View source for The Gospel Truth Choir

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist  <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| image_size            =
| background          = group_or_band
| alias               =
| name                = The Gospel Truth Choir
| image                 =
| caption            =
| origin              = [[Scotland]]
| instrument          =
| genre               = [[Vocal]], [[Gospel music|Gospel]]
| occupation          =
| years_active        = 2007 - now
| label               = M2M2
| associated_acts     =
| website                 = [http://www.thegospeltruthchoir.com/ Official site]
| current_members     = Tracey Braithwaite (Director) and up to 40 vocalists
| past_members        =
}}
'''The Gospel Truth Choir''' is a [[Scotland|Scottish]] choir which performs a wide variety of music in a [[Gospel music|gospel]] style. Originally formed by Tracey Braithwaite and a group of friends in 2007 for the wedding of [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]]-winning composer [[Paul Leonard-Morgan]], they were soon regularly performing in recording studios and on stage, as well as being a feature of many wedding ceremonies.
==Career==
The Gospel Truth Choir first came to wider public attention when they were asked by Scots songwriter [[B.A. Robertson]] to perform vocals on the 2008 version of his football anthem "[[We Have a Dream]]",<ref>{{cite web|author=John Ferguson |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2008/10/07/exclusive-stars-team-up-to-remake-scottish-world-cup-anthem-we-have-a-dream-86908-20780663/ |title=Exclusive: Stars team up to remake Scottish World Cup anthem We Have A Dream |publisher=The Daily Record |date=2008-10-07 |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Condon |first=Paul |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/news/news041108.shtml |title=Blogs - BBC Children in Need |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref> which became the charity single for the BBC Scotland Children in Need campaign. The recording featured a number of celebrities, including [[Samuel L. Jackson]], [[Ashley Jensen]], [[Dougray Scott]], [[Billy Boyd (actor)|Billy Boyd]], [[Chris Hoy]], [[Ally McCoist]], [[Fred MacAulay]], [[Karen Dunbar]], [[Elaine C Smith]] and [[John Gordon Sinclair]], who were all featured on a part live / part-recorded version alongside [[B.A. Robertson]] and [[Edwyn Collins]] on the live BBC Scotland Children in Need show.
Following the BBC appearance, B.A. Robertson invited the choir to join him at [[Abbey Road Studios]], where they recorded backing vocals on a number of tracks written by the Glaswegian songwriter, including "[[The Living Years]]", marking the start of an ongoing relationship between choir and songwriter.
2009 saw the choir contribute vocals to two tracks on the debut album<ref>{{cite news|author=Paul Lester |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/sep/08/new-band-codeine-velvet-club |title=New band of the day – No 623: Codeine Velvet Club |work=The Guardian|date= 8 September 2009|accessdate=2013-01-15 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mi2n.com/print.php3?id=127294 |title=Mi2N: Fratellis' Frontman Jon Lawler Launches Side Project Codeine Velvet Club |access-date=28 February 2010 |archive-date=14 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714082635/http://mi2n.com/print.php3?id=127294 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/music-news/2009/08/23/fratellis-frontman-jon-unveils-the-band-s-terrific-new-album-78057-21618262/ |title=Fratellis frontman Jon unveils the band's terrific new album - the Daily Record |access-date=28 February 2010 |archive-date=9 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609173102/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/music-news/2009/08/23/fratellis-frontman-jon-unveils-the-band-s-terrific-new-album-78057-21618262/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> of [[Codeine Velvet Club]], a [[Glasgow]] band featuring [[Jon Lawler]] of [[The Fratellis]]. This album was released in the UK in 2009 and the US in 2010. In late 2009 the choir joined [[The Skids]] onstage during their performance at "Homecoming Live", a celebration of Scottish music held at the [[Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre|SECC]] in Glasgow to celebrate the end of Scotland's year of homecoming.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safeconcerts.com/newsitem.asp?nurn=3630 |title=Safe Concerts News: Homecoming Live - another big success story for Scotland and DF Concerts |publisher=Safeconcerts |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref>
In January 2010 the choir made a number of appearances around the [[Celtic Connections]] festival. Most notably, they contributed to "A Scottish Songbook", a concert at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall which featured a number of acts performing songs by Scots songwriters. As well as reprising "The Living Years" with [[B.A. Robertson]], the choir sang with [[Ricky Ross (musician)|Ricky Ross]], [[Lorraine McIntosh]], [[Karine Polwart]], Siobhan Boyle and Maeve Mackinnon, to a sell-out audience of 2500 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/perthshire|title=Perthshire - Latest news updates, pictures, video, reaction - Daily Record|website=Dailyrecord.co.uk|access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://living.scotsman.com/music/-Gig-reviews-Hot-Club.5989433.jp |title=Gig reviews: Hot Club of Cowtown / Red Stick Ramblers &#124; A Scottish Songbook &#124; The Swell Season &#124; Balkanarama|publisher=The Scotsman |date=2010-01-17 |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Vicky Davidson|title=Scotland sings: King Creosote, Karine Polwart, Ricky Ross and friends rock Celtic Connections|publisher=The Big Issue in Scotland|url=http://www.bigissuescotland.com/reviews/view/72|date=20 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708001317/http://www.bigissuescotland.com/reviews/view/72 |archive-date=8 July 2011|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Stuart Morrison |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/music-reviews/a-scottish-songbook-glasgow-royal-concert-hall-1.999302 |title=A Scottish Songbook, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall |work=The Herald|date=2010-01-17 |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref> Later in the festival the choir performed a full concert with Glasgow artist [[Horse McDonald]] at City Halls.
