According to a recent news release, Grammy Award nominated recording artist Deitrick Haddon made a big splash two years ago with his starring film debut in “Blessed & Cursed” that has aired on The GMC Channel and Showtime. Now, Tyscot/Manhaddon Films and Releve Entertainment are enjoying new success with Haddon’s second major film vehicle, “A Beautiful Soul,” which opened at selected AMC Theaters nationwide on May 4, 2012, and brought thousands of churchgoers into theaters around the country.
In the film, Haddon stars as Andre Stephens, an R&B superstar who loses his spiritual compass after he and his best friend barely survive a brutal attack. Haddon has assembled an ambitious twelve-song set of songs inspired by the movie and its theme entitled, “A Beautiful Soul” (Tyscot Records/ $9.99 SLP). The CD features the funky retro-styled radio single, “No Betta” (by Faith Evans and Deitrick Haddon), that is #35 on this week’s Top 100 Gospel chart.
The set also includes the breezy urban pop tune “Running to You” (Regula leads) and the straight up urban track “New Life” (featuring Fonzworth Bentley, Haddon and raspy-voiced, Nikki Potts). Adia leads the whimsical “Incomplete” and Haddon leads the title song, “A Beautiful Soul”. It’s 12 songs in all with Haddon’s choir, Voices of Unity, in the middle of the musical musings. Among the cameo soloists are Kierra Sheard; former P. Diddy sidekick, Fonzworth Bentley; Jason Champion; Joint Heirs; Candy West, among others. For more information, go to www.abeautifulsoulmovie.com.
Grammy Award nominated singer Deitrick Haddon’s second film venture, “A Beautiful Soul”, enjoyed robust box office receipts in its limited engagement premiere this past weekend at 20 AMC Theaters in 11 markets such as Chicago, Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Haddon’s native Detroit. Variety magazine calls the film, “a natural for young, Christian oriented aud[iences].” The film has done so well that AMC Theaters has extended the run another week to accommodate the public demand to see the movie. “It was humbling to see a dream manifested this weekend,” Haddon says in a news release. “The fact that the film opened in theaters was a success; the fan support was overwhelming, and we are grateful”. Haddon’s co-partners echo his sentiments. “I am so happy to play a part in an effort that is helping to take the gospel message to the mainstream audience,” says Holly Carter of Releve Entertainment. “This was a small step to a big vision! To God be the glory!” “I am excited about the success we are experiencing, not just with movie tickets sold, but with lives being changed,” says Bryant Scott of Tyscot Films. “This movie is having a powerful, positive impact on people, including those who have not been regular church goers. To sum it up, God is using this film in a major way to change lives, and that’s what it’s all about.” This movie comes on the heels of Haddon’s 2010 debut “Blessed & Cursed” which has sold over 100,000 copies as a direct to DVD film. It’s also aired on the GMC Channel and Showtime. Aside from Haddon, who stars as an R&B singer named Andre Stephens, the film also stars Harry Lennix (“The Matrix”, “The Five Heartbeats”, “Barbershop 2”) as Jeff Freeze, Robert Ri’chard (“One on One”, “Coach Carter”, “The Matrix) as Chris Scott, Lesley Ann Brandt (“Spartacus”, “Diplomatic Immunity”) as Angela Berry, and Barry Floyd (“The Game”) as Terrance Wilson. Directed by Jeff Byrd (“Seventeen Again”, “Soul Food The Series”, “Kings Ransom”, “Jasper TX), “A Beautiful Soul”, a contemporary twist on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, is the story of Andre Stephens, an R&B superstar who has success, fame and fortune but spiritually has lost his way. The film follows Andre after his “perfect” life is shattered in a brutal attack that leaves he and his best friend Chris Johnson (Ri’chard) clinging to life. As he embarks on a spiritual journey that exists in a place that is neither on Earth nor in Heaven, Andre is forced to make a choice that could change his destiny forever. Shot on location in Los Angeles, California, “A Beautiful Soul” was cast by Twinkie Byrd (“Jumping the Broom”, “Notorious”, “Stomp the Yard”) and features cameos by NBA Legend John Salley, Golden Brooks, Vanessa Bell Calloway and Bishop Noel Jones. The film will feature an original soundtrack of music from Deitrick Haddon as well Kierra Sheard, and Faith Evans, among others. “A Beautiful Soul” is a presentation of Tyscot Manhaddon Films and Relevé Entertainment, in association with Mission Pictures International. The screenplay is written by Allison Elizabeth Brown and Deitrick Haddon. The film was produced by Holly Carter, Kimberly L. Ogletree and Dominique Telson. The executive producers are Leonard S. Scott, Bryant S. Scott, Jeff Byrd, Cindy Bond, Chevonne O’Shaughnessy, and Deitrick Haddon.
