Pittsburgh-born gospel vocalist Stephani Ezatoff steps boldly into sacred musical history with her new single โPrecious Lord Take My Handโ, released March 28, 2025. The track is a reverent and lovingly modernized tribute to the iconic hymn written in 1932 by Reverend Thomas A. Dorsey, the father of gospel music, during one of the darkest chapters of his life. Produced in Nashville by industry great Brian Speer, the recording gathers a powerhouse ensemble: gospel legend Johnny Minick on Rhodes and Hammond B3, background harmonies from Angela Primm, Gale West, Aaron, and Johnny Minick, plus world-class session artists Gary Lunn and Dave Cleveland adding guitar and bass that glow with vintage warmth, bringing a gold-standard production grounded in tradition yet alive with contemporary spirit.
From the first note, โPrecious Lord Take My Handโ conveys vulnerability and victory. Ezatoffโs thick, soulful vocal enters like a prayer spoken through tears, โIโm so tired, I am weak, and I am worn,โ quivering with emotional gravitas. Gentle piano leads the way as shimmering percussion and soft beats rise beneath her, creating a rhythmic heartbeat that keeps the classic alive in the present tense. As the arrangement deepens, the Hammond B3 brings that unmistakable gospel glow, and the choir lifts behind her in rich, ethereal layers, responding like angels catching every plea she sings.
Then, as though faith itself overtakes fear, Ezatoff belts into the upper air, vibrato trembling with conviction, turning anguish into praise. Every line feels lived-in, honoring the grief that birthed the hymn while revealing the comfort that sustains its legacy.
This rendition preserves the hymnโs timeless power, proving that nearly a century later, the cry for God to โtake my hand and lead me homeโ is still a lifeline, still needed, still healing, still holy.
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Review by: Naomi Joan