The Urban Music Scene: News ~ New Releases

New Album Cover Art for Erykah Badu's "New Amerykah Part Two: Return Of The Ankh"

2010-03-18T16:38:00Z

Erykah Badu Reveals Visionary Album Cover

Yesterday on ErykahBadu.com, the soul goddess unveiled the album cover for her latest project New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh. The artwork was designed by EMEK.

Make sure you visit the site to hear the official song leak of Strawberry Incense (produced by Madlib).

Erykah Badu
New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
Pre-order on Amazon.com
Available on 3.30 2010 A.D. (((333)))
Universal Motown

Connect with Erykah Badu:
http://www.erykahbadu.com
http://www.twitter.com/fatbellybella

ThinkTank

About Newcomer to Soul Music Lawrence Beamen...

2010-03-18T15:18:00Z

Lawrence Beamen Performed “Never Gonna Give You Up” (Barry White Remix) at Pre-Oscar MMPA Scholarship Luncheon at Montage in Beverly Hills

Lawrence’s voice brings the lucid overtones of Barry White together with smooth sound of Paul Robeson.

Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) March 18, 2010 -- Lawrence Beamen performed “Never Gonna Give You Up” (Barry White Remix) at the Pre-Oscar event for MMPA Scholarship Luncheon at the Montage in Beverly Hills. His soulful and dramatic bass-baritone voice was showcased at this event last week in Beverly Hills. Lawrence’s voice brings the lucid overtones of Barry White together with smooth sound of Paul Robeson. His voice has brought audiences to tears at some of his performance.

Lawrence followed up his performance by attending the pre-Oscar event for Noir Magazine at the Luxe Hotel in Beverly Hills and the BrittiCares pre-Oscar fundraiser at the Falcon Lounge in Hollywood.

Lawrence’s first release Ancestor’s, Classical/Spirituals Featuring: “Ole Man River” sold over 120,000 copies in 2006. In 2009, Lawrence released his R&B single “All Right With Me”. Lawrence is currently in the studio creating a hot new urban adult contemporary R&B debut album of original songs. He has tapped a team of top songwriters and producers to collaborate on his 2010 release that will be one of the most anticipated albums of the year.

"One of my goals with my music is to inspire audiences to open their hearts and minds and touch their souls.” says Lawrence".

As millions of fans first saw Lawrence on America’s Got Talent, they instantly realized that Lawrence’s vocal talents were as remarkable and were reminiscent of Luther Vandros, Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass and Barry White. For an artist as Lawrence, there is no limit to where his artistic capabilities can take him. He is an incredible artist and is on a mission to bring back the smooth R&B soul music to the hearts of many.

About Lawrence Beamen

Lawrence Beamen was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he began singing at home at the age of six. He moved with his family to California at age twelve, where he continued to receive attention for his excellent singing abilities. At the age of sixteen, and with his signature bass-baritone voice came into full effect; Lawrence was asked to sing for Ms. Rosa Parks at an NAACP event honoring the civil rights leader. Since then, Lawrence has performed for many other notables’ dignitaries such as former President Bill Clinton. He has opened for Patti LaBelle and Kirk Franklin, performed the National Anthem for San Francisco Giants among others.

In 2009, Lawrence was one of 40 contestants selected to compete on NBC's hit show America's Got Talent season 4; which garnered huge ratings and viewership during the 2009 season. Lawrence was one of 4 finalists in season 4. Lawrence's powerful rendition of "Ole Man River" evoked powerful emotions from the studio audience and the viewers watching at home. Lawrence won the hearts of the judges and received millions of votes from fans all across America.

Please visit LawrenceBeamen.com to listen to his music.

