EMI Music/Vector Recordings is set to release the highly anticipated recording Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration on March 31. The album features performances by 3 Doors Down, Al Green, Patty Griffin, Heather Headley, Jon Bon Jovi, Jonny Lang, Queen Latifah, Joss Stone with Buick Audra and many more (see below for full track listing). For the project, these world-renowned musicians collaborated with Gospel artists and several of today’s top Gospel Choirs to record renditions of some of the most loved and recognizable inspirational songs. It’s been said you don’t just hear gospel music you feel it. It’s woven through the fabric of the American spirit and history and its influence can be felt and heard around the world today and in the background of many of today’s most talented artists and musicians.
The album’s concept resulted from a close partnership between EMI Gospel and Vector Recordings and was produced by Ken Levitan, Bill Hearn, Jack Rovner, Ken Pennell, Drew & Shannon, Johnny K, Sanchez Harley, Obie O’Brien, Keith Thomas, Tommy Sims, Cedric Thompson, Simon Climie, Michael McDonald, Joss Stone and Buick Audra. Of the project, Bill Hearn, CEO of EMI Christian Music Group comments, “We wanted to create an album that honored the legacy of gospel music—it’s the backbone of the American spirit—but also create unique artist pairings that fans could find no where else.” Vector’s Ken Levitan adds, “Gospel music has always been not only spiritually and musically uplifting but also a great American art form. With this project we’ve taken artists who have been successful in other genres and combined them with this great art form to create new powerful music.”
While recording the record at Ocean Way Studio in Nashville, Jonny Lang notes, “(Gospel music) is really all I’ve been listening to for the last few years…it’s my favorite form of music…at least for now…” Lang goes on to say, “it’s such an honor to record with the legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers, their very first take on the song just blew me away. They’re such pros…quite an honor…” Additionally, Heather Headley comments, “It’s not everyday that you get the opportunity to revisit a classic song like “People Get Ready,” record it with a great producer like Keith Thomas, and sing alongside a legend such as Rev. Al Green. It really was a pleasure, and I had a great time doing it.”
Track Listing:
1. Jonny Lang & the Fisk Jubilee Singers “I Believe”
2. 3 Doors Down & the Soul Children of Chicago “Presence of the Lord”
3. Robert Randolph & The Clark Sisters “Higher Ground”
4. Jon Bon Jovi & the Washington Youth Choir “Keep the Faith”
5. Al Green & Heather Headley “People Get Ready”
6. Mavis Staples & Patty Griffin “Waiting for My Child To Come Home”
7. Michael McDonald & the West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir “Storm Before The Calm”
8. Angelique Kidjo “Redemption Song”
9. Aaron Neville & the Mt. Zion Mass Choir “A Change is Gonna Come”
10. Queen Latifah & Jubilation “Oh Happy Day”
11. Joss Stone & Buick Audra “This Little Light Of Mine”
Scofield is proud to release his 36th solo album, Piety Street, which will be available March 31 on Emarcy. It’s a blues inflected album with an adapted gospel repertoire.
“I’ve always wanted to record and tour a blues project,” says Scofield. “That’s where I started as a guitarist and I’m feeling that music more than ever of late. I launched a personal search for musical inspiration beyond the standard 12 bar blues and found it in “old time gospel” music - the closest relative to and inspiration for the R&B that we all love. I’ve always treasured Gospel but never really dug deep into it. My search led to countless songs that really move me. It’s really powerful stuff. Of course, it will be Gospel done my way - all the arrangements are mine.”
Joining Scofield on Piety Street are the spectacular musicians, Jon Cleary (piano, keyboards and vocals), George Porter Jr. (bass), Ricky Fataar (drums), John Bouttè (vocals) and Shannon Powell (percussion).
Track highlights include Dorothy Love Coates’ “That’s Enough”, the Thomas A. Dorsey classics, “Never Turn Back” and “Old Ship Of Zion”, Rev. James Cleveland’s “Something’s Got A Hold On Me”, and the traditional “Sometimes I feel Like A Motherless Child.”
Delta Spirit’s highly anticipated album Ode to Sunshine will be released on August 26th. Below is a link to the first single “Trashcan” off of the album:
The lights dim over the standing room only crowd. The room is thick with an air of anticipation. A voice sprinkled with strong vibrato and a touch of old school R&B rings out. The crowd goes wild! The voice rings out again, this time with twice the intensity. The crowd screams as the young, but clearly seasoned artist known as Canton Jones points the microphone toward the audience and another unforgettable musical experience begins…
Check out Canton’s current single, “My Day“!
Part singer, songwriter, producer, and vocal arranger, Canton Jones, a Deerfield Beach, Florida native has entertained over 500,000 people this year alone, sold nearly 75,000 units independently; and has several songs including the steppers groove “Love Song”, the cleverly penned “Stay Saved” and the uncompromising street anthem “The Password” in regular rotation internationally. On any given day he can be found sharing the stage with Hip Hop heavyweights like T.I., David Banner, and Ludacris just to name a few. His unlimited repertoire, massive crowd appeal, and fast-growing fan base has set him on a course destined to shake the very chore of the R&B and Hip Hop world.
As quickly as fans have embraced Canton’s lyrical edginess and warmed up to his heart felt ballads, Canton gets down to business with his most creative album to date, Kingdom Business. Already impacting radio with the smash hit “My Day”, Kingdom Business is an eclectic mix of undeniable street anthems and melodic story lines that will take listeners from the streets in their jeeps to the board room and the office equipped to handle the business of life. The new album, released by Arrow Records, will hit stores everywhere on February 5, 2008 and boasts Jones’ best work to date. With “My Day” currently climbing the charts, Canton recently dropped the gritty, urban riders anthem “Living Clean (Riding Mean)” which is currently spinning in heavy rotation on popular mix tape shows and is creating a major buzz on the Myspace and You Tube circuits.
With three albums (20 Years, 3 Months, 12 Days; Love Jones; and The Password: Access Granted) two Grammy nods, a Stellar Award nomination, and three Gospel Choice Awards to his credit, Canton still maintains the unshakable confidence of someone who knows the tide is turning his way. More than an artist, Canton represents a philosophy, a movement, and a generation that is relentless in their pursuit to bring a fresh, new sound to Hip Hop and the streets. He understands that it is not just about the music, but it’s about developing a lifestyle that offers peace and prosperity for anyone bold enough to pursue their purpose. Jones has embarked on an ambitious business plan to bring the next phase of Hip Hop and R&B to the forefront. He’s all about his business and he’s become the example, so you can handle yours!
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