Total Experience Gospel Choir
Encyclopedia
The Total Experience Gospel Choir is a gospel music
group based in Seattle, Washington, USA, founded in 1973 by Patrinell "Pat" Wright, who continues to lead the group as of 2009. They have sung in at least 38 states and 22 countries, have performed for United States president Bill Clinton
, and made at least seven recordings of their own, as well as singing on the song "Save Me" on Dave Matthews
's CD Same Devil. They have appeared in television commercials ("to pay our bills") and on the public radio program A Prairie Home Companion
as well as numerous other radio programs.
Wright was born in Carthage, Texas
. Her father was a Baptist
preacher and her mother a schoolteacher. she sang her first solo at the age of 3, and by her 14th birthday, was directing two choirs in her father's church. She graduated as valedictorian
from Turner High School in Carthage, Prairie View A&M University
in Hempstead, Texas
and moved in 1964 to Seattle. She has had an extensive musical career in her own right, and since 1997 has been pastor of the Oneness Christian Center in Seattle, which she co-founded.
Wright began the group in 1973 as a gospel music class at Seattle's public Franklin High School. Many lives have been touched, voices lifted in praise, children mentored and at times adopted, and decades passed. For a photo essay see the website www.totalexperiencegospelchoir.org Photo Gallery. http://totalexperiencegospelchoir.org/photos.html
More recently, Pastor Wright has earned the nickname "The Idol Breeder" and has become once again uniquely dinstinguished after three of her choir members became finalists on the television series American Idol. Among its former members are American Idol
contestant Sanjaya Malakar
in 2007, 2004 contestant Leah LaBelle Vladowski, and 2002 contestant Karma Johnson http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/pid/1102.
Until 1992–93, the choir was composed primarily of youth. Since that time, the choir's character has evolved. It currently has members from 6 to 65 years of age.
Since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast Areas of Louisiana and Mississippi in August 2005, Pastor Wright has dedicated many hours for hurricane relief work. One of her own teenage choir members and her younger brother were caught up in the hurricane while in South Mississippi visiting family. Upon their safe return to Seattle, Pastor Wright and Total Experience Gospel Choir devoted themselves tirelessly to hurricane relief. They visited the areas in August 2006, April 2007, March 2008, and August 2008 helping to rebuild lives and property. While there, they were featured on local television a number of times rebuilding, dedicating and celebrating with hurricane survivors during the various mission trips.
For Pastor Wright's efforts, ABC News World News Tonight named her "Person of the Week" in May 2007 as well as one of the "Persons of the Year" on a broadcast aired December 27, 2007. See related links on the website [www.totalexperiencegospelchoir.org].
DirectTV on April 9, 2008 aired their special entitled "Hometown Heroes" where Pastor Wright and Total Experience Gospel Choir were honored for their work on the Gulf Coast of MS as well.
SCAN TV honored Pastor Wright in February 2008 on local television in their Black History programming where she, along with other local community members, were lauded for their contributions to Black History in the Pacific Northwest.
In October 2007, Pastor Wright and members of Total Experience Gospel Choir traveled to Busan, South Korea where they competed in the Busan International Choral Festival and Competition. The choir placed "second" and won the Silver Medal in "Ethnic" and "Pop" categories. There were 36 choirs from 11 countries in the competition.
In 2008, Pastor Wright and Total Experience Gospel Choir participated in the creation of the first of its kind "campaign CD" in an effort to help elect President Barack Obama. The CD "Seven Songs for America and One For The World" was producted by The Bergevin Brothers
. All profits from "Seven Songs For America..." go to support Pastor Wright's "Seattle Artists" foundation to rebuild the lives and homes of Katrina victims in Mississippi and Louisiana. For more information about the campaign CD see www.bergevinbrothersmusic.com. http://bergevinbrothersmusic.com/default.aspx http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/bergevinbrothers/gGxqzS
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
group based in Seattle, Washington, USA, founded in 1973 by Patrinell "Pat" Wright, who continues to lead the group as of 2009. They have sung in at least 38 states and 22 countries, have performed for United States president Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, and made at least seven recordings of their own, as well as singing on the song "Save Me" on Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
's CD Same Devil. They have appeared in television commercials ("to pay our bills") and on the public radio program A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion is a live radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor. The show runs on Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Central Time, and usually originates from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, although it is frequently taken on the road...
as well as numerous other radio programs.
Wright was born in Carthage, Texas
Carthage, Texas
Carthage is a city in Panola County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,664 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Panola County, and is situated in East Texas near the Louisiana state line.-Geography:...
