Album Notes

Who can find a virtuous woman? ?For her price far exceeds that than rubies. In this day and time, who can find a virtuous woman? While we can attribute her to great value, she is also found to be a vessel of honor, a standard of wisdom, and a pillar of strength. Today, we celebrate the ministry entrusted to Virtuous Standard. They have collectively stood together despite individual obstacles and challenges for the sake of ministry.

Virtuous Standard was formed based on Proverbs 31 in June 1997. With Jayonna Sims being the visionary, God knitted 4 other sister's hearts together to fulfill the vision; many opportunities to minister followed around the Chicagoland area along with a featured full-page article on Virtuous Standard as a upcoming artist in Gospel Synergy Magazine.

In 1998, the Virtuous Standard recorded their first demo with ?Original Masterpiece? written by Marlo Cribbs and ?I Feel Like Going On? produced and engineered by Darryl Gayton. Shortly thereafter, the group hosted their debut concert entitled, "Love Carnival" with Lawanda Campbell and Percy Gray & Praise II as their special guests. The group also pulled together the friends and family for Candlelight Bowling Party that allowed them to fellowship with those that had given them a great deal of support.

The group experienced several changes to their structure thus changing their look and feel. Throughout the transitions of three former singers, the two original members, Jayonna Sims and Charlene Harvey both sought the Lord for His choice for back-fills. In July 1999, Kimberly Smith joined the group, which changed the trio group?s vocal style to and gave a boost of new energy.

Virtuous Standard sponsored their first Gospel Basketball Tournament at Luther South High School featuring teams from Faith Lutheran, New Life Family Worship Center, Tony Tidwell & Righteous Living, and Jeral Gray and New Direction. The event proved to be another opportunity to share amongst friends.

The Year 2000, God afforded Virtuous Standard many new opportunities to share the ministry entrusted to them. They appeared in Willie Wilson's Singsation Show shown on Channel 9 highlighting their unique contemporary sound of worship. They took their first road tour to Birmingham, Hoover, and Montgomery, Alabama. Two additional tapings were completed for various cable stations as well as radio highlights were conducted with Radio Stations WYCA Formerly 92.3FM and WSSD 88.1 FM. Virtuous Standard ended the Year 2000, with a New Year's Concert, featuring Kim McFarland.

Year 2001 brings nothing but growth and favor for Virtuous Standard. In July, Virtuous Standard sponsored their second Basketball Tournament, which God made easy and success their way in this endeavor. Virtuous God has enlarged their tents to travel all around Chicago, St. Louis MO and to the city of Los Angeles, C.A., ministering in two concerts and also via Bishop Noel Jones & Greater Bethany?s Broadcast. Virtuous Standard was also blessed to feature in a movie entitled Rosco's Chicken & Waffle, which will be released in 2003.

In 2002, God saw fit for Virtuous Standard to reform with the subtraction of one singer and with addition of Alexis Hoover. In August, Virtuous Standard was blessed to be one of the featured artists to minister at the Nation-wide Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) in Detroit, MI. God also has allowed Virtuous Standard to complete their first CD single entitled "Simply Virtuous", which will be released in December of 2002. Hit songs such as Virtuous Standard, Shelter featuring Kim McFarland and a funky rearrangement of "He Will" (Jesus Will) by the former James Cleveland. Upcoming cities await for arrival of Virtuous Standard this year such as: Los Angeles, CA., Houston, TX and Montgomery, AL. with anticipation of the their 1st tour in April 2003.

Virtuous Standard is God given and God natured. The women know that they are God's daughters and that they have obtained favor in his eyesight. They realize that all that they have done has been because of the Father as He has ordained for their ministry together. For the rest of their lives they collectively and individually find themselves compelled to fulfilling the perfect will of God.