Virtue is an American gospel music group. The group currently consists of Ebony Holland, Karima Kibble and Heather Martin.
History Virtue was formed in 1994 by Karima Trotter (Kibble), Ebony Trotter (Holland), Negelle Sumter, and Shavonne Sampson. All four women attended the historically Black Seventh-day Adventist institution, Oakwood University (then Oakwood College).
Their self-titled debut album, Virtue, was released on April 29, 1997, by Verity Records. The album peaked at number 18 on Billboard's Christian Albums, and number 6 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums.
Virtue released several other albums throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, including Get Ready (1999), Virtuosity (2001), Free (2003), and Testimony (2006).
After Testimony, no new content was released by the group for over 9 years. On the 26th of February 2016, the group released the album Fearless, their 7th studio album, which charted at number 3 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums, their highest-charting album to date.
Discography Studio albums TitleAlbum detailsChart positions USGospelStudio albums For Virtue: For Get Ready: For Virtuosity: For Free: For Testimony: For Fearless:
Re-issued albums For Testimony Reloaded: USChrist. USHeat. For Get Ready: For Virtuosity: VirtueReleased: April 29, 1997 Label: Jive (#CHIP 188), Verity (#43020)618 —Get ReadyReleased: May 18, 1999 Label: Verity (#43122)41022VirtuosityReleased: September 11, 2001 Label: Verity (#43170)42333FreeReleased: August 19, 2003 Label: Verity (#53729)1034—TestimonyReleased: June 20, 2006 Label: Darkchild Gospel, Integrity Gospel (#682184)23——FearlessReleased: February 26, 2016 Label: eOne, Virtue Girls (#115)3——
Re-issued albums TitleAlbum detailsChart positions USGospel USChrist. USHeat.Testimony ReloadedReleased: February 3, 2015 Label: Mixed Bag Entertainment (#MGB-CD-14)21——
Compilation albums TitleAlbum detailsChart positions USGospel USChrist. USHeat.Nothing But the HitsReleased: July 27, 2004 Label: Sony Music (#771634), Verity (#82876599982)———
Singles As a lead artist Title Year Peak chart positions Album USGospel For "Follow Me": USGospelAirplay For "Follow Me": For "You Are": For "Miracle": "Greatest Part Of Me" 1997 — — Virtue "Let the Redeemed" — — "I Must Tell Jesus" — — "My Heart's With You" 1999 — — Get Ready "Get Ready" — — "Love Me Like You Do" — — "Angels Watching Over Me" — — "Put Your War Clothes On" — — "He's Been Good" 2001 — — Virtuosity "Till You Believe" — — "Gotta Worship" — — "Down on My Knees" — — "Healin'" 2003 — — Free "Lord. I Lift My Hands" — — "You Just Be You" — — "Follow Me" 2006 4 4 Testimony "You Are" 2014 — 17 Testimony Reloaded and Fearless "Walk it Out" 2015 — — Fearless "Miracle" 2016 — 23"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Other appearances Virtue performed on the Sisters in the Spirit tour with Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams and Mary Mary. They also performed on the Evolution II Tour 2003 with Byron Cage, Percy Bady Tonex, Lisa McClendon, and Corey Red & Precise.
They appeared on the album Bridges: Songs of Unity and Purpose in a duet with Clay Crosse and sang background for Darwin Hobbs on the song So Amazing from his album Vertical.
+ List of album appearances, showing year released and album name Title(Artist) Year Album "The First Noel"(Virtue) 1998 The Real Meaning of Christmas, Vol. 2 "Together"(Clay Crosse & Virtue) 1999 Bridges - Songs of Unity and Purpose "Can You Hear the Angels?"(Virtue) The Real Meaning of Christmas, Vol. 3 "So Amazing"(Darwin Hobbs featuring Virtue) 2000 Vertical "So Amazing"(Oakwood University USM Compilation featuring Virtue) 2008 The Experience
Music videos "Greatest Part of Me" "Follow Me"
Award history Year Award-giving body Award category Song /Album Title2003Dove Awards Urban Album of the YearFree2006Grammy Awards Nominated for Gospel Album of the YearTestimony
References
Biography Interview
External links Cross Rhythms Artist Profile – Virtue Richard De La Font Agency, Inc - Artist Booking