Biography
The mass choir affiliated with Greater St. Stephens Full Gospel Baptist Church earned the Stellar Award for Best Mass Choir in 1995, confirming its standing among the country’s finest ensembles. Such distinction aligns with the congregation’s guiding motto, “Striving for Excellence,” under the leadership of Bishop Paul S. Morton Sr. Widely regarded as a visionary and revolutionary figure, the bishop oversees the 20,000-member New Orleans church and established the Full Gospel Movement, which reached international audiences in under ten years by emphasizing every spiritual gift described in scripture. As executive producer of the choir’s recordings, Bishop Morton frequently directs its performances, conveying an evident sense that a higher force operates through his direction. The ensemble delivers striking power when its voices unite, maintains a rich roster of soloists, and receives support from exceptional instrumentalists.
The late Danny Barker, the esteemed New Orleans jazz musician and historian, once asserted that contemporary black gospel churches house the city’s finest music; each Sunday the GSS Mass Choir substantiates that claim. Operating under the conviction that “the message is in the music” and that any selection might touch an individual listener, the group maintains a broad repertoire spanning traditional and modern works. Numerous selections originate within the Music Ministry, among them pieces by director Philip Britton, pianist Michael Robinson, Bishop Morton’s son Paul S. Morton Jr., and co-pastor Elder Debra B. Morton. Compositions of understated design, such as the younger Morton’s “Let Him In” featured on the 1999 release As for Me & My House, regularly connect with worshippers of varied backgrounds who fill the sanctuary.
Invitational selections often represent the choir’s most affecting contributions. Britton’s “We Offer Christ to You,” included on the 1993 album of identical title, reached national prominence on gospel airplay charts, while Robinson’s “Are You Ready to Change?” has prompted numerous individuals to approach the altar. Acknowledging that all praise belongs to God, the singers deliver unified performances of “Jesus Is the Light of the World” and provide accompaniment for Bishop Morton’s renditions of “Your Tears” and “God’s Got Those Healing Hands,” the latter serving as the title track of the 1991 recording. The GSS Mass Choir sustains its global outreach through song as the twenty-first century advances, addressing what the church terms “these last and evil days.”
The late Danny Barker, the esteemed New Orleans jazz musician and historian, once asserted that contemporary black gospel churches house the city’s finest music; each Sunday the GSS Mass Choir substantiates that claim. Operating under the conviction that “the message is in the music” and that any selection might touch an individual listener, the group maintains a broad repertoire spanning traditional and modern works. Numerous selections originate within the Music Ministry, among them pieces by director Philip Britton, pianist Michael Robinson, Bishop Morton’s son Paul S. Morton Jr., and co-pastor Elder Debra B. Morton. Compositions of understated design, such as the younger Morton’s “Let Him In” featured on the 1999 release As for Me & My House, regularly connect with worshippers of varied backgrounds who fill the sanctuary.
Invitational selections often represent the choir’s most affecting contributions. Britton’s “We Offer Christ to You,” included on the 1993 album of identical title, reached national prominence on gospel airplay charts, while Robinson’s “Are You Ready to Change?” has prompted numerous individuals to approach the altar. Acknowledging that all praise belongs to God, the singers deliver unified performances of “Jesus Is the Light of the World” and provide accompaniment for Bishop Morton’s renditions of “Your Tears” and “God’s Got Those Healing Hands,” the latter serving as the title track of the 1991 recording. The GSS Mass Choir sustains its global outreach through song as the twenty-first century advances, addressing what the church terms “these last and evil days.”
Albums