The Katinas

by Heather Phares
The Katinas are a group of five brothers born in American Samoa, located about 1,000 miles south of Hawaii. Their music reflects their faith in the Lord as well as their love for their mother, who died shortly after the Katina family moved to Washington State in 1988; the family moved again to Nashville following this tragic event.
The Katinas began singing together while still children, and started performing at churches and fairs; as they grew, they concentrated on creating their musical message of love, faith, and family, writing many songs inspired by and dedicated to their mother. By 1995 they performed nationwide dates with R. Kelly, Jasmine Guy, DC Talk, and Amy Grant. The group's energetic, soulful style was captured on independent releases: 1991's Katina Boyz and We Believe, which led to a 1997 deal with Gotee Records. An EP, The Katinas, came out that year; a self-titled full-length album was released in 1999. So Good followed a year later; Destiny was issued in spring 2001.