Introducing The Sojourners…Will Sanders, Ron Small and Marcus Mosely. The trio originally came together to provide background vocals to Jim Byrnes’ 2007 Juno Award winning CD, House of Refuge. Hold On, produced by multi-award winning Steve Dawson, is the debut recording for the Vancouver based trio, all of whom are integral members of Vancouver’s premiere gospel choir, The Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir.

With minimal accompaniment, and recorded live off the floor in Vancouver, Hold On captures the spirit of the “old school” gospel recordings of the 1930’s and ‘40’s. harmonies (in the tradition of such groups as The Swan Silvertones, The Golden Gate Quartet, The Soul Stirrers), combined with soulful multi-textured vocals reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield’s famous trio, The Impressions.

Ron Small has numerous stage, film and television appearances to his credit, including an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, in 1958, as a member of the Fabulous Pearls. Will Sanders is a veteran performer whose credits include a starring role in Anne Mortifee’s tour de force stage production, “When the Rains Come”, for which he received a Jessie Richardson Award nomination. Marcus Mosely has performed throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the South Pacific. He began recording back in 1975 with a Folk Gospel group called, “The Family”. After moving to Canada in 1986, Mosely made his Canadian “legitimate” stage debut in the acclaimed Arts Club Theatre production “Ain’t Misbehavin’”.

The Sojourners tour and perform regularly with Jim Byrnes and in various iterations on their own and with a number of gospel groups and choirs.

Band Members

WILL SANDERS

One word that best describes Will Sanders is Passionate. First and foremost, Will is passionate about his family. And coming in at a very strong second place: Will is passionate about singing and in particular, about singing Gospel Music. All through his childhood, in Alexandria, Louisiana, Will sang in church choirs and ensembles, he even played in the school band. But his heart was always drawn to singing Gospel.

On his first time out, in the musical theatre arena, he won a starring role in the Arts Club production of Ann Mortifee's tour de force, "When the Rains Come". He was even nominated for a Jessie Richardson award for Best Performance in a musical that year (1994). He also went on to star in the Arts Club production of "Five Guys Name Moe"

Over the years, Will has sung with a number of Vancouver based Gospel ensembles: "Circle Of Voices", "Cloud Nine" and "The Gospel Experience". Presently, Will is pleased to be one of the founding members of "The Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir" where his years of experience at creating and singing Gospel harmonies and most of all his deep heart-felt connection to the Spirit and message of the music makes him more than equipped to serve, not only, as one of the choir's premiere soloists but also as the Men's section leader where he is greatly respected and admired by all.

RON SMALL

Ron Small, originally from Chicago, has made Canada his home since 1960. Ron got his professional start singing in the U.S. Air Force. He was transferred to McChord Air Force Base and while there met three other singers performing in a vocal group. When the fourth member was discharged, Ron auditioned for and was accepted into their existing group, The Pearls. While singing with the group, they won the Tops in Blue military talent show, the top prize being a guest appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. They won that year, and in September, 1958, Ron appeared with the Pearls on the Ed Sullivan Show.

After being discharged from the Military, Ron began coming to Vancouver to sing at various Supper Clubs, one of the most popular being Izzy's. His second visit resulted in him moving to Vancouver. He lived here from 1960 to 1974. Ron moved to Toronto in 1974 and became a well-established jazz singer, working regularly in the Toronto Jazz Clubs. During his time in Toronto, Ron also worked regularly in the Film Industry. He eventually began auditioning for stage work, and when the musical Showboat came to town, he auditioned for and got a role. Ron toured throughout North America with the show from 1993 until 1998.

Since 1998 Ron has been back in Vancouver, focusing primarily on teaching and coaching jazz singers. Two year ago Ron joined the Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir where he is a premiere soloist and the choir's resident elder statesman. To quote Jazz pianist Bob Murphy, Ron Small is one of Vancouver's best kept secrets.

MARCUS MOSELY

Marcus was born in a small town, in the Texas panhandle, called Ralls. Ralls is in Crosby County, surrounded by other small, out of the way, towns with names like Idalou, Crosbyton, Lorenzo and Savage. Segregation and Jim Crow laws were still the order of the day there. Marcus has vivid memories of cotton fields, sorghum, wide irrigation ditched, white faced Hereford cattle and a one-roomed clapboard and tar paper shack with a tin roof (home) that was situated between the pasture fence and a big empty two-story white house, where the boss man used to live before he moved his family into their mansion in town. It was here that he began learning to hear the music. First from his mother, who always had a song on her lips whether she was picking cotton, cleaning white folks homes or weeding her own little victory garden. Marcus soon discovered that he too carried around a well of music in his soul that would spring up in any and every situation in which he found himself. 

Over the past 54 years Marcus has found himself drawing from the well in many places around the world. He has sung throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the South Pacific owing to 10 years of service as a missionary. Just before Expo 86 Marcus made Vancouver his home. Since then he has starred in various highly successful stage productions. Ain't Misbehavin, Black and Gold Revue, and Show Boat. Marcus has toured Canada giving concerts and conducting Gospel Choral workshops and has most recently joined forces with his very good friend Gail Suderman to form the Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir (80+ voices strong). Marcus and Gail are very pleased to be artists in residence at Christ Church Cathedral.

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