THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 11, 1994 TAG: 9407110031
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Long : 122 lines
Guided by an invisible spirit, Christopher B. Thomas hammered on the keys of an electric synthesizer and raised his voice in song.
Members of his New Community Church of God in Christ Radio Choir, dressed in purple and gold robes, joined in - 20 voices belting out a gospel anthem with the power of 200.
Most of the congregation stood clapping and swaying to the beat, filling the rambling brick church on Tyre Neck Road to its rooftop with uninhibited praise for the Lord.
Thomas, 26, grew up in this Tyre Neck Road church, where his father, Bishop Ted Thomas Sr., has been pastor for more than two decades.
After years of air time on local religious radio stations and appearances at church venues, Thomas has developed a loyal following and a reputation as one of Hampton Roads' premier black gospel music artists.
A local music store chain has barely been able to keep pace with the demand for a debut album of mostly original songs he and his choir recorded live at the church and released last March.
Now, Thomas will get a chance to electrify an international audience.
Today, Thomas is headed to Japan. For two weeks, he will spread his musical ministry as part of a cultural exchange program created by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington.
Three years in the making, ``The Smithsonian's America'' exhibition, part of the American Festival Japan '94, is designed to reflect the cultural diversity that shaped the nation's history and culture.
Thomas will perform with a Detroit-based quartet of female gospel singers called Adoration-N-Prayze, one of eight musical acts invited by the Smithsonian to participate.
``The Japanese are interested in the whole American thing, period, but they are overexuberant about gospel music,'' Thomas said Sunday. ``They feel something different there. There's a warmth that comes with gospel music that doesn't come with other music.''
The whole experience has been heady, including a handshake from President Clinton at a Washington review of the show in April.
``I've always been out there,'' Thomas said, ``but I feel it's more my time now. I've been playing since I was 8 years old. At 12, I had my first choir. I've been very fortunate through the leading of the Lord. I do it as a ministry, and hopefully blessing somebody.''
Thomas's gospel music will join the sounds and steps of Chicago blues, Native Americans, Louisiana cajun, Hawaiian guitar, southern Appalachia and inner-city hip-hop.
Smithsonian officials said they chose the groups based on artistic excellence, high regard within their communities, performance experience and regional and cultural diversity.
``Folklorists, scholars and musicians were consulted, and our staff compiled recordings and printed material on hundreds of performers and groups,'' Howard Bass, the Smithsonian's music program director, said in a publication promoting the event.
Thomas, the second of six brothers, hails from a musical family. Thomas said his older brother, Ted Jr., now involved in music production in Philadelphia, has played drums for such well-known soul and jazz artists Janet Jackson and Earl Klugh. Brothers Marc and Charles played on the choir album and have performed with some of the best in the gospel music industry.
Thomas' church choir gained recognition last year after winning a national gospel competition in Chicago.
``Everybody else had these humongous choirs and I went up there with 12 people,'' he said. ``They're vibrant. They can give you church, concert, show, sacred, a cappella and Acapulco - whatever you want.''
To prepare for the Japan festival, Thomas, musical director of Adoration-N-Prayze, arranged the group's music on a Japanese-made performance/composition synthesizer.
Ever the businessman, Thomas plans to contact factory representatives of the company while in Japan with hopes of winning a commercial endorsement.
His music revolves around his church, where he is minister of music. His dad is one of three bishops in Virginia of the Church of God in Christ, the largest black Pentecostal denomination in the world with 5 million members.
In an oft-repeated family story, his mother and manager, Charletta Thomas, revealed that her son's musical talents came as a blessing from God when Chris was 8.
During one Sunday morning service, his dad, in search of an organist, was moved to recruit one of his sons. He called on Chris, who was sitting on the front pew, to come up. As he prayed, the pastor anointed his son's hands with oil, a biblical practice upheld by Thomas' church.
Family members said Chris began to play piano almost immediately. He confounded music teachers, his ear so keen that he could play songs he heard note-for-note before he learned to read music.
These days, the church sanctuary resembles a recording studio. Speakers and microphones are suspended from the ceiling. Drums and amplifiers and other musical instruments share space with the pulpit.
Thomas, who started his own production company - Agape-Productions - has big hopes for the future. He expects the church choir recording, ``Something for the Total Man,'' to be released nationally later this year.
Gospel music, Thomas said, has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, and he wants to make Hampton Roads a showcase.
``Gospel has been put on a back burner for so long, but now it's competing with rhythm and blues and jazz,'' Thomas said. ``It makes people feel good.''
DJ's Music and Video stores have done brisk sales since they began offering cassettes and CDs of the choir recording on consignment last March.
``We usually do sales on consignment for 90 days, but sales have been so outstanding it's been a continuous thing,'' said DJ's Cori Thomas, who is not related to Chris. ``Believe me, they've got it going on or they wouldn't even be in the store.''
Thomas' gospel style is lively and commanding, tinged with the rhythms and tradition of blues and funk appealing to the younger generation he wants most to reach.
``I have one desire,'' Thomas said. ``I want to be a beacon of light to anyone who is down and lost, to help them find their way home.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
While playing the synthesizer, Christopher B. Thomas leads his New
Community Church of God in Christ Radio Choir, which was doing a
live broadcast Sunday from their church on Tyre Neck Road in
Portsmouth.
Photo
Music in his soul: ``I have one desire. I want to be a beacon of
light to anyone who is down and lost, to help them find their way
home.'' - Christopher B. Thomas, minister of music
by CNB