Over 30 years ago, Charles “Chuck” Moorer left his native Ohio and moved to L.A. to pursue his musical dreams. Considering that the talented singer and bassist was raised up in church, and sang at gospel concerts as a kid everywhere from Akron University, Kent State University, Prayer Tower Church of God in Christ, and a host of other churches and events, it surprised some that he was pursuing secular music.

Exploring his passion for R&B/funk and jazz, he was in several of those kinds of bands throughout college and beyond. It took a lot of soul searching, a bunch of hard knocks and closed doors, and some definitive signs (which all came with wild stories) to bring him back to the Lord. Once he felt that God “pricked” his heart and he headed back home musically and physically, his sense of purpose became much clearer.

While attending the NAACP Image Awards one year in L.A., Chuck met legendary Grammy winning gospel singer and pastor Donnie McClurkin, who kindly remembered an email Chuck had sent him a few years earlier about their mutual love for Donnie’s major inspiration, Andrae Crouch. McClurkin told Chuck how, for him, pastoring and music ministry came together perfectly, with one complementing the other to uplift people’s lives and draw their souls closer to God. Chuck was attentive as the singer told him how while his music is blessing the church, his preaching in turn blessed his music ministry. McClurkin’s words, combined with a rededication to the Lord and Chuck’s rediscovery of gospel via contemporary genre superstar Fred Hammond and his ensemble Commissioned, inspired a whole new, incredible double life for Chuck as a pastor and singer.

For over 17 years now, every Sunday morning, the congregation at Divine Direction Christian Church in Indianapolis, an affiliate of the Indiana Wesleyan Church, come to hear “Pastor Chuck” sing and preach. He says “Singing calms me and helps me focus on the message I’m about to share.” Chuck also leads a band of musicians called the Faithful Few Music Ministry, whose original lineup he formed in 2000. The primary mission of the Faithful Few has been to expand beyond the four walls of the church to encourage, motivate and provide hope through melodic form, reaching out to all people across the world.

The group, which released their 7-track debut album Divine Direction under the name Charles Moorer & The Faithful Few, plays a dynamic mixture of traditional and contemporary gospel styles with a touch of jazz and funk that ministers to all age groups. Under Chuck’s leadership, and driven by his powerful bass, soulful lead vocals and overall vision, the group is now releasing its second collection, Keeper of My Soul. Guests include contemporary urban jazz powerhouses Nils (guitar), Najee (saxophone), Johnny Britt (horns, vocals), Mitchel Foreman (piano), Gorden Campbell (drums), Oliver C. Brown (percussion, vocals), and Clydene Jackson (vocals). Once again, the collection includes seven tracks. “In the Bible, starting with the creation story, the number seven is God’s number for completion,” Chuck says. “If it’s good enough for Him, it’s good enough for us!”

Although it is Chuck’s desire that the music be used to meet and encourage people all around the world, no matter where they may be in their life, by coming to know that Adonai loves them, and they have an advocate in Yeshua. It is also Chuck’s desire to assist with charity efforts especially with the Feed My Sheep Food Pantry of his church by continuing to provide quality food for those in need 365 days of the year. Chuck has found that since the COVID-19 pandemic, being able to continue to provide quality food to families has been a humbling experience and yet a tremendous blessing to those in need. Chuck has also pledged to assist the Sickle Cell Foundation and individuals who have been impact by the sickle cell disease.

At the end of 2018, Chuck lost his son Chadwin Moorer, who fought and battled kidney cancer derived from the sickle cell trait. This loss has had a profound impact on Chuck and made him.

keenly aware of the battles that those struggling with sickle cell can face. Since Chuck’s wife and daughter are also carriers of the sickle cell trait, it is all so very near and dear to his heart that he does whatever he can do to help; Chuck desires to continue to be a blessing to St. Jude Hospital for children, and to continue assisting with housing efforts for children in Nigeria through Mighty Hands.

ON STAGE

Because they make music as part of their ministry, Charles Moorer & The Faithful Few aren’t like gospel ensembles that perform for profit at festivals and typical concert venues. Their schedule is based on the needs presented to them at any given time, incorporating the logistics of time and distance when there is travel involved. Performing regionally throughout Indiana and Ohio and also everywhere from Atlanta to towns in Mississippi, they have done benefit concerts to bless the battered at women’s shelters, sickle cell patients, inmates from Marion County Jail II, senior citizens (via the organization God’s Vision) and people with special needs in the community. They have performed for a children’s scholarship fund in Ohio to help kids raise money for an educational trip to Washington, DC and ministered onstage alongside BET’s Sunday’s Best contestant Chase Stancle at Indiana Wesleyan University. In the mid-2000’s, the group performed when Divine Direction hosted a Haiti Relief Service to raise funds in the wake of the devastating earthquake in that country. “We’re not in this for money or fame,” says Pastor Chuck. “We are all working stiffs with businesses outside the church. We make music to spread the gospel and help people in need.”

Over the past few years, other notable performances include Bobby Jones Gospel Television; Dorinda Clark Cole (TCT Network);Atlanta Live Television Channel 57 with James and Dr. Regina Howard; North Carolina Gospel Guild; Chicago Gospel Guild; Steller Award pre show performance; A Night of Comedy/Def Jam Comedy Allstar – Terre Haute, IN (opened for Lester Barrie); Douglas Miller (My Soul’s Been Anchored Concert); Indiana Wish Foundation/Butler University Campus-Concert; and the Indiana Black Expo: Spin Statz BET Concert series event in Indianapolis.