. Her father was a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
preacher and her mother a schoolteacher. she sang her first solo at the age of 3, and by her 14th birthday, was directing two choirs in her father's church. She graduated as valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
from Turner High School in Carthage, Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M University is a historically black university located in Prairie View, Texas and is a member of the Texas A&M University System. PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 37 master’s degrees and four doctoral degree programs through nine colleges and schools...
in Hempstead, Texas
Hempstead, Texas
Hempstead is a city in Waller County, Texas, United States. The community, located at the junctions of U.S. Highway 290, Texas State Highway 6, and Texas State Highway 159, is around fifty miles northwest of Downtown Houston. The population was 4,691 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of...
and moved in 1964 to Seattle. She has had an extensive musical career in her own right, and since 1997 has been pastor of the Oneness Christian Center in Seattle, which she co-founded.
Wright began the group in 1973 as a gospel music class at Seattle's public Franklin High School. Many lives have been touched, voices lifted in praise, children mentored and at times adopted, and decades passed. For a photo essay see the website www.totalexperiencegospelchoir.org Photo Gallery. http://totalexperiencegospelchoir.org/photos.html
More recently, Pastor Wright has earned the nickname "The Idol Breeder" and has become once again uniquely dinstinguished after three of her choir members became finalists on the television series American Idol. Among its former members are American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
contestant Sanjaya Malakar
Sanjaya Malakar
Sanjaya Joseph Malakar is an American singer of Indian origin, who was a finalist on the sixth season of American Idol. He gained national attention on the series, controversially advancing to 7th place with public votes, despite being poorly received by the show's judges, particularly Simon...
in 2007, 2004 contestant Leah LaBelle Vladowski, and 2002 contestant Karma Johnson http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/pid/1102.
Until 1992–93, the choir was composed primarily of youth. Since that time, the choir's character has evolved. It currently has members from 6 to 65 years of age.
Since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast Areas of Louisiana and Mississippi in August 2005, Pastor Wright has dedicated many hours for hurricane relief work. One of her own teenage choir members and her younger brother were caught up in the hurricane while in South Mississippi visiting family. Upon their safe return to Seattle, Pastor Wright and Total Experience Gospel Choir devoted themselves tirelessly to hurricane relief. They visited the areas in August 2006, April 2007, March 2008, and August 2008 helping to rebuild lives and property. While there, they were featured on local television a number of times rebuilding, dedicating and celebrating with hurricane survivors during the various mission trips.
For Pastor Wright's efforts, ABC News World News Tonight named her "Person of the Week" in May 2007 as well as one of the "Persons of the Year" on a broadcast aired December 27, 2007. See related links on the website [www.totalexperiencegospelchoir.org].
DirectTV on April 9, 2008 aired their special entitled "Hometown Heroes" where Pastor Wright and Total Experience Gospel Choir were honored for their work on the Gulf Coast of MS as well.
SCAN TV honored Pastor Wright in February 2008 on local television in their Black History programming where she, along with other local community members, were lauded for their contributions to Black History in the Pacific Northwest.
In October 2007, Pastor Wright and members of Total Experience Gospel Choir traveled to Busan, South Korea where they competed in the Busan International Choral Festival and Competition. The choir placed "second" and won the Silver Medal in "Ethnic" and "Pop" categories. There were 36 choirs from 11 countries in the competition.
In 2008, Pastor Wright and Total Experience Gospel Choir participated in the creation of the first of its kind "campaign CD" in an effort to help elect President Barack Obama. The CD "Seven Songs for America and One For The World" was producted by The Bergevin Brothers
The Bergevin Brothers
The Bergevin Brothers are an American Seattle based band. Founded by brothers Joe & Jon Bergevin, the band promotes political and other causes through their music. They are most famous for their song "Fired Up, And Ready to Go" that was inspired by United States President Barack Obama's...
. All profits from "Seven Songs For America..." go to support Pastor Wright's "Seattle Artists" foundation to rebuild the lives and homes of Katrina victims in Mississippi and Louisiana. For more information about the campaign CD see www.bergevinbrothersmusic.com. http://bergevinbrothersmusic.com/default.aspx http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/bergevinbrothers/gGxqzS
External links
- Official site.
- Total Experience Gospel Choir, Seattle Times. 15 photos from the choir's tour of the post-Hurricane KatrinaHurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
Gulf CoastGulf Coast of the United StatesThe Gulf Coast of the United States, sometimes referred to as the Gulf South, South Coast, or 3rd Coast, comprises the coasts of American states that are on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and are known as the Gulf States...
. - http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?s=5262743, WLOX, Mississippi Gulf Coast, ABC Affiliate
- http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?s=8844280, WLOX, Mississippi Gulf Coast, ABC Affiliate
- http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/bergevinbrothers/gGxqzS, Helping elect President Obama