THE REAL MARY MARY:
A SUCCESS STORY
With the release of the self-titled Mary Mary, the Grammy-winning, platinum-selling gospel duo is beginning a new chapter in an already remarkable career. In 2000, sisters Erica and Tina Campbell earned immediate respect and success with Mary Mary’s platinum debut album, Thankful.
The joyful dancefloor- filling hit single "Shackles" put them at the top of the charts across the world and then the girls followed it up with the 2002’s Incredible album.
Now, after a short break, Mary Mary returns with the brilliant third album, packed with uplifting lyrics, distinctive vocals and unforgettable songs. Some things have changed since Mary Mary’s last album. Most importantly, Erica and Tina have each started families. As Erica explains, "We’ve been focusing on having babies and staying home with our husbands and family. We’ve been enjoying life. You gotta take time for family." Tina jokes, "We’re a lot sleepier now!" She laughs and continues, "We have to change the way we work.
The Dixie Chicks have seven kids under four between the three of them. We think we can do it with one child each if they can do it with seven! My mama juggled nine kids with being a choir director. If they can handle it, we can surely handle it with one each."
The second thing that’s changed is that Erica and Tina are more confident about their music in 2005 than at any other time in their career. Tina shares, "Sometimes when you first come out, you don’t really know who you are as artists and musically, you haven’t really found your niche.
This time around we’re so comfortable being Mary Mary and I feel like we’ve grown as women and ministers. ’Shackles’ was great! It opened a bunch of doors for us and I’m grateful for that but you can never do your beginning again. We can’t make the record again and you can’t redo what you’ve already done.
Obviously we want to make more songs that impact people but God is a God of the present and he’s doing great things today so we don’t like to live in the past." You’d think that when they were having a worldwide smash like "Shackles," they couldn’t get more confident but Erica disagrees. "Confidence doesn’t come with a successful hit," she says. "Think of the millions of people who sell millions of records and then kill themselves. Or the millions of people who travel the world and make loads of money and then they’re depressed or take drugs to alter their current state because they’re not happy. We’re so content with who we are, both our flaws and our strengths." Tina agrees. "The place where I am right now is definitely a better place." Visit the website @ http://www.mary-mary.com. Join the mailing list @ www.myspace.com/therealmarymary
(Bio- Excerpt-mys/ammgospel/ 5 June 2009, 18:20).
KIRK FRANKLIN: The Gospel Success Story.
The Lord has blessed Kirk Franklin to be not only a commercial success – the biggest selling gospel artist in Soundscan history with over 12 million albums sold and over 20 1 singles at Gospel radio, plus 5 Grammy Awards; an American Music Award; 34 Stellar Awards (gospel); 12 Dove Awards (CCM); 4 NAACP Awards; 2 BET Music Awards, and a Soul Train Award on his mantle – he is a hero and example to anyone who thinks their life is beyond redemption. To hear his testimony is to hear that of a man who’s risen from the bleakest streets to the highest heights. Deeper still, he understands that the literal fight of his life is a battle done daily. (Bio- Excerpt-mys/ammgospel/ 5 June 2009, 17:23).
music leaned toward inspirational quiet storm – ‘positive’ messages alluding to Jesus and a righteous walk of faith set to lightly groovin’ tracks that appealed primarily to adults. Upon the arrival of Kirk Franklin, the music and the culture of contemporary Christianity got an energy boost that could give Red Bull a run for its money! Injecting a vigorous and youthful excitement to faith- walking, Kirk Franklin made it cool to be Christian, placing Godly messages in the same heavy rotation as other urban pop music. Over the last 14 years with hits such as “Stomp;” “Whatcha Lookin’ For;” “Looking for You;” “Revolution;” and “Lean on Me,” Kirk ascended to the upper echelons of gospel and pop. Beyond the music, he’s a highly exalted example of a man who achieved success without selling his soul (literally or figuratively) or his integrity. His messages now inhabit books, an upcoming movie, and he even hosts his own BET talent search program, “Sunday Best.”
Grammy-winning, multi- platinum, crossover gospel king Kirk Franklin is a man accustomed to firsts. For example, he was the first gospel artist to sell over a million copies of his first album, Kirk Franklin & The Family. However, it was the first of a different kind that led him to title his 11th and latest CD The Fight of My Life. It marked the first time that Kirk ever had so much trouble bringing his divinely inspired songs to life…for Kirk was facing an artistic drought the likes of which had never plagued him before.
The album was originally supposed to be the soundtrack for the motion picture “Church Boy,” a story loosely based on Franklin’s life story struggles and triumphs - of the Forth Worth, TX-born gospel star who, against all odds, made a way out of no way. But when shooting for the film was abruptly postponed, the rug was pulled out from under Franklin, affecting not only his life but that of his family and his ministry. “I titled this album The Fight of My Life because that's precisely what I was in,” he says, still shaken by the circumstance. “I had scheduled two months to devote to that movie. Now that schedule had a giant hole in it leaving me without a Plan B - no vision, no direction - which immediately meant financial challenges for me and my people.”
This uncharacteristic stress also upset the natural order of Franklin’s creative process. “When I do albums, I usually feel ‘pregnant’ with ideas. God would give me pieces of a concept - the theme of an album - then songs would be born from that. This time I felt empty. God was very silent at the genesis of this record... I had singers and musicians flying in ready to work and I wasn't, which was very costly…and it happened twice! The second time they came, I only had two songs completed: ‘How it Used to Be’ (a song about coming back to Jesus after having been absent awhile) and ‘Hide Me’ (a song of restored faith on which he states, ‘Your delay is not a denial / Your plan is perfect when I’m not’). I was discouraged and depressed. I began to question whether I should do another album, whether I had another one in me...whether I should call McDonald's to see if they were hiring?!”
