The Power Of Faith: Mississippi Mass Choir's Testimony

The Mississippi Mass Choir is an American gospel choir based in Jackson, Mississippi. The choir was formed in 1988 by Frank Williams, a member of The Jackson Southernaires and an executive in the gospel music division of Malaco Records. The Mississippi Mass Choir has since become a well-known and successful gospel group, having released multiple albums and toured internationally. Their song Have Faith in God embodies the choir's mission to “serve the Lord and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ” through their music.

The Mississippi Mass Choir's mission and motto

The Mississippi Mass Choir is an American gospel choir based in Jackson, Mississippi. The choir was formed by Frank Williams, a member of The Jackson Southernaires and an executive in the gospel music division of Malaco Records.

The choir's motto is "Serving God Through Song", and its mission is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. The Mississippi Mass Choir strives for success in the gospel music industry, but its primary purpose is to serve the Lord and spread the Gospel.

The Mississippi Mass Choir was formed in 1988 after Williams received support from the record company and began recruiting well-known Mississippi talents, such as David R. Curry, who became the choir's music director. Over 100 voices from across the state came together to form the choir, and after months of rehearsals, they recorded their debut album and video, "The Mississippi Mass Choir Live", on 29 October 1988.

The choir has since released numerous albums and has travelled extensively, performing in over 40 states within the United States, including Alaska, and internationally in Japan, Italy, Spain, the Bahamas, and Greece. They became the first gospel group to perform at the Acropolis and have also sung for Pope John Paul II at his summer residence.

The Mississippi Mass Choir has received various awards and nominations for their contributions to gospel music, including the 1990 Stellar Award for Album of the Year, "I'm Yours Lord", and the 1992 Billboard Magazine Gospel Artist of the Year.

Awards and recognition

The Mississippi Mass Choir has received numerous accolades and awards for its contributions to gospel music. The choir has been nominated for three Grammy Awards and has won several other awards, including:

• 12 Stellar Gospel Music Awards, including the Thomas A. Dorsey Notable Achievement Award
• Induction into The Mississippi Music Museum Hall of Fame in 2000
• Billboard Gospel Artist of the Year and Gospel Record of the Year recognition
• A Soul Train Music Award
• A 3M Corporation Innovation Award
• A National Association of Record Merchandiser (NARM) Best Sellers Award

In addition, the choir's debut album, "The Mississippi Mass Choir Live," was certified as the No. 1 Spiritual album in the country by Billboard magazine in 1989. The album stayed on the Billboard charts for 45 consecutive weeks, setting a new record for gospel recordings. At the 9th annual James Cleveland GMWA Awards, the choir won Choir of the Year-Contemporary and Best New Artist of the Year-Traditional. They also received four Stellar Awards in 1989 and were nominated in multiple categories for the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards and Dove Awards.

The Mississippi Mass Choir's subsequent albums have also achieved commercial and critical success, with their second album, "God Gets The Glory," debuting at No. 16 on the Billboard chart before reaching No. 1. Their third and most popular album, "It Remains to be Seen...," remained at the top of the charts for an entire year and included the last recorded performance of the choir's founder, Frank Williams, before his untimely death in 1993.

International performances

The Mississippi Mass Choir has performed internationally in Japan, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, the Bahamas, South Africa, the Canary Islands, and Greece. In Greece, they became the first gospel group to perform at the historic Acropolis in Athens.

The choir has also travelled to Italy, where they attended the Umbria Jazz Gospel and Soul Easter Festival in Terni and were invited to sing for Pope John Paul II at his summer residence.

In October 2013, the choir celebrated their 25th anniversary by recording their 10th live album, "Declaration of Dependence". They then embarked on a 10-city tour and a 13-city tour of Spain.

The choir's founder, Frank Williams

Franklin "Frank" Delano Williams, the founder of the Mississippi Mass Choir, was born on June 27, 1947, in Smithville, Mississippi, and grew up in a musically gifted family. He began his singing career as a preteen, joining the Southern Gospel Singers and later becoming one of the first members of the Williams Brothers, a family quartet formed by his father in 1960.

In 1964, Frank joined his brother, Huey Williams, in the Jackson Southernaires. With the combined talents of Frank, Huey, and vocalist Willie Banks, the group secured a record deal in 1963 with Song Bird, a subsidiary of Peacock Records. The Jackson Southernaires went on to release several hits between 1963 and 1974, including the mournful "Too Late" in 1968. In 1973, the group's popularity led to them hosting their own television program, "Gospel Unlimited."

Frank Williams played a significant role in the Jackson Southernaires' signing with Malaco Records in 1975, marking the beginning of a prolific recording relationship that spanned over two decades. By 1979, Frank had advanced to the position of Executive Producer and Director of Gospel Promotion at Malaco Records. His work in this role attracted renowned gospel talents such as The Original Soul Stirrers, The Sensational Nightingales, and Louise Candy Davis.

In addition to his executive duties, Frank continued to pursue his passion for singing. He was among the lead singers on the Florida Mass Choir's 1987 Malaco release, "Let the Holy Ghost Lead You." Inspired by the success of this collaboration, Frank set out to assemble the best voices in Mississippi into a mass choir. With the backing of Malaco Records and music director David R. Curry Jr., his vision came to fruition with the formation of the Mississippi Mass Choir.

The Mississippi Mass Choir made their debut on October 29, 1988, with the release of their eponymous first album and video, "The Mississippi Mass Choir, Live." The album was an instant success, topping the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart and remaining on the Billboard charts for an impressive 45 consecutive weeks, setting a new record for gospel recordings.

Sadly, Frank Williams passed away on March 22, 1993, at the age of 45. He suffered a fatal heart attack while at the airport in Savannah, Georgia, returning home from a gospel program. Williams' legacy as a gifted musician, vocalist, and founder of the Mississippi Mass Choir continues to inspire, and his mission to 'serve God through song' is carried forward by the choir and his loved ones.

The song's lyrics

The Mississippi Mass Choir is an American gospel choir based in Jackson, Mississippi. The choir was formed in 1988 by Frank Williams, a member of The Jackson Southernaires and an executive in the gospel music division of Malaco Records.

The choir's motto and mission are "Serving God Through Song". Their purpose is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through their music. The Mississippi Mass Choir has released several albums, including their eponymous debut, "The Mississippi Mass Choir Live", which became the No. 1 Spiritual album in the country in 1989, remaining on the Billboard charts for 45 consecutive weeks. This set a new record for gospel recordings.

One notable song by the Mississippi Mass Choir is "Holding On (and I Won't Let Go My Faith)". The song's lyrics express perseverance in faith despite challenges and criticism. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm just holding on", emphasising the singer's determination to maintain their faith. The first verse acknowledges belief in the Father and His Son, and the second verse addresses experiences of ostracisation and criticism while striving to maintain faith.

The song also includes two "vamps". In music, a vamp is a repeating musical figure, often used to introduce improvisation or to provide a foundation for vocal ad-libs. In "Holding On (and I Won't Let Go My Faith)", Vamp 1 addresses the challenges posed by Satan and negative forces, while Vamp 2 reflects on the transformative power of the Lord's holy power.

The Mississippi Mass Choir has achieved significant success and recognition for their contributions to gospel music, including numerous awards and nominations. They have travelled and performed internationally, spreading their message of faith through song.

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