Album Notes

Joseph Lee Hooker sings the headline single from his 2009 "Our Priests" album, which has garnered accolades from members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Benedict XVI himself.

Hooker, a devout Catholic, felt a compulsion to show solidarity and support for the priesthood and its countless members who strive to eradicate the current stigma of abuse and scandal. The result is this inspirational work, also translated to Spanish, that calls priests to a higher standard and has been dubbed "The Anthem of the Priesthood".

"Our Priests" features an orchestral introduction that leading A & R company Taxi lauds as "dynamic" and "beautiful". "[Priests] have a difficult job that carries much responsibility," Taxi notes further. "The arrangement and production are outstanding."

"Our Priests" is Joseph Lee Hooker's eighth studio album in more than thirty-five years in the music industry. Prior works include a completely sung, musical Rosary entitled "Singing the Rosary".

The "Our Priests" CD also contains a musical tribute to the life of Pope John Paul II. "Totally Yours" is the second single with accompanying music video from the "Our Priests" album, both of which have aired worldwide.

Contemplative in its harmonica arrangement, soothing in its pace, the "Totally Yours" music video (available to view on the youtube channel of music publisher Come Alive Communications) juxtaposes the pope's goodbye to Hooker's hometown of Philadelphia with the songwriter's own friendly farewell.

Director Bridget Hylak showcases John Paul's Philadelphia visit as well as moments the pope spent around the world. The video also includes a brief glimpse of the artist's young son, Luke John, who was suffering with, and later perished from, liver cancer. John Paul II granted Luke John a papal audience as part of his "greatest wish" from the Sunshine Foundation in 1996.

"Totally Yours" was written on the day of the departed pontiff's death, and was released on the occasion of Pope John Paul II's beatification in May 2011. The entire "Our Priests" project was endorsed by Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, in February of 2010. Previous appearances of the "Totally Yours" video include EWTN and CatholicTV.com.

The upbeat video and song of gratitude inspire memories of a joyful pontiff, truly alive and truly in love with the people he served. The video contains several uncirculated photos and video footage of the departed pontiff, sprinkled with joyful children and adults from around the globe celebrating the joy of his papacy. The artist’s goal was to write a song that the departed pontiff himself might enjoy, that would fill the faithful with positive memories of the gift of his life in recalling John Paul II’s own witty remark, “I have a sweet tooth for song and music. This is my Polish sin.”