The 40-strong SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS are storming the charts and proving that not all the music of the mainstream is godless hedonism. The group gave an in-depth interview to Jan Willem Vink.

Is it a requirement that all the members of Sounds Of Blackness have to be Christians?

(Gary) "We don't require that they come in as Christians. All of the members of the group are Christians and indeed we have had people in the group over the years, who had come in the group who did not know the Lord and did in fact experience their salvation while they were a part of the group. But just in the manner that Jesus did, we don't exclude anyone. His instruction was to come as you are and that is how Sounds Of Blackness tries to operate."

How did you become a Christian yourself?

(Gary) "I accepted the Lord when I was 10, back in my hometown of New York, in the Messiah Baptist Church. And as we say we have been running a long time ever since. God is the head and centre of my life and the author and finisher. He is the guiding force, the lamp unto the feet and the light on the pathway with the Sounds Of Blackness, because we give him praise and thanks for everything we have done, are doing and will do. We always ask him to guide and direct each and every endeavour whether it's performance or rehearsals or videos or soundtracks or songwriting. Anne is a very prolific songwriter. But the point is that everything that we do, the Scriptures tell us: 'In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path'. In keeping with that, that is how we proceed."

What about your spiritual background Anne?

(Anne) "I began singing in church at the age of four, singing in the church choir, just being in church with my parents. My father is a preacher and my mother is a missionary. I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour at the age of nine. I knew this was the life I wanted to live in watching the examples of my parents and rny grandparents who were also Christians. I knew that it was my mission and my commission to sing and to share the gift that God had given me with the world."

I read in an article that you always hold a prayer session before each concert.

(Gary) "Absolutely! (laughs) Yes, the Sounds Of Blackness, since day one, 23 years ago, prior to and sometimes before and after but before every rehearsal, every endeavour, rehearsal, performance, video, before we travel, before we go on the road. Again, 'In all your ways acknowledge him and he'll direct your path'. Before every event, whatever we set out to do, we always have a period of devotion which, in addition to prayer, also includes testimonies and requests for prayer and sometimes just brief victory stories on how someone's prayers have been answered.

Give me an example of how God has answered your prayers.

(Gary) "I can give you tangible examples. Back in 1975, the group size solidified at the number of 40, that's why we are still at that number now. At that time we incorporated, we became the Sounds Of Blackness Incorporated. We prayed about recording one day and being distributed and known internationally. The Lord has brought that to pass. Also we prayed about Sounds Of Blackness becoming a springboard for solo careers for different members who were blessed with different talents. That has come to pass. Even when we signed with Jam and Lewis back in 1990, provisions were already made for a solo album for Anne, which she is in pre-production for right now. That will be out early next year. Anne's daughter, Jamesia, who is the second voice that you hear on our anthem song, 'Optimistic', as we speak is finishing up her solo album with Mercury Records. That will be called 'Meecy'. So many of the things that we prayed over for years have come to fruition. That's just a tip of the iceberg."

Would you say that the whole promotion of black awareness through the Sounds Of Blackness is also something that was given to you by God?

(Gary) "Yes, absolutely, but not as I think your question implies, only in the African American community, but in many different communities. One of the things that are needed in our communities is positive images and positive messages. We have as a goal to always put out positive messages and images for people from all backgrounds. It's from an African American frame of reference, because that's who we are - but it's a message that people from all nationalities can relate to."

As I understand it the situation for a lot of African Americans in the United States is grim. Don't you think that lyrics reflecting what they are going through would be more honest than the positive outlook that you have in your lyrics?

(Gary) "Well, keep in mind that positive doesn't mean sugar coating or overlooking anything. Positive for us means that we go on and offer a solution, a constructive solution in the situations. If you look at the lyrics of our songs, we look at reality. We've got a song called "Strange Fruit', originally done by the late, great Billy Holliday, that talks about racist lynching and castrations, those were realities and they are certainly not pleasant...but real. We've got a song called "Living The Blues' that talks about our sons and daughters being sold into slavery, about the auction block, none of that is positive but it's true. And we talk about, in songs like "The Drum', the realities of today, life on the streets and all of that. We never sugar coat anything but we do offer a solution because we try to be about truth."