[WhiteRob]

Garnering a GRAMMY-nomination for Best Live Choir Album in 2000 for producing Youth For Christ’s critically acclaimed debut release, Higher, Troy Sneed has re-formed the youth choir and is preparing to release its sophomore release, Love Comes In All Colors, April 27 on his newly formed record label, Emtro Gospel. Featuring the 350-plus youth who comprise Youth For Christ and their message of hope and unity against racism, the project also includes special guest appearances by GRAMMY-nominated vocalist and Sony Records artist Kim Burrell and gospel legend Rev. Milton Biggham.

“Working with the youth was such a pleasure on many different levels,” says Sneed. “We forgot about our skin color and denominational backgrounds to sing in one accord to the Lord. Kids don’t carry around the emotional baggage that adults do, so their innocence brought a whole new dimension to the project, making it natural and fun. We were even able to talk about other pressures they face today such as drugs and teenage sex.”

Recorded live in front of over 4,000 attendees at Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, Florida’s oldest existing Baptist church, in Jacksonville, FL where label mate Pastor Rudolph McKissick, Jr. pastors, the project incorporates a range of song styles from hip-hop and contemporary praise to moving ballads, such as “Colors,” which was the inspiration behind the album’s title and theme. Led by Burrell, the song delivers a stirring message about how God views racial unity.

In addition to Burrell, Love Comes In All Colors also features some of Gospel music’s most well-known talent. Sneed, who appeared in Disney’s The Preacher's Wife, starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington, lends his vocal prowess on his composition “I Give You Praise” and on the traditional hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” in addition to his production duties on the project. Gospel legend and Executive Director of Savoy Records, Rev. Milton Biggham, leads the choir in the high-energy “I Can’t Forget,” which he penned. Bruce Allen of jazz duo Allen & Allen contributes “Yes Lord,” a duet with 17-year-old Ashley Boston, a senior at Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville, FL who plans to major in Music Performance at Bethune-Cookman College upon graduation.

As Assistant Minister of Music for more than a decade with the award-winning Georgia Mass Choir, Sneed formed the first Youth For Christ choir in 1998 from youth between the ages of eight and eighteen, most of who were children, relatives and friends of the Georgia Mass Choir. In preparation to form the next Youth For Christ choir in Jacksonville, FL, Sneed advertised on the radio to attract students between the ages of ten and eighteen who would be interested in being a part of the choir, and the response was overwhelming, putting Sneed in touch with over 500 youth in one week, several of whom were a part of the original choir.

Forming the first two Youth For Christ choirs, Sneed sees the concept becoming a national movement, being replicated in other locations in the country and around the world. To accomplish this, Sneed is planning a Love Comes In All Colors summer tour with a 20-30-member ensemble from the Youth For Christ choir. Hitting major markets such as Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, among others, the ensemble would sing with local church choirs, teaching them songs and allowing them experience Youth For Christ. Further details on the tour will be posted soon on the Internet at www.Emtro.com.

“My dream is that a Youth For Christ choir will be formed in every state and even in other countries,” explains Sneed. “It would be great to do a national convention where all of the Youth For Christ choirs come together from around the world in unity. The focal point of the convention wouldn’t necessarily be music, but instead a time of coming together to learn about each other.”

The first opportunity for Gospel music fans to hear songs from the album Love Comes In All Colors will be March 30 during the world premiere of “Colors,” the first single from the project, via “The Light” affiliates and www.SGNTheLight.com. “The Light,” a 24-hour, satellite-distributed gospel radio format, owned and operated by Sheridan Broadcasting’s Sheridan Gospel Network (SGN) will continue its strategic two-week promotion with the world premiere debut of the second single, “I Won’t Forget,” Tuesday, April 13. Both singles are being serviced to Black Gospel radio formats with plans to service CCM Adult Contemporary radio next month.

“The Light” will also be hosting a number of other promotions with Youth For Christ. On April 19, “The Light” will hold a special “Win It Before You Can Buy It” promotion with hourly giveaways of Love Comes In All Colors. Highlighted music from the project will be played during “The Light’s” special “Hot Off The Press Music Monday” April 26 and will include hourly giveaways, promotional spots and liners as well as a special two-hour broadcast featuring Troy Sneed and Rev. Milton Biggham as co-hosts for “The Afternoon Praise Party with Rick Joyner.” As part of the 7th Anniversary Celebration of “The Light,” listeners will be encouraged to register to win special anniversary T-shirts compliments of Youth for Christ and Emtro Gospel, which will be given away on-air beginning May 3.

In addition to establishing a strong radio presence through radio promotion and advertising, Emtro Gospel is supporting Love Comes In All Colors through a comprehensive marketing campaign. Marketing elements include advertisements in Gospel consumer and trade publications, as well as on the Internet at key Gospel websites. Retail plans include targeting price and position programs, one-stop catalogues/flyers and listening stations, and a targeted postcard mailing to more than 5,000 retail stores. Furthermore, video footage taken during the recording process will be serviced to various television outlets including BET, The Word Network and Major Broadcasting Cable Network (MBC), among others.

More information on Sneed, Emtro Gospel and Youth For Christ can be found at www.Emtro.com.

National sales and distribution for Emtro Gospel is provided by LKS Entertainment, Inc. in association with IDN (Innovative Distribution Network) for the general market and for the CBA by Taseis Distribution, LLC in association with Word Entertainment. In addition to founder Troy Sneed and Youth For Christ, Emtro Gospel’s roster also includes Pastor Rudolph McKissick, Jr. & The Word and Worship Mass Choir, Pastor Leofric W. Thomas, Henrietta Telfair, and Bishop L. Spenser Smith & Testament.