February 2010 saw the choir join [[Paul Carrack]] on stage at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall to perform on his version of "The Living Years". Later the same month, the group appeared live on [[STV (TV network)|STV]]'s [[news magazine]] show [[The Hour (magazine series)|''The Hour'']] performing a version of Amazing Grace.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Gospel Truth Choir perform Amazing Grace|publisher=stv.tv|url=http://entertainment.stv.tv/music/160349-the-gospel-truth-choir-perform-amazing-grace/|date=27 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303151022/http://entertainment.stv.tv/music/160349-the-gospel-truth-choir-perform-amazing-grace/ |archive-date=3 March 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In March, members of the choir rejoined [[The Skids]] for two sold-out shows in Glasgow and Dunfermline.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/music-reviews/the-skids-abc-glasgow-1.1011717?localLinksEnabled=false |title=The Skids, ABC, Glasgow|author=Jonathan Geddes |work=The Herald|date=2010-03-07 |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isthismusic.com/skids |title=Skids: Glasgow ABC |publisher=isthismusic.com |date=2010-03-09 |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref>
In October 2010 the choir released<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/10/25/prwebprweb4690064.DTL |title=Tartan Gospel CD Announced - The Gospel Truth Choir Release Details of "Deep Fried Gospel" |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2010-10-25 |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref> their debut album, ''Deep Fried Gospel'', a selection of gospel covers of well-known songs by Scottish songwriters and including contributions from Maeve MacKinnon, [[Horse McDonald]], [[Bruce Watson (Scottish guitarist)|Bruce Watson]], [[Mary Ann Kennedy (Scottish singer)|Mary Ann Kennedy]] and the combined choirs of [[Lothian and Borders Police]] and InChorus. Later that month members of the choir joined members of [[The Skids]] once more for a short acoustic gig ahead of the launch of a DVD<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theskids.com/win-two-tickets-for-skids-dvd-event-a-copy-of-new-dvd/20/10/2010.html |title=Win Two Tickets for Skids DVD Event & A Copy of New DVD |publisher=Skids |date=2010-10-20 |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref> featuring live performances from earlier in the year. They were also announced as participants in the 2010 [[BBC Scotland]] Children in Need lineup,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11589446 |title=Children in Need Scotland acts revealed |publisher=BBC News  |date=2010-10-20 |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref> where they performed a track from their album alongside cast members of [[River City]].
The choir again took part in [[Celtic Connections]] in January 2011, this time sharing the bill with [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]] in a gospel-themed evening.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tomjonesintl.com/2011/01/19/more-on-celtic-connections-fun-video-more-photos-a-glowing-review/ |title=More on Celtic Connections: Fun Video, More Photos, A Glowing Review & A So-So One |location=Las Vegas, Nevada |publisher=Tom Jones International |date=2011-01-19 |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref> February 2011 saw them join [[Jill Jackson (singer)|Jill Jackson]] at the launch of her new album ''Back to Zero'' at The Ferry in Glasgow, closely followed by a week-long residency as the "house choir" on the Breakfast Show on [[102.5 Clyde 1]] singing live jingles and performing with a number of guests. In June 2011 the choir joined a gig organised by the Scottish Charity Cash for Kids, and performed with [[Marti Pellow]], and in August made their first trip to Russia as guests of the St Andrews Society to perform with [[Ricky Ross (musician)|Ricky Ross]]. On 18 November 2011 the choir joined forces with BBC Scotland Talent, including [[Jackie Bird]], to perform a version of "Lean on Me" during a record-breaking evening of fundraising for BBC Children in Need<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15805130 |title=Children in Need raises record £2.2m in Scotland |publisher=BBC News |date=2011-11-19 |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref>
The choir launched their second album, ''Live from Grand Central'', with a performance at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on 20 November 2011. The album was recorded at their previous outing at that venue. The launch gig featured guest appearances by Alan Nimmo and Fraser Speirs, and a performance with [[Ricky Ross (musician)|Ricky Ross]] of "(When Will You Make) My Telephone Ring". In late November they switched on the Christmas lights in Ayr and Broughty Ferry.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee/article/19222/broughty-ferry-shines-ahead-of-dundee-christmas-light-night.html |title=The Courier - Broughty Ferry shines ahead of Dundee Christmas light night |access-date=28 November 2011 |archive-date=28 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128234833/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee/article/19222/broughty-ferry-shines-ahead-of-dundee-christmas-light-night.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In early 2012 the choir launched an amateur version called The Gospel Truth Community Choir, with the intention of building a Scottish Gospel Choir.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rebecca Gordon |url=http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magazine/99309-singing-deep-city-blues-with-leading-providers-of-tartan-gospel/ |title=Singing deep city blues with leading providers of 'tartan gospel' |publisher=stv.tv |date=2012-05-14 |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref>
==Discography==
"[[We Have a Dream]]" - Pudsey's Beautiful Dreamers (2008)
"[[The Living Years]]" - [[B.A. Robertson]] (2009)
''[[Codeine Velvet Club (album)|Codeine Velvet Club]]'' - Codeine Velvet Club (2009) on "Time" and "The Black Roses"
''Deep Fried Gospel'' - The Gospel Truth Choir (2010)
''Live from Grand Central'' - The Gospel Truth Choir (2011)
==Personnel==
The Gospel Truth Choir was founded by Tracey Braithwaite, formerly a backing vocalist with [[Horse McDonald]] and [[KT Tunstall]]. The choir draws from a large pool of professional and semi-pro singers in Scotland, many of whom have their own musical careers.
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/music/celticconnections/2010/scottish_songbook/ BBC "A Scottish Songbook" site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100406041112/http://www.thegospeltruthchoir.com/ Official website of The Gospel Truth Choir]
* [http://www.traceyb.co.uk/ Official website of Tracy Braithwaite]
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[[Category:British gospel music groups]]
[[Category:Scottish choirs]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2007]]