THE NEW and reformed Grace Thrillers have struck back.
The seemingly immortal group which has cemented itself as a legend in local Gospel music claims to be probably better now than ever before, although most of the old members have moved on.
"It's a new group. There is new talent and nobody is really missed... We are focusing on the new talent," emphatically stated manager and founding member, Noel Willis Snr. This statement comes in wake of a mass exodus of the group's long-standing members earlier this year when Patricia Archer, Leroy Smith and Willis Snr's. wife, Shirley Willis, left in search of greener pastures.
Willis Snr. made it crystal clear that although his wife opted to sever her ties with the group, the decision has no bearing on their marriage. He pointed out that his wife wanted to go solo and he has no problem with that.
On the other hand, in a recent interview with The Gleaner, former lead singer, Leroy Smith, said a part of the reason he decided to leave the group after 23 years was that he and Mr. Willis were not seeing eye to eye on certain issues. Willis Snr. who, when first contacted was reluctant to discuss the issue, was a little less uptight this time around. "We had differences which we tried to deal with, but he (Smith) did not want to deal with it and he left," Willis Snr. said.
Still, Willis Snr. declared that he has buried the hatchet long ago and does not have anything degrading to say about Mr. Smith whose vocals have been replaced. "The man has talent and he chooses to go on a solo career and I wish him all the best," he said. Additionally, Willis Snr. believes that if Smith or any of the others who have jumped ship succeed with their solo efforts it is a credit to him, since the Grace Thrillers was responsible for honing their talent and presenting them to the public.
RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
Although the 32-year-old Grace Thrillers have undergone excessive reconstructive surgery, Willis opines that the group is still as solid as rock. Of the eight members who currently make up the ensemble only Willis Snr. and Latoya Hall, who has been with the group for the past seven years, are familiar faces. The six new members are Dorna Rhoden, Mary Lewis, Natalie Foster, Shalli Burchell, Larry Snow, Alrick O'Connor and Noel Willis Jnr.
The name Grace Thrillers commands a certain respect in Gospel circles. However, a few persons believe that the respect that the Grace Thrillers of old earned will not just be on a silver platter to the group.
Despite the naysayers, Willis Snr. is not breaking a sweat. "I believe that this is the first time that we have had so much talent to work with at one time. They are very spiritual and anointed singers. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a very fantastic group," he said. He added that Gospel enthusiasts will support the group, regardless of who sings under the banner Grace Thrillers. Currently, the youthful Grace Thrillers is working on the group's 20th album, A New Dawning. It is a fitting title, says Willis Snr., as he believes the group is basically starting from the ground up again.
Still boasting a little about the talent the new look Grace Thrillers is packing, Willis Snr. said the days when the role of lead singer was restricted to his wife and Smith are over. "One of the problems we had before is we allowed the lead singing to be confined to Shirley and Leroy, so what we have planned now is to have everybody lead different songs," he said.
This newness will bring about a new sound, which might take some getting used to for the group's long-time fan base. However, there is comfort in the fact that the new voices will still sing the old songs.
