By Courtney Devores
Special to the Observer

The best church choirs offer more than an outlet for musical praise and uplifting entertainment for their congregations. There's a sense of camaraderie at their core.

Many famous singers' careers are rooted in the church. Artists from different generations and styles - including Elvis Presley, Whitney Houston and Carrie Underwood - found their voices in church before belting it out on stage.

"It's part of my foundation," says Grammy and Dove award-winning gospel singer CeCe Winans. "We had a ball in choir."

Winans co-hosts Verizon Wireless' "How Sweet the Sound" concert tour and choir competition with Donald Lawrence on Thursday at Time Warner Cable Arena. The annual competitive tour, in Charlotte for the first time, boasts some of the biggest names in gospel. John P. Kee, Marvin Sapp and Fred Hammond serve as judges in addition to performing. Winans and Lawrence also sing.

Kevin Verrett, the oldest member of Charleston-based a cappella group We Be Brethren, says his membership as one of the 12-piece group's two bass vocalists has given him not only a new way to praise but a family-like anchor in the Carolinas.

"I came from a very rough background," says Verrett, 56. "Most of the guys I hung with are dead or in jail. To be a part of this group of guys is a different experience. We go to nursing homes and benefits just to be able to spread the gospel. It's given me an opportunity to grow even though (the other members) are younger than I am. We look out for each other and take care of each other. We're like brothers."

Verrett left his native New Orleans seven years ago to protect his family. "The crime activity out of New Orleans was trying to recruit my son at the time. He was only 15 and there were threats on his life and altercations," he explains.

Verrett had never sung before moving to the Charleston area, but was recruited for his deep voice. "For me to grow in my Christianity I wanted to do everything I could. I had no idea I could sing, but they worked with me."

Carolinas choirs singing

We Be Brethren is one of eight regional choirs chosen via Internet voting to perform during Charlotte's date of "How Sweet the Sound." It puts them and the Azalea Drive Church of Christ in Summerville, S.C., in the running for $50,000 in prizes.

Charlotte's own Perpetual Hope Gospel Choir and the Kingdom Voices are also participating, along with groups from Tarboro, Colfax, Eutawville, S.C., Columbia and Beckley, W.Va.

The Perpetual Hope Gospel Choir calls Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church home. Its members range from college students in their early 20s to 80-year-olds, and its membership counts members from Panama, Liberia, Nigeria, Haiti and the U.S.

What's unique about Perpetual Hope is it's a Catholic choir. Though Catholics aren't known for gospel choirs, soprano Deborah Bond says the 29-member group is "determined to show that a Catholic choir has the gospel spirit and the anointing to deliver the message through praise."

"It's not real common to find a choir in the Catholic Church," says Bond. "About 10 years ago the Catholic church sent out a referendum encouraging each of the churches to blend their culture into the church. This was one of the things (to do) and it's growing amongst the faith."

Every voice matters

Winans says the competition not only shines a spotlight on unique choirs like these, it honors church members who are unsung, if not unheard.

"(Choir members) are some of the hardest workers in all the churches all over the world. They give of their time. They're not being paid for it and they make sure people can hear great music every morning. A lot of churches have more services throughout the week as well," says Winans. "Directors give their gift and training. A lot of times they're forgotten and we don't understand how much sacrifice goes into having a great choir."

At the competitive level there's no miming as some congregation members do when they raise their hymnals each week.

"You can't fake it," she says. "Every voice is making a difference and everyone is coming 100 percent. The goal is for those voices to sound like one."

IF YOU WANT TO GO
Date: Thursday, Sept. 30
Time: 7:30 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m.
Place: Time Warner Cable Arena
Cost: $5 - $7

Click here to visit the official website.

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