Thankfully, brother Franklin’s righteously terrifying ‘Mac Tonight- mares’ finally came to a halt in what felt like his most desperate hour. The empathetic artist who was always ready with that perfect musical word to uplift others was now the one in need of inspiration. “One day walking the streets of my neighborhood,” Kirk continues, “I cried out to The Lord, ‘Help!’ And some way out of my darkness, God started giving me the idea for the song ‘Help Me Believe.’ And from there, the songs slowly started flowing down the tunnel to me again.”
Those songs which now make up The Fight of My Life (the second album from Kirk Franklin’s own Fo Yo Soul Entertainment company – a joint venture with the Zomba label group) are some of the most dynamic and stylistically varied of his storied career, moving from spirited choral passages and jazz-kissed pieces to his signature hip hop praise grooves and even one head- banging rocker! As with all of his past milestones, the thread that holds together The Fight of My Life (written, produced and arranged by Kirk Franklin) is its powerful spiritual messages.
The first single is a burst of affirmative energy titled “Declaration (This is It),” a thrilling gospel-soul take-off on the1979 hit "This is It" by pop-rock superstar Kenny Loggins (who co-wrote the original with Michael McDonald). “As a kid, I really enjoyed that song,” Kirk shares. “When I started recording it, one of the owners of the studio stopped by, heard what I was doing and told me, ‘You know Kenny Loggins wrote that song for his daddy when he was diagnosed with cancer.’ I was floored! I could see why it connected so strong to me. It was born from something powerful. What I'm saying in my version is because we are God's children and have His Son living inside of us, there's a lot of junk ‘in the world’ to which we allow ourselves to fall victim. But by the power of Christ we don't have to. The song empowers people in their faith.”
Another album highlight, “Little Boy,” finds Kirk calling in reinforcement from the great Rance Allen and Isaac Carree to kick a three-prong message to young men, young women and their parents that is graced with a simmering beat, tasty acoustic guitar and muted trumpet, plus a couple of witty topical lyrical ‘zingers.’ “I'm just challenging everybody to do better,” Kirk states. “Christians become a ‘subculture’ when we are no longer informed on current issues. It's imperative that God's people be effective and knowledgeable. If we're in a bubble, we come across as antiquated.” Regarding those lyrical bombs he drops, Kirk volleys, “I say what I feel and let it fall where it may. ..Cuz when something falls that is God-ordained, it falls right!”
Several songs are targeted toward young people. The first, “I Like Me,” is a percussive pastiche. featuring Christian rapper Da’ T.R.U.T.H. “When you're trying to preach to kids, you've got to speak their language,” Kirk says. “Kids like beats…so I had to drop some like they was hot!" The second song is simply titled “Jesus.” Kirk tailor-made it for the BET crowd and hopes they’ll call radio stations to request it. Similarly, “Still in Love” is a weekend roller skatin’, top-down cruiser’s dream. “I’m always striving to make us look cool in the culture,” Kirk shrugs.
Perhaps most impressive is “A Whole Nation,” a song about young men growing up without fathers which introduces galvanizing 11 year-old newcomer Donovan Owens. “He just rolled up on me backstage at an Easter concert in Milwaukee,” Kirk confesses, “singing one of my songs! People come up to me all the time, but not like Donovan. This kid could sing! I had to have him on my album. Sometimes God gives me snapshots of a song and this snapshot was of Donovan being the voice of a little Kirk. But I had to test him first, so I called and asked him about his relationship with his father. I needed him to sing this song from a place of honesty. When I saw that he could do that, I said, ‘Here we go!’”
"I Am God" features Kirk’s frequent collaborator, Christian rocker TobyMac. “TobyMac is the one in that Contemporary Christian Music world that I have the closest relationship with,” Kirk states. “He's halfway black and I'm halfway white, so we've got that special thing goin' on…been friends for about 12 years now. This is my first rock song that I feel I got the closest to right because I used real rock players. I taught the song to TobyMac’s band.”
With all the contemporary amenities covered, Kirk still delivers some of his most awe-inspired songs of comfort and reassurance ever with “Still (In Control)” (featuring Melvin & Doug Williams, a.k.a. The Williams Brothers); “It Would Take All Day;” “Chains” (featuring singers Melonie Daniels, Sheri Jones-Moffett and gospel marvel Nikki Ross); “Hide Me” and “He Will Supply.” Most profound is the album closer “The Last Jesus” which - after all of the spiritual fortification and nurturing of the songs before it - turns the table and challenges the listener to strive to reflect God’s will and Jesus’ mission. Over a soothing acoustic music bed (including poignant whistling on the outro), the phenomenal chorus reads, “If I say I love Jesus / But you can’t see my Jesus / My words are empty / If they can’t see Jesus in me / No more excuses / I give myself away / Because I may be the only Jesus they see today…”
Reflecting on this exceptional collection, Kirk muses, “These are things that I feel every day. People need honest transparent leadership – leaders who are not afraid to admit, 'I'm jacked up' or 'I made a mistake, only follow me as I follow Christ.' So it's important to me that the culture sees that there is a large community of God's people in entertainment, political and sports arenas striving for a level of Godly excellence that makes The Father happy.”
