Album Notes

Obeying Christ is what it's all about for Maurice. What good is the gift God gives if it's hidden away for a "better" day?

"God said it was time and I just did it," he admits. "I finally had to lay down the fears and excuses and just do what He commanded. I had to realize it's not about me; it's about doing my best for Christ and sharing His message with the talents He's provided."

Both a military brat and a preacher's kid, his music seamlessly marries influences from a variety of cultures, tastes and styles into a unique tapestry with wide appeal.

What's more, people relate to his songs. The lyrics by themselves are hard-hitting and meaningful. Add the music and intense vocals and you've got songs with the muscle of a Mack truck and the surgical precision of a scalpel.

From the R&B dance grooves of "Jesus Is Alive and Well", to the laid-back, grownup car tune Rain, to the magnetic rock ballad "Must Have Been Hard" and the soulful worship sounds of "Worthy Lord", Maurice's first album, "Rain", is a journey everyone in the family will enjoy.

Maurice has been intimately involved in Christian music for years. Whether as a musician, singer, songwriter or worship leader, his uniqueness has not gone unnoticed. Heavy demand for appearances and compositions as well as continual requests for a solo project never convinced him to take the plunge. But in 2003, seemingly out of nowhere, he suddenly became convinced that the time was now.

"It's not just about your gifts. It's about your calling," he insists. "I spent many years content working in my gifts but never pursuing my calling. There were lots of carpenters, but only Noah was called to build the ark. If he had decided instead to stick to what was expected of him, there would be no life on earth. If Christ had been satisfied healing the sick, there would be no cross. The only explanation I can give is that I finally decided to step out and do what I know God has been driving me to do all these years. It's something bigger than me; something bigger than a talent."