After months of anticipation and excitement, the United Tenors: Hammond, Hollister, Roberson, Wilson is finally available. This album and ensemble are easily the most talked about in the Gospel genre this year, and the 14 track set is sure to exceed expectations on its March 26 release date.
For a long time women have been at the forefront of the Gospel music sound, and we want to complement that and show what it looks like when men worship together; and also show that men CAN worship together” says Hammond. He adds that this is the best album he’s ever done, because this essential band of brothers gelled so well together. “There was total peace while recording this project,” says Hammond. “Everyone was very supportive and just loved being in the room together.”
The first single from the United Tenors is “Here In Our Praise, which has been Hollister’s personal favorite and anthem since the day it was recorded. The song showcases a muscular vulnerability of submission to God. It is a mellow sing-along in which they sing in unison: “With our hearts Lord, we worship you and we won’t be the same. In your power O Lord, we are changed! As we lift up your name let your presence reign over us as we worship you.” Watch the video here to experience “Here In Our Praise” for yourself at UT VIDEO.
The album also features the smooth jazzy “Never A Day;” and “My Heart is Yours,” an urgent declaration of divine fidelity, which is one of Wilson’s personal favorites. The gentlemen pour their hearts into the words of “I Need You,” a soul-stirring love letter to God, which is one of Roberson’s personal favorites; and they boldly proclaim their faith in bass-heavy jams like “Love You Like That;” “We Worship You,” and “Unshakeable.” The tenors rock the building on one of Hammond’s personal favorites – “I’m Reminded;” while infusing “That’s the Only Way To Love” with a step groove, and tweaking “Come On Let’s Pray” with subtle elements of electronica.
While United Tenors: Hammond, Hollister, Roberson, Wilson is a musical masterpiece, it is the unity, the brotherhood, which stands out most profoundly to these singers.
Hollister says: “I’ve been doing albums forever, but this was like a breath of fresh air. The process was easy because Fred did the heavy lifting with the writing. We came in, he played the songs, and once we pulled ourselves together after hearing the music and hearing Fred singing the songs, we started recording. It was one of my best experiences and, again, like a breath of fresh air.”
Brian Courtney Wilson says: “Just as Fred mentioned, we’ve had a very female driven sound, in terms of choral music, for the last few years…When men get together and sing chorally, sing together, sing in unison, it creates a different resonance in the atmosphere, and I’m glad to be a part of it…My prayer is that people hear this music and feel the joy that I felt when we were in the room recording.”
Eric Roberson says: “…We all did something that we didn’t have to do. We did something that felt good, and was for the betterment of Gospel music and for the betterment of music in general. And it’s also for the betterment of brotherhood and communication between men. We all have our careers. So, for us to kind of stop our personal careers to put our eyes on a certain project, it means a lot. Hopefully that becomes contagious, and other people will try to think about what Gospel music needs, and come together to try to fill that space as well.”
United Tenors: Hammond Hollister Roberson Wilson is available in stores and online March 26.