The film continues to show at these AMC theaters: Atlanta, GA: Southlake 24 (7065 Mount Zion Circle, Morrow, GA 30260) Stonecrest 16 (8060 Mall Parkway, Lithonia, GA 30038) Chicago, IL: Crestwood 18 (13221 Rivercrest Drive, Crestwood, IL 60445) Country Club Hills 16 (4201 W.167th St., Country Club Hills, IL 60478) Ford City 14 (7601 S. Cicero Ave., Chicago, IL 60652) Dallas, TX: Grapevine Mills 30 (3150 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine, TX 76051) Mesquite 30 (19919 Interstate 635, Mesquite, TX 75149) Detroit, MI: Southfield 20 (25333 West 12 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48034) Forum 30 (44681 Mound Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48314) Hampton, VA: Hampton Towne Center 24 (1 Town Center Way, Hampton, VA 23666) Indianapolis, IN: AMC Theatre Castleton (6020 East 82nd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46250) Los Angeles, CA: Ontario (4549 Mills Circle, Ontario, CA 91764) AMC Burbank Town Center 6 (770 North 1st Street, Burbank, CA 91501) New York/ New Jersey: Jersey Gardens 20 (651 Kapkowski Road, Elizabeth, NJ 07201) Philadelphia, PA: Hamilton 24(325 Sloan Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08619) Cherry Hill 24 (2121 Route 38, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002) Washington, D.C . Area: Hoffman 22 (206 Swamp Fox Road, Alexandria, VA 22314)
According to a recent news release, the legendary Rance Allen Group has earned two Stellar Awards for their latest CD, The Live Experience II: Celebrating 40 Years of Music and Ministry (Tyscot Records). The group picked up awards in the categories of Quartet of the Year and Traditional Group/Duo of the Year. The ceremony will broadcast on The GMC Channel at 7 p.m. February 11. Check your local listings at www.watchgmctv.com.
The live CD celebrates the group’s 40-year career. It features two medleys of their past hits such as “Feel Like Going On,” “We Care a Lot” and “Smile.” It also features new songs such as the old school soul flavored “You That I Trust” and the worship ballad, “Holy One.” Making cameo appearances are renowned artists such as Shirley Caesar, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and The Christianaires’ Paul Porter.
The Rance Allen Group has been recording professionally since 1971. They started with Stax Records where they recorded a string of gritty, R&B-flavored gospel and message songs through the 1970s. From there, the group recorded for a variety of labels and scored their first No. 1 gospel album in 1991 with the Phenomenon CD that featured the crossover R&B smash, “Miracle Worker.”
In 2002, the Rance Allen Group joined Tyscot Records, where they have enjoyed a new string of hits such as “Do Your Will,” “Closest Friend,” “For Your Feet,” and the Kirk Franklin duet, “Something About the Name Jesus.” The music industry has now begun to honor the Rance Allen Group for its groundbreaking work in bridging R&B and gospel. They received a Legend Award during the 2009 Stellar Awards and were feted in a BMI Trailblazers of Gospel ceremony in 2008.
Legendary gospel singer and pastor of Toledo, Ohio’s New Bethel Church (COGIC), Dr. Rance Allen, will be installed as bishop on Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, to oversee 14 Michigan churches in the Church of God in Christ denomination this week at the 6.5 million-member organization’s 104th Holy Convocation in St. Louis, Mo. He will succeed the late Bishop Alfred D. Knight, Jr. as the Jurisdictional Prelate of the Michigan Northwestern Harvest Jurisdiction.
