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CELEBRATING THE UPLIFTING MUSICAL JOYS OF SISTERHOOD: Some of the world's most popular and influential female pop and soul performers are hitting the road for one of the year's most highly anticipated tours, Sisters In The Spirit . Celebrating the uplifting joys of sisterhood and music, the six-week tour launches on January 23, 2007 at The Paramount Theatre in Seattle and will hit 31 cities on the West Coast, East Coast and throughout the South and Mid-Atlantic regions before wrapping March 5 at Memorial Hall in Raleigh, North Carolina. Promoted by Executive Producer Al Wash of ALW Entertainment , the fourth run of the Sisters In The Spirit tour—which has gone out every other year since 2001—features the enterprise's usual stellar lineup of top names, including gospel legend Shirley Caesar and Grammy nominated R&B singer Kelly Price, who have participated before. Joining them and making first time appearances are Grammy nominated neo-soul singer Angie Stone, evangelist and gospel singer Dorinda Clark Cole and singer, songwriter and choreographer Nicole C. Mullen. Singer and evangelist Dr. Yvonne Capehart will also be participating.
“Sisters in the Spirit” Southwest Airline Sponsors Tour in Recognition of The most inspiring musical tour of early 2005 takes place on February 1 st in Columbus , Ohio with the launching of the Sisters in the Spirit tour. In celebration of February as “Black History Month,” gospel music superstars Yolanda Adams , Martha Munizzi and RiZen join with R&B/pop icon Kelly Price and Sisters in the Spirit Musical Director Sheila E to honor the unique spiritual bond of women in all walks of life. Juanita Bynum , aka “The Prophetess,” famed for her enlightening sermons and inspirational books on hope, strength and spirituality, will offer both music and message to the proceedings. Included in the Sisters in the Spirit program is health and fitness expert Donna Richardson Joyner , wife of “Fly Jock” Tom Joyner , who will impart tips contained on her successful video, “Sweating in the Spirit.” Sponsored by Southwest Airlines , the Sisters in the Spirit tour is promoted by Executive Producer Al Wash of ALW Entertainment . Wash is the promoter behind the highly successful “Hopeville” tour, which concluded its second outing in 2004. Previously, the tour enjoyed a well-received run in 2002. Wash comments, “The purpose of the Sisters in the Spirit tour is to show the unity and strength of women today in gospel music. Most people's New Year resolution is to exercise and work out. That's why, during Black History Month, we use the theme ‘Mind, Body and Soul' to make sure that people keep their resolutions. This combination of singers and ministry is the best of all the tours we have had under the Sisters in the Spirit banner.” Gospel music veteran Kirk Franklin , a participant in the “Hopeville” tour, will offer his insight as a stage advisor and will not perform. Bynum comments, “The purpose of the Sisters in the Spirit tour is to give back a little bit, to think about YOU just for a day. As women take on a stronger role in leadership in both business, social and family decisions, we go through a period where we don't have time to congratulate or commend ourselves on our own accomplishments.” Keeping with tradition, there is no one particular headliner for the Sisters in the Spirit tour. Instead, a sharing spirit of community will be the focus, as each artist will sing both solo and duets, backed by Sheila E's musical direction. While the uninitiated may wonder about the addition of Sheila E, she gained fame for her contributions to Latin jazz, and as a protégé of pop music star Prince. Both Wash and Bynum offer insights to the choice. Wash : “Since this is the third time for this tour, it's always been my dream to have an all-women band. To me, who else is a perfect choice to direct the musical efforts of this tour than Sheila E.” Bynum adds, “Sheila E is the equivalent of Quincy Jones in terms of the breadth of musical knowledge she brings to the table. I also could not have chosen a better director for the various types of music this tour offers.” THE PARTICIPANTS: The stunning Yolanda Adams has been dubbed by Juanita Bynum as “The Barbra Streisand of gospel music.” It is an apt title, as this vivacious vocalist has won two Grammy awards and an astounding 13 Stellar Music gospel awards. She garnered immense praise for her performances on the recent television holiday special “A Clay Aiken Christmas.” Juanita Bynum 's worldwide ministry is fueled by her uncanny insights into the workings of worship and its benefits. She is the author of a number of million-selling books on self-improvement and faith, including “Matters of the Heart,” “Don't Get Off the Train” and “A Heart for Jesus.” Martha Munizzi is a powerhouse vocalist who has built a large international following through her soulful, Southern-inflected delivery. She has recorded three best-selling albums, including When He Came , The Best Is Yet to Come and Say the Name . Kelly