Kimberly Burrell [1] is an American gospel singer from Houston, Texas. She calls her musical style jazz gospel. Though she is comparatively new to the gospel music industry, having only performed since 1989, she has quickly become one of the most influential voices in the genre, often named as "this generation's Ella Fitzgerald".[2] In 2010 she founded The Love & Liberty Fellowship Church, where she serves as Pastor. Recently, she collaborated on a duet with world-famous vocalist Whitney Houston at the 'Celebration of Gospel' which aired 31st January 2011.
Life and career
Though Burrell battled double pneumonia for eight years as a child,[3] she performed her first solo with the church choir at the age of only one year old singing Andraé Crouch's "Hallelujah Praise".[4] She is the daughter of a pastor in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). Burrell began her gospel career proper performing with Reverend James Cleveland's GMWA Youth Mass Choir, Trinity Temple Full Gospel Mass Choir of Dallas and The Inspirational Sounds Mass Choir of Houston.[4]
In 1996, she appeared on Ricky Dillard & New G's "Worked It Out" album, as the feature on the reprise of "Jesus Paid It All", which is credited as the turning point of her national career.
Her first independent album, Try Me Again, was released on the Texas-based boutique label Pearl Records in 1995. Though limited distribution kept the album from nationwide recognition, it did build a strong reputation that led to her being signed to Tommy Boy Gospel and the now-classic Everlasting Life, produced by Asaph Alexander Ward. The album performed well and peaked at #12 on the Billboard Gospel Charts.[4]
Quickly becoming known as a virtuoso vocalist and pianist, it seemed only logical to produce a live album which Burrell recorded in November 2000 at the annual COGIC Convention in Memphis, Tennessee. Though the recording of the concert was widely said to be troubled, requiring notably some overdubs and post-production, the resulting Live In Concert album released in 2001 satisfied eager fans and earned Burrell a Grammy nomination for Best Soul Gospel Album in 2002.
Though her then-label, Tommy Boy Gospel, closed shortly after the release of Live In Concert, by 2002, she had already signed a recording contract with Elektra Records[5] who had newly considerable success in the gospel market with signing Yolanda Adams and Karen Clark Sheard. Unfortunately, this contract yielded only a guest appearance on the all-star gospel track Missy Elliott-produced "Higher Ground" which first appeared as a bonus track on Missy's album Miss E... So Addictive,[6] but was later featured on Karen Clark Sheard's 2nd Chance album.
Since that time, Burrell has become a wife and mother with a son by the name of Christian. She has continued to perform live and to collaborate with other artists. Though only intermittently active as a recording artist, Burrell has established and hosts the Ephesians 4 conference annually to show up-and-coming singers, dancers and other artists how to improve the quality of their craft.
Widespread influence
Burrell was featured in a half-hour MTV special From The Church To The Charts in conjunction with the gospel themed motion picture Fighting Temptations. Among those who count Burrell as an influence are such contemporaries as Jessica Simpson,[7] Beyoncé Knowles and Faith Evans. In 2004, Burrell made an unlikely guest turn along with Kelly Price on R. Kelly's "3-Way Phone Call" playing the part of Price's "prayer partner" in the soap-opera-like song.[8]
There are many instances of established artists who laud Burrell: Chaka Khan deemed Kim Burrell "one of the most interesting voices I've heard in a long while".[9] After expressing an interest in gospel music, pop singer Nelly Furtado purchased Burrell's Everlasting Life on recommendation from Destiny's Child's Michelle Williams.[10] In a recent interview on XM Satellite Radio, Harry Connick, Jr. said of Burrell, "if she's not the greatest musical mind I've ever been around, she's certainly up at the top of the list." Burrell appears on Connick, Jr.'s most recent album.
New music
Though Kim Burrell's musical impact is widespread, she has not released a new recording since 2001's Live In Concert and nearly a decade has passed since her 1998 national debut Everlasting Life. Details of new recordings have periodically surfaced, some of which are listed below: In 2001, shortly after the release of Live In Concert, Kim Burrell was said to be working with Stevie Wonder, Deitrick Haddon, Chaka Khan, and Eric Dawkins on a new studio album.[3] The long-awaited gospel compilation from Bad Boy Entertainment was slated to release May 8, 2001 featuring Kim Burrell, John P. Kee, Mary Mary, Hezekiah Walker, Fred Hammond, and Vickie Winans among other performers. To date, the project has still not been released[12] and is rumored shelved indefinitely. Burrell collaborated with Tonéx in 2004 on some recordings for a new album.[13] Since August 2006, according to Sony Gospel president Tara Griggs-McGee, the anticipated new studio album from Kim Burrell has been turned to plans for a live recording, though no date has been set. The live album may include several studio tracks already recorded.[14] However, since the time of that article, Sony Gospel has been merged into Columbia Records and Griggs-McGee is no longer with either label.[15]
More recently, it has been announced that she is indeed recording a new album. A recent interview[16] revealed that Burrell is planning a live recording at the Lincoln Jazz Center in New York City on December 11 and 13, 2008.[17]
Burrell released her first studio album in 11 years, entitled No Ways Tired on April 7, 2009 through Shanachie Records.[18] The album will feature covers of classic gospel songs like "My Faith Looks Up To Thee", "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", "O Lamb Of God" and "I Surrender All", as well as the classic James Cleveland song after which the album is named.[19]
Burrell also revealed on April 26, 2009, on K.I.N.G.(Kingdom Inspiration for a Now Generation) Talk Radio that she is planning a second 2009 album release: "...who knows...actually I plan to put out another album before the year is out..."-Kim Burrell. Those plans have since become plans for a 2010 release from Burrell. This will be Kim Burrell's first mainstream release.
