The Sunday Service Choir: A Gospel Experiment Born from Unreleased Albums and Creative Ambition
In short: Founded by Kanye West and led by Jason White, the Sunday Service Choir emerged in 2019 as a unique gospel collective. Initially performing gospel reinterpretations of West's discography, the group evolved from private rehearsals into a high-profile ensemble that released albums, performed at major festivals, and collaborated with diverse artists.
The origins of the Sunday Service Choir are deeply intertwined with the turbulent development of Kanye West's ninth studio album, Yandhi. Originally slated for a September 2018 release, the project faced multiple delays, including a recording trip to Uganda. By the first Sunday of 2019, West pivoted toward a new creative outlet, hosting rehearsals that featured gospel-infused versions of his own songs alongside collaborators like The Samples, Tony Williams, and Ant Clemons. This marked the beginning of a weekly tradition that would eventually transition from intimate sessions to public spectacles.
The group's public footprint grew rapidly throughout 2019. After West withdrew from headlining Coachella due to technical disagreements regarding a planned dome, he secured a spot for the Sunday Service Choir to perform an Easter set at the festival on April 21, 2019. The choir's reach extended across the United States, with notable appearances at The Gateway in Salt Lake City and Lakewood Church in Houston, where they performed alongside pastor Joel Osteen. These events often drew significant attention, with tickets for the Lakewood Church appearance being resold online for as much as $500.
Beyond live performances, the choir established a recorded legacy. Their debut album, Jesus Is Born, arrived on Christmas Day 2019, followed exactly one year later by the Emmanuel EP. The latter featured five tracks composed by West in Latin, drawing inspiration from the Roman Breviary and the Roman Gradual. In later years, the group maintained a presence through collaborations, appearing on Quadeca's 2022 album and Will Smith's 2024 single, You Can Make It. However, by 2025, the group's trajectory became uncertain; their official website was deactivated, and West reported a controversial change to the group's logo, leaving the status of the collective in question.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Sunday Service Choir
- Also: Wikidata — Sunday Service Choir · CC0
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