SHORT TAKES : Jailbird Singers Spread Gospel

A group of convicted murderers and other criminals has recorded four gospel songs in the hope of repaying the victims of their misdeeds.

The New Faith Singers, made up of a dozen Tennessee State Penitentiary inmates, recorded their songs for Warner Bros., which has the option of releasing the music.

Songwriter and minister Moses Dillard is promoting the singers and said he will ask Tennessee Gov. Ned McWherter to move them to a minimum-security prison so they can get out to perform for churches, schools and civic groups.

New Faith has been incorporated as a nonprofit ministry so any proceeds from their music will go to their crime victims, Dillard said. Lead singer Victor Shears, serving a life term for burglary, said he just wants to repay those he victimized.

Dillard organized the singers while ministering to them in prison. He said the state refused to allow them to leave for recording sessions, so a temporary studio was built in the prison chapel. Two studio musicians came in every day to back up the singers.