The Gospel Truth Choir is a
Scottish choir which performs a wide variety of music in a
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...
style. Originally formed by Tracey Braithwaite and a group of friends in 2007 for the wedding of
BAFTA-winning composer
Paul Leonard-Morgan
Paul Leonard-Morgan (born 1974) is a Scottish composer particularly known for his work in scoring for television and film. He won a British Academy Scotland Awards, Scottish BAFTA for the film ''Reflections upon the Origin of the Pineapple'' (20 ...
, they were soon regularly performing in recording studios and on stage, as well as being a feature of many wedding ceremonies.
Career
The Gospel Truth Choir first came to wider public attention when they were asked by Scots songwriter
B.A. Robertson to perform vocals on the 2008 version of his football anthem "
We Have a Dream
"We Have A Dream" was a special single released as the official song of the Scotland national football team for their 1982 World Cup Campaign. When first released, it reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart.
2008 version
The single was re-relea ...
", which became the charity single for the BBC Scotland Children in Need campaign. The recording featured a number of celebrities, including
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel Leroy Jackson (born December 21, 1948) is an American actor and producer. One of the most widely recognized actors of his generation, the films in which he has appeared have collectively grossed over $27 billion worldwide, making him ...
,
Ashley Jensen
Ashley Jensen (born 11 August 1969) is a Scottish actress and narrator. She was nominated for an Emmy for her role on the television series '' Extras'', in which she appeared from 2005 to 2007. She was a cast member of the ABC series ''Ugly Be ...
,
Dougray Scott
Stephen Dougray Scott (born 25 November 1965) is a Scottish actor. He has appeared in the films ''Ever After'' (1998), '' Mission: Impossible 2'' (2000), ''Enigma'' (2001), ''Hitman'' (2007), and ''My Week with Marilyn'' (2011).
Early life
Sc ...
,
Billy Boyd,
Chris Hoy
Sir Christopher Andrew Hoy MBE (born 23 March 1976) is a former track cyclist and Racing driver from Scotland who represented Great Britain at the Olympic and World Championships and Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.
Hoy is eleven-times a wor ...
,
Ally McCoist
Alistair Murdoch McCoist, (; born 24 September 1962) is a Scottish former footballer who has since worked as a manager and TV pundit.
McCoist began his playing career with Scottish club St Johnstone before moving to English side Sunderland i ...
,
Fred MacAulay
Frederick MacAulay (born 29 December 1956) is a Scottish comedian. For 18 years, until March 2015, he presented a daily BBC Scotland radio programme '' MacAulay and Co''. He has appeared on numerous TV shows.
Background
Born in Perth, MacAula ...
,
Karen Dunbar
Karen Dunbar (born 1 April 1971) is a Scottish comedian, actress and writer. She first appeared on television on the BBC Scotland sketch comedy series ''Chewin' the Fat'' (1999–2002), and was subsequently given her own show by the channel titl ...
,
Elaine C Smith
Elaine Constance Smith (born 2 August 1958) is a Scottish actress, comedian, and political activist. She has starred in the BBC Scotland sitcoms ''City Lights'' (1984–91), '' Rab C. Nesbitt'' (1988–2014) and '' Two Doors Down'' (2016–), ...
and
John Gordon Sinclair
John Gordon Sinclair (born Gordon John Sinclair; 4 February 1962) is a Scottish actor, voice actor, singer, and novelist. He is best known for portraying Gregory in the 1981 film ''Gregory's Girl''. There was a Gordon Sinclair already registere ...
, who were all featured on a part live / part-recorded version alongside
B.A. Robertson and
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins (born 23 August 1959) is a Scottish musician, producer and record label owner from Edinburgh, Scotland. Collins was the lead singer for the 1980s post-punk band Orange Juice, which he co-founded. After the group split in ...
on the live BBC Scotland Children in Need show.
Following the BBC appearance, B.A. Robertson invited the choir to join him at
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music c ...
, where they recorded backing vocals on a number of tracks written by the Glaswegian songwriter, including "
The Living Years
"The Living Years" is a soft rock ballad written by B. A. Robertson and Mike Rutherford, and recorded by Rutherford's British rock band Mike + The Mechanics. It was released in December 1988 in the United Kingdom and in the United States as t ...
", marking the start of an ongoing relationship between choir and songwriter.