Price has recorded two platinum albums, Soul of a Woman and Mirror Mirror , and is currently riding major praise for her 2003 release, Priceless . Her biggest hit was 1998's “Friend of Mine,” and she has worked with such major producers as Warryn Campbell and Raphael Saadiq . Price recently came off the road, where she performed in the Tyler Perry -scripted “Why Did I Get Married” play. Saginaw , Michigan natives RiZen consists of Adriann and Aundrea Lewis , Knika Trigg and Ashley Jones . Juanita Bynum calls them “four Patti LaBelles” for their high-powered vocal style. Their debut album, RiZen , has caused a major ripple in gospel, receiving numerous 2004 Dove and Stellar Gospel music award nominations. Sheila E (Musical Director) is a highly respected percussionist who has played for Diana Ross , Ringo Starr , Marvin Gaye , and of course, Prince . She is also an advocate for breast cancer awareness and youth education. Sheila E says of her selection as Musical Director of the Sisters in the Spirit tour: “The good thing about being MD is that I'm familiar with all the acts' music, especially Yolanda, for whom I was MD on several tours. Their music speaks for itself, and if there is something they would like to hear in their music, I take direction pretty well!” TOUR DATES for “SISTERS IN THE SPIRIT”: February 1 Columbus , OH Main Auditorium February 3 Washington , D.C. Constitution Hall February 4 Philadelphia , PA Liacouras Center February 5 Baltimore , MD Lyric Opera House February 6 Charlotte , SC Ovens Auditorium February 8 TBA February 10 Richmond , VA Landmark Theatre February 11 TBA February 12 Hampton , VA Coliseum February 13 Greensboro , NC Events Center February 15 Flint , MI IMI Sports Arena February 17 Chicago , IL Arie Crown February 18 Detroit , MI Fox Theatre February 19 Cincinnati , OH Taft Theatre February 20 Atlanta , GA Civic Center February 22 Columbus , GA Civic Arena February 24 Birmingham , AL Boutwell Auditorium February 25 Jacksonville , FL Performance Arts Center February 26 Lakeland , FL Carpenter Center February 27 Miami , FL James L. Knight Center March 1 Memphis , TN Orpheum Theatre March 3 Dallas , TX Next Stage Arena March 4 New Orleans , LA Sanger Theatre March 5 Houston , TX Verizon Theatre March 6 Austin , TX Frank Erwin Center Additional Dates TBA.
Yolanda Adams Yolanda Adams has accomplished what few singers before her have ever achieved: The ability to attract fans from all walks of life without ever straying from the intricate roots that nurtured her Grammy winning voice in the first place. The cornerstone of her amazing career so far – 1999's platinum-plus, award winning Elektra Records debut, Mountain High…Valley Low (Yolanda once described it as her ‘coming out album') established her as an undisputed Gospel siren – one of the key figures of the genre's bold renaissance. Yolanda's impressive musical range and undeniable charisma helped liberate Gospel music's more formal, traditional image. She's also displayed the kind of vocal immediacy and vulnerability possessed by few pop singers. Her show stopping October 2001 performance of the classic song “Imagine,” on TNT's Come Together: A Night For John Lennon as well as her performances on Oprah , The Tonight Show with Jay Leno , The View and countless others, sealed her reputation as Gospel's most transcendent ambassador. Honored with an incredible array of awards within the last 2 years alone, including 2000's Grammy award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, five Stellar Awards, two Soul Train Lady Of Soul Awards, and five NAACP Image Awards, Yolanda followed up with last year's holiday gift to her fans, Christmas With Yolanda Adams , and 2001's acclaimed live album, The Experience . Now, after intense collaboration with some of the most revered producers working today, Yolanda steps back into the arena with her first collection of new material in three years – the incredible 12-song masterpiece – Believe. “I always get asked the same question,” says Yolanda, who takes an appreciative but modest attitude in regard to her ever-widening audience. “‘Will you get tired of Gospel?' ‘Is there a temptation to do something else?' My answer has always been the same. ‘No way.' I'm a Gospel artist. There's no confusion about that. I like to sings songs that in the end – touch everybody. There's a humanity to these songs that gets in your blood.” Believe runs deep with that humanity. Emboldened by another lineup of great producers – Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (who also produced her multi-format smash hit “Open My Heart” which spent most of 2000 at #1 on Billboard's Gospel and Contemporary Christian charts), Shep Crawford, Kevin Bond, Mike City, Warryn Campbell and Buster & Shavoni - Yolanda raises the musical bar on this one, strengthening her own formidable song writing skills to meet the challenges she places on herself. “I like to work with great people because it makes me work harder,” she says. Yolanda points out that working with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis was a long awaited reunion. The superstar duo helms three songs on the new disc – “I'm Gonna Be Ready,” “Never Give Up,” and the album's in-your-face closer, “I'm Thankful.” The angelic, inspiring “Never Give Up” shines as one of Yolanda's most tender ballads, singing heartfelt lines such as: Keep the dream alive don't ever let it die. “It was a joy to write. Getting together with Jimmy and Terry was like having a reunion with your big brothers,” she says. “They have such great spirit and heart. I believe we'll be collaborating for the rest of my career. When we get together, it's so natural, it's like ‘OK, I have this title - I have this verse - what do you have?'” On Believe , Yolanda switches musical gears from song to song with an amazing ability to complement each producer's unique style. She talks about some of the diverse ingredients on Believe . “There's Mike City (“A Song Of Faith,” “Unconditional”) who is very good with taking risks – he's a young cat who you know is going to bring some real progressive ideas,” she says. “And then you have someone like Shep Crawford (“I Gotta Believe,” “Fo' Sho”) who lets you get in there and really express yourself.” The latter song features a duet with Gospel legend and recently signed Elektra artist Karen Clarke Sheard – of the Clarke Sisters. “I have been a fan of hers since I was 11 years old,” says Yolanda. “I was so thrilled that she could contribute something to this record. It's so wonderful when you have the opportunity to actually show your appreciation to one of your influences.” Yolanda's incredible rise has been about honoring those influences, but also never being afraid to – as she puts it - “spread my wings.” Her road to the top of the musical ‘mountain' has been filled with the kind of conviction that now causes a new generation of singers to cite her as an influence. A former schoolteacher and avid church singer, the Houston Texas native - and the eldest of six siblings - diligently pursued a singing career. She caught the eye of prolific composer/producer Thomas Whitfield, who helmed her first-ever record with the prophetic title, Just As I Am in 1987. It wasn't too long before the young singer was drawing comparisons to Aretha Franklin. Subsequent albums (on Gospel labels Verity and Tribute), including 1991's Through The Storm , netted Yolanda several Stellar Awards, and 1995's R&B flavored, award-winning More Than A Melody would establish her as a force to be reckoned with – Gospel or otherwise. The latter disc garnered Yolanda her first Soul Train Lady Of Soul Award, as well as her first Grammy nomination. Yolanda also began to establish herself as one of the genre's most sought after live attractions. Her incredible performances would soon become legendary throughout the entire music industry. Her 1996 album Yolanda… Live In Washington furthered her reputation as a one-of-a-kind performer, and landed her yet another Stellar Award and another Grammy nomination. But it was the ground breaking Elektra debut, Mountain High…Valley Low that would change Yolanda's life forever. A veritable testament to Yolanda's tremendous faith, it was also a nod to her incredible musical savvy. Enlisting producers such as Keith Thomas and the above-mentioned Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Yolanda saw the move to Elektra as a chance to expand her reach without “watering down” her message. Only her seventh album, it captured the amazing potential of Yolanda without sacrificing her commitment to God. Said one rave review: “Much of the album recalls Stevie Wonder or Bob Marley, where spirituality is at the center but it doesn't limit the musical expression.” The album spawned a host of sold out tours, such as her Sisters In The Spirit Tour (with Gospel superstars Shirley Caesar, Mary Mary and Angela Christie), from which her live CD, The Experience , was born. There was no doubt that Yolanda's inventive, unforgettable performances were attracting new and old fans alike. Despite all the accolades Yolanda's crowning achievement was the birth of her baby girl, Taylor Ayana. Says Yolanda about that ‘experience': “You really don't know what love is until you have a child. No matter how tired I am after a show or how distracted I might be after a long recording session - all I have to do is see her little smile and I know everything is right in the world.” With the completion of Believe , Yolanda is again excited by the prospects of sharing her new music with the world. “I've grown as a songwriter and a performer and I'm eager to spread those creative wings again,” she says. Aware that the country may be hungering even more for a spiritual message these days, Yolanda's album title hints at what the new disc can offer in the way of spiritual redemption. “Music has always been a potent force. I'm proud that this album addresses the spectrum of life. It deals with struggles and relationships and sadness and joy. Our music – Gospel music - has always been a comfort to those who are looking for some kind of encouragement in their lives.”