The Lord has blessed Kirk Franklin to be not only a commercial success – the biggest selling gospel artist in Soundscan history with over12 million albums sold and over 20 1 singles at Gospel radio, plus 5 Grammy Awards; an American Music Award; 34 Stellar Awards (gospel); 12 Dove Awards (CCM); 4 NAACP Awards; 2 BET Music Awards, and a Soul Train Award on his mantle – he is a hero and example to anyone who thinks their life is beyond redemption. To hear his testimony is to hear that of a man who’s risen from the bleakest streets to the highest heights. Deeper still, he understands that the literal fight of his life is a battle done daily.
“For me success is very personal,” Kirk concludes. “This January (2008), I will have been married 12 years. I have kids that know me and love me. I'm not only married I'm happily married (check the verse in "I Like Me" where he speaks on that)! I'm a Black man in my 30s still hungry for The Lord and still hungry for God to knock down the stuff I see in me that still ain't right. That's the thinking I choose to keep in close contact with in terms of how I define 'success.' I've been working on me - and there's a lot more work to be done.”
Spoken by a man as accomplished as Kirk Franklin, that statement challenged us all. And his latest masterwork, The Fight of My Life, will be the stirring soundtrack for winning the fights of our lives.
Visit Kirk's website: http://www.Kirkfranklin.com. Join his mailing list: www.myspace.com/kirkfranklin. For direct contact call: 214-272-0832
...With God All things are possible (Matthew 19v26) ...Everything is possible for him who believes (Mark 9v23).
KIRK FRANKLIN: The Gospel Success Story.
The Lord has blessed Kirk Franklin to be not only a commercial success – the biggest selling gospel artist in Soundscan history with over 12 million albums sold and over 20 1 singles at Gospel radio, plus 5 Grammy Awards; an American Music Award; 34 Stellar Awards (gospel); 12 Dove Awards (CCM); 4 NAACP Awards; 2 BET Music Awards, and a Soul Train Award on his mantle – he is a hero and example to anyone who thinks their life is beyond redemption. To hear his testimony is to hear that of a man who’s risen from the bleakest streets to the highest heights. Deeper still, he understands that the literal fight of his life is a battle done daily. (Bio- Excerpt-mys/ammgospel/ 5 June 2009, 17:23).
music leaned toward inspirational quiet storm – ‘positive’ messages alluding to Jesus and a righteous walk of faith set to lightly groovin’ tracks that appealed primarily to adults. Upon the arrival of Kirk Franklin, the music and the culture of contemporary Christianity got an energy boost that could give Red Bull a run for its money! Injecting a vigorous and youthful excitement to faith- walking, Kirk Franklin made it cool to be Christian, placing Godly messages in the same heavy rotation as other urban pop music. Over the last 14 years with hits such as “Stomp;” “Whatcha Lookin’ For;” “Looking for You;” “Revolution;” and “Lean on Me,” Kirk ascended to the upper echelons of gospel and pop. Beyond the music, he’s a highly exalted example of a man who achieved success without selling his soul (literally or figuratively) or his integrity. His messages now inhabit books, an upcoming movie, and he even hosts his own BET talent search program, “Sunday Best.”
Grammy-winning, multi- platinum, crossover gospel king Kirk Franklin is a man accustomed to firsts. For example, he was the first gospel artist to sell over a million copies of his first album, Kirk Franklin & The Family. However, it was the first of a different kind that led him to title his 11th and latest CD The Fight of My Life. It marked the first time that Kirk ever had so much trouble bringing his divinely inspired songs to life…for Kirk was facing an artistic drought the likes of which had never plagued him before.
The album was originally supposed to be the soundtrack for the motion picture “Church Boy,” a story loosely based on Franklin’s life story struggles and triumphs - of the Forth Worth, TX-born gospel star who, against all odds, made a way out of no way. But when shooting for the film was abruptly postponed, the rug was pulled out from under Franklin, affecting not only his life but that of his family and his ministry. “I titled this album The Fight of My Life because that's precisely what I was in,” he says, still shaken by the circumstance. “I had scheduled two months to devote to that movie. Now that schedule had a giant hole in it leaving me without a Plan B - no vision, no direction - which immediately meant financial challenges for me and my people.”
This uncharacteristic stress also upset the natural order of Franklin’s creative process. “When I do albums, I usually feel ‘pregnant’ with ideas. God would give me pieces of a concept - the theme of an album - then songs would be born from that. This time I felt empty. God was very silent at the genesis of this record... I had singers and musicians flying in ready to work and I wasn't, which was very costly…and it happened twice! The second time they came, I only had two songs completed: ‘How it Used to Be’ (a song about coming back to Jesus after having been absent awhile) and ‘Hide Me’ (a song of restored faith on which he states, ‘Your delay is not a denial / Your plan is perfect when I’m not’). I was discouraged and depressed. I began to question whether I should do another album, whether I had another one in me...whether I should call McDonald's to see if they were hiring?!”
Thankfully, brother Franklin’s righteously terrifying ‘Mac Tonight- mares’ finally came to a halt in what felt like his most desperate hour. The empathetic artist who was always ready with that perfect musical word to uplift others was now the one in need of inspiration. “One day walking the streets of my neighborhood,” Kirk continues, “I cried out to The Lord, ‘Help!’ And some way out of my darkness, God started giving me the idea for the song ‘Help Me Believe.’ And from there, the songs slowly started flowing down the tunnel to me again.”
