Integrity Music Group Expanding Their Urban Music Family into 2008

Back when worship music first made an impact via recordings in the seventies, there was Maranatha! Music, which is still a powerful force today.  Their catalog includes Jonathan Butler’s Brand New Day and Gospel Goes Classical with Butler and Juanita Bynum.  

In the eighties, Integrity Music Group, signed renowned worship leader/songwriters including Don Moen (God Will Make A Way), current president of Integrity and Paul Beloche (Above All).  While the roster continued to grow, the mega label eventually hooked up with major distribution in 2004, achieving a solid domestic and international reputation.  Many artists in the urban market have joined this umbrella, including the established: Stephen Hurd, Israel (Houghton) & New Breed, Martha Munizzi, and newer yet reputable music ministers are now on board, Jonathan Nelson & Purpose, and Ken Reynolds, as well as a long-time favorite, multi-cultural, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.  Let’s take a brief look at these urban worship warriors before coming to Integrity Music.

Stephen Hurd:  First recording with his choral group, Corporate Worship, on his Hurd The Word Music (hard to find CDs today), Minister Hurd has been a fixture in the Washington D.C. area.  The 2003 Integrity signee also participated with the Gospel Music Workshop of America’s Mass Choir in the nineties for Philippians 4:13 (Stand) and Lord & King.

Israel & New Breed:  This well-traveled vocal group has spent most of their recorded history with the Integrity family.  These worship leaders’ biggest calling card is how they mesh many musical elements from Rock to Reggaeton, one recent example being With Long Life.

Martha Munizzi:  When Gospel lovers first discovered Ms. Munizzi, she was best known as the composer of Glorious, recorded by Karen Clark-Sheard among many others, and Say The Name.   Before signing with Integrity in 2005, her first two CDs were released through her own music ministry.

Jonathan Nelson & Purpose:  A 2002 independent release from this Baltimore, Maryland group brought a major buzz to the gospel industry, especially with the single, Everything You Are,  featuring his equally talented brother, Jason Nelson.  Songwriting is his bread and butter, creating Healed, recorded by Donald Lawrence, and his vocal group has backed up Karen Clark-Sheard and CeCe Winans.