MUSIC

On their new album Keeper of My Soul, Charles Moorer & The Faithful Few continue their smooth, silky and infectious fusion of gospel and contemporary urban jazz, appealing equally to people of faith and secular audiences like very few religious based artists have ever done. Smooth jazz programmers will light up the minute they hear the lush instrumental version of “Think of Your Soul,” which begins with a colorful exotic twist, with African tinged vocals, before powering into a funky, freewheeling dance between Chuck’s s hard slapping bass and Grammy nominated sax superstar Najee’s dreamy, sensual soprano. The mightily grooving track backs its snappy, hypnotic bass melody with soaring atmospheres shaded with lush sax harmony before getting into another snazzy bass/horn conversation that includes a few bars where the instruments play together. As the tune reaches its crescendo, the African chanting returns and Chuck lets loose even more.

“Adonai” opens with a blend of Mitchel Forman’s elegant jazzy piano, Nils’ jangling guitar and Michael Parlett’s whimsical flute before we’re graced with Chuck’s soothing inspirational lead vocal. Artfully fusing jazz, pop, soul and gospel, “Adonai’s” empowering message is that while we want to be in full control, we will find greater joys, soul power and peace of mind by surrendering our will to God and letting God be our guiding light. Wordless backing vocals by Clydene Jackson and Johnny Britt add elegance and texture to this stirring expression of faith.

The hypnotic opening bars of “Keeper of My Soul” remind us that while Chuck’s hypnotic soul vocals are always the focus of his gospel music, he’s a funky genius on bass, too. After the breezy intro continues with dreamy atmospheres inflected with Johnny Britt’s inimitable flugelhorn, Chuck as lead vocalist steps forward to deliver a tender musical love letter to God – reflecting on “every little thing you do for me,” God’s perfect timing and the divine’s role as his strength and refuge.

The emotional, infectious chorus emphasizes all that God has done and will do. The track also features more of Forman’s dynamic piano improvisations, lush horn harmonies and a fiery call and response section by Chuck and vocalist Clydene Jackson.

As the sole rap/hip-hop track on Keeper of My Soul, “The Reality Is” rolls as a bit of an outlier stylistically but is on point and on message as far as making Christ the center of one’s life instead of all the temporary pleasures and dead ends that draw us in – like getting drunk, getting high and other activities that ultimately leave us feeling spiritually deprived. Though Chuck’s piccolo bass muses along for the ride, the real musical focus is on his late son, Chadwin Moorer’s cool rhymes and engaging flow, as well as the sparkling piano performance of Chuck’s late son Chadwin Moorer, accompanied by the infectious vocal accents of Paul Otis (Smooth P), picking up where he left off on the Divine Direction Project. Its vibe opens the project to a new and younger audience trying to find their way in the world.

The other tracks on the album include the vocal version of “Think of Your Soul,” with Chuck inviting us to make better choices in life as he and Najee amp up the bass and sax energy; the funky rocker “You Need Someone,” which showcases Chuck’s ample and fiery electric guitar skills; and “I’ll Trust,” an easy rolling tune featuring an ultimately soaring vocal about God leading us through trials and tribulations which features Chuck playing bass, lead guitar, piccolo bass, drums and percussion along with a beautiful and tender piano touch performed by Chucks personal piano player Carla Maxwell.

THE EARLY YEARS

Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, Pastor Chuck always had a passion for music, and grew up singing gospel songs written by his father as his dad accompanied him on piano (his dad also played bass). His aunt, Gospel radio Hall of Famer Gertrude Holt, grabbed hold of Chuck’s talent as a youngster and had him performing many concerts and opening for such acts as The Williams Brothers. He earned a music scholarship at a college in Tennessee, but transferred to Kent State so he could play football. While earning his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, he continued to play music but gravitated more towards jazz/funk in groups like Opus Day Funk and Overnight Male. Prior to and after moving to L.A. to pursue his musical dreams, he had the privilege to work with some accomplished professionals that included guys who worked with Cameo, Switch, and the privilege of participating as an extra in the band of filmmaker and comedian Robert Townsend’s critically acclaimed movie “The Five Heart Beats”. However, it was tough going.

While going through the proverbial struggles, Chuck got into the insurance business and many years later earned an MBA with an emphasis in leadership and started his own insurance claims agency later earning a Juris Doctor with emphasis in contracts, which has afforded him the opportunity to pursue godlier musical and ministerial endeavors. He did a lot of soul searching before, he believes, the Lord led him back to the Midwest. One day, looking for a home church in the Indianapolis area, Chuck stumbled upon the 28th Street Church ofGod in Christ. After attending a few times, he learned that the band needed a bass player and volunteered to play. This brought Chuck back to his gospel roots. At one point he stepped in to become their interim minister of music. One night, he had a dream about meeting an organ player there – and when that very man walked into the church not long after, Chuck saw it as a sign of moving into music ministry at another level. Not too long after The Faithful Few music ministry was birthed.

REVIEW

“Four years after gracing us with their soul-transporting debut Divine Direction, Charles Moorer & The Faithful Few are still all about capturing our hearts and souls for God while exciting with a dynamic, multi-faceted and supremely jazzy and soulful musical production. Anchored by Chuck’s sweet, warmhearted yet powerful vocal magic and deeply funky bass jamming, Keeper of My Soul can be appreciated for its heartfelt sharing of the Gospel message, yet sets itself apart from

most albums in the genre with its extravaganza of urban jazz vibes and explosive performances by an array of jazz greats – including Nils, Najee, Mitchel Forman and Johnny Britt. Another transcendent element is complementing Chuck’s vocal tunes with one of the most compelling gospel raps ever by his late son Chadwin Moorer “The Reality Is,” a track also noteworthy for the contributions of Chuck’s late son Chadwin and serving as an inspiring legacy for the talented young musician.” – Jonathan Widran, The JW Vibe