Those songs which now make up The Fight of My Life (the second album from Kirk Franklin’s own Fo Yo Soul Entertainment company – a joint venture with the Zomba label group) are some of the most dynamic and stylistically varied of his storied career, moving from spirited choral passages and jazz-kissed pieces to his signature hip hop praise grooves and even one head- banging rocker! As with all of his past milestones, the thread that holds together The Fight of My Life (written, produced and arranged by Kirk Franklin) is its powerful spiritual messages.
The first single is a burst of affirmative energy titled “Declaration (This is It),” a thrilling gospel-soul take-off on the1979 hit "This is It" by pop-rock superstar Kenny Loggins (who co-wrote the original with Michael McDonald). “As a kid, I really enjoyed that song,” Kirk shares. “When I started recording it, one of the owners of the studio stopped by, heard what I was doing and told me, ‘You know Kenny Loggins wrote that song for his daddy when he was diagnosed with cancer.’ I was floored! I could see why it connected so strong to me. It was born from something powerful. What I'm saying in my version is because we are God's children and have His Son living inside of us, there's a lot of junk ‘in the world’ to which we allow ourselves to fall victim. But by the power of Christ we don't have to. The song empowers people in their faith.”
Another album highlight, “Little Boy,” finds Kirk calling in reinforcement from the great Rance Allen and Isaac Carree to kick a three-prong message to young men, young women and their parents that is graced with a simmering beat, tasty acoustic guitar and muted trumpet, plus a couple of witty topical lyrical ‘zingers.’ “I'm just challenging everybody to do better,” Kirk states. “Christians become a ‘subculture’ when we are no longer informed on current issues. It's imperative that God's people be effective and knowledgeable. If we're in a bubble, we come across as antiquated.” Regarding those lyrical bombs he drops, Kirk volleys, “I say what I feel and let it fall where it may. ..Cuz when something falls that is God-ordained, it falls right!”
Several songs are targeted toward young people. The first, “I Like Me,” is a percussive pastiche. featuring Christian rapper Da’ T.R.U.T.H. “When you're trying to preach to kids, you've got to speak their language,” Kirk says. “Kids like beats…so I had to drop some like they was hot!" The second song is simply titled “Jesus.” Kirk tailor-made it for the BET crowd and hopes they’ll call radio stations to request it. Similarly, “Still in Love” is a weekend roller skatin’, top-down cruiser’s dream. “I’m always striving to make us look cool in the culture,” Kirk shrugs.
Perhaps most impressive is “A Whole Nation,” a song about young men growing up without fathers which introduces galvanizing 11 year-old newcomer Donovan Owens. “He just rolled up on me backstage at an Easter concert in Milwaukee,” Kirk confesses, “singing one of my songs! People come up to me all the time, but not like Donovan. This kid could sing! I had to have him on my album. Sometimes God gives me snapshots of a song and this snapshot was of Donovan being the voice of a little Kirk. But I had to test him first, so I called and asked him about his relationship with his father. I needed him to sing this song from a place of honesty. When I saw that he could do that, I said, ‘Here we go!’”
"I Am God" features Kirk’s frequent collaborator, Christian rocker TobyMac. “TobyMac is the one in that Contemporary Christian Music world that I have the closest relationship with,” Kirk states. “He's halfway black and I'm halfway white, so we've got that special thing goin' on…been friends for about 12 years now. This is my first rock song that I feel I got the closest to right because I used real rock players. I taught the song to TobyMac’s band.”
With all the contemporary amenities covered, Kirk still delivers some of his most awe-inspired songs of comfort and reassurance ever with “Still (In Control)” (featuring Melvin & Doug Williams, a.k.a. The Williams Brothers); “It Would Take All Day;” “Chains” (featuring singers Melonie Daniels, Sheri Jones-Moffett and gospel marvel Nikki Ross); “Hide Me” and “He Will Supply.” Most profound is the album closer “The Last Jesus” which - after all of the spiritual fortification and nurturing of the songs before it - turns the table and challenges the listener to strive to reflect God’s will and Jesus’ mission. Over a soothing acoustic music bed (including poignant whistling on the outro), the phenomenal chorus reads, “If I say I love Jesus / But you can’t see my Jesus / My words are empty / If they can’t see Jesus in me / No more excuses / I give myself away / Because I may be the only Jesus they see today…”
Reflecting on this exceptional collection, Kirk muses, “These are things that I feel every day. People need honest transparent leadership – leaders who are not afraid to admit, 'I'm jacked up' or 'I made a mistake, only follow me as I follow Christ.' So it's important to me that the culture sees that there is a large community of God's people in entertainment, political and sports arenas striving for a level of Godly excellence that makes The Father happy.”
The Lord has blessed Kirk Franklin to be not only a commercial success – the biggest selling gospel artist in Soundscan history with over12 million albums sold and over 20 1 singles at Gospel radio, plus 5 Grammy Awards; an American Music Award; 34 Stellar Awards (gospel); 12 Dove Awards (CCM); 4 NAACP Awards; 2 BET Music Awards, and a Soul Train Award on his mantle – he is a hero and example to anyone who thinks their life is beyond redemption. To hear his testimony is to hear that of a man who’s risen from the bleakest streets to the highest heights. Deeper still, he understands that the literal fight of his life is a battle done daily.
