Soulful. Spiritual. Inspirational. Joyful.
Those are just a few of the adjectives being used to describe the VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir's performances.
Local audiences will have a chance to check it out for themselves when the choir hits the stage at the Michael J. Fox Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 29.
The choir, led by Checo Tohomaso, will offer up a program of spiritual, inspirational and love songs from Motown.
It's part of Tohomaso's mission to share the positive, healing qualities of soul music with as many people as possible.
The choir's website notes that Tohomaso was born in Florida and raised in Hawaii and Japan, and his musical journey began in the church choir in early childhood. As the son of an African-American Christian mother and a Peruvian/African-American Jewish father, he grew up surrounded by many styles of ethnic music.
"Ninety per cent of Americal soul, R&B and jazz singers have their musical foundation singing gospel music in the church, and I was heavily influenced by those artists at a very early age," he says in his bio. "At home, everyone sings gospel and the spirit and culture are strong. People in Vancouver are longing for real music, and my goal is to bring it!"
Admission to the concert is by donation, with minimum donation of $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, $5 for youth aged 10 to 15. Kids under nine are free.
For full details about the Vancouver Outreach Community Sweet Soul Gospel Choir, see www.vocsoulgospelchoir.com, email info@vocsoulgospelchoir.com or call 604-876-3363.