Glen Scott | Trust The Dawn (Coming June 2010) - New Single "The Impossible"

2010-03-17T23:52:00Z

HIDDEN BEACH RECORDING ARTIST GLEN SCOTT
MAKES IMPOSSIBLE PSA PLEA TO HELP HAITI

PSA March 16, 2010 (New York, NY) -- Songwriter/singer Glen Scott, and newly signed Hidden Beach Recordings artist, has offered an impassioned plea and PSA that will hopefully continue to raise funds for the ongoing international relief efforts to help the Haitian people recapture their lives and rebuild their country. The PSA features lyrics from his song, “The Impossible.” The song will be included on his forthcoming debut CD, Trust The Dawn, scheduled for release in June 2010.

It’s been two months since one of the world’s most devastating earthquakes rocked Haiti forever changing the lives of millions of Haitians who witnessed a calamity of epic proportion destroy their country. While international support has contributed over $300 million dollars to helping Haiti, it’s going to take billions of dollars to rebuild the country and restore a sense of normalcy to the lives of its’ people.Scott remarked, “I’m just one of many citizens of the world that is trying to lend a helping hand and offer a subtle reminder that the people of Haiti need our help indefinitely.” And he infused, “We need to send a message they have not been forsaken and not alone in their struggle.”Please read the attached letter and watch the PSA. We hope you’ll be inspired to HELP HAITI , and realize that, “only you can do the impossible.”

Feel this...

The 'How Sweet the Sound' 2010 Competition is Coming to Florida

2010-03-17T16:33:00Z

2010 How Sweet the Sound Comes to Florida to Find 'The Best Church Choir in America'

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The How Sweet the Sound™ 2010 competition is coming to Florida, which could mean a sweet $25,000 for a local church choir.

The event, created by Verizon Wireless three years ago, is a national competition that gives church choirs a chance to win the title of "The Best Church Choir in America" and a grand prize of $25,000 in cash and gifts. The competition awards a total of $50,000, including prizes for regional winners and other categories.

This year, Jacksonville joins 13 other host cities nationwide to be represented in the competition. Others include Houston, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Memphis, Los Angeles, Oakland, Cleveland and Charlotte, N.C.

Choirs within an approximate four-hour drive of Jacksonville are eligible to enter, opening the competition to Gospel groups in most of North Florida and the Panhandle, south to the Space Coast, Orlando area and parts of Tampa Bay. A list of eligible zip codes can be found at www.HowSweetTheSound.com.

"How Sweet the Sound is much more than a singing competition for choirs – it is an opportunity to celebrate the unique ways that music connects people from all walks of life," said Pam Tope, Florida region president for Verizon Wireless. "Many cities and towns in Florida have a great tradition of Gospel music and we're proud to welcome area choirs into this celebration and competition."

Small and large choirs, which are judged in separate categories, are eligible to enter the competition by first submitting an audition video of no longer than three minutes. Videos will be reviewed by professional music producers, music executives and Gospel radio personalities from each host city. The judges will select up to 16 choirs – eight from each category – from each stop of the tour. The videos of the 16 choirs will be posted on the How Sweet the Sound website where members of the community can vote for their favorite choirs.

Once the online voting is complete, four choirs from each category will be selected to perform onstage in the regional event. Two winners, one from each category, will win $10,000 for their choir. One overall winner will be selected at each regional concert, and each choir member from the overall winning choir will also receive a Verizon Wireless phone and a $50 gift card. The overall winning choir from each city will also advance to the grand finale (in a city to be determined) where they will compete to win more than $25,000 in cash and prizes.

In addition, the Verizon Wireless V CAST People's Choice Award will be given to the choir that captures the heart of the audience at each regional performance and at the grand finale performance. The V CAST People's Choice Award winners will each receive $5,000.