“For me success is very personal,” Kirk concludes. “This January (2008), I will have been married 12 years. I have kids that know me and love me. I'm not only married I'm happily married (check the verse in "I Like Me" where he speaks on that)! I'm a Black man in my 30s still hungry for The Lord and still hungry for God to knock down the stuff I see in me that still ain't right. That's the thinking I choose to keep in close contact with in terms of how I define 'success.' I've been working on me - and there's a lot more work to be done.”
Spoken by a man as accomplished as Kirk Franklin, that statement challenged us all. And his latest masterwork, The Fight of My Life, will be the stirring soundtrack for winning the fights of our lives.
Visit Kirk's website: http://www.Kirkfranklin.com. Join his mailing list: www.myspace.com/kirkfranklin. For direct contact call: 214-272-0832
The Clark Sisters: A Success Story
Detroit has birthed out some of the greatest singers in the world: Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Vanessa Bell- Armstrong, The Winans family and many others but there is something about The Clark Sisters - Jacky, Twinkie, Dorinda and Karen (sister Denise left the group in the mid 80's). The Clark Sisters have spent the last three decades singing, preaching, evangelizing, and teaching the word of God across the country and abroad.
Carrying on the legacy of their mother the late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, a gospel legend in her own right who received three gold records during her musical career, they have influenced a countless number of musical artists in the fields of gospel, pop, rhythm and blues, jazz and hip hop.
Their inimitable style has been much imitated in nearly every R & B wail, pop moan, and gospel lick but their singular uniqueness remains untouched.
The group has recorded over 12 albums and have contributed collectively and individually to countless other projects including the Grammy Award winning "Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration".
Each sister has a distinct style that contributes to the esscence of what is now known as "the Clark sound". Twnkie Clark, the creative force behind the group has written most of the songs that we know and love today such as the crossover hit "You Brought The Sunshine", "Is My Living In Vain", "Expect Your Miracle (Looking For A Miracle)", "My Mind Is Made Up" and many others. Her organ playing has influenced the way that many of today's greatest musicians play and her powerful vocal range effortlessly soars from bass to soprano. Dorinda, the "jazzy" sister, scats, riffs and runs with a fervancy that places her in a class of her own. She has an inate ability to make each song her very own and she is a preacher to be reckoned with.
Karen, the youngest, is an inimitable vocal acrobat whose runs and high soprano range are often imitated but never duplicated. Jacky, the eldest, brings a balance to the high energy vocals of her younger sisters by contributing her sweet yet versatile vocal styling.
The ministry of The Clark Sisters shows no signs of slowing down. In addition to the much anticipated reunion album being prepared, each sister has already enjoyed successful solo careers.
The Clark Sisters are true gospel legends and their legacy is shared with only a few true great artists. Join their mailing list @
www.myspace.com/officiallytheclarksisters
or visit their website@
www.theclarksisters.com
DAVID MANN
The Story Behind the Man.
Ingeniously funny and extraordinarily talented are understatements when it comes to the multifaceted actor and singer, David Mann. A native of the "bible belt" state of Texas, David masterfully showcases his God given talents in today's most dynamic and distinguished genres. Like most young African- Americans, David was appropriately raised in church by his respectable and upright parents and grandparents. It was under their governing that little David learned-physically the meaning of "spare not the rod" when it came to misbehaving in God's house and grandmother Charlie Mae's house. As David grew weary from his grandma Charlie Mae's excruciating pinches and his mother's "Boy, you betta sit down somewhere look," (and we all know that look), he sought out an unassuming auxiliary at church. After observing his grandfather "Duke," a Pentecostal preacher who could sing you out of your seat, and listening to his mother serenade the congregation, David decided to join the youth choir.
Soon it would be discerned that the once mischief-loving rascal could offer such pleasant-sounding vocal potential. His voice unaltered by those intrusive falsetto shrieks brought on by puberty, David with balanced and harmonious execution would eventually sing the congregation happy as he sang praises to the King! Those early experiences would later establish the way for David's promising career on the music circuit.
It was not long after that the music world took notice of David when he tunefully teamed up with three-time Grammy award winning gospel sensation Kirk Franklin and The Family. Revolutionizing the pulse of gospel music, the debut album of Kirk Franklin and The Family was the first gospel album ever to go platinum and is certified double platinum-making gospel music history. Franklin and his group, The Family released the popular hit Whatcha Lookin' 4, which forcefully soared on the Billboard's Top 200. The album was No. 3 on the R&B charts and No. 1 on Contemporary Christian and Gospel charts. Moreover, the album received distinguished musical honors including a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel album, a Soul Train Music Award, five (5) Stellar Awards, and an NAACP Image Award for the best duo or group. Reeling from such whirlwind success, David continues to affirm his exceptional vocal capacity as an esteemed vocalist today.
Accentuating his already impressive resume, David set his sights on acting. As a free-spirited adolescent, the self-possessed 15 year-old discovered a way to employ his unsuspecting antics by involving himself in various high school activities including contemporary drama where he permeated the stage world by becoming a budding thespian. Finding his natural element, David was commonly cast as the production's funnyman where his infectious comedic flair was visibly realized and fittingly unleashed. From high school to local community theaters, David's amateur characterizations soon turned into accomplished performances, which quickly gained notable recognition advancing his diversified image into public notice.
