The Mississippi Mass Choir’s “The Promise,” featuring Stan Jones and Myron Butler, bounds from No. 5 to No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart dated Dec. 16. In the Dec. 1-7 tracking week, the single increased by 11%, according to Luminate.
Jones produced the song and co-wrote it with Jerry Mannery.
It’s the first No. 1 on the list for The Mississippi Mass Choir, which was founded in 1988 by the late Frank Williams, who was the visionary behind the act. Mannery now helms the group, which includes over 150 vocalists, all based in Mississippi.
“The Promise” is the fourth Gospel Airplay entry for The Mississippi Mass Choir. It follows “God’s on Your Side” (featuring La’Andrai Johnson and Jones), which reached No. 16 in October 2014; “God Made Me,” which hit No. 10 in May 2011; and “I’m Not Tired,” which rose to No. 5 in July 2005.
“The Promise” marks Jones’ first Gospel Airplay leader among two appearances. For veteran gospel singer Butler, it’s his first chart-topper in his eighth visit to the survey. He has one additional top 10, as his launch entry “Set Me Free,” with duet partner Levi, reached No. 3 in June 2006.
The Mississippi Mass Choir’s self-titled first LP led Top Gospel Albums for 17 weeks beginning in August 1989. The act reigned again with God Gets the Glory (five weeks, 1992) and It Remains To Be Seen… (17 weeks, 1993-94). The collective’s most recent set, Declaration of Dependence, arrived at its No. 8 peak in June 2014, awarding the outfit its sixth top 10.
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