Encountering America’s young cultural ambassadors

The quartet form Turning Pointe, an American Gospel Group based in Atlanta, Georgia. They were in Abuja recently, at the behest of the American Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, to perform at the popular ThisDay Dome. The four; Mark Patterson, Tamara Coleman, Sanchez Dixon, and Priestly Stephenson have something in common – the love of God […]

The quartet form Turning Pointe, an American Gospel Group based in Atlanta, Georgia. They were in Abuja recently, at the behest of the American Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, to perform at the popular ThisDay Dome.

The four; Mark Patterson, Tamara Coleman, Sanchez Dixon, and Priestly Stephenson have something in common – the love of God and music. It was this love that brought them together some two years ago. It is still keeping them together obviously.

“Tamara is the one who knows everybody, she pulled us together,” Mark Patterson said. Tamara smiled and waved an acknowledgement.

Before coming together they were strutting their individual stuffs. Mark said he was a “worship leader/backup singer” at his church. Sanchez, the quiet young man who plays the piano was the music director at his church as well as being a student at Georgia State University, same as Priestly. The vivacious Tamara said she was into classical music apart from being a singer at church.

They said they are into contemporary gospel music which has its roots in Negro spiritual music and over the last two years, they think their music has been well received.

“Overall, it’s always great to have your family like your music because if they don’t, it means you really don’t have a future,” Mark said laughing. “Aside from our families, we feel the love of the people in the stores and people outside the gospel music circuit. I think we’ve been received very well,” Mark said.

But in the two years since the group came together, there have been challenges. “One of the challenges, although we’ve had some great times together, would be getting to know each other better, you know, different personalities, different schedules and with things like that, it’s difficult to find a common rehearsal time unless we all have a common goal, a common vision, a common plan then we have something to work towards,” Tamara said. The others agreed. It is easy to understand the challenges. They are young and have their individual personalities. They are also part-time artistes as they have their academic pursuits to contend with. But they seemed to be having a great time together devouring plates of chicken pepper soup and loving it.

One thing they do have in common is the passion for gospel music. Priestly sums it up saying: “Gospel music is what I live for.” This time, the others nodded vigorously.

Talents and Assets

Sanchez said he started playing the piano around year 2000 and has been at it since then. “Actually, I started playing the trombone. That was my instrument all the way through high school and eventually I stumbled on the piano at church and has been playing it ever since,” he said.

But the others recognise their voices as their biggest musical asset. Though Tamara has fumbled with a piano before, she doesn’t think she is any good at it. “Will I call myself a pianist? Absolutely not; my voice is my best instrument,” she said.

“I think I can murder an air guitar but voice is my primary instrument,” Mark said laughing. Egged on by the others, he admitted experimenting with the violin. How good is he?

“Horrible,” he said to rapturous laughter from his friends.

The quartet said they have been influenced by many gospel music greats, among them Kirk Franklin. But they are determined to blaze their own trail.

“We are definitely influenced by Kirk Franklin [and others] but we are gonna create our own trail, not necessarily follow in their steps and do the things that they do. We’re gonna do the things we do,” Priestly said. The level of their success so far portends a bright future.

A cultural Mission

In the last few weeks, the quartet has toured six African countries to perform as part of the United States Department of States programme Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad.  The programme was organized in conjunction with Jazz at Lincoln Centre, which selected Turning Pointe to tour Africa.

The programme is designed to expose international audience to popular American culture as Edward Flynn, Public Diplomacy officer of the US Embassy in Nigeria said. “The aim is to share American music, American culture with Nigerians.”

The group had arrived from Ghana, where Mark “supposedly found [his] home town”. They spent a couple of days in Lagos before thrilling the public at Abuja’s ThisDay Dome.

“Our purpose is cultural exchange and just to share our music and learn in return. And of course, our mission is to spread a little love and inspiration and faith and hopefully we can inspire some people and take some inspiration back with us,” Mark said.

For now, the individuals in the group are content churning more gospel music aimed at “changing the world one song at a time” but Tamara and Priestly have done backups for popular secular musicians Mariah Carey and Nas back in the US. Priestly says it does not contravene her desire to spread her faith as long as it is not “something edgy.”

But they are not ruling out solo careers in the future. For priestly, it is definite she will go solo but for now they are willing to stick it out together “as far as opportunities will take us”.