Reunion Concert Brings Memories and Music

"We'd been talking about doing some kind of reunion for some time," said Ken Reynolds of his former gospel music group His Image.
And after 17 years the West Michigan-based, urban contemporary ensemble is finally coming together again for a concert on Sun. Aug. 26.

The artists individually are involved in various Christian ministries in the area but worked out a time on a Sunday morning when all of them could get together. The performance is part of the New Hope Baptist Church's "Summer Breeze" series.

The group features Reynolds, Joseph Burrel, Kelvin Dukes, Bryan Lowe, Gerald Perry, Henry Sapp and Craig Tyson. The singers share lead vocals and several had a hand in writing the group's original songs. For musical style, think a mixture of Fred Hammond, The Winans, and a touch of Earth, Wind & Fire.

There are some extra connections among the singers.

Perry and Reynolds are cousins and grew up together at New Hope Baptist Church, the site of the reunion concert.

Reynolds, currently an associate pastor for worship at Resurrection Life Church in Grandville, served as musical director for His Image, formerly known as Direction.

SELECTING THE SONGS

A difficult task is selecting the songs for the reunion: picking through the group's catalog of dozens of tunes , and then working them in several rehearsals. "I went back into the closet and pulled out a bunch of stuff," Reynolds said. "We were together for seven years and did a lot."

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A few tunes likely to make the final concert set list: "Amazing Grace," "Come Too Far," and "Make A Way."

Among other titles in their repertoire: "Second Chance" (co-written by Perry and Sapp), an a cover of the hymn "He Looked Beyond My Faults." The band did a video for the Perry song "Take Up Your Cross" which aired nationwide on the BET network.

The group's gospel roots go back to Perry's days at Creston High School in Grand Rapids when he formed a group called Vision. Reynolds came along and signed on, suggesting the name Direction.

Direction signed a record deal with the Detroit-based Inner Court Music Group, but another group with a similar name led them to re-title their group His Image.

The hard working group performed at three Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) conventions across the country in front of huge audiences. Their signature album and its title track ("Make A Way," also written by Perry), continue to ring true all these years later.

"It's been so long..... a lot of people here at Res Life (church) didn't know I'd been in that group and I had to give 'em some history,  "Reynolds smiled."

Might this reunion concert lead to any others? "That'll be discussed, I'm sure," Reynolds said. "We'll see what kind of response we get. But we're grateful for the support from back then and even from fans still now."

Details:
His Image: A Reunion Concert
9am Sun. Aug. 26
at New Hope Baptist Church, 130 Delaware St. SW in Grand Rapids.
No admission charge, seating is general admission.
See an informal rehearsal video at https://www.facebook.com/ken.reynolds.334/videos/10217315214298797/
You can call the church at 616-452-4278.

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