Need help asap! Gradient in Illustrator

Graphic Design
#1

Its the weirdest thing, Im trying to get a sentence to be in a gradient in illustrator but its coming out each letter a full gradient instead of blending from one letter to the other.
I know there is a way to connect all the letters so the gradient is smooth straight through the whole sentence but its not working.

Can anyone help me??

#2

Click and drag gradient tool over the entire sentence.

#3

Make the whole sentence a compound path

#4

Thanx I think I was missing the compound path part.

#5

Or in the appearance panel do add fill and choose the gradient color of your choice and it should fill smoothly