Charles Seafous

Born to Worship          (Searis)

There is not much new or earth-shattering on Charles Seafous’ Born to Worship album as far as contemporary gospel music goes.  However, just like the rapturous feeling of cuddling up with a soft fleece blanket and a cup of hot cocoa, the comfortable sounds of a velvety R&B singer crooning praise to the Lord is a warm welcome.  Seafous has penned a dozen original numbers, each one peppered with a tasteful mix of gospel, smooth R&B and soulful jazz. 

Many of these inspiring tunes were co-written with awarding-winning producer Mark Townsend whose credits include work with DCTalk, Third Day and Israel Houghton.  Townsend produced, mixed and engineered Born to Worship as well as provided the haunting saxophone work on the album.  The melodious woodwind is most notably heard in the ethereal “There Is Peace.”  Sharing engineering duties and providing additional guitar work on the album is John Glover who is also no stranger to the Christian music scene.  Glover has had the privilege of working with Jaci Velasquez and Rachael Lampa.   The rich icing topping off this stellar debut is gospel musicians Marvin McQuitty with the steady backbeat on drums and Aaron Lindsey on the Hammond B3 organ.

With such admirable help, it is no wonder that Seafous has delivered a credible, worshipful, well-produced album.  The Texas native stays in his comfort zone vocally on his delivery.  While each song is nicely packaged musically, Seafous’ syrupy voice tends to focus more on the lyrics of his songs.  He has a personal, uplifting method to his songwriting as is evident in the ballad “Just Look Up.”  Many of the songs are more upbeat and feature a highly energetic background choir such as in “Can’t Go Under.”  A clever motif is prominent in “What The Lord Says Do,” where the familiar lyrics to “Go Tell It On the Mountain” are incorporated into the chorus, but with a new melody. 

The members of Shoreline Christian Center, where Seafous leads worship, are truly blessed.  Now with Born to Worship numerous others can consume the messages and enjoy the songs that Seafous has to share.  He joins a long line of gospel singers that people can turn to for encouragement and inspiration from Bebe Winans to Smokie Norful because the songs are powerful and the voices are soothing.  Born to Worship provides comfort food for the soul.

-Kelly O’Neil