God Is on Call

• Track Listing

A band originally influenced by jazz, disco, funk and soul, Rhyze was nominated for Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1981, just one year after they released their debut album. Best known for their hit song "Just How Sweet Is Your Love," the band featured the talents of Roscoe Taylor (lead vocals, trumpet), Elisworth "EI-T" Anderson (bass, lead vocals), Vince Jackson (guitar, lead vocals), Charles Holmes (drums), Joseph "Jo Jo" McKnight (congas, percussion), Kevin Barbee (keyboards), Richard Menter (trumpet) and Kenneth Hicks (sax). The group eventually disbanded in 1986, but never lost the music in their hearts and souls. Vince became a member of Emmanuel Pentecostal Church in Jersey City, NJ, where he served as a Deacon and played guitar for the church choir. Richard became an Associate Minister at Upper Room Freewill Baptist Church in Newark, NJ. Roscoe became an Elder at Claremont Lafayette United Presbyterian Church in Jersey City where he formed the CL Voices of Praise Choir and currently serves as musical/choir director. He eventually convinced Ellsworth to pull his bass out of the closet and put his musical skills back to work as the bassist for CL Voices of Praise. Kenny attends Faith Fellowship Church in Sayreville, NJ where he served for 10 years as the conductor of "The Deliverance Band". Vince spoke to Roscoe on many occasions over the past 10 years of a recurring dream. That dream was of the group being on stage singing and playing to God's glory. It seemed that it was meant to be when 2 years ago famed producer Paul Kyser, who was their original producer back in the early 1980's, called and said that he would like to produce a gospel CD with the group. Of course, there was no group. They hadn't played together for 22 years. After contacting most of the old members and adding Kevin Lassiter on keyboards, who serves as Minister of Music at Central Baptist Church in Jersey City, the group was back together with a renewed sense of purpose. Presented here is their glorious new reunion album, "God Is on Call," recorded in 2011.