“I have literally been working in the church since the age of 5,” Allen said in a news release. “Singing and preaching, and now at 62, almost 63 in another week or two, I get elevated to the position of a bishop! I’m trying to figure out how I feel about it because right now I still can’t believe it.”
Allen is also thrilled that the Rance Allen Group’s latest top 10 CD “The Live Experience II: Celebrating 40 Years of Music and Ministry” (Tyscot Records), has been nominated for four Stellar Awards (Gospel music’s answer to the Grammy Awards) in the categories of Group Duo of the Year, Traditional Group/Duo of the Year, Traditional Male of the Year and Quartet of the Year.
“When I found that out, I was just elated!” Allen said. “I couldn’t believe we were nominated in four different categories.” The 27th annual Stellar Awards will take place at Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn., on January 14, 2012. For more information, visit www.thestelllarawards.com. The new radio single, “Holy One,” a praise and worship ballad, is currently making its way up the gospel radio airplay charts.
The Rance Allen Group was born in their grandfather’s Monroe, Mich., church in the 1960s. They began recording for Stax Records in 1971 where they made a string of gritty, R&B-flavored gospel and message songs for the Gospel Truth imprint. They toured with the big R&B artists of the day such as Isaac Hayes and Barry White, and literally took the gospel to the world. From there, the group recorded for a variety of labels and scored their first No. 1 gospel album in 1991 with the “Phenomenon” CD that featured the crossover R&B smash, “Miracle Worker.” Allen closed out the 1990s performing in a variety of gospel-oriented touring play productions, but the group signed with Tyscot Records in 2002 and kicked off a new string of hits such as “Do Your Will,” “Closest Friend,” “For Your Feet,” and the Kirk Franklin duet, “Something about the Name Jesus.” For more information, visit www.tyscot.com or www.theranceallengroup.com.
According to a recent news release, vocalist Shirley Murdock recently sat down for an interview and talked about her journey through life and music with media personality Tavis Smiley on Public Radio International’s “The Tavis Smiley Show.” The interview airs on Public Radio International (PRI) from Friday, Oct. 28 through Friday, Nov. 4. Local stations can be found at www.tavissmileyradio.com/where.html.
The Dayton, Ohio-based singer is best known for her top 10 ’80s era R&B hits “As We Lay,” “Go on Without You,” “Husband” and “In Your Eyes.” However, in recent years, she’s become equally known for her gospel and inspirational tunes such as 2007’s “I Love Me Better than That.”
Murdock talked with Smiley about her transition from R&B to gospel and all the twists and turns in between. She also discussed her new, first live CD “Live: The Journey” and its companion music DVD. The 17-track collection was produced by Grammy Award winner Cedric Thompson (who’s produced Yolanda Adams and Marvin Sapp) and recorded live at The Broadcast Group Complex in Charlotte, NC. R&B singers Kelly Price and Regina Belle as well as gospel singer Beverly Crawford each performed a song with Murdock and did one song as a foursome. The “Live: The Journey” (Tyscot Records) CD has debuted at #24 on Billboard’s top Gospel Albums chart while the “Live: The Journey” (Tyscot Records) music DVD debuted at #40 on Billboard’s top Music Videos chart where it shares rank alongside projects such as Taylor Swift’s “Journey to Fearless” and the band Journey’s “Live in Manila.”
Meanwhile, Murdock’s current inspirational/gospel radio single “Dream” is moving up the gospel radio playlists around the country. It’s receiving heavy substantive rotation on Sirius XM satellite’s Praise Channel 64 and Murdock was also recently a guest in the VIP Lounge with DJ Cayman Kelly on Sirius’s XM’s Heart & Soul Channel 48. Murdock also recently sang the song on The National Mall during the recent Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Unveiling ceremony where President Barack Obama spoke about Dr. King’s legacy.