2009 saw the choir contribute vocals to two tracks on the debut album of
Codeine Velvet Club
Codeine Velvet Club was a Scottish alternative rock band formed in 2009 by Lou Hickey and Jon Lawler, while Lawler's band The Fratellis were taking a hiatus after their second album '' Here We Stand''. Codeine Velvet Club's sole album, their ...
, a
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
band featuring
Jon Lawler
Jon Fratelli (born John Paul Lawler; 4 March 1979) is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter, best known for his work with the band The Fratellis. Alongside his work with The Fratellis, Lawler has played in a band called Codeine Velvet Clu ...
of
The Fratellis
The Fratellis are a Scottish rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
...
. This album was released in the UK in 2009 and the US in 2010. In late 2009 the choir joined
The Skids
Skids are a Scottish punk rock and new wave band, formed in Dunfermline in 1977 by Stuart Adamson (guitar, keyboards, percussion and backing vocals), William Simpson (bass guitar and backing vocals), Thomas Kellichan (drums) and Richard Job ...
onstage during their performance at "Homecoming Live", a celebration of Scottish music held at the
SECC in Glasgow to celebrate the end of Scotland's year of homecoming.
In January 2010 the choir made a number of appearances around the
Celtic Connections
The Celtic Connections festival started in 1994 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has since been held every January. Featuring over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops, the festival focuses on the roots of tra ...
festival. Most notably, they contributed to "A Scottish Songbook", a concert at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall which featured a number of acts performing songs by Scots songwriters. As well as reprising "The Living Years" with
B.A. Robertson, the choir sang with
Ricky Ross,
Lorraine McIntosh
Lorraine McIntosh (born 13 May 1964) is a Scottish singer, vocalist with Scottish band Deacon Blue, and actress.
Career
McIntosh is a vocalist with Deacon Blue, whose second studio album, ''When the World Knows Your Name'' (1989), topped the ...
,
Karine Polwart
Karine Polwart ( ) (born 23 December 1970) is a Scottish singer-songwriter. She writes and performs music with a strong folk and roots feel, her songs dealing with a variety of issues from alcoholism to genocide. She has been most recognised fo ...
, Siobhan Boyle and Maeve Mackinnon, to a sell-out audience of 2500 people. Later in the festival the choir performed a full concert with Glasgow artist
Horse McDonald
Horse McDonald (born Sheena Mary McDonald, 22 November 1958) is a Scottish singer-songwriter. She is noted mainly for her rich, sonorous voice, and ''The Scotsman'' referred to her as "One of Scotland's all-time great vocalists, also possesse ...
at City Halls.
February 2010 saw the choir join
Paul Carrack
Paul may refer to:
*Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name)
*Paul (surname), a list of people
People
Christianity
*Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chris ...
on stage at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall to perform on his version of "The Living Years". Later the same month, the group appeared live on
STV's
news magazine
A news magazine is a typed, printed, and published magazine, radio or television program, usually published weekly, consisting of articles about current events. News magazines generally discuss stories, in greater depth than do newspapers or new ...
show
''The Hour'' performing a version of Amazing Grace. In March, members of the choir rejoined
The Skids
Skids are a Scottish punk rock and new wave band, formed in Dunfermline in 1977 by Stuart Adamson (guitar, keyboards, percussion and backing vocals), William Simpson (bass guitar and backing vocals), Thomas Kellichan (drums) and Richard Job ...
for two sold-out shows in Glasgow and Dunfermline.
In October 2010 the choir released their debut album, ''Deep Fried Gospel'', a selection of gospel covers of well-known songs by Scottish songwriters and including contributions from Maeve MacKinnon,
Horse McDonald
Horse McDonald (born Sheena Mary McDonald, 22 November 1958) is a Scottish singer-songwriter. She is noted mainly for her rich, sonorous voice, and ''The Scotsman'' referred to her as "One of Scotland's all-time great vocalists, also possesse ...
,
Bruce Watson,
Mary Ann Kennedy and the combined choirs of
Lothian and Borders Police
Lothian and Borders Police was the territorial police force for the Scottish council areas of the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian between 1975 and 2013. The force's headquarters were in Fettes ...
and InChorus. Later that month members of the choir joined members of
The Skids
Skids are a Scottish punk rock and new wave band, formed in Dunfermline in 1977 by Stuart Adamson (guitar, keyboards, percussion and backing vocals), William Simpson (bass guitar and backing vocals), Thomas Kellichan (drums) and Richard Job ...
once more for a short acoustic gig ahead of the launch of a DVD featuring live performances from earlier in the year. They were also announced as participants in the 2010
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: ''BBC Alba'') is a division of the BBC and the main public broadcaster in Scotland.
