 Seasoned R&B/Gospel vocalist, Shirley Murdock, has been on a journey. Since the age of 15, she aimed for a gospel career. In the `80s, Roger Troutman, funk bandleader for the group Zapp snagged Murdock a record deal with Elektra Records where she recorded Top 10 R&B hits such as “As We Lay,” “Go On Without You,” “Husband” and “In Your Eyes.” Then, in 1999, Bishop T. D. Jakes took Murdock under his wing and invited her to sing on his #1 CD, Sacred Love Songs. Since, then, she’s toured in gospel stage plays and recorded gospel hits, like the Stellar and Dove Award nominated “I Love Me Better Than That.” Now, Murdock has realized a lifelong dream of recording her first live CD/DVD entitled, "Live: The Journey" on Tyscot Records. Aside from writing or co-writing all twelve songs, Murdock also made the project distinctive by including duets with her longtime industry pals... Kelly Price, Regina Belle and Beverly Crawford on the soulfully sanctified project. On the set, Murdock showcases good old hand clapping, foot stomping songs like the up-tempo “He is God,” the Mardi Gras-flavored “Rejoice Come On” and the powerful worship song, “Lord, You Reign.” Kelly Price, who enjoyed a hit with a remake of “As We Lay” joins her for the tender, “Keep Lovin’ Me.” Murdock infuses songs like, “It’s In Your Hands” and “The Word” with her R&B roots and Regina Belle absolutely shines on the jazzy, “The Upward Way.” The incredible Beverly Crawford steps on board to rock the traditional, “He Is The Rock.” “God Can Do Anything” percolates with spunky funk, while “Winner In Me” and “Dream” are inspiring anthems. Price, Belle and Crawford all join Murdock for the rousing closing song, “Someday.” Throughout, the highlight of the project is Murdock’s vocal technique, a unique blend of jazz scatting and church runs, that never fail to bring unique verve and character to each song. ...... This is the life Murdock always envisioned for herself. The youngest of six kids, she was born in Toledo, Ohio. "My upbringing was great, but my parents divorced when I was about nine years old," she says. There was always music in the house, from the gospel melodies of Rev. James Cleveland, Shirley Caesar and the Hawkins Family, to Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder. "I took songs like 'Hypnotized' by Linda Jones and learn how to do runs. They were fascinating! I used a hairbrush for a microphone and locked myself up in the bathroom to practice, because the acoustics were so great. My siblings would always complain and beg me to get out because I was taking too long, practicing my vocals." Murdock's biggest dream was to become a professional gospel singer. "In the early '70s gospel music was not what it is today," she concludes. "It was a very tight field... Those doors didn't open for me." Still, she kept pushing and hoping for an opportunity, until one day her cousin took a recording of Murdock singing gospel to Roger Troutman, who had no connections in the gospel music industry, but he was amazed by Murdock's voice. Roger offered her a deal that she initially refused. "I said, `Lord, is really you? Is this the door you're opening for me?" Going into secular music wasn't my plan; I just was just trying to figure out and follow God’s plan for my life.” Murdock moved to Dayton where Troutman mentored her in his musical boot camp. “It was God ordained,” she confesses. “I met my husband, got married and started a family in Dayton. " Success came quickly for Murdock with the release of her gold-selling debut LP, Shirley Murdock! ... on Elektra Records. After her initial hit, "No More," stormed the dance charts, the tender ballad "As We Lay" shot up to #5 on the Billboard R&B singles chart and also charted nicely on both the Top 40 adult contemporary and pop charts in 1986. A chance meeting with Bishop T.D. Jakes at a post-service gathering at Murdock’s pastor’s home, led to her recording "The Lady, Her Lover, and Lord," on his Sacred Love Songs, project in 1999. "I told Bishop Jakes that I always wanted to do a gospel CD, so when he launched his record label, Dexterity Sounds, he called me and said, "...here's your chance to do that CD.’" The Home project received a warm embrace from the gospel world and reached #9 on the Billboard Top Gospel albums chart in 2002. It was a dream come true that Murdock feels may have never happened were it not for her secular career. "I never pursued a secular career," she testifies. "It came to me. It opened an opportunity for me to take the gospel into the secular arena in ways that many gospel artists cannot. All of my r&b CDs had always had a gospel or inspirational song on them and I always had a gospel segment in my set. I remember a waitress coming up to me after a concert one night at a club and said, she wasn't supposed to work that night, but was glad she did. She told me she used to be saved. I said, "Used to be? Baby, God is married to the backslider!" Right there, in that club, she gave her life back to the Lord again. It wasn't traditional church but, I believe I was truly ordained to be there at that moment in time, just for her!" In 2007, Murdock joined the Tyscot Records family and released her acclaimed CD, Soul Food, which featured her radio smash, “I Love Me Better Than That.” Over the years, Murdock has starred in a number of stage plays such as “The Man Of Her Dreams” and “3 Ways To Get A Husband” just to name a few. Her Filmography includes: "Love Me or Leave Me" "The Ideal Husband" "There's One In Every Family" "3 Ways To Get a Husband" "Man Of Her Dreams" SHIRLEY MURDOCK RADIO SINGLES 2011 Dream 2007 I