The year was 1997 and Rev. Bernard Hayes felt a calling within him to grow in ministry, but he wasn’t quite sure where to begin. He decided to break away from his home church, Savannah Missionary Baptist Church, and explore other forms of ministry in Fayetteville.
Hayes was led to attend Division Memorial Chapel on Fort Liberty, a church where his sister was a musician on the praise team. After attending a few Sunday services at Division Memorial Chapel, Hayes felt that same calling again and presented an idea to the chaplain.
“I talked to him about starting a male chorus and he gave [me] permission,” Hayes said. Advertisements for the new group, Division South Male Chorus, were dispersed throughout the military base and beyond, and weekly rehearsals started right away as soldiers and other curious men began to join the group.
Nearly 27 years and hundreds of performances later, four of the current 12 members, both original and new, sit together in Hayes’ office at Pleasant Grove Church of Christ off North Eastern Boulevard. The group’s camaraderie exudes from every inch of the wood-paneled office — their years of friendship evident through the squeaks of their chairs as they keel over with laughter.
Member Michael Davis said it was the humility of the group that piqued his interest. Having just retired as command sergeant major from the U.S. Army after serving in Iraq and moving to Fayetteville, Davis saw the group perform in 2005 at First Baptist Church and knew he wanted to join.
“Ever since I’ve been saved I have always sung in the male chorus … ,” Davis said. “And once I saw that they were not up to just show and just trying to put on an act, I said ‘I want to be a part of that.’”
Retired Sgt. 1st Class and Rev. Eric Grant, associate minister at Wood Memorial Chapel, said it was the vocal talent of the Division South Male Chorus that intrigued him.
But original member Rev. and former Sgt. Curtis Townsend, associate minister at Pleasant Grove Church of Christ, said he never intended to join the group, claiming, “my ex-wife signed me up.” Townsend said he tended to be more introverted and was wary of joining the group.
So he was a little startled to receive a phone call back in 1997, informing him of Division South Male Chorus’ upcoming rehearsal, saying, “I actually went to rehearsal and stood in the back for a long time.” But seeing the fellowship and union among the group is what kept him coming.
Division South Male Chorus continued to grow and flourish, later becoming Wood Memorial Male Chorus. After being gifted a bus by their friend, Chaplain Sonny Moore, the chorus group’s dream of becoming a traveling ministry came true.
From Syracuse, New York, to Saint Kitts in the Caribbean, the chorus group blessed the ears of many up and down the east coast and afar.
Along their travels, their distinctive melody stood out to one woman in particular.
“We were in West Virginia and a lady heard the group sing and she said, ‘Y’all need to call yourselves The Voices of Distinction,’” Hayes explained, as the group smiled, reminiscing. Heeding her advice, the group renamed itself “The Voices of Distinction” in 2006.
Moments like that and many others made their ministry worth it, the group explained. From religious services where more than 20 soldiers gave their lives to Christ to retirement parties for chaplains, The Voices of Distinction have done it all. All while asking for nothing in return but friendship and fellowship.
“We pray that those who need it, see that light and see it in us and think, ‘What must I do to be a part of that?’” Grant said.
Hayes explained that the internal transformation of the group’s members ultimately leads to the transformation of others.
“The individual leads to the collective, which then draws the masses,” Townsend elaborated.
And it’s not only the music and performances that The Voices of Distinction use to showcase their servant hearts.
“We’ve been a moving company, we’ve been pallbearers, hurricane relief — you name it,” Townsend said. Although they’ve never asked for financial assistance, group members say it’s the “love offerings” — monetary donations to the ministry — they receive that have made their giving back to the community possible.
Through nearly three decades of ministry and over 100 members in total, that mission has remained the same, Hayes said. From coast to coast, as members deploy and move, Grant said he believes it’s that mission that keeps them all so connected.
“We go somewhere, but we come right back and we’re right here waiting,” Grant said.
The group said they’ve also been fortunate to be recognized for that mission through surprise donations and awards. In 2008, The Voices of Distinction won the Shirley Caesar Music Outreach award for their community work while attending the Lamplighter Awards held by “The Light 103.9” radio station, a gospel station in the Triangle area.
While performing at the retirement celebration of Maj. Gen. David Hicks in 2007, the members of The Voices of Distinction were shocked to each receive a Coin of Excellence after their performance. The next day, another surprise showed up on their doorstep.
“We also received a new keyboard because he [Maj. Gen. Hicks] saw us and saw that that was what we needed,” said Davis.
From the stage to the frontlines, The Voices of Distinction have carried the responsibility of compassion and humanitarianism for their community through it all.
But they haven’t forgotten to have some fun along the way.
“When we get on the bus to go on a trip somewhere, half the time when we get there … we can’t sing because we’ve laughed the whole way there,” Townsend said.
“Curtis’ fault,” Grant chimed in, jokingly pointing at Townsend as the group joined in with laughter.
“Yeah, they’re right. But it’s all about showing that unity [to others],” Townsend explained.
When that camaraderie can’t shine through their actions, they hope that it does through the music they showcase, both original and classic.
After years of performing covers of gospel music, the group felt it was time for them to start creating their own music to stand out from the masses. The group got to work writing their original songs while using local musicians, from drummers and guitarists to keyboard players and bassists, many of whom still play with them today.
“There are many great groups in this area, and I believe in order to distinguish yourself, you have to have your own material,” Hayes explained.
And distinguish themselves, they did. While tracking the radio plays of their first album, the group found that each song had been played at least once somewhere in the country. One station, they remember, played their songs every single day for the first few months after the album was released.
But they say the moment they first heard their music on the radio will always stand out to them.
“We were going to his mother’s funeral,” said Townsend, pointing to Grant. “We were driving in the car and our song started to play and I said, ‘Huh, that sounds like us.’”
The group erupted in laughter.
They were pleasantly surprised to realize it was their original song, “Bless the Lord,” flowing through the speakers of their car, jumping for joy on a day that otherwise would have been filled with grief.
This is a prime example of why The Voices of Distinction do what they do. To illustrate and exude the joy they experience from ministry to those who hear their music, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, from New York to St. Kitts.
The group said they hope to produce a third album soon, inspiration already coursing through their fingertips. But Grant said they trust that when the time comes, they will know.
“The Lord will give it to us when we’re ready,” Grant said.
Read CityView Magazine’s “The Military Issue” July e-edition here.