It is one of the four BBC national regions, together with the BBC English Regions, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Northern Ireland. I ...
Children in Need lineup, where they performed a track from their album alongside cast members of
River City
''River City'' is a Scottish television soap opera that was first broadcast on BBC One Scotland on 24 September 2002. ''River City'' follows the lives of the people who live and work in the fictional district of Shieldinch. In November 2017, a s ...
.
The choir again took part in
Celtic Connections
The Celtic Connections festival started in 1994 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has since been held every January. Featuring over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops, the festival focuses on the roots of tra ...
in January 2011, this time sharing the bill with
Tom Jones in a gospel-themed evening. February 2011 saw them join
Jill Jackson at the launch of her new album ''Back to Zero'' at The Ferry in Glasgow, closely followed by a week-long residency as the "house choir" on the Breakfast Show on
102.5 Clyde 1 singing live jingles and performing with a number of guests. In June 2011 the choir joined a gig organised by the Scottish Charity Cash for Kids, and performed with
Marti Pellow
Marti Pellow (born Mark McLachlan; 23 March 1965) is a Scottish singer. He was the lead singer of the Scottish pop group Wet Wet Wet for 28 years: from their formation in 1982 until their split in 1997, and again from their reformation in 2004 ...
, and in August made their first trip to Russia as guests of the St Andrews Society to perform with
Ricky Ross. On 18 November 2011 the choir joined forces with BBC Scotland Talent, including
Jackie Bird
Jacqueline Bird (née Macpherson, born 31 July 1962) is a Scottish journalist and broadcaster, best known as a former anchor of the BBC Scotland national news programme ''Reporting Scotland''.
Early life
Jacqueline Macpherson was born on 31 J ...
, to perform a version of "Lean on Me" during a record-breaking evening of fundraising for BBC Children in Need
The choir launched their second album, ''Live from Grand Central'', with a performance at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on 20 November 2011. The album was recorded at their previous outing at that venue. The launch gig featured guest appearances by Alan Nimmo and Fraser Speirs, and a performance with
Ricky Ross of "(When Will You Make) My Telephone Ring". In late November they switched on the Christmas lights in Ayr and Broughty Ferry.
In early 2012 the choir launched an amateur version called The Gospel Truth Community Choir, with the intention of building a Scottish Gospel Choir.
Discography
"
We Have a Dream
"We Have A Dream" was a special single released as the official song of the Scotland national football team for their 1982 World Cup Campaign. When first released, it reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart.
2008 version
The single was re-relea ...
" - Pudsey's Beautiful Dreamers (2008)
"
The Living Years
"The Living Years" is a soft rock ballad written by B. A. Robertson and Mike Rutherford, and recorded by Rutherford's British rock band Mike + The Mechanics. It was released in December 1988 in the United Kingdom and in the United States as t ...
" -
B.A. Robertson (2009)
''
Codeine Velvet Club
Codeine Velvet Club was a Scottish alternative rock band formed in 2009 by Lou Hickey and Jon Lawler, while Lawler's band The Fratellis were taking a hiatus after their second album '' Here We Stand''. Codeine Velvet Club's sole album, their ...
'' - Codeine Velvet Club (2009) on "Time" and "The Black Roses"
''Deep Fried Gospel'' - The Gospel Truth Choir (2010)
''Live from Grand Central'' - The Gospel Truth Choir (2011)
Personnel
The Gospel Truth Choir was founded by Tracey Braithwaite, formerly a backing vocalist with
Horse McDonald
Horse McDonald (born Sheena Mary McDonald, 22 November 1958) is a Scottish singer-songwriter. She is noted mainly for her rich, sonorous voice, and ''The Scotsman'' referred to her as "One of Scotland's all-time great vocalists, also possesse ...
and
KT Tunstall
Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall (born 23 June 1975) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and musician. She first gained attention with a 2004 live solo performance of her song " Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on '' Later... with Jools Holland''.
Th ...
. The choir draws from a large pool of professional and semi-pro singers in Scotland, many of whom have their own musical careers.
References
External links
BBC "A Scottish Songbook" siteOfficial website of The Gospel Truth ChoirOfficial website of Tracy Braithwaite
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gospel Truth Choir, The
British gospel music groups
Scottish choirs
Musical groups established in 2007