  | At URI he’s a football player, but off the field Leonard Tribbett is the drummer for gospel choir Tyrone Tribbett and Greater Anointing. | ||||||||
Rhody Gridder is Divine DrummerBy Shane Donaldson For URI football player Leonard Tribbett, there is nothing like being on stage, feeling the rush of thousands of fans standing to cheer his work. The chance of putting years of practice into a perfect performance is something for which he’ll always be grateful, and hopefully those chances will keep coming. We’re not talking performances on the grid here, though the red-shirt senior loved suiting up for the Rhody football team. Tribbett, who cracked the starting lineup on the offensive line for Rhode Island last fall, is the drummer for the inspirational choir Tyrone Tribbett and Greater Anointing. Tribbett’s cousin Tyrone started the group, which has 15-20 members, in March 1996. The group, which includes family members and friends, has reached impressive heights during its brief existence. Last summer the choir traveled the country as an opening act for Don Henley’s 2002 tour and performed in Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, North Carolina, California, Washington, Oregon, and Vancouver. The group has won competitions in Atlantic City, Philadelphia, and Chicago and received a credit for work on Justified, the solo debut album for ‘N Sync star Justin Timberlake. Greater Anointing, which focuses on the gospel sound, has performed with such greats as Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Hezekiah Walker, John P. Kee, Ricky Dillard, and Mary Mary. Music is obviously very important to Tribbett, but when the group began, he never thought it would get this far. “You get this adrenaline rush when you perform. I’m just very appreciative that I have this ability to be able to do this kind of thing,” said the communication studies major from Camden, N.J. “Whether it’s playing football or playing music, it’s a gift that I am so proud to have. I get to share what I love to do with other people. To have a packed house of people clapping because of something you are doing is so rewarding.” Perhaps the biggest thrill thus far was performing two songs on the inspirational album of DreamWorks’ feature animated film, Prince of Egypt. The group did “Most High Interlude” and “Let Go, Let God,” while Tyrone Tribbett also contributed to the title tune, “Humanity.” The album is a who’s who of musical heavyweights, including Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, K-Ci and JoJo, Amy Grant, Clint Black, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Brian McKnight, as well as comedians Steve Martin and Martin Short. Recording the soundtrack was Tribbett’s first experience in a studio. Knowing that it was for a Steven Spielberg-owned enterprise made for an impressive debut. “It’s truly an honor and a privilege to have your music put up there with people of that stature,” Tribbett said. “I just give all the credit to God. I thank him for this gift. ” “If somebody wants to have the group do something, they call my cousin, and he gets in contact with the rest of us. Then we go ahead and do it. We thank God first, and we go from there. Just the mere fact that Prince of Egypt was a Steven Spielberg movie was a huge thrill right there.” The song “Let Go, Let God,” written by Tyrone Tribbett, provides the theme the group tries to follow. “The title is self-explanatory,” Tribett said. “We as human beings are only capable of doing so much. If there is anything we can’t do, we just have to let go and let God help us. He says in the Bible, ‘In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will direct our paths.’ We try to follow that blueprint.” Leonard Tribbett began playing drums when he was 8. He learned from his father, also Leonard. Family is very important to the Tribbetts, which makes the experience with Greater Anointing that much more enjoyable. “We all grew up together, and it’s not just the music that we’ve done together,” Tribbett said. “We’ve done sports together, as well as Thanksgiving and holidays. There is a bond there that is bigger than music.” The group’s beginning stems from a sleepover at Tyrone Tribett’s house. “I was staying the night at my cousin’s house, and we used to always talk before we went to sleep,” Tribbett said. “Tyrone told us, ‘I’m thinking about starting a choir,’ and we were just like, ‘Yeah, right!’ But he was serious, and about a year later, it happened.” Tribbett, who finished his degree in December, hopes to make music his career. “Drumming has kind of suffered for the last few years because of football and academics,” Tribbett said. “I don’t have drums at school, but I listen to my CDs, and I have a keyboard that I play around on. When I go home for holidays or breaks, that’s when I go back into action. It gets pretty difficult because I don’t have the proper equipment up here. “When I get home, my cousin gets everyone together, and we try to get into a studio or one of our churches and have a jam session. That’s basically how our music is born. It’s all about letting out some feelings, wanting to play, and getting everyone together again.” The group has plans to produce and release its first CD next summer; more concert plans are also in the works. “We’re a bunch of young people who love God,” Tribbett said. “That is basically our motto. What God tells us to do, that’s what we are doing.” Tribbett said anyone interested in working with the choir or learning more about it can call his sister Kimberly at 856-964-0595. Shane Donaldson ’99 is a sports reporter for the MetroWest Daily News of Framingham, Mass. He also does page designing and editing for the sports section. |
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