Matt Lopez and Brad Hull are two of the musicians who have helped take "Joseph" on the road. They are part of "the close-knit group of LDS artists in Nashville, who, no matter what level they're at, are willing to help each other," said Lopez. "This is a hard business to break into, but we all get together and play together and cry together and have fun."

In Nashville, "we've sung harmony for everyone who couldn't pay to have real people sing harmony," adds Hull. They've learned a lot about the music business and the people in it.

Working on this project has "been so cool because those guys (Deere and Truman) are our heroes. They are a spiritual rock. They stay true to who they are," says Hull. Because of that, he said, "this is going to touch a lot of people."

"It's more than music," adds Hull. "It takes you to a different place."

The stories and songs here have an ability to transcend religion and culture, said Krista Mauer, director of media relations for the Shadow Mountain Music Group. "It's very real. It will do for country music what Gladys Knight has done for soul."

"These guys are part of the magic of Nashville," said record producer and executive Jeff Simpson. "When you ask them to give their best to God, this is what you get. It's such a wonderful tapestry. They are just being who they are, telling you how they feel. It's passionate, real, powerful, impactful, fresh. I love it."

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E-mail: carma@desnews.com