doctors told dewitt and Kim Jones they couldn’t have children. But God had another prescription: forever JoneS—a familial outfit featuring the couple’s five offspring and a powerful testimony to modern day miracles. Prepping for this month’s release of the Gospel collective’s full force debut, Get Ready (EMI Gospel), the group’s musical matriarch gives CCM an exclusive inside scoop on the making of a family band. get Ready is dynamite! What did the creative process look like for the making of this record? kim Jones: It all starts during 9 A.M. morning prayer time. When we receive a thought or a phrase, we sing it and record it on a digital recorder or notepad. [Our producer] Tommy sims (CeCe Winans, Israel & new Breed) listened to 25 songs and chose which songs we should consider. A few months later we were in the studio with some of the nation’s top musicians. We would sing [a song] or the musicians would listen to Tommy do his thing on the guitar. They were so quick at learning. All we could say was, “Wow!” I believe God’s presence was there every moment. When did you first realize the family was a full-fledge ‘band’? Jones: We were doing a worship conference and Howard rachinski, CEO of CCLI, was the speaker. Both of our boys were playing drums. After the conference Howard encouraged us to put a bass in our son dewitt’s hands. The day after we returned home we made plans to purchase a bass but someone called and said the Lord had instructed him to give us a bass. A few months later dewitt played bass with us. From that moment on we were a band. how has your family’s testimony affected the message of forever JoNES? Jones: I wasn’t supposed to have children. God gave us five. He also gave us a son-in-law and one grandchild . . . for now! Every time my children sing a song they’ve written, you hear our testimony. Every time our children pick up an instrument and play before the Lord, you see and hear our testimony. Being together 24/7, how do you keep the peace? Jones: I have learned to pray without ceasing. I believe [our children] honor one another and talk their way through conflict. We laugh a lot. What is the driving force behind your music? Jones: A true love for God. As we wait on the Lord we just gather the songs of the heavenlies and sing them. — Andrew Greer www.foreverjones.emigospel.com forever JONES urban highlights the act: Candi staton & Tatayana Ali the site: www.candi-staton.com, www.tatyanaalionline.com the sound: southern soul, r&B the Buzz: soul music veteran, staton, and 90’s Tv star, Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel Air), recently chatted with BET’s “Lift Every voice” about the peaks and valleys of their respective careers. the act: Melinda doolittle the site: www.melindadoolittle.com the sound: retro soul with modern r&B panache the Buzz: The American Idol favorite added author to her celebrity resume when the retro soul singer released her first book, Beyond Me, last month. the act: Lucinda Moore the site: www.lucindamoore.com the sound: Fire and brimstone Black Gospel the Buzz: Known for vocal collaborations with Gospel heavyweights like Hezekiah Walker, Moore celebrates a career high chart position for her sophomore Cd, Blessed, Broken & Given’s Billboard debut. CCM 47