Love Me Better Than That (Top 30 Billboard Hot Gospel Songs) 1992 Let There Be Love (#89 Billboard R&B Singles) 1991 Stay With Me Tonight (#36 Billboard R&B Singles) 1991 In Your Eyes (#7 Billboard R&B Singles) 1988 Husband (#5 Billboard R&B Singles) 1987 Be Free (#86 Billboard R&B Singles) 1986 As We Lay (#23 Pop Billboard Singles/#5 Billboard R&B Singles) 1986 No More (#24 Billboard R&B Singles) SHIRLEY MURDOCK CD DISCOGRAPHY 2011 The Journey Live (Tyscot Records) 2007 Soul Food (Tyscot Records, #7 Billboard Top Gospel Albums) 2002 Home (Dexterity Records/EMI, #9 Billboard Top Gospel Albums) 2001 The Very Best of Shirley Murdock (Elektra Records) 1991 A Woman’s Point of View (Elektra Records, #19 Billboard Top R&B Albums) 1988 Let There Be Love (Elektra Records, #22 Billboard Top R&B Albums) 1986 Shirley Murdock (Elektra Records, #9 Billboard Top R&B Albums)  Aziza Miller knows New York. It's her home. The pulse and the energy of the city manifests in her fusion of funk, jazz, soul, Latin, and spoken word. New York also knows Aziza. Some of the city's most prestigious venues have welcomed her to standing room-only crowds. Whether headlining at Joe’s Pub, The Blue Note, Iridium Jazz Club, The Metropolitan Room, Brooklyn Academy of Music's BAM Café, or any number of other celebrated haunts, Aziza spellbinds audiences with her original compositions as well as her peerless musicianship that has sparked her acclaimed writing collaborations with Natalie Cole ("La Costa"), Ahmad Jamal ("Whisperings," among others), Ray Bryant ("One Fine Day"), Tommy Turrentine ("Big Brown Eyes"), and UK-based DJ Ben Westbeech ("Get Closer"). And it's not only world-class musicians who thrill to Aziza's soulful yet sophisticated melodies, it's a loyal audience that spans the globe and crosses every generation. Music fans have long anticipated Aziza's latest collection of songs, This Journey of Love (2016). Hailed as a "filler-free winner" (The Urban Music Scene), "a beautiful hybrid of Aziza's jazz leanings and soul phrasings" (Dusty Groove), and "a solid production of top-tier quality jazz/R&B with phat keys skills, fine melodies and hooks, and smart vocals" (The Smooth Jazz Ride), This Journey of Love features Aziza's tributes to Horace Silver ("A Song for Silver"), Natalie Cole ("A Song for My Friend"), and four additional compositions that spotlight Aziza's talents as both composer and musical artisan. This Journey of Love follows a trio of releases that explored Aziza's unique blend of jazz, soul, and poetry, Jazzsoetry Vol. 1(2007), Jazzsoetry Vol. 2 (2010), and What's On Your Mind?(2014). How  Catherine Manna aka Kiki M, was born in Toronto Ontario Canada.....
into a highly musical and passionate Italian family. At the age of three, Kiki began taking piano lessons, at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Catherine apeared on a popular dance show on Toronto's City T.V "Junior Dance Boogie" at the age of 14, in the mid 70's In High school being actively involved in Music she became vice-president of the senior choir at Woodlands High School . In fact, she was the first vocalist to sing for the jazz band in the history of Woodlands High. She sang at Square One Shopping Centre the largest shopping mall in the world at the time. "I started writing music when I was 14, inspired by a music teacher in Italy," "I feel I am an inspirational artist explains Kiki, who had expereinced the presence of angelic energy, during a performance in Kelowna at the Java Express after singing a song she had written called "Are the Angels Listening" on a full moon night The expereince was written by a local resident "Angel Expert" and Reiki Master Pamela Shelly and it was published in Issues Magazine, and the song is receiving regular airplay. I’ve been told by a following of fans that I am a gifted singer, like an angel. Catherine was an extra in two movies in 1984/85 In Toronto Ontario "Loose Screws" and "American Flyers" The message is love. That is what my purpose is -to make a difference. Aside from writing music Kiki is writing a few Childrens story's and a spiritual self-help book entitled What Is Love, a process that has emerged from her own spiritual awakening. I am here to share music, a gift from our Creator, and to make a difference with the message of LOVE and PEACE, To help heal the world. Be Blessed,with love,Joy,peace,happiness,good health and Longevity!! Inspiration, ambition, love, it’s all about feeding the mind and spirit...that’s the essence of Kiki M. For more information, contact Kiki M: Email: Mannacathy@hotmail.com Performances In 2005 Catherine Performed at the CHIN International Picnic Toronto Ontario Italian day Blessed to have been invited to perform for Supreme Master Ching Hai in California for a show called "A Celebration of Life" along side Masters of Ceremomy Producer Bernie Williams and Hosts Actress and activist Marianna Toscana,Billy Macnamara heres what he had to say about Catherine's Performance. "I was totally mesmerized and blown away by your performance" Bernie Williams Producer "What about Bob" "Charlettes Web" "I loved your performance you are a Goddess" Debra Wilson Actress Comedian Mad TV Along side many volenteer work performances, fund raisers for the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Races Luminary Ceremony Kelowna B.C 100,000 was raised for Cancer Resarch,The Humain Society fund raiser, B.C.S.P.C.A Walk in the Park, and the Peachland music Festival raising awareness against the abuse of Children. Read more: http://catherinemanna.webnode.com/bio/
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