Album Notes

Philadelphia is a city that loves to sing. On October 25 and 26, 1998, excitement filled the city as a colossal crowd eagerly awaited to become a part of local gospel music history for the first recording of The Anointed Voices of the Temple, Ford Memorial Temple's main choir. The CD, It's Our Time, But It's for God's Glory" is a stunning example of Philly gospel music at its best.

With a spirit of excellence and under the leadership of Bishop Andrew J. Ford, II, this choir has captured the attention of gospel music fans locally, nationally and abroad. In a relatively short period of time, The Anointed Voices of the Temple has amassed a list of accomplishments and developed a resume that rivals even the more established choirs that have been in the industry for years.

Strong voices, professional musicianship and a sound spiritual foundation have given the choir countless opportunities to minister and sing the Gospel. Such notable citywide achievements include recording and appearing with the late Phyllis Hyman at the Academy of Music and annual appearances at the Mayoral Ball, Unity Day gospel music celebration and the Philadelphia Gospel Gathering. Internationally, the choir has journeyed as far away as Bern, Switzerland to minster in the Church of the Holy Ghost as part of the Bern Jazz Festival. The choir's credits also include performances in various theatrical productions such as "God's Trombones" with Ossie Davis and "Sneaky" with Melba Moore.

The Anointed Voices of the Temple have also provided live background vocals for many gospel industry notables such as recording artists Kirk Franklin, Richard Smallwood, Donnie McClurkin, Beverly Crawford, Walter Hawkins, Karen Clark-Sheard, and Vanessa Bell Armstrong, to name a few.

While this is the choir's debut as a recording artist, the versatile sound and extraordinary blend of The Anointed Voices of the Temple can be heard today throughout the industry. The choir has developed a stellar reputation for its professionalism in studio overdub work for both major and independent record labels such as: Verity Records (Maurette Brown-Clark); Integrity Records (T.D. Jakes on "Woman Thou Art Loosed", Bishop Andrew Merritt and Straight Gate Mass Choir on "Faith in the House"); CGI Records (Dallas Fort Worth Mass Choir on "I'd Rather Have Jesus", Vicki Winans on "Live in Detroit" and "Live in Detroit II", and Gospel Music Workshop on"30 Years in the Spirit"); and, Word Records ("Shirley Caesar Christmas Album" ).

With a vision for the 21st century, Bishop Ford has put on the Executive Producer's hat yet again and assembled a cast of spirited and innovative producers, songwriters and musicians for the choir's debut project. With production by Grammy-award winners James Poyser and Steven Ford, he once again has been a steward for a new sound for a new millennium.