Maurice Griffin: “Hold On” to this Gospel Treasure

A New Creature
Maurice Griffin
Maurice Griffin Ministries (Promo CD project)
www.myspace.com/mgministries

In August, GMWA Gospel Treasure finalist Maurice Griffin of Chicago wowed the judges – and then the Gospel Announcers Guild – with his vocal dexterity and heartfelt rendition of gospel songs. No surprise he won the competition: he was channeling the 75 year-old tradition of standing flat-footed and singing the “heart songs” that form the basis of gospel music. As Chicago’s GAG president Dennis Cole has said publicly, if you want to win a competition, secure a record deal, or win over a new audience, sing the classics. That’s what Maurice Griffin did, and he now has the Gospel Treasure to show for it.

But Griffin is no stranger to the industry. He was a member of New Direction, the 2005 Stellar Award-winning choir of the year, on which he led the popular “Hold On” from the group’s CD Send the Praise. Recently Griffin served as a background singer for Dorinda Clark Cole on her project, The Rose of Gospel.

His promo CD project, A New Creature, was released last year, well before the Gospel Treasure. It’s a three-song EP on which Griffin sings his own compositions, backed by a bevy of lovely female singers. Here, Griffin favors the free-form ambient, almost hypnotic style of praise song that is popular today, with an extended vamp to showcase his melismatic vocals.

Although busy touring Chicago churches with the Maurice Griffin Ministries ensemble, the artist is also the Praise & Worship Leader and Music Event Coordinator at Truth and Deliverance Christian Church, where Apostle John and Rosemary Abercrombie are Pastors.

My guess is that his first official CD project, whenever he is signed and whenever it is released, will combine his more modern praise songs with some traditional chestnuts, and if that happens, look out, gospel world!