UM alum releases debut album, ministers in song

It was a dream that began in a little girl’s heart while she sang at her church and attended her elementary and high school in Chatom. It then became an overwhelming passion while she toured with the singing groups Witness and VISION at the University of Mobile (UM).
   
Today, the little girl is now a young woman, and her dream came true.
   
Joined by the Dove Award-winning and Grammy-nominated Crabb Family, Alicia Morris released her self-titled, debut album Jan. 29 at Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile.
   
Of the nearly 1,200 people at the concert, more than 20 came forward to make decisions at the end.
   
Jason Crabb, top male vocalist in southern gospel music and member of the highly acclaimed Crabb Family, produced the album. He lends his vocals to Morris’ project, as does Charlotte Ritchie of Jeff and Sheri Easter.
   
The Crabb Family began their musical career approximately 10 years ago and have garnered 14 No. 1 songs on the national radio charts.They were named in the “25 Most Important Artists Shaping Christian Music Today” by CCM magazine and are regular performers at the Grand Ole Opry.
   
Morris grew up in Chatom. Her parents, Odell and Dianne Morris, encouraged her love of singing while she was still a child.
   
Morris sang her first solo in church at age 5 and became the church pianist at age 13. Morris was the 1998 valedictorian of Washington County High School.
   
She then enrolled at UM where she received a bachelor’s degree in communication in 2002 and was awarded the H. Austill Pharr Award, UM’s most prestigious honor given to the graduating senior who has exemplified the highest qualities of citizenship, leadership, scholarship and character.
   
Morris is currently the assistant director of public relations at UM and is pursuing her master’s degree in business administration.
   
“The time I spent touring with Witness and VISION at UM, ministering in churches all across the Southeast, was when I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt what God wanted me to do. It was there that my love for music ministry grew beyond my wildest dreams,” Morris said.
   
“There’s nothing else I’d rather do than sing His praises, encouraging other Christians in their faith and telling nonbelievers how He has radically changed me,” she added.
   
When Morris decided that she wanted to pursue recording, she asked Jason Crabb for advice after a concert.
   
It was then she realized just how expensive the process could be, but Morris said she “just trusted that God would provide.”
   
In a short time thousands of dollars in donations flooded in from places and people Morris had never met before her journey began. Individuals began donating toward Morris’ CD. 
   
Money also came from concerts Morris performed throughout southern Alabama and Mississippi. Those donations allowed Morris to begin the recording process in May 2003.
   
The album features 10 songs from various songwriters and includes two penned by Morris.
   
Two of the songs were written by Rodney Griffin and Gerald Crabb, the Southern Gospel Music Association’s Songwriters of the Year.
   
“Sometimes when I look back at all of this and read in my journal the things that I wrote back then, I just laugh at how fast this has all happened,” Morris said. “Back then, it seemed so far away and unattainable, but I guess that just goes to show you that God knows exactly what He’s doing, and He has perfect timing.”
   
Morris performs in churches each weekend and is set to begin promoting her music on the radio.
   
For more information, visit the resources section of www.thealabamabaptist.org. (UM)