New 'One Voice' album challenges black and white Christian music divide

AN ALBUM described as four years in the making and with a cast of over 200 sees release this month through Survivor Records. Conceived as an effort to break down the black and white divide in Christian music, the 'One Voice' various artists album features Erica Campbell (Mary Mary), Darlene Zschech, Toby Mac, Smokie Norful, Tim Hughes, Israel Houghton, Kirk Franklin, Martin Smith, a specially re-formed Nu Colours, Kierra Sheard, Brenton Brown, Warryn Campbell, Tommy Sims, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bishop John Francis, Noel Robinson, Muyiwa and Matt Redman.

In 2004 the One Voice charity single "One Voice, One Heart" with sales generating £30,000 helped to rebuild the fishing village of Thantri, South India, devastated by the 2003 tsunami. About the 'One Voice' album producer Lawrence Johnson said, "People ask me what slot this fits into, but I really don't have a clue. People ask me and I just ask them to have a listen and then tell me where they think it fits. But I do know this: I hope that it will strengthen the community and connect the cultures not reinforce our ideas about how different we are."