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Back about 5 or 6 years ago, a ladies trio by the name of Exalt! won the talent contest at the annual Christian Alternative to Halloween concert in Winston Salem, North Carolina. They also won me over that day as well! Ever since I have been a big fan of this group. Since then, they have changed their name to Rejoice! and have made some positive forward strides within the industry.

So, what are these ladies all about? Where did they come from? Sherri Vestal and Melissa Harding were born and raised in Georgia with music as a constant factor in their lives. Rebecca Berrier hails from the western part of North Carolina and was born into a preaching and singing family. As far back as they can remember, they all recall gospel music being a focal point in their lives. With such musical inspirations as the LeFevres, Rambos, Hinsons, Nelons, Inspirations, Greenes, Happy Goodman Family and such, these ladies have brought to the table their own unique heritage in Southern Gospel Music.

These ladies have purposed in their hearts to make a mark on this industry and with a few set backs with the release of their much new recording, "Story of my Life", these ladies have determined to press on and keep on singing till Jesus comes.

James: Over the last few years there has been a major influx of female groups like the Ruppes, Perry Sisters, Soul Real, Third Promise, etc. What makes Rejoice different from the rest?

Sheri: We're real funny about arrangements. We like different and unique arrangements. Things that make you say "Oh�I didn't expect that!" But, I would hope people would feel our hearts in the music, because we really do believe what we are singing about and we want people to be changed through our music. I don't know if that makes us really any different from anybody else, but I think when people hear of a girl group they think it's going to be boring, and we don't want that to happen, so we try to keep our energy level up in our concerts.

James: One thing that I do notice that sets you apart is you incorporate Praise and Worship Music into your music.

Melissa: We always have, really. We usually open with a Praise and Worship song in our concerts, usually "Shout to the Lord." We all just love Praise and Worship music.

Sheri: We do like Praise and Worship music and we do eventually want to do an entire Praise and Worship album. We'd love to do that sometime. On our new recording we did "Days of Elijah" and we really love singing that. We also included a brand new Praise and Worship song called "Breath of the Spirit" and that is probably my favorite song on the whole album.

James: Do you see your style evolving to a more Inspirational style like the Ruppes, or do you see yourself staying more true to traditional Southern Gospel Music and building upon that?

Sheri: I think we will probably stay where we are and build upon that. Our roots and our blood is so Southern Gospel and I like Southern Gospel with a little kick, and that's what we want. I don't really want to get away from that.

James: In an industry that is heavily geared towards male quartets, how do you think the industry as a whole is taking to female groups? Be honest!

Melissa: It's hard. You have a concert with several male quartets, but you won't see a concert with a few female groups. We've found that people like the variety of a female group on a concert. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE hearing male quartets, but it's nice to have a fresh sound and I think it works well together and we compliment each other.

Rebecca: And too, I think a new generation of Southern Gospel fans are becoming more accepting to female groups.

James: Were you surprised at the success of your first chart song "Joy's Gonna Come"?

Sheri: Yes, we really were. That song was presented to us at the Quartet Convention a couple years ago and as soon as we heard the demo of it, we fell in love with it. We recorded it, and of course the Kingsmen recorded it also. We released it and it had been out for a couple months and then the Kingsmen released it too. It seemed that radio embraced us and it kind of became a little competitive thing between the girls and the boys, but in a good way.

Melissa: It brought our version of the song a little more attention than otherwise it probably would have. You have the Kingsmen and you have Rejoice with two totally different versions of the song, and we still have fun with them now about the song. I'll admit, as a new group we were scared in the beginning because here we are and then there were the Kingsmen, but it ended up being a good thing and it got the song more attention than it probably would have otherwise.

James: How have things changed for you since the release and success of "Joy's Gonna Come"?

Sheri: "Shout and Sing" was our first Homeland release and being with them really helped give us a lot of exposure. "Joy's Gonna Come" received a lot of airplay and even won a BMI award for being the most played Southern Gospel song of the year. The writers of that song Rebecca Peck, Daryl Williams and John Darin Rowsey received the award and we had a small part in helping make that happen.

That album and that song opened a lot of doors for us including singing at Bill Gaither's New Years Eve Jubilate' concert in Charlotte and we sang "Joy's Gonna Come" at a Gaither taping as well. That recording allowed us to do things that we may not have otherwise been able to do and we thank God for allowing that to happen.

James: Tell us about your new recording, "Story of my Life."

Rebecca: We are very excited about having this new recording out. It has taken a long time and feels like we've been working on it for 5 years but it's so nice to finally have it out. There are some great songs on here ranging from the Worship songs to the kicking upbeat songs, and every one of them has a special meaning to them.

Sheri: We recorded some great songs, we think. Our last single "God's Got a Better Plan", which did pretty good for us is on there, as well as our current single "Let the River Run". We really enjoy singing that song and that's another song that when we heard the demo, we just fell in love with the song. Roger Talley and Lari Goss produced this recording and Lari is a musical genius!

Melissa: We love working with Roger Talley and he is a musical genius as well, but Lari is someone we've heard about our whole lives, and just being able to work with him was an honor. We were scared to death of him to begin with but he was super nice and down to earth and makes it so easy to sing.

James: What makes this recording special to you?

Sheri: We got to do the "amens" on "Breath of the Spirit"! (everyone laughing) That is a long story! (laughing)

I had found this song called "Total Praise" through the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's recording and when I heard the song, it just moved me like you wouldn't believe! I thought it was the greatest song ever. Then I wanted to do the "amens" at the end of the song "Breath of the Spirit", and of course the Talley Trio did it on "I Love the Lord/Total Praise." Lari said 'I don't know why you can't do them. I arranged it so do 'em!" (laughing) He worked them in to "Breath of the Spirit" and I walked around with a smile on my face for a week because I got my "amens"! (laughing)
But seriously, that song just moves me so much, it really does.

James: What's up the road for the group?

Sheri: As a song on our new CD says, "We're gonna keep on singing till He comes." That's our theme song. We want to keep singing and would like to step things up in the next year.

James: What is God teaching you right now?

Melissa: I think God is teaching us to just keep going on and keep pressing on. We have a song on our last album called "Press On" and I think that is what He is showing us right now. Things happen and we're not perfect, but we need to keep going for Him. He loves us and is still in control, like a song we sing now says, "God's Got a Better Plan", though we don't understand we put our trust in Him that He knows what is best.

James: With the whole world as your audience, if you could make one statement to the world, what would it be?

After a long silence, and some deliberation�

Sheri: If we could make our statement with a song, it would have to be the song Melissa mentioned a minute ago called "Press On." That song hasn't had a lot of attention, but it has helped a lot of people because we all see people who start out in this way and things go wrong and they get discouraged and they lose their way. We say it every night�"get it in your heart to press on." No matter what happens there's enough Grace of God to meet the needs that you have. People have such great needs and they go through some horrible things and they need to know God is with them and they can press on and make it.

Rejoice website: [url=http://www.rejoicetrio.com]http://www.rejoicetrio.com[/url]

Reader Comments

:thumbsup: Right on D.J. man. These girls (well ladies) are wonderful and has so much personality. I am so glad to see them doing well. I met them at NQC I think it was 3 years ago and to get to see them this past convention perform in the showcase wa great. Just praying for their continued success. God Bless.

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