Biography of Tye Tribbett
Anoint (v): to choose by
or as if by divine election
 When one listens to his lyrics and feels the spirit which encompasses
gospel performer Tye Tribbett, it's easy to see that Tye is indeed
anointed. A native of Camden, New Jersey, Tye -- whose father was a
preacher and mother was a choir director -- heard his calling early on.
"I always wanted to do something for the Lord," he acknowledges.
On his third full-length album Stand Out (also available as a DVD), Tye
Tribbett and his aptly named choir, Greater Anointing (G.A.), deliver a
series of passionate gospel performances celebrating and sharing the
glory of God's Kingdom. Recorded live at Rock Church International in
Virginia Beach, Virginia, in August 2007, Stand Out premieres a
collection of spirit-filled musical testimonies to the power of the
Living Word. With his new songs, Tye Tribbett is ready to stand up and
Stand Out for the Rock of Ages. "It's time," he says, "for a new normal
to be presented."
Tye, who learned how to play keyboards before he could recite the
alphabet, has been making bold declarations with his music for years
prior to launching his gospel career.
In 1996, Tye founded a gospel choir, Greater Anointing (G.A.),
consisting of a group of family and friends whose hearts were set simply
on praising the Creator through the gift of great music. Tye knew from
the beginning they'd tapped into something real and glorious. "That
first rehearsal blew my mind," he says. "The musicianship, the quality
of the voices and the spirit of the choir, the character of everybody…I
knew that this was it. I knew that this is what I was supposed to be
doing."
Today, Tye Tribbett and the members of Greater Anointing are a family
united in ministry with everyone from Tye's beloved wife of ten years to
his brothers, sisters and cousins operating in varying capacities
throughout G.A.
Tye Tribbett & Greater Anointing broke into the popular mainstream in
1998 with a group of performances on the The Prince of Egypt
(Inspirational) album, one of three high profile soundtrack collections
released for the Academy Award winning animated film from DreamWorks.
Following that success, Tye Tribbett & G.A. went on to tour and perform
with some of the biggest names in the secular pop music world including
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Luther Vandross, Elton John, Don Henley and
Jill Scott, among many others. A showcase with Philadelphia neo-soul
performer Vivian Green propelled Tye to the forefront when his keyboard
skills and buoyant showmanship were recognized by some key players in
the music industry. Tye was signed soon thereafter to Columbia Records.
For Tye, the worlds of sacred and secular music were difficult to
reconcile and the potential conflict tugged at his heart. During the
years between his first two albums, Life (2004) and Victory Live!
(2006), Tye suffered two dramatic losses in his life. Tye says that,
among these periods of intense grief and deep reflection, he heard the
still quiet voice of God state clearly, "Cleanse yourself of anything
that could remotely not represent me." Aware of a higher calling, Tye
realized his path had been chosen for him. "A lot of times we don't know
what God wants us to do," Tye says, "but we know what He doesn't want us
to do."
Listening to the voice of faith within, Tye stepped out and challenged
G.A. to consecrate themselves, forsaking any revenue from secular music
for one year, relying solely on the Lord to provide. Everyone in G.A.
accepted the challenge and the result was Victory Live! Released in May
2006, Victory Live! entered the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart at #1,
generated the #1 Gospel Radio single, "Victory," and earned Tribbett two
Stellar Award wins and three Grammy nominations -- Best Gospel
Performance ("Victory"); Best Gospel Song ("Victory"); and Best
Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. Not even a doubting Thomas could dispute
the results. Tye Tribbett & G.A. were doing the music the Lord wanted
them to do.
"I want to offer the truth," says Tye. "I want to offer what is
superior. I want to present a standard. There is nothing more solid than
Jesus Christ and His Word." Stand Out is a project that delivers not
only truth, but the standard that Tye hopes to bring to his audience.
"An experience is over once the moment is gone," he continues. "Once
something is established, it will start when you hear it at that moment,
but it will never stop. The standard of choosing right over wrong and
light over darkness is, to me, the standard. God loves us so much but He
is disappointed. I want to present Christ as the standard."
Produced entirely by SoundCheck, the production entity consisting of Tye
and his two brothers, Stand Out firmly establishes the unit as strong
songwriters and state-of-the-art producers.