To be eligible to enter the competition, all registration forms and audition videos must be received by May 17, 2010. Interested choir representatives can visit a Verizon Wireless retail location, call 800-230-0053 or go to www.HowSweetTheSound.com for more information.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (Nasdaq and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

Verizon Wireless

RELATED LINKS
verizonwireless.com" href="http://verizonwireless.com/" target="_blank">http://verizonwireless.com

Danny Boy | Its' About Time (Coming April 20th, 2010)

2010-03-17T15:58:00Z

WIDEawake-Deathrow Entertainment LLC announces their next release of 2010, Danny Boy "It's About Time" set to hit shelves, April 20, featuring songs produced by DJ Quick and Devante. . Danny Boy Steward a.k.a. Danny Boy, signed to Death Row Records in 1994, debuting his soulful vocals on the Murder Was The Case soundtrack with R&B Charter "Come When I Call." Danny Boy's vocals also appeared on such hits as "I Ain't Mad At Cha" on Tupac's multiplatinum selling album All Eyez On Me as well as "Toss it Up", "Picture Me Rollin" and "I Can't Get Enough" from the Gridlock'd Soundtrack. Most recently Danny Boy was featured on Death Row's 2009 sampler and Death Row's Ultimate Collection box set. April 20, is Danny Boy's time and "It's About Time".

Legends of Classic Soul (DVD Set) | Coming March 22nd, 2010

2010-03-16T23:48:00Z

Darryl Payne Films Presents "Legends of Classic Soul"

Four Multi-DVD Collector's Sets Will Feature Live Concerts in HD 5.1 by the Most Iconic Soul Artists of all Time; Includes Performances by the Dells, Dramatics, Whispers, Four Tops, Dennis Edwards & The Temptations Review and Many More; Volumes One & Two, Both Available March 22nd

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - March 16, 2010) - Legendary music producer Darryl Payne is bringing more than 50 full-length live concerts -- an unprecedented collection featuring performances by America's most legendary and iconic stars of soul -- to DVD. Presented in HD 5.1 Surround Sound, "Legends of Classic Soul" will be released in four special collector's sets.

Highlighting Volume One -- a 10-DVD (approx. 20 hours) collection available March 22 with a suggested retail price of $129.99 -- is The Delfonics; Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes; The Chi-Lites; Blue Magic; Slave, featuring Drac; Ray, Goodman & Brown; Enchantment; The Dells; and The Temptations Review, featuring five-time Grammy Award-winner Dennis Edwards, Tony Award-winner Melba Moore and special guest Freddie Jackson.

Volume 2 -- a five-DVD (approx. 10 hours) collection also available March22 with a suggested retail price of $79.99 -- features concerts by The Whispers; The Dramatics; The Delfonics; Cuba Gooding Sr. & The Main Ingredient; The Intruders Review; and The Four Tops, featuring all of the original members.

Bonus Material: Many of the show-stopping concert programs also include exclusive bonus footage and behind-the-scenes extras.

Commented Payne, producer of collection and CEO of Darryl Payne Films, "We are preserving the legacy of soul music for generations of fans. 'Legends of Classic Soul' is not just a music compilation, but brings the excitement of the ultimate concert experience -- and an insider's look backstage --home for music lovers to enjoy again and again. Nowhere else can fans obtain these full-length concerts in one collector's set."

Coming soon is Volume 3 with Atlantic Starr; The Manhattans, featuring Gerald Alston & "Blue" Lovett; Keith Washington; The Bar-Kays; Con Funk Shun; and more. Volume 4 will celebrate the legendary divas of soul.

Classic soul music is all about love, joy and good times. The Motown sound and the sweet soul sounds of Philadelphia are here to stay.

Produced by Payne, each featured artist and group served as a co-producer on the project.

A 60-second infomercial will begin airing March 22 on BET, ABC, CBS, Fox and cable, with a 30-minute infomercial premiering May 1. Please feel free to view our commercials and purchase product on our Web site at www.LegendsInSoul.com.

About Darryl Payne Films:

Darryl Payne Films boasts an extensive library of more than 30,000 masters and television shows, featuring the world's biggest entertainers. The company licenses rights to music companies around the globe. Currently, the company is offering to sell its ownership rights for Broadcast, Home Video, DVD, Clips and Video Digital Downloads for 26 one-hour episodes of "The Judy Garland Show" (1963-64), remastered and digitized in HD 5.1 by Pioneer. Also featured in the shows are Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett,Barbara Streisand and many more iconic entertainers. The Judy Garland Show rights are available for sale at the purchase price of $ 2 Million. Contact: DarrylPayne@Live.com.

