Trin-i-tee 5:7’s spectacular holiday CD and bonus DVD is no less laudable than the group’s prior releases. They immersed themselves in listening sessions that included wide-ranging music legends such as Bing Crosby and Michael Jackson. They spent hours playing and rewinding and replaying back-in-the-day Christmas videos spotlighting the Supremes and holiday tapings from other stars.

They were so inspired by Crosby’s “White Christmas” and Jackson’s “Give Love On Christmas Day,” that they put their own personal spin on both and included them on Love, Peace, Joy at Christmas. Produced by the prodigiously skilled studio crew, Bama Boyz (Beyoncé, Solange, Mya and the T57 release), the album features such endearing standards as “Silent Night,” “The Christmas Song,” “Little Drummer Boy,” “Joy to the World,” “O Holy Night;” a jazz-inspired “White Christmas;” a soulful remake of “Give Love On Christmas Day;” and contemporary Christian favorites like “Mary, Did You Know.” And, for a little something extra special, the project includes an original recording of “This Christmas” by contemporary gospel vocalist and Music World Gospel label mate, Brian Courtney Wilson.  

Another contemporary favorite, “Welcome to Our World,” showcase’s Trin-i-tee 5:7’s striking harmonics, backed up by a sweet piano, the only instrumental. Lush and lullabye-like, they sing: “A long awaited, holy stranger, make yourself at home.” One can almost imagine being present at the manger on the night Christ was born.

To shift the pace, another track, “Winter Wonderland,” is set to a toe-tapping, Sunday morning beat, snare drums and all. “The songs we selected are ones that will make you warm inside,” Chanelle says. “Christmas is a time of God and family, so it was our goal to make a record that would make the listener feel good inside.”

Five tracks from Love, Peace, Joy at Christmas are on the bonus DVD: “Winter Wonderland,” “O Holy Night,” “Silent Night,” “This Christmas,” and “The Christmas Song.” The delighted DVD viewer watches and listens, rapt, as Trin-i-tee 5:7 is snapping and swaying, every bit reminiscent of Diana Ross and the Supremes. In the DVD, they capture the full attention of a multigenerational, multiracial audience at Union Station in Nashville. Trin-i-tee 5:7 sings, praises and prays. “Whoa-oh night divine, Oh night divine,” they sing. They fully engage the faithful. “Are we having fun yet?” asks Chanelle at one point during the taping. They put in perspective this holiday, its festivity, its joy, its hope and holiness.

Heavyweights R. Kelly and Kirk Franklin shared that same belief and vision. They produced the self-titled debut album, Trin-i-tee 5:7, a silky soul-stirrer. It includes the ballad, “God’s Grace;” a rousing, modern rendition of the African-American spiritual classic, “Mary, Don’t You Weep;” and such club-friendly tracks “Call His Name.” That summer 1998 album release debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album chart, eventually being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and winning Trin-i-tee 5:7 a Stellar Award as Best Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year.
 
Spiritual Love, the sophomore album, dropped in 2000, proving to be the group’s biggest hit yet. It landed Trin-i-tee 5:7 at #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album chart and #5 on the Billboard R&B Album Sales chart. “Put Your Hands Up,”  “I Promise,” “My Body,” and “There He Is” each were radio hits.  Two years later, the ladies were back on top with the edgy dance track “Holla” from The Kiss album, which resulted in the trio performing on “Soul Train” and a BET “106 & Park” video premiere.
    
In fall 2007, Trin-i-tee 5:7, which derives its name from the Biblical book of St. John, chapter 5, verse 7—which encapsulates how the Father, Son and Holy Ghost cooperatively work on behalf of humankind—signed on with Spirit Rising, now Music World Gospel, whose chief is industry leader Mathew Knowles, also the Founder and CEO of Music World Entertainment. Since then, the critically-acclaimed trio saw their fourth album, T57, debut at #2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart.

The pulsating “Listen” from their Music World Gospel debut CD, graced Billboard’s Hot 100 R&B Airplay chart and was one of the biggest gospel radio hits of 2007-2008. The album went on to win two prestigious Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards, a GRAMMY® nomination, and resulted in Trin-i-tee 5:7 being spotlighted on the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards broadcast alongside Aretha Franklin, BeBe Winans, Israel & New Breed and the Clark Sisters.
 
Despite their fast-track successes, Chanelle and Angel remains grounded in God. They are focused and grateful that God has allowed them to travel the globe, singing. Still, they understand that there is nothing like being home, surrounded by family and good friends, for Christmas.  

“We have some of the most devoted fans on the planet,” Chanelle says. “So, when it was time for us to think about our next project, we knew we wanted to do an album that would be a gift to the people. We believe this Christmas CD is just that.”