The album's title song, a reflection of the album's overall philosophy,
is an intentional up-tempo track that delivers a powerful message. "It's
the militant approach to doing things," says Tye, referring to the
punchy drums and brazen horns in the track's arrangement. "We gonna get
in a lot of trouble, but I'm ready," Tye admits. "This song is about
issues that are going on. I'm not lying. My point is I'm going to make
it a little uncomfortable, that's what Jesus did. This word is
uncomfortable. Everybody is not going to love it. Somebody got to do it
and I'm just bringing up topics."
Tye isn't alone on his journey. Throughout the album, you can hear the
crowd's welling enthusiasm as Tye is joined on-stage by some very
special guests. Gospel great Kim Burrell lends her jazzy vocal talents
to "He Has Made Me Glad," an updated reimagining of a old church song
with Tye creating a unique new arrangement, as if to prove that he can
do a "churchy song," he states laughing.
"Look Up" features gospel singer Kiki Sheard and presents, for the first
time, a full-length version of a song that was originally a snippet on
Tye & G.A.'s Gospel chart topping album, Victory Live! The public called
for extended version and according to Tye, "I felt the pressure to write
it as a full song." Giving all praises to the One who supplies all of
our needs, the song emphatically urges us to look above for direction.
One of Tye's personal favorites is a song originally created during a
session for another gospel singer. "The keyboardist played and I started
crying," Tye explains. "I just couldn't give it away." "I Need You" is a
euphoric worship song with light rock guitar influences that simply
acknowledges the Father's place in Tye & G.A.'s ministry and life.
"Chasing After You," with its airy guitar strums, is, as Tye explains,
for the members of the church. Co-written with one of his fellow
SoundCheck band members, the song eloquently expresses, "I'll forever be
chasin' after You because I'm going to go from faith to faith and glory
to glory. I'm not going to get settled or complacent. I don't want to
grow stale. I want more of Him." The song "All Hail The King" has a high
energy intensity that jumps out of the speakers in true Tye Tribbett &
G.A. fashion. "God said, 'Point the song to Me,'" Tye explains. "He's
strong and mighty in battle and there's nothing He can't handle. I am
braggin' on Him the whole song. I love that song."
"Good In The Hood," a groovy, inspirational track with an R&B/hip-hop
feel is, according to Tye, "not a song for the church at all." The track
couples a self-explanatory title with an emphatic synthesizer and horn
arrangement underscoring a song Tye was inspired to write after spending
21 days in a New Jersey jail, orange jumpsuit and all, for a stack of
unpaid parking tickets. "I chose to shine my light on the good in the
inner city and urban communities and for the people who have made the
bad choices, but there is still some good in them," Tye offers. "At the
end of the song, I say that maybe you've made some bad decisions, but
you've got another chance, and if I see y'all, God sees y'all. Keep it
up, your works will not go unnoticed, you will be rewarded. There is a
better way."
Among the many stand outs on Stand Out is the spiritually uplifting
medley of "Hallelujah / Let Us Worship / So Amazing." After attending
the Battle Cry youth movement and witnessing 35,000 young people of
different nationalities respond to the Word of God and worship songs,
Tye's bold fervor increased. "Part of me said I wanted songs that
related to them and that experience," he says, "and the other part is I
needed to bring this experience into the urban community."
Sonically, Stand Out commands your attention. Visually, the DVD version
of the concert rivets viewer with high energy, dramatic performances and
choreography and a selection of additional Tye Tribbett & G.A. classics.
"I love what I'm doing. I know this is my job and my heavenly
assignment. I love the music and everything about it," Tye emphatically
states and it is clear that he is doing God's will.
Tye Tribbett -- husband, father of two, Gospel singer, songwriter,
producer, preacher and business man -- has touched many with his
message. Recognizing that it is all the "anointing of God," Tye stands
out not only on what believes, but what he wants people to understand
about his calling. "I love the Lord and above all I just want everybody
to realize how much better it is to do things God's way," Tye testifies.
"You have to actually have to try it for yourself. You can see how God
has blessed me, but I would love for you to experience how much better
it is to do things God's way. That's what Stand Out is about. Try God's
Way, y'all!"
Biography courtesy
ThinkTank Marketing
Tye Tribbett Videos
"Good In The Hood" Video
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Listen to Music
"Good In Da Hood"
"Stand Out"
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