In 1996, NAACP three-time Image Award recipient, established screenwriter, and "The People's Playwright," David E. Talbert casts the likes of David in his popular urban stage play He Say?She Say?But What Does God Say? David delivered a rousing portrayal of a high- strung, obnoxious gangster named "Forty Ounce" who caused audiences to split their sides laughing as he injected them with slapstick humor. The hit show also entertained playgoers with soulful performances from the heralded debut album of Kirk Franklin and The Family. The wonderfully composed drama and comedy was later adapted for television on the UPN sitcom Good News.
In short order, David joined forces with one of America's most funniest actors and critically acclaimed playwright, Tyler Perry- affectionately known as the cannabis smoking, pistol- toting, crude mouthed grandmother "Madea." A nominee of the prestigious Helen Hayes Award, which recognizes professional theater achievement, Perry has unquestionably raised the urban theatrical bar.
Ridiculously talented, the illustrious actor has written, directed, and produced numerous plays including the stage play hit "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" where David remarkably immortalized the intrusively nosey, wisecracking, ashy- kneed, and outrageously funny neighbor "Mr. Brown." As was apropos, David's bravo performances to sold- out theater houses led the way for Mr. Brown to become a principal character in Perry's hilarious stage comedies Madea's Class Reunion and Madea's Family Reunion.
As David's encore theatrical portrayal of the lovable, outspoken, saved and half sanctified, unchoreographed, festively dressed neighbor has gained unprecedented national recognition, the creative juices of playwright Perry began to flow. With eight successful stage plays to his credit, Perry indeed stands as the most prolific urban prodigy of all time. And Tyler Perry's Meet the Brown's is certain to be another sure-fire stage play hit guaranteed to pack theaters and gross millions. "If you thought Madea's family was crazy, wait till you meet the Brown's." The gospel play stars David Mann and his multi-talented wife Tamela Mann, fondly known as the giggly, powerhouse songstress, Cora. Divinely gifted and humorously creative, David Mann's musical and theatrical talents brilliantly epitomize ingenuity at its best. When David is not on tour, he enjoys the restful company of his devoted wife Tamela Mann, and their four fun- loving children.
TAMELA MANN
The Story Behind the Lady
Arrayed in beauty and endowed with graceful artistry are but few of the observations used to describe Tamela Mann. The golden-voiced actress has impressively ascended into one of todays most accomplished talents.
With her beginnings firmly rooted in Fort Worth, Texas, Tamela was born the youngest of 14 children. And like most youngest kids, Tamela never had to vie for attention. On the contrary, Tamela and all of her siblings were properly reared by none other than "Mother Eppe." A psalmist in her own right, Ms. Eppe was a HOLY woman who believed in and exercised solid bible principles. As Tamela's upbringing was grounded in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) tradition, she inherently possessed a meek and quiet spirit as she grew.
At the age of 8, Tamela began mimicking the singing talents of her mother. By the time she was 12 years old, Tamela's electrifying octave was promoted to the church's adult choir. Often selected to sing solos, a bashful Tamela with perfect pitch and dramatic soprano control would gloriously bellow the Lord's praises! From her early singing days in the local church and high school choirs, a songstress blossomed.
As time would have it, such musical preparation served her music career of which Tamela was privileged to join up with multi-Grammy award winning and double platinum gospel phenomenon Kirk Franklin and The Family. The debut album of Kirk Franklin and The Family not only changed the musical landscape of gospel music but the album realized a defining moment in gospel music history by being the first to go platinum. Franklin and his group, The Family released the smash hit Whatcha Lookin' 4, which dominated on the Billboard's Top 200. The album was No. 3 on the R&B charts and No. 1 on Contemporary Christian and Gospel charts. Likewise, the album received celebrated musical honors including a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel album, a Soul Train Music Award, five (5) Stellar Awards, and an NAACP Image Award for the best duo or group.
In addition to the remarkable success Tamela has enjoyed with The Family, she has collaborated and performed with numerous artists including Yolanda Adams, Mary J. Blige, Al Green, Celine Dion, Bono, and Fred Hammond. Tamela's vocal contribution can be heard on various albums including Jackie McCullough Live, LL Cool J, and Kirk Franklin's Christmas. As if that were not enough, Tamela's signature voice can also be heard on respective Coca Cola and Ashley Stewart commercials. With countless television appearances to her credit such as The Jay Leno Show, BET Soundstage, 1999 Grammy Awards, Dove Awards, and the United States of America World Olympics, Tamela also appeared in the 2001 comedy movie Kingdom Come starring Whoopi Goldberg and Jada Pinkett Smith in which Tamela rendered an unforgettable solo during the film.
In 1996, Tamela joined the gospel musical cast of David E. Talbert as he directed the stage play comedy He Say...She Say...But What Does God Say?
In 1999, Tamela began her acting career. The natural flair of Tamela was sharply discovered by the one and only Tyler Perry. By the year 2000, Tamela's debut was set as she was cast in Perry's hilarious stage play hit I Can Do Bad All By Myself where she played the character of Cora-Madea's spiritual but giggly daughter and the lovable wife of "Mr. Brown." Always the encourager, Cora serves as the spiritual glue of the family and effective captures the audiences' attention when she harmoniously executes a thunderous song to make her point. In 2001, Tamela played in Perry's musical drama/comedy Diary of a Mad Black Woman. She played the character of Myrtle-a bit of a feisty, preachy woman who was never short on words.
In a relatively short period of time, Tamela's exemplary performances have paved the way for Cora to become a principal character in Perry's successful stage productions, Madea's Family Reunion and Madea's Class Reunion.