Phil Tarver | Place of Worship | Coming May 18th, 2010

2010-03-16T23:45:00Z

PHIL TARVER

TAKES TRIP TO A “PLACE OF WORSHIP”

GOLD-SELLING SHEKINAH GLORY MINISTRY’S PRAISE & WORSHIP LEADER TO RELEASE HIS THIRD U.S. SOLO CD ON MAY 18, 2010

Chicago:Kingdom Records is preparing for the highly anticipated rollout of Elder PhilTarver’s third U.S. solo CD release. Tarver’s new praise and worship project Place of Worship will hit stores nationwide on May 18, 2010.

The set was recorded live before an overflow crowd of 3,000 fervent worshippers at Valley Kingdom Ministries International’s main sanctuary in Oak Forest, IL this past February. It was a drizzly, cool Saturday night outside the building bu tinside, there was nothing but warmth and high praise. With a stellar band and full-throttle backing vocalists (including a cameo by label mate Tonya Baker), Tarver performed over a dozen original paeans that stylistically ranged from smooth jazzy ballads and Caribbean rhythms to pulsating funk-rock vamps that Tarver said were for the head-bangers. This brilliant collection is sure to solidify Tarver’s standing as one of the most in-demand and celebrated praise and worship leaders in the world.

The million-selling Shekinah Glory Ministry is a dynamic ensemble of psalmists, minstrels, praise dancers, encouragers and banner bearers who say that they perform “under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. “ Their Hebrew name means “the glorified presence of God.” Their CDs Praise is What I Do (#5 peak TopGospel Albums) and Shekinah Glory Ministry Live (#3 peak Top Gospel Albums – 103 weeks on the chart) were both certified gold in 2005 and 2008 respectively. The Shekinah Glory Ministry Live DVD was certified gold and platinum in the summerof 2008. Tarver is their worship and praise leader. He’s recorded four solo CDs (including one only available in South America). His latest CD Draw Nearer features the Top 20 single “Better Than That.” For more information, visit www.kingdomrecordsinc.com .

Vivian Green | Beautiful (Coming April 6th, 2010)

2010-03-16T23:30:00Z

R&B Songstress Vivian Green Set to Release New Studio Album "Beautiful" on April 6th, 2010

Album Pre-Order Available Now on iTunes; Tour Dates Confirmed: Alexandria, VA at The Birchmere on 4/5 and S.O.B.'S in New York City on 4/6

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - March 16, 2010) - R&B singer and songwriter Vivian Green is set to release her long-awaited new album, "Beautiful," on Tuesday, April 6^th, 2010 on E1 Music. "Beautiful" is now available for pre-order on iTunes. Click here to purchase it:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/beautiful/id361297293

The album's track, "Beautiful," broke into the Top 20 at Urban AC radio, and is currently #15 and rapidly rising. The new video for "Beautiful" (directed by Chris Stanford) has been added to soul network Centric and can be viewed here:

To celebrate the release of her album, Green will perform at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA on 4/5 and S.O.B.'s in New York City on 4/6.

Vivian is now leaking another track from her forthcoming new album entitled "When We're Apart." Click here to listen:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rp8aS-zQRw

In contrast to her first two albums, which were recorded in a variety of studios with multiple producers, Vivian approached the recording of "Beautiful" in a more intimate, organic manner. With the exception of "Save Me" and "I Know How," which she cut with Jason Farmer (Keyshia Cole, Rihanna, Wyclef Jean) in the producer's seat, Vivian recorded the entire album with Grammy-nominated producer Anthony Bell, a longtime friend and collaborator who made key production contributions to her first two albums, and whose extensive resume also includes work with Jazmine Sullivan, Jewel, Musiq, Raheem DeVaughn and Jill Scott.

