Have Come Into This House". The choir's debut concert was held the first Saturday in June of that same year at the Friendship Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey. In the early 90s the organization began to grow spiritually and numerically. In 1995 the choir released "Bright Glory" on the Pulse Record Label which introduced the aggregation to the gospel music industry. This cd included such hits as "We Have Come Into This House", "Holy" and "Bright Glory". With a strong and demanding fan base in Canada The United Voices traveled to Quebec to record their sophomore cd, "Live In Montreal" released in 1996. This cd went to the top of radio playlists around the world with two major singles, "Highway To Heaven" and "I Thank You". The choir's live performance at the Gospel Music Workshop Of America caused retailers to completely sell out of product before the end of the week. The cd was also nominated for the first round Soul Train Music Awards in 1997. Later that year, Pulse Record Label President Randy Kettering requested a live concert video of selections from both cds released and recorded, 'Live In Columbus, OH". In 2000 the choir released their third cd, "Now In The 21st Century" on Power Records which Professor Hayes served as executive producer and Reggie Young as Co-Producer. Hits like, "O Give Thanks, "Worthy To Be Praised" and "Be Thou Exalted" became standards with church and community choirs. After a brief hiatus from recordings, The United Voices will return with their highly anticipated cd "Any Day Now" in 2010. The first single to hit radio will be "Anybody Here" which Professor Hayes taught to the Gospel Music Workshop Of America Youth Mass Choir in Dallas, TX. Praise teams have already added this song to their Sunday morning rotation during the worship experience. The United Voices has shared the stage with some of the best such as Dr. Bobby Jones, Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir, Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers, Ricky Dillard and the New Generation Chorale, Yolanda Adams, Dr. Charles G. Hayes and the Cosmopolitan Church Of Prayer Choir, Mary-Mary, the legendary Kenny Rogers and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Every fifth Sunday the United Voices host a musical titled "LIVE at 5". The concert consists of local and national artist that may be in the area to perform before a capacity crowd. People from far and near have witness this power packed concert series for the past 18 years. The United Voices desires to carry and deliver gospel music at a level of excellence as an American art form that reaches out to the lost.
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