Tamela Mann positively exudes the gifts and calling from her Savior above. And while she is enjoying the fruits of her labor, her dearest joy comes from the relaxing days spent with her husband of 16 years, David Mann and their four adoring children.
The Gospel Success Story.
For more than 25 years, music listeners around the world have known Fred Hammond as a talented songwriter, bassist and vocalist. He is also known throughout the music industry as a gifted musical arranger and producer. But, his work with Face to Face Productions Cor poration, the company for which he is both founder and CEO, has earned him the title the "Babyface" of gospel.
Few gospel artists can boast of the consistency of sales, radio airplay and concert appearances that Hammond has achieved over the course of his career. As a solo artist, founder of the pioneering urban group, Commissioned, and his work with Radical for Christ combined, Fred has sold over 7 million albums and these endeavors have made him a mainstay on Billboard’s Gospel Chart top 10, along with frequent appearances on the magazine’s Heatseekers and Music Video Sales charts. In addition, as if that were not enough, Hammond’s work as a producer has landed him in the #1 spot among gospel producers according to the Gospel Music Round-up. Throughout his professional career, Hammond has maintained a reputation for excellence, racking up numerous awards and nominations including the Grammy, BET, N.A.A.C.P. Image, Stellar, Dove, and GMWA Excellence Awards.
Beyond Hammond’s individual success, his achievements as CEO of Face to Face Productions and the FHammond Music Label have placed him in a class by himself. Since their inception, Hammond has served as producer on more than 80 album projects. With that level of productivity, it is not surprising that the Face to Face sound has dominated the gospel marketplace. Their recent success in bringing the praise and worship format to the African-American church has resulted in the development of a new genre of gospel music, Urban Praise & Worship. As the architect behind the new phenomenon in Gospel music, Fred has become one of the most respected names in the industry. His previous release {Pages of Life} Chapters I & II has exceeded Double Platinum status and held the #1 position on the Billboard Gospel Charts for over 15 weeks. His latest release Free To Worship bombarded Billboard’s #1 position on the Gospel Charts, and was hailed as one of the year’s best- selling gospel albums for 2006. Its debut release entitled “In Case You Missed… And Then Some”, featured brand new artists on the F. Hammond Music Label including Joann Rosario, Shea Norman, & The Singletons and has sold well over 200,000 copies.
The pages continue to turn for the platinum recording artist! Hammond has taken his creative savvy to a higher level moving into from the stage to the big screen with the movie, The Gospel. This feature film was both Executive Produced and Inspired by Hammond, and boasted a stellar cast including Boris Kojo, Nona Gaye, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker and Martha Munizzi. In his latest venture Hammond will serve as producer for the soundtrack to the upcoming feature film Mamma I Wanna Sing.
In addition to Hammond’s studio career, he has continued to take his special brand of gospel to audiences around the world, performing an average of 30 weeks per year. Hammond has headlined thousands of concert dates with an average audience attendance of 3,000, in addition to television appearances on the nationally syndicated Stellar Awards, Lou Rawls Parade of Stars, BET’s Celebration of Gospel Music, BET’s Walk of Fame, N.A.A.C.P.’s A Tribute to Stevie Wonder, 106 & Park and TBN’s highly-rated shows The Pat Boone Show, Praise the Lord, and The 700 Club.
Halfway through his third decade in the industry, Hammond shows no signs of slowing down. In 1997, he shared the stage with Kirk Franklin & Yolanda Adams performing before more than 500,000 people on The Tour of Life, the most successful tour in gospel music history! In 1998, he continued to find touring success as the Creative Director and Featured Artist on Walt “Baby” Love’s Power 98 Tour, ALW’s The Living Proof Tour and ALW’s The Shout 2000 Tour.
Hammond continues to take the entertainment industry by storm, writing and directing the smash hit musical drama “Been There, Done That” with America’s favorite TV Judge, Greg Mathis. As for Hammond’s acting career, this production merely rekindled the fire! In addition to his work on the hit play “Only The Strong”, Hammond has debuted in several Daimler- Chrysler commercials. Hammond has now launched an Urban Entertainment Company fHammond Family Entertainment, Inc. which will provide a complete portfolio of integrated entertainment services that collectively addresses the exclusive needs of the urban family market with core offerings including: a film division releasing direct-to-DVD titles; a music and book publishing division; an online multi-media website including radio programming and streaming video content; theatrical presentations; as well as perpetual music production from new and established artists under the famed, F. Hammond Music label. The products released from the FHFE brand will establish a global presence while conveying universal messages that everyone can embrace.
So as you can see, Hammond is truly on a mission to exceed the bounds of mediocrity!
