Tribbett, who cracked the starting lineup on the offensive line for Rhode Island last fall, is the drummer for the inspirational choir Tyrone Tribbett and Greater Anointing. Tribbett’s cousin Tyrone started the group, which has 15-20 members, in March 1996. The group, which includes family members and friends, has reached impressive heights during its brief existence.
The group has won competitions in Atlantic City, Philadelphia, and Chicago and received a credit for work on Justified, the solo debut album for ‘N Sync star Justin Timberlake. Greater Anointing, which focuses on the gospel sound, has performed with such greats as Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Hezekiah Walker, John P. Kee, Ricky Dillard, and Mary Mary. Music is obviously very important to Tribbett, but when the group began, he never thought it would get this far.
Perhaps the biggest thrill thus far was performing two songs on the inspirational album of DreamWorks’ feature animated film, Prince of Egypt. The group did “Most High Interlude” and “Let Go, Let God,” while Tyrone Tribbett also contributed to the title tune, “Humanity.”
The album is a who’s who of musical heavyweights, including Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, K-Ci and JoJo, Amy Grant, Clint Black, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Brian McKnight, as well as comedians Steve Martin and Martin Short.
Recording the soundtrack was Tribbett’s first experience in a studio. Knowing that it was for a Steven Spielberg-owned enterprise made for an impressive debut. “It’s truly an honor and a privilege to have your music put up there with people of that stature,” Tribbett said. “I just give all the credit to God. I thank him for this gift. ”
“If somebody wants to have the group do something, they call my cousin, and he gets in contact with the rest of us. Then we go ahead and do it. We thank God first, and we go from there. Just the mere fact that Prince of Egypt was a Steven Spielberg movie was a huge thrill right there.”
Leonard Tribbett began playing drums when he was 8. He learned from his father, also Leonard. Family is very important to the Tribbetts, which makes the experience with Greater Anointing that much more enjoyable. “We all grew up together, and it’s not just the music that we’ve done together,” Tribbett said. “We’ve done sports together, as well as Thanksgiving and holidays. There is a bond there that is bigger than music.”
The group’s beginning stems from a sleepover at Tyrone Tribett’s house. “I was staying the night at my cousin’s house, and we used to always talk before we went to sleep,” Tribbett said. “Tyrone told us, ‘I’m thinking about starting a choir,’ and we were just like, ‘Yeah, right!’ But he was serious, and about a year later, it happened.”
Tribbett, who finished his degree in December, hopes to make music his career. “Drumming has kind of suffered for the last few years because of football and academics,” Tribbett said. “I don’t have drums at school, but I listen to my CDs, and I have a keyboard that I play around on. When I go home for holidays or breaks, that’s when I go back into action. It gets pretty difficult because I don’t have the proper equipment up here.
“When I get home, my cousin gets everyone together, and we try to get into a studio or one of our churches and have a jam session. That’s basically how our music is born. It’s all about letting out some feelings, wanting to play, and getting everyone together again.”
The group has plans to produce and release its first CD next summer; more concert plans are also in the works. “We’re a bunch of young people who love God,” Tribbett said. “That is basically our motto. What God tells us to do, that’s what we are doing.”
