In 2000, Chanelle Haynes, Angel Taylor, and Adrian Anderson came together, melding their musical gifts together to create their own form of Gospel music, calling themselves Trin-i-tee 5:7.
Chanelle Haynes and Angel Taylor, the two original members of Trin-i-tee 5:7 became friends in high school in New Orleans. Chanelle and Angel and the other original member of Trin-i-tee 5:7 were clients of Adrian’s, who was their Hollywood make-up artist for several years. As they got to know Adrian, they realized she was a talented singer. So, when the other original member had to leave, they asked Adrian to join Trin-i-tee 5:7.
Fueled by multi-format airplay and videoplay for “God’s Grace”, “You Can Call His Name”, and “Mary Don’t You Weep”, Trin-i-tee 5:7’s impressive debut album stayed at #1 for seven consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums. Proving their broad appeal, Trin-i-tee 5:7’s debut also resided in the Top 10 of the Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart for 30 weeks and has been entrenched in Billboard’s Top R Albums chart since it’s July 1998 release.
Less than a year after their debut, these gifted young women also earned 5 Stellar Award nominations including a win for New Artist of the Year and were awarded the GMWA Award of Excellence in the New Artist category. In addition, Trin-i-tee 5:7 contributed to the success of the Prince of Egypt Inspirational Soundtrack, performed on the nationwide Nu Nation Tour and historic Pay-Per-View event with Kirk Franklin and CeCe Winans, and were the first gospel group ever to perform at the ultra-trendy New York Spring Fashion Show.
Trin-i-tee 5:7 presented a second effort, their highly-anticipated Sophomore project entitled “Spiritual Love”, which featured topflight production and writing from Kirk Franklin, R. Kelly, and the producing team of Rodney Jerkins and Fred Jerkins. This sizzling new album served up perfectly blended harmonies, sweet grooves, and powerful messages in a package that is bound to eclipse the success of Trin-i-tee 5:7’s own phenomenal launch.
Between these two albums, nearly 1.5 million copies were sold. Trin-i-tee’s debut album has made the gold status, and is approaching platinum. Their second album, Spiritual Love has also made the gold status.
Trin-i-tee 5:7 has just returned from their first European tour, which took them through six countries in just 12 days. The group performed before packed houses in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Stockholm, and Oslo. Throughout the tour, sponsored by Gospo Centric in conjunction with Provident Music International and GMI Music Partners, the girls shared songs from their new album, The Kiss.
Their third album, “The Kiss” was released on August 6, 2002, and is another fantastic melding of musical talent, song writing, and producing, which fully brings the Gospel message to listeners in a variety of “Heart Songs.” “The Kiss” CD peaked at number 15 on Billboard’s Top 100 R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart and has been featured on the ABC daytime show Live with Regis & Kelly.
One of the most popular songs from the CD, “People Get Ready,” received a Christian Beats Music Award for “Recorded Urban Gospel Song of the Year.”
The three members of Trin-i-tee 5:7, Chanelle Haynes, Angel Taylor and Adrian Anderson have used their success to become incredible Christian role models for young people as they have found practical ways to serve Jesus. Chanelle explains, “God has filled us with blessings so greatly that we feel an overwhelming need to pour some of that back. We want to leave a legacy not only for our music and ministry, but for being three Christians who cared about people and their lives.”
In New Orleans, Chanelle Haynes, a daughter of a New Orleans pastor, has been working to provide affordable housing for low income families in New Orleans, by buying and renovating homes, and then reselling them at cost to these low income families. Chanelle says, “I think Jesus did things like that. He helped them with things that were dear to their hearts, and then they were more likely to listen to what He had to say about the Kingdom of God.”
Chanelle also renovated a house and started an active youth outreach center, St. Michael Youth Center, in one of New Orlean’s poorer neighborhoods. It provides food, clothing, counseling, and academic tutoring, as well as courses in dance and music to develop children’s natural gifts in these areas, giving them joy in the arts.
Angel Taylor, who writes children’s books, regularly reads to kids at St. Michael Youth Center mentioned above and is also involved in several other New Orleans charitable organizations.
Adrian Anderson, in 2001, started a nonprofit organization called BE AN ANGEL, WEAR YOUR HALO, which is dedicated to helping low income families all over the United States. This organization, among other things, puts together care packages for those in need, which contain such items as telephone cards, gift cards from supermarkets and clothing stores, bath and body products, snack foods for kids, and household items. Also, for college students from poor families, this organization provides special knapsacks, under their “Bag of Knowledge” program.
Another ambitious project is a week long seminar, with the goal of helping welfare and low-income mothers enter the mainstream workforce. The sessions offered cover such things as “How to Manage Your Money”, “How to Make a Budget.” Each woman who attends receives job and interview training, a makeover sessions with a Hollywood makeup artist and hair stylist and even takes home a new suit for interviews. Plus, a follow-up is given each woman after the seminar.
