FOR YOUR GRAMMY® CONSIDERATION
WORK TOGETHER
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS SONG
FOR YOUR GRAMMY® CONSIDERATION
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS SONG
ARTIST: GULLAH COLLECTIVE FEATURING RICH TOLBERT JR AND DONDRE JOYNER
Songwriter: David Bloom & Calvin Lamont Baxter II
Producer: Calvin Lamont Baxter II
Executive Producer: Tamara Baxter
Mixing/Mastering Engineer: Calvin Lamont Baxter II
Recording Engineer: Elliott Elsey
Studio: Kevin Motley Studios and Truphonic Studios
Vocals: Rich Tolbert Jr
Vocals: Dondre Joyner
Percussion, Drums, Piano, Tambourine, Washboard, Talking Drums, Vocals: Calvin Lamont Baxter II
Organ: Demetrius Doctor
Percussion: Gino Castillo
Drums: Javan Campbell
Drums: Donald "95" Graham
Tambourine: Quentin E. Baxter
Bass: LaVonta Green
Guitar: Thomas Kenney
Trombone: Gavin Smith
Trumpet: Steve Morley
Okra Soup Recipe and Voice-over: Delores Simmons
Intro Voiceover: Tamara Baxter, Parker Baxter, Blake Baxter and Jaxon Baxter
ABOUT “WORK TOGETHER”
“Work Together” is a song about faith, resilience, community, and the belief that no matter what happens, all things can work together for good.
Rooted in the musical traditions of the Gullah Geechee Lowcountry, the song brings together the sounds of the Sea Islands with contemporary roots, jazz, and soul. Its rhythms draw from traditions carried from West Africa to the Sea Islands during the transatlantic slave trade—traditions that survived generations and continue to live through the music, stories, food, and community of the Gullah Geechee people.
The song’s message is simple but deeply rooted: we are not meant to navigate life alone. Through struggle and celebration, uncertainty and triumph, we find strength in one another. What may seem disconnected or difficult in the moment can ultimately become part of something greater.
That idea comes to life musically through the collective sound of Gullah Collective—layered percussion, talking drums, Lowcountry rhythms, and the energy of musicians creating together. The music itself becomes an expression of the song’s message: different voices, different instruments, and different traditions coming together to create something that could not exist in isolation.
At the end of the recording, the music gives way to the voice of Delores Simmons, a beloved figure in the historic Accabee community of North Charleston, sharing how she prepares her okra soup. A staple of Gullah cuisine, okra soup brings together okra, tomatoes, shrimp, sausage, vegetables, and other ingredients, served over rice or enjoyed on its own.
Her voice is not an afterthought, it is part of the song’s story.
Just as the ingredients of okra soup come together to create something greater than any one ingredient, “Work Together” is a celebration of what happens when people, traditions, rhythms, and stories come together.
The song is about more than working together. It is about believing that together, we can make something meaningful out of everything we’ve been given.
See Photos Below of Delores Simmons and her sister, the late Pastor Lonnie Ruth Palmer during these time teaching kindergarten in the Accabee community.
Behind The Song
From left to right: Meet David Bloom and CL Baxter the co-writers/producers of "Work Together" and then Dondre Joyner and Rich Tolbert Jr who are featured on the song.
gullah collective
Spending time in the studio creating the sounds and rhythms for “Work Together”
The members of Gullah Collective are rooted in the lowcountry, Charleston, SC, and part of the very community they are continuing to help preserve and share with others. Through their music and educational work they continue to share and preserve Gullah Geechee culture. This community isn't a thing of the past but a LIVING example of resilience, faith, and community.
Band Members:
Drummer/Band Leader: Calvin “CL” Baxter II
Hybrid Drums: Javan Campbell
Gullah Drums: Donald “95” Graham
Organ/Keyboard: Demetrius Doctor
Keyboard/Organ: Stephen Washington
Guitar: Thomas Kenney
Bass: LaVonta Green
Trumpet: Steve Morley
Trombone: Gavin Smith