"We had so much fun singing together and doing this, and we were laughing it up," Byrnes explains. "So at the end of the thing I said, ‘You guys need to stay together. This has got to be a real thing, and I’m going to give you a name.’ And I named them the Sojourners."

In March 2007, producer Steve Dawson took The Sojourners into the studio. With minimal accompaniment, and recorded live off the floor in Vancouver, they brilliantly captured the spirit of the ‘old school’ gospel recordings of the 1930s and ‘40s. The harmonies (in the tradition of such groups as The Swan Silvertones,The Golden Gate Quartet,The Soul Stirrers), combined with soulful multi-textured vocals reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield’s famous trio, The Impressions.

Their debut CD Hold On, was released on the Black Hen Music label in Canada, the UK and Europe in September 2007. The album was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award. The lead track ‘Eyes on the Prize’ was selected for inclusion in a Time- Life compilation box set celebrating the music of the American civil rights era.

Highlights of the group’s first two years include a definitive show with the Dixie Hummingbirds, opening spots with Jim Byrnes at the Vancouver Jazz Festival for both Dr. John and the Blind Boys of Alabama and featured stages at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, the Calgary Folk Music Festival, the Canmore Folk Music Festival and the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival.

The Sojourners have been nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award (Vocal Group of the Year), a Western Canadian Music Award (Outstanding Roots Recording) and a MapleBlues Award (New Artist/Group).

The eponymous follow-up to ‘Hold On’ has been completed. It takes the music to a whole new level of excellence. The release date is January 19th, 2010.

The Sojourners continue to perform with Jim Byrnes, as well as on their own. They receive a steady stream of invitations to contribute to the recordings and live performances of a diverse range of artists, spanning several genres, from the outer reaches of jazz to beat box / street poetry. All three became Canadian citizens in the summer of 2008 and were invited to perform on Parliament Hill on Canada Day, where they sang the national anthem.

Marcus Mosely
Marcus was born in a small town in the Texas panhandle, called Ralls. Marcus soon discovered that he carried around a well of music in his soul. Over the past 54 years, Marcus has found himself drawing from the well in many places around the world. He has sung throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the South Pacific, owing to 10 years of service as a missionary. He began recording back in 1975 with a folk gospel group called ‘The Family’. Just before Expo 86, Marcus made Vancouver his home. Since then, he has starred in various highly successful stage productions such as ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’, ‘Black and Gold Revue’ and ‘Show Boat’. Marcus has toured Canada giving concerts and conducting gospel choral workshops.

Will Sanders
Through his childhood, in Alexandria, Louisiana, Will sang in choirs, ensembles, and even played in the school band. But his heart was always drawn to singing gospel. In his first time out he won a starring role in the Arts Club production of Ann Mortifee’s tour de force, ‘When the Rains Come’. He was nominated for a Jessie Richardson Award for Best Performance in a Musical that year (1994). He also went on to star in the Arts Club’s ‘Five Guys Named Moe’. Over the years, Will has sung with a number of Vancouver based Gospel ensembles: ‘Circle Of Voices’, ‘Cloud Nine’ and ‘The Gospel Experience’.

Ron Small
Ron is originally from Chicago and has made Canada his home since 1960. He got his professional start singing in the U.S. Air Force. Ron auditioned for and was accepted into ‘The Pearls’. In September, 1958, Ron appeared with the Pearls on the Ed Sullivan Show. After being discharged from the military, he moved to Vancouver. He auditioned for and got a role in ‘Showboat’, and toured throughout North America with the show from 1993 until 1998. Since then, Ron has been back in Vancouver, focusing primarily on teaching and coaching jazz singers.