The final track listing for "Beautiful" is:
01. "Beautiful"
02. "When We're Apart"
03. "I Know How..."
04. "Better Man (skit)"
05. "Better Man"
06. "Save Me"
07. "Too Intense"
08. "Somewhere"
09. "Caught Up"
10. "Search Is Over"
11. "So Far Gone"
12. "Jordan's Song"
13. Bonus Track: "One Of None"

About E1 Entertainment
E1 Entertainment (AIM: ETO) is a leading independent entertainment content enterprise that acquires and exploits world-class film, television and music properties around the globe. Its four primary businesses units (E1 Television, E1 Films, E1 Music and E1 Distribution) operate in Canada, the U.S., the UK and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Holland and Belgium, providing extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production and distribution, kids programming, and merchandising and licensing. E1's growing content library, which currently includes more than 4,000 feature films, 2,700 hours of original television programming and 15,000 music tracks, are distributed across all media formats in more than 190 countries.

E1 Music

Lucinda Moore | Blessed, Broken & Given (Coming April 20th, 2010)

2010-03-15T22:16:00Z

SINGER LUCINDA MOORE’S PAINFUL PAST PROVIDES THE BACKDROP TO SOPHOMORE CD/DVD BLESSED, BROKEN & GIVEN THAT HITS STORES NATIONALLY APRIL 20, 2010

Dynamic Gospel Vocalist To Launch First Ever “Blessed, Broken & Given” Conference April 22-24 at Wake Chapel Church in Raleigh, NC

On her forthcoming CD Blessed, Broken & Given (Tyscot Records), gospel vocalist Lucinda Moore uses the pain of her past to craft fifteen songs to not only please ears, but to also heal souls. The first single “Blessed, Broken & Given” is building momentum at various radio formats. “This is my testimony of what God did for me,” Moore says of the inspiring ballad. “He’s blessed me with a voice but He had to break some things in me in order for me to be given to the nation.“

In the past, Moore battled childhood abuse; depression over her father’s death, and a sixteen-year marriage to someone she says “never loved me.” However, Moore’s faith was a comfort in the hard times. As she was preparing for the live recording of the new project at Atlanta’s Elizabeth Baptist Church, she was dealing with a rough patch. “I was going through a divorce,” she says. “Emotionally I was a wreck.” She dug into her faith and wrote the CD’s dramatic title song to encourage others. “I’m doing it to help other people come out of what they are coming out of,” she explains. “You don’t have to be unhappy and sit in abuse… This is the happiest time of my adult life.”

Moore is spreading this message of hope to others who have been scarred. A portion of CD sales profits will benefit a North Carolina women’s organization called Impact that aides abused women in getting back on their feet. Moore is also seeking to help others through her first “Blessed, Broken & Given” conference that will feature guest speakers Bishop Noel Jones, Bishop Tudor Bismark and psalmist Judy Jacobs. The conference takes place April 22-24, 2010 at the Wake Chapel church located at 3805 Tarheel Road, Raleigh, NC 27604. Services begin at 7 p.m. each night except Saturday when service begins at 12 p.m. Register online at www.lucindamoore.com or call (203) 887-1660 for more information. Visit www.tyscot.com for more
information about the CD and the live recording DVD that will be sold separately.

Our Conversation with Joe Sample

2010-03-15T18:46:00Z

Ladies & Gentleman...we welcome Mr. Joe Sample to T.U.M.S.!!!

Featured this week on The Urban Music Scene, we present a very interesting Interview between our Publisher Terrill Hanna & a legend in his own right - Mr. Joe Sample!! Mr. Sample is scheduled to play at this week's "5th Annual Jazz In The Gardens", hosted by Tom Joyner. Also, Mr. Sample speaks with Terrill about some upcoming projects, a possible return of The Jazz Crusaders, his collaborations with Vocalist Randy Crawford & Lots More! Click here to access the Conversation!!