Chicago-Based Gospel Ensemble Has Sold Millions of Records And Continues To Set The Standard For Praise and Worship Music
Chicago, IL: The gold-selling Shekinah Glory Ministry’s (SGM) new CD, Refreshed By Fire (Kingdom Records), is #1 gospel title on Amazon.com this week. It was also the #2 Mover & Shaker of the week with a 503% increase in sales. The new album features the majestic ballad “Just For Me’ that just debuted at #22 on the Billboard Top Gospel Digital Songs chart and is building momentum on the corresponding radio airplay chart.
Alto-voiced LaTosca House co-wrote and led SGM’s 2007 smash “Jesus” which reached #5 and spent 29 weeks on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart. Now, House, who joined SGM in 2006, is back on the microphone for “Just For Me.” The song was recorded during a Standing Room Only live recording session this past May at Valley Kingdom Ministries International’s main sanctuary in Chicago.
Kingdom Records is a leader in African-American praise and worship music with hits such as Shekinah Glory Ministry’s 2001 breakthrough smash, “Praise is What I Do.” The million-selling SGM is not a choir. Instead, it’s a dynamic ensemble of psalmists, minstrels, and banner bearers who perform “under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. “ Their Hebrew name means “the glorified presence of God.” Their CDs Praise Is What I Do (#5 peak Top Gospel Albums) and Shekinah Glory Ministry Live (#3 peak Top Gospel Albums – 103 weeks on the chart) were both certified gold in 2005 and 2008 respectively. They also have three gold or platinum DVDs to their credit.
When asked what she attributes SGM’s success to, House said, “We don’t mind showing ourselves. When I have the mic, it’s me and the Lord and where He takes me is where I go. We take our focus off people and allow God to take over. When we worship God, we shouldn’t let anybody hinder us from our praise. Our impact is that we are transparent, willing vessels.”
