“He is my homie from Memphis and he was greatly influenced by our mutual friend, the great choirmaster, O’landa Draper,” Pugh says of Tharpe. “I vowed to pick up O’landa’s mantle and do what I can to expose the world to all the talent in the Memphis area. Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis recently teamed up with me at the Gospel Superfest TV taping where we shared the stage to sing my song, `I Need Your Glory’. They did what they do and `brought it’ in a major way and I wanted to give them this opportunity to `bring it’ on a national level. I’m very optimistic about their ministry because they manage to attract young adults but they are also seasoned enough to capture the attention of the mature church crowd as well”.
Tharpe received the inspiration to launch his own group when he was the director of the Voices of Harambee, a gospel choir at Craigmont High School in Memphis. He took the word Kenosis from Philippians 2:5-8 (a Biblical scripture) in which Jesus Christ emptied himself of his divine attributes in order to identify with mankind. The group has recorded a couple of indie CDs and won a Rhythm of Gospel Award as New Artist of the Year in 2010. They also won Dorinda Clark Cole’s Singers & Musicians Conference Artist Showcase Competition in 2011 and they have appeared on BET’s legendary, “Bobby Jones Gospel” TV program. For more information on Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis and other EPM Music Group acts, visit www.epmmusicgroup.com.
