There’s a dynamic new quartet of twenty-somethings on the music scene but Da Chozen Brothaz are different from most gospel quartets in that they are bringing a uniquely contemporary flavor to the quartet genre. They have coined this new idiom as quartemporary. The group is releasing its rousing new radio single “Living For The Lord “ to gospel radio this week to kick off Black Music Month. The group is performing at the WNRR Garden City Gospel Fest this Saturday, May 30th in Augusta, GA. “Da Chozen Brothaz are the now and future of gospel music,” says Ruben L. Freeman, General Manager of WNRR Gospel 1380 AM. “Their quartemporary sound blends the traditional sounds of gospel with today’s sound; and my listeners and I love it! I am super excited that they will be joining us for the Garden City Gospel Fest! I can’t wait till the full project is released! Think I’ll buy me a few copies….lol.”
The Clarksville, TN group’s story sort of pivots around the life of Ejay Scharkley. His father passed away when he was a toddler, his mother was strung out on drugs and abandoned him. He was then raised by his grandmother but always felt left out and neglected because he didn’t have his parents in his llfe. “I began to act out until I found something that interested me and that was music,” he recalls. “I saw my cousins singing and playing instruments and that inspired me.”
Scharkley’s cousin Michael Turnage, a singer, had formed The Chozen Brothers group with his buddy Isaac “Bam” Richardson and some neighborhood friends circa 2009. They began to hold jam sessions at a local recording studio and to perform around town. At the same time, Scharkley started a group with his other cousin Dontavious Cook. Both ensembles disbanded after a year and one day the cousins were talking and decided to merge the remaining members of the two groups into one and added Gary Settles and Martavian Adams and Da Chozen Brothaz were re-established.
The Chozen Brothaz have been influenced by fellow quartet singers such as The Williams Singers, Tim Rogers & The Fellas and The True Believers. After honing their own unique sound, the brothers began to open for Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson and The Pilgrim Jubilees. The group came to the attention of Bishop Jerry L. Maynard, pastor of The Cathedral of Praise Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in Nashville, who signed them to his JeLaMa Records label. “I’m quite excited about Da Chozen Brothers,” says Bishop Maynard. “They are a breath of fresh air and they are introducing quartet music to the next generation with their own unique trademark.” The group’s debut album is scheduled to release in August 2015. Visit www.bishopmaynard.com for more news and information on Da Chozen Brothaz. Twitter: @wearedcb @onevoicemedia84
