Pastor Marc Cooper’s Gospel Gumbo
Featuring Sensere
Soul-Filled Sounds from South Florida’s Greatest Gospel Musicians
The Black gospel musical tradition is central to American culture, and its cadence permeates our nation with rhythm and power. Join us as we celebrate and expand upon that legacy, led by a pillar of South Florida’s own gospel community, Pastor Marc Cooper, founder of the Stellar Award-winning Miami Mass Choir. Gospel Gumbo draws on the flavor of diverse musical styles, creating fresh new sounds by Miami’s top talents, featuring many special guests and featured artists.
Pastor Cooper (Bishop Cooper since July 2021!) has long centered music in his ministry and is nationally recognized for his artistry as a choir director and musical director, composer, and arranger, as a powerful force on the Hammond B3 organ. Special guests for this event are Sensere, a Miami-based nine-member Urban Inspirational Gospel Soul Band.
Gospel Gumbo, as a series, will also engage participants from the project’s year-round Mentorship Program, which partners promising young musicians with top performers in the South Florida Gospel scene for invaluable outreach. The series will serve to diversify and expand audiences for gospel music, sharing this vibrant musical tradition to the public, non-denominational context accessible to all.
Presented in partnership between Live Arts Miami, Rhythm Foundation and Upper Room Ministries.
BIOS
Pastor Marc Cooper
Since the day Pastor Marc Cooper asked his father, the late Elder Lenwood Cooper to anoint his hands, Pastor Cooper has always had a passion for ministry and God’s people. Having received his mandate from God, Pastor Marc Cooper, obediently fulfills his calling as Pastor of Upper Room Ministries of Miami Gardens (formally known as Cooper Temple).
Before accepting his call in 1995, Pastor Cooper served as minister of music at Cooper Temple COGIC for many years. It was during these years that his music ministry flourished and expanded into the areas of song writing, music production and the formulation of several groups and choirs, most notably, the Stellar nominated Marc Cooper and Friends and the Stellar Award winning, Miami Mass Choir.
Upon the demise of his father Elder Lenwood Cooper in January 1997, Mother Mildred Cooper was appointed pastor of the church and Elder Marc Cooper was named Assistant Pastor. During this time of working with his mother, he began to assist in many changes in the ministry that set the stage for where God was leading the church in the years to come.
After serving as Pastor for one year, God called Pastor Mildred Cooper home in January, 1998, and the mantle was passed to Pastor Marc Cooper to press toward the mark of a higher calling and to lead God’s people. Although immersed in music at the time, God had another plan for Pastor Marc Cooper. In the beginning of Pastor Cooper’s pastoral ship it was his desire to build a new fellowship hall, but the Lord gave him a vision to expand the church’s territory to build a new edifice that would draw more souls to Christ. Pastor Cooper was also inspired by God not only to expand the sanctuary, but add to the church’s name “Upper Room Ministries”. The name Upper Room Ministries is an open invitation for individuals to experience that which is spoken of in the book of Acts and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Upper Room Ministries has experienced a tremendous growth under the leadership of Pastor Marc Cooper and like every great leader, Pastor Cooper knows that the vision that God has given him can only be fulfilled by empowering, encouraging and instructing the members to use their gifts and talents to establish and work in ministries that are in line with the vision and that will reach beyond the four walls to draw souls to Christ. Under his leadership many outreach initiatives have been implemented to include evangelism, intercessory prayer, health fairs, tutoring and mentoring services.
God has anointed Pastor Cooper to preach and teach a relevant word to this generation. His gift for music allows him to compose God’s word in a way that is reachable to both the oldest and the youngest members of his congregation. Pastor Cooper is truly an exemplary man of God who stands on the unadulterated Word of God. Pastor Marc Cooper is the husband of Evangelist Joy Cooper, and the father of two sons, Marc Joshua, Johnathan Marc-Len and one daughter, Milen Adele.
SENSERE
SENSERE is an urban inspirational soul band from Miami, Florida. Combining elements of Funk and Soul with their exquisite harmonies and full-bodied sound, SENSERE consists of nine musicians, which are the: group’s founder and producer, James Wright, who also plays drums; lead singers Brian Williams, Dwayne Charlton and Edgar Raulz; Tristan Dowridge on keyboard; Jaquan Hunter on bass, Will Marcelin on the guitar and saxophone, Darryl Efford on Trumpet and Charles McKay on trombone.
Lauded as one of Gospel music’s only authentic bands, SENSERE launched their career in 2003. The group partnered with music veteran Eddie Pugh who in 2008 helped propel the band into national notoriety. The band released their debut album, The Soul of Future Worship Vol. 1, in 2011. This project spawned their buzz-worthy debut single and concept music video “Got Jesus,” which became a mainstay on MTV.com and fueled national television appearances including; BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel, TBN, and The 700 Club, to name a few. Additionally, SENSERE was the first inspirational act to perform at South Florida’s prestigious 7th Annual Jazz In The Gardens Music Festival sharing the stage with multi-platinum selling artists; Kenny G, Patti Labelle, and Mary J. Blige.
After a four-year hiatus, in 2015, the band released their sophomore effort, Kingdom Therapy, along with a live DVD set. The band reached #13 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums and produced notable singles “Love” and “Holla.” That same year, the band appeared on the inaugural installment of Gerald ‘DaGospelTruth” Jones Presents: The Independent Spirit, Vol. 1 compilation album. Their featured single “If It Had Not Been,” served as the project’s lead radio single.
Paying homage to legendary group Commissioned (who revolutionized the sound of Contemporary Gospel with their distinctive harmonies and timeless compositions), the band returned in 2017 with their tastefully done remake of their mid ’80s classic “Tis So Sweet” – maintaining an encapsulating masterpiece while masterfully rooted in its authenticity. Almost a year later, right in time for Valentine’s Day 2018, SENSERE released their first R&B single, “Baby,” that featured one of the most breathtaking and in-demand voices, celebrated R&B/Jazz singer, Paula Champion.
In June 2018, the band released their second single “Win,” and in November celebrated a career first Billboard Top 30 entry with a #29 charting position on the Gospel Airplay chart and landed at #23 on the Mediabase Gospel Radio chart. The band made their national televised award show debut performing and opening the 2nd Annual SOAR Gospel Radio Awards show on The Word Network in November with “Win.” Released via WrightSound Records and distributed by IndieBlu music the band released their first-holiday track “Merry Christmas.”