“The song is anointed because it’s full of the word,” Murdock says of the inspiring ballad of hope and perseverance. “It’s like the voice of God speaking directly to your spirit, reminding you, that He’s not a man that He should lie … if He spoke it, will He not do it? This song will stir up and rekindle that word, that’s been spoken into your spirit and remind you that your dream can not…will not die.” For more information on Shirley Murdock, go to www.tyscot.com or http://twitter.com/#!/ShirleyMurdock
Rance Allen of the Rance Allen Group has been pastor at Toledo, Ohio’s New Bethel Church for 26 years. The church membership will honor his years of service in a black-tie affair called The Legend’s Ball at 7 p.m. Aug. 26, 2011, at The Pinnacle, 1772 Indian Wood Circle in Maumee, Ohio. Tickets are $50 and available by calling Marquita Hardison at (419) 508-6586 or Tina Franklin at (419) 206-0288. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the Rance Allen Group. According to a news release, Tyscot Records released the Top 10 CD, The Live Experience II: Celebrating 40 Years of Music and Ministry. Outside of including two medleys of their past hits, the 11-song set was recorded live at Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple. It’s comprised of future classics such as the first radio single, “You That I Trust,” and “Angel.” Making cameo appearances on this musical merry-go-round are Shirley Caesar, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and The Christianaires’ Paul Porter. The Rance Allen Group was born in their grandfather’s Monroe, Mich., church in the 1960s. They began recording for Stax Records in 1971 where they made a strong of gritty, R&B-flavored gospel and message songs for the Gospel Truth imprint. They toured with the big R&B artists of the day such as Isaac Hayes and Barry White, and literally took the gospel to the world. From there, the group recorded for a variety of labels and scored their first #1 gospel album in 1991 with the Phenomenon CD that featured the crossover R&B smash, “Miracle Worker.” Allen closed out the 1990s performing in a variety of gospel-oriented touring play productions, but the group signed with Tyscot Records in 2002 and kicked off a new string of hits such as “Do Your Will,”“Closest Friend,”“For Your Feet,” and the Kirk Franklin duet, “Something About the Name Jesus.” For more information, visit www.tyscot.com.
Veteran soul and gospel vocalist Shirley Murdock is on a journey just as the title of her forthcoming release The Journey (Tyscot Records) suggests.
Back in the ’80s, Murdock set out to become a gospel singer, but her path led to becoming a back-up singer for the funk band, Zapp.
Bandleader Roger Troutman eventually 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.” In 2002, renowned evangelist Bishop T.D. Jakes made Murdock’s lifelong dream of recording a gospel CD come true when he released her first gospel album, Home.
Jakes has now made another dream come true for Murdock. A while back, he launched a “Back to the Bible” conference. When Murdock’s husband and songwriting partner, Dale DeGroat, heard about it, he wondered if there was a theme song for it. “Dale e-mailed Bishop one evening and shared some ideas with him about a song,” said Murdock, in a recent news release. (Murdock first collaborated with Jakes on his 1999 Sacred Love Songs set.) “By 8 a.m. the next morning, Bishop had e-mailed Dale some incredible lyrics. If you’ve ever sat down and talked to Bishop … OMG, then, you know his words are so full of wisdom, knowledge and revelation.” So DeGroat and Murdock took those lyrics, added music and crafted a new radio single, “Dream.” “The song is anointed because it’s full of the word,” Murdock says of the inspiring ballad of hope and perseverance. “It’s like the voice of God speaking directly to your spirit, reminding you, that He’s not a man that He should lie…if He spoke it, will He not do it? This song will stir up and rekindle that word, that’s been spoken into your spirit and remind you that your dream can not…will not die.” The song is one of 12 musical chestnuts that Murdock either wrote or co-wrote for The Journey, produced by Kevin Bond (who’s produced Yolanda Adams and Marvin Sapp) and recorded live at The Broadcast Group Complex in Charlotte, NC. R&B singers Kelly Price, Regina Belle and gospel powerhouse Beverly Crawford performed with Murdock on various tracks. The Journey will be released Oct. 8, 2011, and is Murdock’s second gospel project with Tyscot Records. For more information on Murdock, go to www.tyscot.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shirley-Murdock/138053567564.
