O'Landa
Draper & The Associates
from imusic
I love Gospel music!!! It's the best music there
is. It's the only music that speaks to your every
need. -- O'Landa Draper
O'Landa Draper takes seriously the admonition
to "...love God with all your heart, might, mind and strength." Anyone
who has seen him live knows that this man expresses praise in a way
that is utterly unique. He blends physical expression with a Holy
obsession, weaving his own special variety of choir choreography and
heavenly hip-hop, and proclaims his faith with energy and intensity. "I
feel like the entire body is a temple of God and it all should be used
as a
vehicle of praise," declares O'Landa. And you can take this man at his
word!
Not confined by convention or custom, O'Landa Draper & The
Associates' absolute joy is communicated on every one of 11 tracks on
their new Warner Alliance release, Gotta' Feelin', recorded live in
Chicago. Although one may be missing the visual portion of the
program right now (A video will be released this Summer), the listener
is assured that Mr. O'Landa Draper and his choir are on the move,
emanating style, passion, power and personal commitment to God and
Gospel music.
It is this message of redemption, salvation and O'Landa's indisputable
ability to move his audience, choir members and himself that has
brought him four Grammy nominations (all for Album Of The Year For A
Choir or Chorus), as well as Stellar and Dove Awards (one each). He
shared the stage with Billy Joel at the '94 Grammy Awards and has
performed with Patti Austin and The San Francisco Symphony. He has
recorded with Jennifer Holiday, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams,
Albertina Walker, Carman and Russ Taff.
O'Landa Draper's love affair with God's music began with his mother
who was a Gospel promoter and also a recording artist. As a child he
lived in Tennessee, Alabama and Washington D.C., before moving to
Memphis when he was about 13. He joined a glee club around that time
and his musical course was set. He started writing and singing Gospel
continuously, much to the concern of his family, who weren't altogether
"sure" he had what it takes. But in spite of mixed support, O'Landa
persevered. He recalls, "I just knew there was something there. I was
so mesmerized by the effects of Gospel on me. I would sit in my room
and shed tears, feeling the import of what the words were saying and
the life that they could bring." Pausing, he adds, "I always felt I had
something to say!"
Continuing his musical studies at Overton High School in Memphis
under the award-winning choir director Lula Hedgeman, he headed his
first Gospel choir. O'Landa then went on to Memphis State, where he
directed the school's Gospel choir. After school, he went to work for
Federal Express part-time and ultimately founded The Associates when
he was 22. The group that began with 12 singers now boasts 60
members.
Not content to merely make music, O'Landa & The Associates' faith
extends to those around them. O'Landa has plans to develop
community-based businesses to help give youth a sense of purpose
and self-worth and also wishes to establish a conservatory of music in
Memphis. He travels the nation and the world conducting music
workshops, hoping to nurture and support others in their pursuit of
Gospel excellence. He and the Associates feed the homeless and
encourage young people to take a stand against drugs. They work with
those who are
depressed, have AIDS or are dealing with teen
pregnancy. "Many of us have been in the valley, members of the group
have had drug problems...we know what it is to have struggles and
failures, yet our faith keeps us all going," declares O'Landa
That view is fully evident on Gotta Feelin'. O'Landa says, "This album
was one of the most exciting projects that we've done. This time I was
able to say more of what I really feel personally and the choir was able
to express more through the music. We compiled the songs ourselves.
I write the material, but we birth it together. It's completely a team
effort."
That sense of community is an intangible that is nevertheless present
in the emotionally riveting, spiritually uplifting songs of Gotta Feelin'.
"In
this project, we try to present to the younger people the hopeful side
of
things. You can make it, in spite of what's happening around you or in
your neighborhood. What we're singing is truly a universal message, a
message of hope."
The first cut, "Bless The Lord, O My Soul," brings that'message of
hope' home with authority and complete joyous conviction, with solos
by Ernest Cobband and Shirley Veesley. O'Landa elaborates, "We live
in a day and time where we need to hear that everything is going to be
all right. You watch the news and everything is so negative, and just to
know that it's going to be all right makes a difference."
For O'Landa, "He's Faithful" reflects experience with the One he sings
about. "It's a confirmed fact that He's faithful. I can't depend on anybody
else, even family members. I've just come to depend on Jesus Christ.
He's never let me down yet."
"Sho' Do Love Ya" is a personal declaration of all out love for Jesus and
one of O'Landa's favorites.
Whatever the tempo or the title, this choir has a message. "The key
thing we try to present is honesty and realism," comments O'Landa.
We're trying to speak life to the kids out there -you don't have to commit
suicide...you don't have to do drugs or sell out your soul. Hey, we're
all
filthy rags, but'greater is He that is within me than he that is in the
world.'" And ultimately, that's what O'Landa Draper & The Associates
are all about-bringing hope, faith and God's love and life-changing
power to all generations through their music and their lives.
July
21, 1998