Trin-i-tee 5:7 announced recently their change from a trio to a duo. Adrian Anderson will leave the group to pursue other career opportunities while New Orleans natives and original group members, Chanelle Haynes and Angel Taylor will move forward as a duo.

This has been the case with many groups in the music industry including Rizen, Anointed, the Crabb Family and others. After a while it seems that members move on to independent projects and plans.

Adrian Anderson officially joined Trin-i-tee 5:7 ten years ago in 2000, replacing former group member Terry Brown. "The season of transition has presented itself," said Anderson in a recent press release. "I move forward to a new season, launching my beauty company, 'Halo Tu' Beauty,' which celebrates kindness, love and glamour, and working corporately in the entertainment/music industry. To all of our fans, I love you and will continue to share my artistry and creativity in various ways. I partner with you in my new journey."

I caught up with Trin-i-tee 5:7 a while back and they talked about joining a new label and going into film and other entertainment avenues. Their current project, Love, Peace, Joy at Christmas is their first-ever holiday CD and includes a bonus DVD. The remianing members will release their forthcoming project, A New Day, in the first quarter of 2011.

The group arrived on the scene with their self-titled debut album, Trin-i-tee 5:7 which debuted in the summer of 1998, at #1 on Billboard's Top Gospel Album chart, eventually being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and winning Trin-i-tee 5:7 a Stellar Award as Best Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year. Produced by R. Kelly and Kirk Franklin, the inaugural CD included the ballad, "God's Grace;" a rousing, modern rendition of the African-American spiritual classic, "Mary, Don't You Weep;" and club-friendly tracks such as "Call His Name."

Spiritual Love, the sophomore album, dropped in 2000 and proved to be the group's biggest hit yet. It landed Trin-i-tee 5:7 at #1 on Billboard's Top Gospel Album chart and #5 on the Billboard R&B Album Sales chart. "Put Your Hands Up," "I Promise," "My Body," and "There He Is" were each radio hits. Two years later, the ladies were back on top with the edgy dance track "Holla" from The Kiss album, which resulted in the trio performing on "Soul Train" and at BET's "106 & Park" video premiere.

In fall 2007, Trin-i-tee 5:7 signed with Spirit Rising, now Music World Gospel. Since then, the critically acclaimed trio saw their fourth album, T57, debut at #2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart.

photo by Pinkie Webster