Christian band gets start at University of Mobile, attracts national airplay

When the Mobile-based band Seraph takes the stage, prepare for the unexpected. “Basically you don’t ever know what you’re going to get,” said lead singer and acoustic guitarist Brad Hill of the group’s diverse musical collaborations. “You just have to come.”
   
The group, composed of University of Mobile (UM) alumni, employees and a current student, has an impressive instrumental repertoire. In addition to the standard guitars, keyboard and drums, a Seraph performance may feature harmonica, mandolin, banjo or saxophone, as well as the occasional Irish pennywhistle or bouzouki. And although Seraph’s sound evades stringent definition, the group’s primary intent is crystal clear.
   
“Our passion is to worship Jesus in Spirit and in Truth and in that process bring people into an encounter with the Savior,” Hill writes on Seraph’s Web site.
   
Now listeners across the United States are getting the opportunity to be encouraged by Seraph’s eclectic sound. This August, two original songs from the band’s debut album, “Remember When” — “More Than Conquerors” and “Near You” — were picked up by American Family Radio (AFR). AFR has about 200 stations across 30 states.
   
“It’s really neat to think about your music going out and touching people’s lives all over the country,” said Joe Langley, who plays harmonica and mandolin and provides background vocals.
   
Bob Sullender, general manager of 89.1, The Passage — AFR’s Mobile/Pascagoula, Miss., station — and Joan Hill, local music director and disc jockey for The Passage, heard Seraph perform at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, picked up its compact disc and passed on the songs to AFR’s music director, who then had the singles played on all AFR stations.
   
Hill said Seraph’s sound “is down-to-earth and goes straight to the heart.”
   
Along with Hill and Langley, Seraph’s members are Tommy Hinton, drums; Aaron Turner, bass guitar; Anthony Kidd, keyboard, loops and sometimes saxophone; and Steven “Scoots” Kelley, electric guitar.
   
After playing lots of local venues, including churches, cafés and coffee shops, Seraph started traveling, opening for artists like Shaun Groves and leading worship across the nation at camps, churches, World Changers projects and more.
   
As successful as they’ve been musically, the guys’ goals extend beyond the band. The group operates under the umbrella of Burningcoal Ministries, which was founded by Hinton and Hill. One project on the horizon is promoting and funding short-term missions trips for students. The guys are also in the songwriting process for a new CD.
   
Performances are scheduled throughout the year, with seven weeks already booked for next summer with stops in Birmingham and cities in North Carolina, Texas and Illinois. The band will also perform during UM’s homecoming weekend Oct. 28. 
   
For more information, visit www.burningcoalministries.com or www.myspace.com/seraph6. (UM)