Album Notes

An award-winning gospel quartet music with a twist! CONSONANCE from the Richmond, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. They are the Bay Area Blues Society's 2009 award winning "Best Gospel Group". These performers are sweet soul singers of gospel who have developed a very unique and captivating style that reminds you of the "do-wops" groups of the past. They can sing!

The groups is clealy an innovator in this genre of music. Their arrangements are not typical of a gospel quartet; yet their vocals display skill and a distinctive style. They can hit you with their "good news blues gospel" and then dazzle you with their contemporary or traditional reditions.

A spirit-filled gospel group of Christian men, the group's purpose is to lift up the name of Jesus in song and in praise. Although individually they have been singing for many, many years, the group has been singing together since 1995. The members in the group are Rev. Sam Cox, Paul Foster, Jr., Bobby Reed, Rev. Melvin Williams and Mack Williams.

Rev. Cox is a licensed minister and has played drums for Marvin Gaye, the Jackson Five, Larry Graham & Graham Central Station, and the Eagles. Sam also has performed and recorded with the group Committed Ministries. Their music is still be played on The Word gospel TV channel. He is anointed with the gift to play and sing at the same time. He is also a lead singer with a style that is unique and inspiring.

Paul Foster, Jr. is the son of the legendary Paul Foster, Sr., who with Sam Cooke, were the lead singers for the Soul Stirrers. Paul, Jr. also was a member of the 1970's group The Brothers and Others. This group recorded for RCA and Paul sang the lead on "Now Is The Time Of The Season". The group was well-known throughout the college and supper club scene in California. Paul, Jr.'s style has an uncanny resemblence to his father.

Bobby Reed is the bass player and lead singer. He was the front man for The Right Kind who in the 1970,s was known for their hit single, "Why Do You Have To Lie". Bobby was voted "Best Blues Vocalist" by the Bay Area Blues Society. Bobby also has played backup for B.B.King, Albert King and others.

Rev. Melvin Williams is a licensed minister who sings lead and bass background vocals. He was formally with the Pacesetters who were produced by the legendary Harvey Fuqua. They recorded with Imperial and Fantasy Records, and performed in the 1970's with most of the popular acts of that day. Melvin and the late McHenry "Mike" Otis were founding members of CONSONANCE. They also recorded "Rejoice" with the Voices of St. John Missionary Baptist Church of Richmond, California.

McKinley "Mack" Willams sings lead and background vocals and was a member of the Brothers and Others with Paul Foster, Jr. Mack sang the lead on their RCA hit, "When Love Is Like A River". He also was the front man for the Northern California funk band No Shame. Mack is also a prolific song writer and arranger. He is currently writting the lyrics and music for their upcoming cd to be released at the end of 2011. He describes this project as a hip, step/slide gospel praise effort that has "good news blues" and songs for the new and old school listeners.

CONSONANCE has appeared throughout Northern California. They performed at the Monterey Blues Festival, the City of Oakland 2008 Art and Soul Festival, 2009 Fillmore Jazz Festival, the Pittsburg Heritage Festival, the City of Richmond's Mainstreet Arts and Wine Festival, the City of San Francisco Juneteenth Festival, the San Francisco Fillmore Jazz Festival, the Hayward Russell City Blues Festival, the Bay Area Blues Society Revue, the Marin City Blues Festival, the City of Richmond Juneteenth Festival, the City of Richmond's Homefront Festival, the AARP Convention in San Francisco and many banquets, weddings and private affairs.

The group's style has been described as contemporary gospel; however, they have the ability to resurrect the old time gospel traditional songs of yesterday. They are masters of tight harmonies and have developed a creative approach to their presentation of praise in song. Their first CD "See The Light" received very positive reviews. Their most recent project is scheduled to be released in December of 2010. It will once again feature the silky smooth vocals and inspiring spiritual messages for which the group has been known.

If you want to be inspired, lifted to higher heights and filled with the spirit, you must see this smoothly choreographed group perform.

By Jackie Taylor