Joe Douglass assembled Spirit of Praise in 2011, when he had to perform at a church and did not want to do so on his own. Led by Douglass, with David Jackson as musical director and producer, the Bay Area-based contemporary gospel choir and band feature well over 20 members. The young, fully energized adults made their public debut in April 2012 and, two years later, released Redemption, a live recording on which they were joined by the likes of Tye Tribbett, Lena Byrd Miles, and Chrystal Rucker, among other peers. Joe Douglass and Spirit of Praise returned in 2015 with The Great I Am, released on the JDI label. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi