A pastor and music director at Detroit's Unity Cathedral of Faith, Deitrick Haddon and his Voices of Unity drew upon both secular and spiritual influences to create a sound they dubbed "gospel soul." Debuting in 1995 with Come into This House, two years later Haddon issued Live the Life, which scored a pair of Gospel Music Workshop of America Excellence Awards: "New Artist of the Year—Urban Contemporary," and "Album of the Year—Urban Contemporary." This Is My Story followed in 1998, and Chain Breaker was released a year later. The enigmatic Nu Hymnz: Live from the Motor City.