Virtue (musical group) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Virtue
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|---|---|
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana United States |
| Genres | Urban Gospel, Contemporary Christian, Inspirational/Worship |
| Years active | 1997 – Present |
| Labels | Verity Records (1997–2005) Darkchild Gospel (2006–2007) Mixed Bag Entertainment (2014 – Present) |
| Associated acts | Trin-I-Tee 5:7 Mary Mary |
| Members | Ebony Holland Heather Martin Karima Kibble |
| Past members | Negelle Sumter (1995-2001) Shavonne Sampson (1995–1999) |
Virtue is an American gospel music group. They have even been nominated for a Grammy Award! The group is currently made up of three sisters: Ebony Holland, Karima Kibble, and Heather Martin. They are known for their unique blend of urban and gospel music.
Contents
About Virtue
How They Started
The group Virtue began in 1994. It was first formed by Karima Trotter (Kibble), Ebony Trotter (Holland), Negelle Sumter, and Shavonne Sampson. All four women went to Oakwood University, a historically Black Seventh-day Adventist school.
They started out as a trio called Endurance in New Orleans. The original members were Ebony Holland, Karima Kibble, and Shavonne Floyd Sampson. They impressed audiences with their strong harmonies and heartfelt praise songs.
Becoming Virtue
Their talent caught the attention of Verity Records. The label signed them as their first girl group. They also got a new name: Virtue! Negelle Green joined the group, adding to their diverse sound.
Their first album, also called Virtue, came out in 1997. It introduced their fresh mix of urban and gospel music. This album marked the start of their amazing musical journey.
Their Musical Journey
Virtue quickly became a popular gospel group. Their second album, Get Ready, was released in 1999. It had an urban feel that fit the new direction gospel music was taking. Songs like "Get Ready" and "Put Your War Clothes On" helped it reach the top 5 on the Billboard Gospel album charts.
After this, the group changed. Shavonne Sampson and Negelle Sumter left. Younger sister Heather Martin joined, making Virtue an all-sister trio. Their first album as a trio was Virtuosity in 2001. It reached #4 on the Billboard Gospel Album charts. It also earned them four nominations at the Stellar Awards.
Their success continued with their fourth album, Free, released in 2003. This album was highly praised. It also won them a GMA Dove Award for "Urban Album of the Year." In 2006, they released Testimony. This album had a stronger R&B sound. It showed they were still leaders in contemporary gospel music. They were nominated again for "Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year" at the Stellar Awards.
Coming Back Strong
After almost a decade away from the music scene, the ladies of Virtue made a comeback. They had spent time focusing on their families. On September 1, 2014, they announced their return to gospel music.
Their sixth studio album, Fearless, came out in 2016. It debuted at number 3 on the US Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. This was their highest chart position ever! Fearless sold over 2,000 copies in its first week. It also appeared on other Billboard charts, showing their strong return.
Albums and Songs
Studio Albums
| Title | Album details | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Gospel |
US Christ. |
US Heat. |
||
| Virtue |
|
6 | 18 | — |
| Get Ready |
|
4 | 10 | 22 |
| Virtuosity |
|
4 | 23 | 33 |
| Free |
|
10 | 34 | — |
| Testimony |
|
23 | — | — |
| Fearless |
|
3 | — | — |
Singles
As a Lead Artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Gospel |
US Gospel Airplay |
|||||||||||
| "Greatest Part Of Me" | 1997 | — | — | Virtue | ||||||||
| "Let the Redeemed" | — | — | ||||||||||
| "I Must Tell Jesus" | — | — | ||||||||||
| "My Heart's With You" | 1999 | — | — | Get Ready | ||||||||
| "Get Ready" | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Love Me Like You Do" | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Angels Watching Over Me" | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Put Your War Clothes On" | — | — | ||||||||||
| "He's Been Good" | 2001 | — | — | Virtuosity | ||||||||
| "Till You Believe" | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Gotta Worship" | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Down on My Knees" | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Healin'" | 2003 | — | — | Free | ||||||||
| "Lord. I Lift My Hands" | — | — | ||||||||||
| "You Just Be You" | — | — | ||||||||||
| "Follow Me" | 2006 | 4 | 4 | Testimony | ||||||||
| "You Are" | 2014 | — | 17 | Testimony Reloaded and Fearless | ||||||||
| "Walk it Out" | 2015 | — | — | Fearless | ||||||||
| "Miracle" | 2016 | — | 23 | |||||||||
| "—" means the song was not released or did not chart in that country. | ||||||||||||
Other Appearances
Virtue has also performed on tours with other famous gospel artists. These include Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, and Mary Mary. They also sang on the Evolution II Tour 2003.
They have appeared on other albums too. They sang a duet with Clay Crosse on the album Bridges: Songs of Unity and Purpose. They also provided background vocals for Darwin Hobbs on his song So Amazing.
| Title (Artist) |
Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "The First Noel" (Virtue) |
1998 | The Real Meaning of Christmas, Vol. 2 |
| "Together" (Clay Crosse & Virtue) |
1999 | Bridges - Songs of Unity and Purpose |
| "Can You Hear the Angels?" (Virtue) |
The Real Meaning of Christmas, Vol. 3 | |
| "So Amazing" (Darwin Hobbs featuring Virtue) |
2000 | Vertical |
| "So Amazing" (Oakwood University USM Compilation featuring Virtue) |
2008 | The Experience |
Music Videos
- "Greatest Part of Me"
- "Follow Me"
Awards and Recognition
Virtue has received several awards and nominations for their music.
| Year | Award-giving body | Award Category | Song /Album Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Dove Awards | Urban Album of the Year | Free |
| 2006 | Grammy Awards | Nominated for Gospel Album of the Year | Testimony |
