Consonance
CONSONANCE is a contemporary gospel quartet music with a twist! They hail from the Richmond, California which is in the San Francisco Bay Area. The group is the winner of the Bay Area Blues Society's 2009 a"Best Gospel Group" award. These performers are outstanding gospel singers with a style that is unique and captivating and reminds the listener of the "do-wops" groups of the past. They can sing.!!
The group is clealy an innovator in this genre of music. Their arrangements are not typical of a gospel quartet; yet their vocals display skill and a distinctive style.
They can hit you with their "good news blues gospel" and then dazzle you with their contemporary or traditional reditions.
A spirit-filled gospel group of Christian men, the group's purpose is to lift up the name of Jesus in song and in praise. Although individually they have been singing for many, many years, the group has been together since 1995. The members are Rev. Sam Cox, Paul Foster, Jr., Bobby Reed, Rev. Melvin Williams and Mack Williams.
Rev. Cox is a licensed minister and has played drums for Marvin Gaye, the Jackson Five, Larry Graham & Graham Central Station, and the Eagles. He also has recorded with the group Committed Ministries. He is anointed with the gift to play and sing at the same time. He is also a lead singer with a style that is unique and inspiring.
Paul Foster, Jr. is the son of the legendary Paul Foster, Sr., who with Sam Cooke, were the lead singers for the legendary Soul Stirrers. Paul, Jr. also was a member of the 1970's group The Brothers and Others. This group recorded for RCA and Paul sang the lead on "Now Is The Time Of The Season". The group was well-known throughout the college and supper club scene in California. Paul, Jr.'s style has an uncanny resemblance to his father.
Bobby Reed is the bass player and lead singer. He was the front man for The Right Kind who in the 1970's were known for their hit single, "Why Do You Have To Lie". The group performed throughout California, Las Vegas, Reno, Hawaii, etc. Bobby was voted "Best Blues Vocalist" by the Bay Area Blues Society. Bobby also has played backup for Etta James, BB King, Albert King and others.
Rev. Melvin Williams is a licensed minister who sings lead and bass background vocals. He was formally with the Pacesetters who were produced by the legendary Harvey Fuqua. They recorded with Varden, Imperial and Fantasy Records, and performed in the 1970's with most of the popular acts of that day. Melvin and the late McHenry "Mike" Otis were founding members of CONSONANCE. They also recorded "Rejoice" with the Voices of St. John Missionary Baptist Church of Richmond, California.
McKinley "Mack" Willams sings lead and background vocals and was a member of the Brothers and Others with Paul Foster, Jr. Mack sang the lead on their RCA hit, "When Love Is Like A River". He also was the front man for the Northern California funk band No Shame. Mack is also a prolific song writer and arranger. He is currently writing the lyrics and music for their upcoming project to be released at the end of 2009. He plans to have some "good news blues" and "step/slide" gospel songs that should suit the taste of young and old alike.
CONSONANCE has appeared throughout Northern California. They performed at the Monterey Blues Festival, Fillmore Jazz Festival, the City of Oakland 2008 Art and Soul Festival, the Pittsburg Heritage Festival, the Hayward Russell City Blues Festival, the City of San Francisco Juneteenth Festival, The Bay Area Blues Society Revue, the Marin City Blues Festival, the City of Richmond Juneteenth Festival, the AARP Convention in San Francisco and many banquets, weddings and private affairs.
The group's style has been described as contemporary gospel; however, they have the ability to resurrect the old time gospel traditional songs of yesterday. They are masters of tight harmonies and have developed a creative approach to their presentation of praise in song. Their first CD "See The Light" has been receiving positive reviews. They are currently working on two other projects that will be released in 2010.
If you want to be inspired, lifted to higher heights and filled with the spirit, you must see this smoothly choreographed group perform.
By Jackie Taylor
To purchase a cd or MP3 downloads go to:
www.cdbaby.com/cd/consonance