Dr. Juanita BynumJuanita Bynum is an internationally acclaimed Bible teacher, prophet, psalmist, and media personality. Founder and President of Juanita Bynum Ministries in Waycross , Georgia , Dr. Bynum is the best selling author of Matters Of The Heart (which sold 500,000 copies in less than a year) , No More Sheets, and several other ground breaking books. She is also a gifted vocalist with two powerful worship CD's, Morning Glory I and Morning Glory II . Dr. Bynum is fueled by a passion to fulfill God's mandate for these times. Her thrust on character building by merging spirituality with everyday living provokes people to a life of integrity. Wherever she goes, Bynum exhorts and encourages believers to deepen their intimacy with God and arise to their divine calling and destiny. Not afraid to deal with hard, relevant issues, Dr. Bynum preaches in-your-face messages that draw thousands of women and men to her crusades and events. Her annual Weapons of Power conference, which was held in St. Louis , Missouri in 2003, drew over 30,000 in attendance and was broadcast live on the leading Christian networks, including Trinity Broadcasting Network, Daystar, and The Word network. She has preached in many of the largest, well-respected pulpits in America and around the world. Dr. Bynum is a frequent radio and television guest, including serving as a regular host of Trinity Broadcasting Network's international Praise the Lord program, which is viewed by over 100 million people. She has been featured in America 's leading magazines, including Essence and Ebony , and has also appeared on the front cover of the leading Christian magazines, Charisma , Ministries Today , and the Spirit Led Woman. Still, Bynum has not swayed from her mission. She candidly shares, “It's not about platforms; it's about people.”
MARTHA MUNIZZI Known for her dynamic, inspiring, and anointed ministry, Martha Munizzi (mew-NIZ-ee) is an internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, speaker, and one of our nation's most popular worship leaders. Munizzi, known for such songs as Shout, Say The Name , Make His Praise Glorious, recorded by gospel legend Karen Clark Sheard , and Because of Who You Are recorded by vocal powerhouse Vicki Yohe , has made the gospel community sit up and take notice of her church-infused style of music. The Stellar and Dove Award-nominated artist's songs have also been recorded by Bishop Paul Morton , Vickie Winans , Clint Brown , Ron Kenoly , Alvin Slaughter , Karen Wheaton , Judy Jacobs and countless others. Her songs are having a global impact and are fast becoming modern day praise and worship standards in churches around the world. But it's not just her songs that have attracted the gospel community to her music; it's also her exhortation and preachy style of delivery. Munizzi is not the type to just step up to a mic and sing a song and sit down. She is a consummate praise and worship leader with a powerful anointing and, dare I say, will sing you (and preach you) under a pew. Munizzi 's been singing for as long as she can remember. Although known now for her urban-inflected style of music, it was during her youth that she was exposed to Gospel music, albeit Southern Gospel music. Her musical journey began at age 8 when she started singing with her family in concerts and crusades around the United States and Canada . Her father, a Dove Award-winning songwriter known for such songs as “Learning To Lean” and “Love Grew Where The Blood Fell”, was a strong influence in her life. “Southern Gospel music was all I knew, since I was raised in the South. I believe that Southern Gospel music has a lot of soul in it. You belt it out and you sing hard. The singing is strong with a lot of thick harmonies. It draws the same emotion out of you that Gospel music does,” Munizzi explains. As a teenager, her vocal skills and songwriting ability became evident, and it soon became clear that God was birthing in her a desire to lead others into His presence as she began to lead worship at her home church in Central Florida . Through a connection with a popular Christian magazine, she got her hands on cassettes of Andrae Crouch and Rickey Grundy . She fell in love with Gospel music, especially choir music. She says, “I had no idea God was preparing me back then. From that point, that's all I listened to. As a matter of fact, at church, my husband and I adapted our music to what we had a home— John P. Kee , Fred Hammond , Kirk Franklin . We even began to write in that vein.” Before she knew it, she was writing