Urban gospel choir wins Juno
By ChristianWeek staff
HAMILTON, ON–Toronto "urban gospel" performer Sharon Riley and her 25-member Faith Chorale have won the 1999 Juno award for best gospel album.
Riley’s Life is album was honored March 7 at the annual Juno awards night, held at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton. Riley and Faith Chorale were also nominated last year.
After a car accident in 1990 left her so seriously injured she had to learn to walk again, Riley and a few friends organized a gospel ensemble. "The core group was a mixture of friends I’d worked with before," she says, "and other talented people who heard about the choir and wanted to participate." The ensemble grew and released its first album, Caught Up, in 1996.
Riley’s previous awards include best gospel album in the 1998 Canadian Urban Music Awards and best gospel artist in the 1994 Jamaican/Canadian Association Music Awards.
Riley credits God for the success of her musical career. "God has done so much in our lives," she says, "that we are all so eager to share it with the rest of the world."