New Direction Alum
Jeral Gray started New Direction in the hopes of keeping young adults off the street, while giving them another outlet to Praise God. Jeral continued to push education among his members along with pushing to develop their crafts. Since it's inception in 1994, New Direction has seen nearly 125 members pass through its ranks, many of whom have become successful artists, musicians, educators, actors/actresses, doctors, lawyers, etc.
Let's take a look at some succesful artists who received their start under Jeral's tutelage.
vashawn mitchell
VaShawn Mitchell was born and raised in Chicago, IL, a city known as the birthplace of Gospel music, an art form that has been indelibly imprinted on his life. When he was a teenager, Mitchell became the assistant music director of St. Mark Baptist Church.
Then for nearly a decade he went on to serve as Minister of Music at Bishop Larry D. Trotter’s Sweet Holy Spirit Church. As the youngest Minister of Music in that church’s history, Mitchell successfully merged the contemporary themes he composed with the traditional choir vibe that marked the church’s worship services.
Having developed a new sound, VaShawn took his talents over to New Direction, a young contemporary choir with a very similar vibe. He sang tenor, wrote music, arranged vocals and was the assistant director. With New Direction's emerging success and success with the Sweet Holy Spirit Church, VaShawn was ready to take his talents to a solo project, both with Jeral Gray and Bishop Larry Trotter's support.
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In 2010, VaShawn released Triumphant which became his best selling album to date, with his mega-hit single “Nobody Greater,” leading to numerous awards and nominations. In 2011, he received 11 Stellar Award nominations (the most received by any artist that year) and took home 6 trophies. He also earned two GRAMMY Award Nominations and two GMA Dove Award nominations for both the Billboard magazine declared “Nobody Greater” the #1 Most Played Gospel Song of 2011 and Mitchell was named Billboard’s #1 Gospel Radio Artist of 2011 and Triumphant was among the Top 5 Gospel Albums of 2011. The single held the #1 position for nine consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and crossed-over to the Urban Contemporary Adult charts.
Mitchell continued to stretch his creative talents in 2012 Executive producing Anthony Brown & group therAPy’s debut album and producing Tasha Cobbs’ Grace which generated two Dove Awards and a Grammy. In January 2015, Mitchell launched Walkway Music Group to support the development of aspiring artist in the gospel music industry. We're looking forward to what the future holds for New D's very own VASHAWN MITCHELL!!!!
Teddy campbell
Drummer extraordinaire Teddy Campbell can be seen by millions on the FOX smash hit show American Idol. He is a member of the live house band that plays a pivotal role in making Idol one of the most entertaining and most watched programs in TV history.
Long before he debuted on national network TV, Teddy discovered his love of drumming by banging on his mom's pots and pans at the age of three. The drummer grew up in the Gospel music scene of Chicago, Illinois, where he played in church for the first time at the age of four, and hasn't looked back since.
As a teenager, Teddy joined up and coming Gospel choir New Direction, where he truly developed his gift under Jeral Gray's tutelage. Jeral continually pushed Teddy to strive for his best, becoming one of the most respected and sought out drummers in Chicago.
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Teddy's career soared once relocating to California, working as musical director for 98 Degrees and Britney Spears. He has toured with The Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, LSG (Gerald Levert, Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill), Queen Latifah, and Bette Midler.
His experience working with these major artists landed him as the house drummer on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and American Idol led by Rickey Minor.
With such a successful career, he has been able to share it with his lovely wife, Tina Campbell one half of the talented, multi-Grammy award winning and multi-platinum gospel duo Mary Mary.
Emoni wilkins
At an early age it was discovered that this Chicago land native was blessed with a unique gift of singing. Her family recognized this talent, so a microphone was immediately placed in Emoni’s hand.
Emoni has studied music at Dorolyn Academy of Music and Northeastern Illinois University. Through educating herself she has developed into a writer, trainer and arranger. Emoni performed and recorded with Stellar Award winners, Dove, and Grammy nominated Jeral V. Gray & New Direction. Her electrifying voice can be heard on there first single “Lighthouse,” as well as “What Manner of Man,” “I’m Ready,” “Right Here” and “Sing unto the Lord.” Her lead vocals are also featured on “Widow’s Cry,” for a stage play called Friends & Lovers, “Come on let’s lift him up,” on the GMWA Tampa Experience.