Discography
2006 Free To Worship---Fred Hammond (Verity)
2004 Somethin’ ‘Bout Love--- Fred Hammond (Verity)
2003 Hooked On The Hits--- Fred Hammond (Verity)
2002 Speak Those Things…P.O.L Chapter III--- Fred Hammond (Verity)
2001 Just Remember ---Fred Hammond (Verity)
2001 In Case You Missed It…And Then Some---with Various Artist (F. Hammond Music)
2000 Purpose By Design---- with Radical for Christ (Verity/Face To Face)
1998 Pages of Life; Chapters I &II----with Radical for Christ (Verity/Face to Face)
1996 The Spirit of David---with Radical for Christ (Benson)
1996 Shakin’ the House...Live in L.A.---with Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker (Benson)
1995 The Inner Court---with Radical for Christ (Benson)
1994 Matters of the Heart---- with Commissioned (Benson)
1993 Deliverance---solo (Benson)
1991 I Am Persuaded---solo (Benson)
1991 Number 7---with Commissioned (Benson)
1991 Shakin' the House Live--- with Carmen, Commissioned, C.C.C (Benson)
1990 State of Mind---with Commissioned (Benson)
1989 Ordinary Just Won’t Do-- -with Commissioned (Light)
1988 Will You be Ready?--- with Commissioned (Light)
1987 On the Winning Side--- with Commissioned (Light)
1986 Go Tell Somebody---with Commissioned (Light)
I’m Going On---with Commissioned (Light)
PRODUCTION
2005 Created To Worship You---The Singletons (fHammond Music/Verity)
2005 Now More Than Ever…Worship---Joann Rosario (fHammond Music/Verity)
2004 My Heart Depends On You---Shea Norman (fHammond Music/Verity)
2004 I Need An Angel---Ruben Studdard (J Records)
2003 Soulful---Ruben Studdard (J Records)
2003 Surrender---Debra Killings (Verity)
2002 Speak Those Things--- Commissioned (Verity)
2002 Commissioned Reunion-- -Fred Hammond (Verity)
2002 Pour Out Your Holy Spirit ---The Singletons (fHammond Music/Verity)
2002 More, More, More--- Joann Rosario (fHammond Music/Verity)
2002 Vanessa Williams--- Vanessa Williams (Bajada Records)
2001 Just Remember ---Fred Hammond (Verity Records)
2001 In Case You Missed It…And Then Some----Various Artist (fHammond Music Label)
Purpose By Design----Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ (Verity/Face To Face)
1999 Mountain High, Valley Low---Yolanda Adams (Elecktra Records)
1999 Alabaster Box---CeCe Winans (Wellspring Gospel)
1999 The Real Meaning of Christmas Vol. III--- Various (Verity)
1999 It Was You-Mighty Clouds of Joy (CGI Records) If I Can Dream-Della Reese (CBS)
1999 Bridges---Various (Benson)
1999 More and More---Marvin Sapp (Myrrh Records)
1999 Relationship---Nancy Jackson (Harmony Records)
1999 Mercy---Darwin Hobbs (EMI Gospel)
1999 Revival In The House--- Motor City Mass Choir (Integrity Music)
1998 Glory In The House--- Keith Staten (Integrity Music)
1998 The Prince of Egypt Inspirational Movie Soundtrack---Various (Dreamworks)
1998 Touched By An Angel Soundtrack---Della Reese & Various Artists (550 Music)
1998 Pages of Life---Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ (Verity/Face to Face)
1998 His Gift---CeCe Winans (Pioneer Music Group)
1998 Feels Like Rain---Men of Standard (Muscle Shoals Sound Gospel)
1998 Word in the House--- Various (Integrity)
1998 The Real Meaning of Christmas II---Various (Verity)
1998 Life Is---Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale (EMI Gospel)
1997 Shout in the House--- Motor City Mass Choir (Integrity)
1997 You Have My Heart--- Tammy Trent (Light/ R.E.X.)
1996 The Real Meaning of Christmas---Various (Benson)
1996 Worship in the House--- Keith Staten (Integrity)
1996 Touch of Faith---Touch of Faith (Big Doggie)
1996 The Spirit of David---Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ (Benson)
1996 Instrumentally Yours--- Ben Tankard (Tribute)
1996 My Life---DeLeon Richards (Benson)
1996 Glory to Glory to Glory Remix---Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ (Benson)
1996 Shakin’ the House...Live in L.A.----Various (Benson)
1995 A Tribute to Mrs. Rosa Parks---Various (Verity)
1995 Praise in the House--- Radical for Christ (Integrity)
1995 Marvin Sapp---Marvin Sapp (Word)
1995 Brand Nu Vision---Kim Rutherford (Proclaim)
1995 The Inner Court---Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ (Benson)
1995 Give Your Life---Angelo & Veronica (Benson)
1994 Matters of the Heart---- Commissioned (Benson)
1994 Necessary Measures--- Dawkins & Dawkins (Benson)
1993 Deliverance---Fred Hammond (Benson)
1993 Live, Dream, Pray--- Rhythm & News (Word)
1993 To Whom it May Concern---RIFF (SBK)
1992 Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration---Various (Warner)
1992 Dawkins & Dawkins--- Dawkins & Dawkins (Benson)
1992 Basics of Life---4HIM (Benson)
1992 Higher Place---Angelo & Veronica (Benson)
1992 Generation 2 Generation- --Various (Benson)
1991 Christmasing with the Benson Artists----Various (Benson)
1991 I Am Persuaded---Fred Hammond (Benson)
1991 Number 7--- Commissioned (Benson)
1991 Makin’ it Happen--- Transformation Crusade (Benson)
1991 Shakin' the House Live--- Carmen, Commissioned, Christ Church Choir (Benson)
1990 State of Mind--- Commissioned (Benson)
1990 RAP---Transformation Crusade (Benson)
1989 Ordinary Just Won’t Do-- -Commissioned (Light)
1988 Will You be Ready?--- Commissioned (Light)
1987 On the Winning Side--- Commissioned (Light)
1986 Go Tell Somebody--- Commissioned (Light)
1986 Glorious Day---Derrick Brinkley (Light)
1985 I’m Going On--- Commissioned (Light)
Join Fred Hammond's mailing list @
For more about Fred go to http://www.fhammondfamilyent.com