From Deseret News archives:
3 Utahns go distance for Knight's choir
Talk to members of Gladys Knight 's Saints Unified Voices choir, and they'll tell you this is what their music does.
Tema Hunkin: "It has a powerful message."
Aaron Campbell: "It transcends cultures; it speaks to the spirit."
Talk to these three members of the Las Vegas-based choir, and you'll discover one more power that music has. It motivates them to travel great distances.
These three members of the choir live in Utah and commute to Nevada for practices and performances (in addition to traveling around the country).
When they're gearing up for a performance, that often means weekly commutes, said Hunkin. "Right now, we've just returned from doing firesides in Atlanta, and our next performance isn't until June, so we have a bit of a break."
But, say all three members, the extra effort to get there is definitely worth it for the privilege of being part of the choir. "It's an honor," said Hunkin. "I've been a fan of Gladys since I was very young."
The all-volunteer Saints Unified Voices Choir, or SUV Choir as it is called, was formed in 2002 when Knight was asked by local LDS Church leaders in Las Vegas to put together a group that could perform for church firesides. The group has performed more than a dozen locations around the country, and, earlier this year, released its first CD, "One Voice."
Eisenhour, who serves as assistant director of the choir, has known Knight for about 15 years. "I sang backup for her back in 1989-90." At that time, Eisenhour was a jazz singer working in Las Vegas. "Her son heard me singing in a lounge and asked me if I'd like to sing with Gladys."
A few years later both Knight and Eisenhour joined the LDS Church — independently of each other. "When I heard that she'd joined the church as well, I always kind of knew we'd do something more together. She called me in late 2001 and asked me to sing backup for her show at The Flamingo in Las Vegas. At that time, she told me she always wanted to have a gospel choir, and I told her if she ever did anything, I would like to be a part of it."
In the meantime, Eisenhour left Las Vegas to teach vocal jazz and improvisation at Brigham Young University, where she also directs two choirs (she also does private lessons). But when the call came about the SUV choir, she jumped at the chance to work with Knight again — even if it meant a long commute.
Hunkin also lived in Las Vegas for a time. "I heard about the choir through a friend. I didn't believe it was true, so I took five people with me to the audition. When I got there and saw Gladys, I knew it was true."
