Virtue (musical group)
Encyclopedia
Virtue is a popular Gospel music
group. The group Currently consists of sisters Ebony Holland, Karima Kibble
and Heather Martin.
, Ebony Trotter (Holland), Negelle Sumter, and Shavonne Sampson. All four women attended the historically Black Seventh-day Adventist
institution, Oakwood University (then Oakwood College).
After signing to Verity Records
, Virtue recorded an album with production by Mitchell Jones (Commissioned
), Dawkins & Dawkins, Montrel Darrett (Commissioned
) and the help of Mark and Joey Kibble of the group Take 6
. In 1995, Virtue recorded on Verity
's Tribute to Rosa Parks
under the production of Fred Hammond
(Commissioned) on We Will Be The Ones.
In 1999, Heather Trotter (Martin) joined the group, replacing Sampson. Sumter later left the group, but appears on several songs on the group's album Virtuosity!
, Yolanda Adams
and Mary Mary
. They also performed on the Evolution II Tour 2003 with Byron Cage
, Percy Bady Tonex
, Lisa McClendon, and Corey Red & Precise.
They appeared on the album Bridges: Songs of Unity and Purpose in a duet with Clay Crosse and sang background for Darwin Hobbs on the song So Amazing from his album Vertical.
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. The group Currently consists of sisters Ebony Holland, Karima Kibble
Karima Kibble
Karima Kibble is a Gospel singer, and a founding member of the gospel group Virtue.-Early years:A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Karima was the fifth child born into Trotter family.-Musical career:...
and Heather Martin.
Biography
The group was formed 1994 by Karima Trotter (Kibble)Karima Kibble
Karima Kibble is a Gospel singer, and a founding member of the gospel group Virtue.-Early years:A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Karima was the fifth child born into Trotter family.-Musical career:...
, Ebony Trotter (Holland), Negelle Sumter, and Shavonne Sampson. All four women attended the historically Black Seventh-day Adventist
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
institution, Oakwood University (then Oakwood College).
After signing to Verity Records
Verity Records
Verity Records is an American gospel music-focused record label founded in 1994. The label is a now major component and namesake of Verity Gospel Music Group , the Gospel group operated by Jive Label Group, which in turn is owned by Sony Music Entertainment.-Artists :* 21:03* Crystal Aikin*...
, Virtue recorded an album with production by Mitchell Jones (Commissioned
Commissioned (gospel group)
Commissioned is an American Gospel group. The group recorded twelve albums over a period of seventeen years.-Group composition:Originally from Detroit, Michigan, the six original members were Fred Hammond, Mitchell Jones, Keith Staten, Karl Reid, Michael Brooks, and Michael Williams formed a...
), Dawkins & Dawkins, Montrel Darrett (Commissioned
Commissioned (gospel group)
Commissioned is an American Gospel group. The group recorded twelve albums over a period of seventeen years.-Group composition:Originally from Detroit, Michigan, the six original members were Fred Hammond, Mitchell Jones, Keith Staten, Karl Reid, Michael Brooks, and Michael Williams formed a...
) and the help of Mark and Joey Kibble of the group Take 6
Take 6
Take 6 is an American a cappella gospel music sextet formed in 1980 on the campus of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. The group sings in a contemporary style, integrating R&B and jazz influences into their devotional songs and has 10 Grammy wins, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two...
. In 1995, Virtue recorded on Verity
Verity
Verity can refer to:*A synonym of truth*Verity Records, a music label-Persons:Verity is also a surname or given name that is especially associated with parts of Yorkshire and the North of England.-Surnames:The surname name Verity may refer to:...
's Tribute to Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....
under the production of Fred Hammond
Fred Hammond
Fred Hammond is a gospel music singer, bass guitar player, and record producer.-Musical career:Hammond has been active both as a member of the gospel performing group Commissioned, and as a solo artist...
(Commissioned) on We Will Be The Ones.
In 1999, Heather Trotter (Martin) joined the group, replacing Sampson. Sumter later left the group, but appears on several songs on the group's album Virtuosity!
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Gospel Billboard charts The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine... |
U.S. Christian Billboard charts The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine... |
U.S. Heatseekers Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
||
| 1997 | Virtue
|
— | 6 | 18 |
| 1999 | Get Ready Get Ready (Virtue album) Get Ready is the second album of gospel group, Virtue. The album features the singles, "Get Ready", "Love Me Like You Do", "Angels Watching Over Me" and "Put Your War Clothes On"... |
4 | 10 | 22 |
| 2001 | Virtuosity Virtuosity (album) Virtuosity is the third album from gospel group, Virtue. This is the first album to feature member Heather Martin who previously replaced original member Shavonne Sampson and the last album to feature member Negelle Sumter who would leave the group before the album's release for personal reasons... |
4 | 23 | 33 |
| 2003 | Free Free (Virtue album) Free is the fourth album from gospel group, Virtue. Singles released off the album include, "Healin'", "Lord I Lift My Hands", and "You Just Be You"-Track listing:#Only God's In This#Healin'#Jesus Paid The Ransom#Free#Thankful#You'll Win If You Try... |
10 | 34 | — |
| 2004 | Nothing But The Hits
Verity Records Verity Records is an American gospel music-focused record label founded in 1994. The label is a now major component and namesake of Verity Gospel Music Group , the Gospel group operated by Jive Label Group, which in turn is owned by Sony Music Entertainment.-Artists :* 21:03* Crystal Aikin*... |
— | — | — |
| 2006 | Testimony Testimony (Virtue album) Testimony is the sixth album from gospel group, Virtue. It includes the single "Follow Me".-Track listing:#Follow Me#Testimony#Medley: The Sky Is The Limit/Sky's The Limit#*Contains an interpolation from Sky's the Limit by The Notorious B.I.G... |
23 | — | — |
Other appearances
Virtue performed on the Sisters in the Spirit tour with Shirley CaesarShirley Caesar
Shirley Ann Caesar is an American Gospel music singer, songwriter and recording artist whose career has spanned six decades...
, Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams is an American Grammy- and Dove-award-winning Yolanda Adams is an American [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]- and [[Dove Awards|Dove]]-award-winning...
and Mary Mary
Mary Mary
Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell . The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz...
. They also performed on the Evolution II Tour 2003 with Byron Cage
Byron Cage
Byron Cage is an American gospel recording artist.-Early years:Inspired by the singing of the late Rev. Donald Vails and Thomas Whitfield, Cage began singing gospel music as a teenager. Cage went on to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, where he was a member of the Morehouse College Glee...
, Percy Bady Tonex
Tonéx
Anthony Charles Williams II , better known by his former stage name Tonéx , and most recently as B.Slade, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, dancer, producer, preacher, and activist. He has gone by various names and aliases, but his primary stage name of choice...
, Lisa McClendon, and Corey Red & Precise.
They appeared on the album Bridges: Songs of Unity and Purpose in a duet with Clay Crosse and sang background for Darwin Hobbs on the song So Amazing from his album Vertical.
Award History
| Year | Award-giving body | Award Category | Song /Album Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 2003 in music -January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested... |
Dove Awards | Urban Album of the Year | Free |