Gospel singer Carr’s ‘Church’ has global flavor

By Deborah Evans Price

NASHVILLE (Billboard) – Kurt Carr’s message of unity has struck a
chord with audiences as his new project, “One Church,” recently bowed
at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart.

The ambitious set, released March 22, features Carr’s seven-voice
ensemble, as well as a South African choir, Scottish bagpipers and an
Armenian accordionist. Recorded live last July at the COGIC Cathedral
in Los Angeles, the music runs the gamut from rousing church songs to
poignant ballads.

Carr attributes his sales to “God’s grace and timing.” It had been
four years since his last release. “I’ve been traveling and working a
whole lot, keeping the name out there,” says Carr, who records for
GospoCentric/Zomba Gospel. “That was a dream of mine, to be No. 1.”

Carr admits he felt pressure to deliver. “I had a responsibility to
say something profound, something that would bless people again,” he
says. “In my prayer time, God just kept bringing to my recollection
the success of (previous hit single) ‘Sanctuary’ and how that song had
been translated into nine different languages. The Lord said to me,
‘I have given you the ear of the world, now what will you say to
them?”‘

The title came first. “It’s the theme of the album,” he says. “I’ve
accomplished that (‘one church’) with all the different races and
cultures that were represented on the album. I’ve got people from
Africa, India, China, Japan and even a guitar player from Italy.

“I pray that these songs will help at least spark the interest and
vision for people to come together,” he says.

Carr will embark on a tour in August. Until then, he is doing a series
of workshops, teaching church music leaders how to incorporate the new
songs into their services.

“I explain the scriptural references from the songs and talk to them
about my journey,” he says of the three-day events. “I bring in a
couple of my singers and we . . . sing, shout and praise God.”

Reuters/Billboard

05/13/05 20:14 ET