and singing praise and worship songs with an urban flair and a gospel feel. In 1993, along with her husband Dan, she helped birth Faithworld Church in Orlando , Fl., and served there as Music Pastors under the leadership of Pastor Clint Brown. During their time there, the church grew from 12 to over 6000 members, and under their leadership, the music department grew from 30 to over 200 members in just 6 years. Martha shares, “It was amazing. We had been at our church for almost 8 years. The Lord began to speak to our hearts that there was something greater for us. We didn't really want to let go; we had built this team. We had over 200 people in our music department. We were making albums; things were really starting to happen. But we really felt like we weren't growing like we should. We just felt like there was something more; it was becoming routine. We prayed and the Lord released us to step out by faith.” Shortly thereafter, in 2001, doors began to open, and they moved into their next phase of ministry. Now they travel full time to answer the many requests for their ministry of Word and music. Martha Munizzi regularly leads thousands of people in worship at concerts, conferences, and churches around the world. In addition, Martha has also ministered with many powerful ministries including Pastor Joel Osteen , Pastor Creflo Dollar , Bishop T.D. Jakes , Prophetess Juanita Bynum , Pastor Benny Hinn , and CeCe Winans and has also appeared on TBN, the Daystar Television Network, “Life Today” with James Robison , and most recently on BET's “Gospel Collection”. To date, Martha has released three independent projects worldwide, including Say The Name , The Best Is Yet To Come and When He Came. R ecorded live at Pastor Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston , TX , and produced by Israel Houghton, The Best Is Yet To Come propelled Martha's ministry into the stratosphere spawning such hits as the aforementioned Glorious , Mighty God and the title tune, The Best Is Yet To Come . The project peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart and increased her fan base dramatically. Following The Best Is Yet To Come , in late 2004, Munizzi dropped a Christmas offering, When He Came . Entering the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart at #5, When He Came saw Munizzi accomplish a feat rarely done by gospel artists; Munizzi's two projects were in the top five on Billboard's Gospel chart simultaneously. Also, in 2004, Munizzi was nominated for a Dove Award for Because Of Who You Are and two Stellar Awards for New Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year. In a year that has seen phenomenal growth in her ministry, Munizzi's version of her song Because Of Who You Are was included on GospoCentric Records Gotta Have Gospel Vol. 2. The compilation includes the best and brightest gospel artists of the year and also features a live performance of her on the accompanying DVD. In addition to being a featured artist of Integrity Gospel's Israel & New Breed 's Live On Another Level national tour, she has recently been tapped for the Sisters In The Spirit Tour 2005 featuring Yolanda Adams , Kelly Price , Prophetess Juanita Bynum and RiZen . With her music and her ministry, Martha has succeeded in blending several different musical styles to form her own unique sound. All of her songs are powerful messages of who God is and what He can do. Martha elaborates, “What drives me is faith…God is who He says He is, so you can trust Him, you never have to doubt. I believe every song that I've written is built on that. I don't focus on the problem… I focus on the answer!” Martha is also a gifted teacher in the area of praise and worship, and travels across the country encouraging others to seek a new level of worship in their lives. Martha's message is clear, “My deepest desire is to transcend cultural, generational, and denominational boundaries, and to bring all people together through worship. To me, the body of Christ is made up of every race, every tribe. Praise and worship has to reflect that. It has to reflect different sounds. That's what I love about it. I think it's going to be a force that none of us will be able to decide that we don't want hear or don't want to have. I think the music will bring us together.” Married for over 16 years, Martha resides in Orlando , FL., with her husband Dan Munizzi, who is also her manager and partner in ministry and their 3 precious children, Danielle, Nicole, and Nathan. |
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