Evangelist Lemmie Battles

A mass choir is only as great as its members--and one of the reasons that the Chicago Mass Choir is so legendary is the extraordinary talent of Lemmie Battles.

For more than seven years, Lemmie Battles’ stunning vocals have helped shape the sound of this Grammy and Stellar nominated group. After the January 2003 release of the Chicago Mass Choir’s album“Live in Nashville,” it became obvious that it was time for Lemmie to step out and be featured on her own as a solo artist.

Lemmie Battles has nine grandchildren, five children, two sisters, eight brothers, and is a three time cancer survivor. If that is not sufficient for her to send praises like crazy, her first solo project “Let’s Have A Good Time- Live” (New Haven Records), surely did the job with the testimonial remake of Inez Andrews’ hit “Stranger in the City”! But to date, Evangelist Battles released her sophomore project, the new live worship experience recorded in Chicago in June 2006, entitled, “You’re Looking At A Miracle.” This testimonial, uplifting worship experience is a sheer testament of God’s goodness and is a must have for every believer in the body of Christ!

Between solo projects and other collaborations, this Arkansas born evangelist/singer has developed notoriety as a member and soloist of the Chicago Mass Choir. Three of those memorable solos are Holy Ghost Power; I’m Going With Jesus All the Way; and Whatever You Need God’s Got It. In the last decade, Battles has performed with many gospel greats to name a few: The Queen of Gospel, Albertina Walker and The Caravans, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Minister Jesse Dixon, plus recorded efforts with C.M.C., and Reverend Clay Evans & the Ark Mass Choir.

During her ministry travels both solo and with the Chicago Mass Choir, her vocals have been heard across twenty-four different states in the United States, and internationally in Jamaica and Switzerland.

Like several gospel artists, she can claim theatre credits on her résumé with the production, “New Beginning.” In June 2004, Battles, along with Dorothy Norwood, Tramaine Hawkins, and others, paid tribute to Mahalia Jackson in front of an audience of over 20,000 attendees, at the 20th Annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival. Battles favored the audience with a vigorous vocal interpretation of “Soon I Will Be Done With The Troubles Of TheWorld” and closed out with one of her signature songs, I Will Praise Him.

To keep reaching the lost, Battles continues to renew the flavor of gospel, by including elements of various genres in Gospel, whether it’s with Hip Hop Gospel beats or a bluesy Gospel styling like her cohorts, gospel legends, Inez Andrews and Dorothy Love Coates.

It is truly apparent Lemmie Battles embraces the enriching powers of traditional gospel and is on a mission to provide excellent music with a dynamic message.The new project, “You’re Looking At A Miracle,” is a fusion of the two Gospel styles, traditional and contemporary. This album simply put is traditional gospel at its best with a contemporary message! The album features 11 power-packed uplifting tracks such as: The up-tempo hit, Lift Him Higher; the quartet-style infused, It’s Time To Give Him Praise; the pure down home Gospel song and duet with her son, Rev .Dennis Qualls, Call Him Anytime; the church jumpin’ Chicago styled hit, The Saints Will Be Going Home; the holy of holies ushering, praise and worship track, Worthy Is The Lamb; the Church of God in Christ inspired, get your praise on… shoutin’ song, Jesus Is All We Need; the up-tempo hit, Call On Jesus; the Gospel blues tinged, You Can Depend On Jesus; the up-tempo testimonial praise report title track, You’re Looking At A Miracle; the Gospel groove styled hit, Bless The Lord At All Time; and finally the, Caribbean styled jam, Lord, We Worship You.

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