Church isn't just a place, it's a feeling, and that emotion and sound is at the heart of soul music. Reaching far beyond pews and pulpits, "the unique sound of America itself-its cultural identity-is indelibly marked by gospel." So writes Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison in the liner notes to CHURCH: Songs Of Soul & Inspiration (UTV Records), released May 6, 2003.

A new collection of favorite R&B, pop, classical and gospel songs produced with gospel choir arrangements and sung by some of the leading ladies of music, CHURCH: Songs Of Soul & Inspiration pays tribute to where they all began--church. Also featured is an original spoken word composition by esteemed poet Dr. Maya Angelou. The two-disc set embraces one CD of audio tracks plus a CD-ROM with performance footage and artist interviews comprising a "making of" feature.

As Morrison writes: "The little girls in choir robes and pigtails who sang on long ago Sunday mornings grew up to fill concert halls, opera houses, cathedrals and arenas with clarion voices that now enthrall millions. As they once again stand before the choir to sing, it is obvious that, with all its grace, Church claims ownership of their hearts of hearts."

Church: Songs of Soul & Inspiration is the first in a series of CDs that embrace the musical roots and role of Church in the lives of today's leading artists. It is a joint venture between UTV Records (a division of Universal Music Enterprises), Tena Clark's DMI Records and Denyce Grave's Carmen Productions.