Grammy-Nominated Keith Mitchell of Platinum R&B Group After 7 Says He's Alive | The Jim Masters Show

Grammy-Nominated Singer-Songwriter Keith Mitchell of the 80s-90s platinum selling R&B vocal group, After 7 joins Jim Masters for a very special interview, conversation and music on this episode of The Jim Masters Show. He's worked with Whitney Houston, Smokey Robinson, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Baby Face and countless more legends. Keith is finding his own voice as a solo artist and fully embracing his musical destiny after years of success recording and touring as part After 7. Founded in 1987 by Melvin and Kevon Edmonds, and long-time friend Keith Mitchell, the trio was initially produced by mega hit-makers Babyface (the Edmonds’ younger brother) L.A. Reid, and Daryl Simmons in the group’s self-titled 1989 debut album which spawned the Billboard #1 R&B (and Hot 100 Top Ten) hits “Ready or Not” and “Can’t Stop.” They released two more albums (including the platinum-selling Takin’ My Time) over the next decade before their initial split.

Reforming in the late 2000s, After 7 resumed touring with Melvin’s son Jason replacing him. Melvin rejoined them for their 2015 comeback single with the Top 10 AC hit “I Want You,” and their fourth album Timeless. With a few more personnel changes in the wake of Melvin’s 2019 passing, After 7 released its fifth album Unfinished Business in 2021. Coinciding with the drop of “He’s Alive,” Mitchell officially left the group in January.

A powerful showcase for Keith’s ultra-infectious vocal, rap and songwriting talents, “He’s Alive” – the lead single from his upcoming debut album Food for Your Life - is an overflowing expression of the singer’s great joy over the living presence of God in his life. While the song is his personal testimony, it’s also an invitation for others to invite Christ in and experience the emphatic change for themselves.

In verse one, he reminds us of the first of many great Truths: “No need to feel despair…God will meet you on the road/He’ll never leave you on your own.” All it takes is that we “make a sacrifice today/and learn to love and pray.” Then Keith shares the essence of a relationship with Jesus: “He wants you to live/He’ll give you all you want/And all you have to do is follow the word and praise and thank him and glorify/Lift his name in all you are.” In Verse two, the singer reminds us, “He’ll make you give your love to him/Make you sing his praises when/He will make you change…Glorify the name.” In the dynamic rap section, Keith asks pointedly, “When you find the Lord. . .Will you testify what he did with your life?” before sharing the greatest spiritual reality of all: “Jesus, we know you’re alive…”

“With After 7, we did a very prolific job illustrating the power of love between men and women and how it affects people in romantic relationships,” Keith says. “But from my many years of faithfully serving the Lord, I have found that nurturing and developing a relationship with Jesus and the Word of God is far above and beyond the experience of loving a person. Learning to love God as I have and having the opportunity to record ‘He’s Alive’ and the other songs on the album have been powerful, life-giving experiences. I’m grateful for the success I achieved with the group, but the opportunity to write and record this project has given me a sense of creative and spiritual freedom I never felt before.”

Keith chose “He’s Alive” as his introductory post-After 7 single because as the music instantly engages the senses, the lyrics have the potential to run deep into our heart, mind and soul by echoing the greatness of the titular message. “The fact that Jesus is alive is the most fundamental aspect of anyone’s belief in Christ,” he adds.

Please subscribe to our YouTube channel / jimmasterstv and click the notification bell so you never miss any of our series episodes.

If you enjoyed this video episode, please give it a thumbs up like and leave a comment for us! Thank you. Share this video too.

Check out several hundred more episodes of The Jim Masters Show entertainment, lifestyle, talk show series right here on our YouTube channel Jim Masters TV. Enjoy

Join Jim Masters on social media on Instagram, Facebook and X
@jimmasterstv

#after7 #keithmitchell #whitneyhouson #babyface #jimmasterstv #thejimmastersshow