She has recorded background vocals with highly acclaimed artists such as, Ramsey Lewis, Frayne Lewis, Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, R Kelly, Lou Rawls, Shirley Caesar, Joe Simone, Kirk Franklin, Donald “Buster” Woods & His People, Errol, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Myron Butler, Cedric Rives,Kevin Vasser, Smokie Norful, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Percy Bady...
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...Diane Louie, Mark Kimble (of Take 6), Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker and LeVel 8. Emoni has performed as a background singer for Albertina Walker, Yolanda Adams, Celine Dion, Nick Carter, Kim Burrell, Michael McDonald, Enrique Iglesias, Darius Brooks, Dan Willis, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Byron Cage, Frayne, and Walt Whitman & the Soul Children of Chicago.
The media’s glimpse of her came through the 2000 & 2008 Stellar Awards, WGN Morning News, McDonald’s Children Day, House of Blues, many award shows & most recently, NBC's "The Sing Off Season 4".
Through hard work and determination, it is clear that she plans to perfect the gift that God has given her while singing to spread joy, peace and love to all. Emoni’s style of singing will encourage and inspire, while leaving you amazed at her gifted ability. After seeing and hearing her sing you will witness a song transformed from just being words to actually becoming music. Currently she is working on her mixtape, with high hopes of a summer release.
Maurice Griffin
Maurice Griffin stepped into Gospel music by singing with the Gospel group New Direction under the direction of Percy and Jeral Gray in Chicago, IL and leading worship at the Gospel Music Workshop of America National Conventions. With confidence and determination, he began a journey to expand a new phase of his music career after capturing the attention of a nation as a finalist on season two of BET’s Sunday Best Gospel competition television show. Since then, the powerhouse vocalist and passionate worshipper has elevated his music ministry to a global audience, all as an independent and self-managed artist.
With an audacious mindset and passion for Music Ministry, Maurice soon realized the destiny set before him. After the Sunday Best Television experience, his journey in gospel music became somewhat of a rollercoaster. “One day I’m up and the next day I’m down,” Maurice explains. “But I can honestly say that I appreciate my journey because it enables me to sing from a place of experience, knowing that God is the deliverer. God never said it would be easy, but he did promise to never put more on me than what I can bear.”
This Chicago native with a diverse and pristine vocal style took another step forward and released a debut project I AM SOMEBODY in 2011, which sold over 11,000 units independently. He then snagged a 2013 Stellar Gospel Music AwardNomination for New Artist of The Year. Maurice also established his own music production company; M.G.M. Chicago Music Group; a company that specializes in musical productions and events.
Maurice’s most recent musical endeavor is his new EP BELIEVER which released in the summer of 2014. BELIEVERboasts the contemporary worship ballad and radio single “Hear Us” and the inspiring anthem “Rise Up Again”.
The title track “Believer”, one of Maurice’s favorite tracks on the project, is a reflection of his own life and journey. “The song talks about an individual living life confused and wanting to give up on life, but somehow keeps ending up with the peace of God to keep from going crazy…that was me,” he shares. “This song continues to minister to me to keep believing, and that no matter how many times I doubt Him or myself, God will always make a believer out of me and us.”
His vocal aptitude is evident. Maurice is also a gifted songwriter penning his own music. “I’m inspired to write when times get rough, whether it’s from my own life experiences or someone else’s, and, also at times when I get a revelation from other life situations” he states. “In these moments, I begin to write because it’s an outlet and source for leaving an everlasting impression.”
Through his singing and songwriting, Maurice wishes to be an everlasting impression of a person living a lifestyle of determination, dedication and one who has a heart for God and his people.
tiff joy
TIff Joy, a native of the Chicago always had a passion for singing. Joining the ranks for multi-award winning New Direction was a start to her gospel career. Using her powerful vocals to lead one of New D's biggest singles on it's "Destiny" album, "Wait on Him" had the gospel industry waiting for more.
As a writer, Tiff Joy wrote own rendition of “Amazing,” the song that literally changed the trajectory of her career. Penned a few years ago, Tiff Joy performed the song locally in Chicago and caught the attention of Donald Lawrence. Lawrence in turn recommended the song to Ricky Dillard and the rest, as they say is history. “Amazing” went on to be 2014’s “Song of the Year,” and gave Dillard an impressive run at radio holding on to the number one spot on Billboard’s Gospel singles chart for over 30 consecutive weeks.
Tiff Joy, partnered with fellow Chicagoan and fellow New Direction alum, VaShawn Mitchell to release the 12-track album under Walkway Music Group/ VMan Entertainment and Tyscot records.
