Making a joyful noise, family-style

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Today is Tuesday, September 12th. Thank you for turning to WORLD Radio to help start your day. Good morning. I’m Mary Reichard.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher.

Coming next on The World and Everything in It: singing, family style!

Whether it’s sibling harmony or a husband and wife duo, there’s just something about the way voices blend when members of the same family sing together.

WORLD’s Myrna Brown has been listening to music produced by three music making families and has this review.

MUSIC: It is well, it is well. With my soul, with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.

MYRNA BROWN, CORRESPONDENT: Brackin and Lindsay Kirkland recorded the hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul”, from the bottom of an abandoned 30-foot silo. The husband and wife duo live in the North Carolina Mountains. Married for 18 years, they have seven children, six boys, the oldest 13 years old and the youngest, a baby girl. Together they make up the Christian family music group, Sounds Like Reign – that’s reign spelled r-e-i-g-n. Their music is inspirational, acoustic folk rock, though Lindsay’s head covering gives the videos an Amish feel.

MUSIC: Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.

Silo Sessions is the sixth of nine albums the family has recorded over the past seven years. Most of the albums feature Brackin and his wife singing hymns and modern praise songs set to simple vocal harmonies, accompanied by guitar and other folk instruments. Here’s one Brackin wrote for his kids to sing with them.

MUSIC: Hallelujah, He is risen. He reigns. Hallelujah He is risen He reigns

But not all of their music is as delightful and singable. Early albums are especially rough. But they are getting more polished, and although the couple haven’t revealed their doctrinal or denominational ties, by and large, they sing songs that any Christian could appreciate.

From the mountains of North Carolina, to the coast of Jamaica…

AUDIO: Hi Everyone! Welcome back to a day in the life of the Foster Triplets. Woo Woo!!!

Malaika, Mahari and Mikaili are the Foster Triplets.

MUSIC : How deep the Father’s love for us. How vast beyond all measure. That He should give His only son. And make a wretch His treasure. How great the pain of searing loss. The Father turns His face away. As wounds which mar the chosen one. Bring many sons to glory.

Born and raised in Jamaica, the 20-year-old triplets began harmonizing when they were just two years old. They’ve been singing professionally since the age of five and have recorded two full albums and numerous singles. Their genre of choice is hard to nail down. They move with ease from Southern Gospel….

MUSIC: Hallelujah He’s a promise keeper. What He says, that’s what He’ll do. I’m a firm believer, Hallelujah He’s a promise keeper.

…to black spirituals…

MUSIC: Precious Lord, take my hand and lead me home.

…and contemporary Christian music.

MUSIC: Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

While their songs aren’t chart toppers, their music videos get tens of thousands of views. 260-thousand YouTube subscribers seem fixated on their Jamaican culture and life as triplets.

MUSIC: Your forgiveness is like sweet, sweet water on my lips…

Finally, the Detty family from southern Ohio also features sisters who sing hymns and praise music together. The oldest kids, Peyton and Cadie, began singing in church as early as 2 and 4 years old. Here’s a clip from their 2019 album, In the Meantime.

MUSIC: Let me encourage you, trust and God will see you through. …God’s not through with you yet.

The Dettys, like the other families we’ve mentioned, tend to lean on material written by others. But their pop-flavor and tight harmonies give them wide appeal. One point about all of these families—I do wonder if growing up in the YouTube and Facebook spotlight will be beneficial for the faith of these kids.

One thing we can say for sure today. The Kirkland, Foster, and Detty families are helping thousands of Christian families around the world sing God’s praise.

Reporting for WORLD, I'm Myrna Brown.

MUSIC: Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, How Great Thou Art…

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.