Albums Try Me Again (Pearl, 1995) Everlasting Life (Tommy Boy Gospel, 1998) Live In Concert (Tommy Boy Gospel, 2001) No Ways Tired (Shanachie, 2009)[18]
Singles "Special Place" (Bad Boy Entertainment, 2001)
Videos Live In Concert (VHS) (Tommy Boy Gospel, 2001)
OtherYear Title Artist Album Label 1989 "Praise Him" The GMWA Youth Mass Choir Win The World For Christ Sweet Rain 1996 "Jesus Paid It All" Ricky Dillard & New G Worked It Out Crystal Rose 1998 "Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus (Remix)" Trinity Temple Mass Choir featuring Kim Burrell Gospel Out-Takes: Unreleased Music Tyscot 2000 "Woman" Kim Burrell with Montrel Darrett J2K Jesus 2000 EMI Gospel 2000 "God's Favor" Tri-City Singers featuring Karen Clark-Sheard, Kim Burrell, and Kelly Price Tri-City4.com EMI Gospel 2001 "Special Place" Kim Burrell Thank You (Unreleased) Bad Boy 2002 "The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow" Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Choir Family Affair II: Live At Radio City Music Hall Verity 2002 "Higher Ground" Missy Elliott feat. Yolanda Adams, Dorinda Clark Cole, Karen Clark-Sheard, Mary Mary & Kim Burrell Miss E...So Addictive Elektra 2002 "The Moment I Prayed" Kirk Whalum featuring Kim Burrell The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter II Word 2002 "I'm Gonna Praise Him" Kim Burrell Gospel Today Presents: Praise and Worship 2002 Verity 2003 "We Praise You Lord" Shirley Caesar featuring Kim Burrell Shirley Caesar & Friends Word 2003 "Go Tell It" Gary Mayes & Nu Era featuring Kim Burrell Go Tell It: The N.E. X-Perience, Vol. 2 Gvm Soul Muzick 2003 "I Pray On Christmas" Harry Connick, Jr. featuring Kim Burrell Harry For The Holidays (DVD-only bonus track) Columbia 2003 "Try Jesus" "O When I Come" "Family That Prays Together" The Stewart Singers featuring Kim Burrell Back to the Roots Independent 2004 "3-Way Phone Call" R. Kelly featuring Kim Burrell & Kelly Price Happy People/U Saved Me Jive 2004 "You Can Change" Tye Tribbett & G.A. featuring Kim Burrell Life Columbia/Sony Gospel 2005 "Soldier" The Andrews Brothers featuring Kim Burrell Free Indeed Sic Records 2005 "If Your Love Cannot Be Moved" Stevie Wonder featuring Kim Burrell A Time 2 Love Motown 2005 "Not Until" Lexi featuring Kim Burrell Crusty Feet in the Valley [Live] Holy Music 2006 "Everything Will Be Alright (reprise)" Tye Tribbett & G.A. featuring Kim Burrell Victory Live Columbia/Sony Gospel 2006 "All These People" (single) (all proceeds to New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village) Harry Connick Jr featuring Kim Burrell Oh My NOLA Columbia 2007 "Over and Over Again" VaShawn Mitchell featuring Kim Burrell Promises Tyscot 2007 "Journey" Richard Smallwood featuring Kim Burrell Journey: Live In New York Verity 2007 "If You Never" Byron Cage featuring Kim Burrell & J. Moss Live At the Apollo: The Proclamation GospoCentric/Zomba Gospel 2007 "Try" Marvin Winans featuring Kim Burrell Alone But Not Alone PureSprings Gospel 2007 "I Come To Thee" Sean Jones featuring Kim Burrell Kaleidoscope Mack Avenue 2007 "You're the Reason" Sean Jones featuring Kim Burrell Kaleidoscope Mack Avenue 2008 "I Understand" Kim Burrell, Rance Allen, BeBe Winans, Mariah Carey & Hezekiah Walker's Love Fellowship Tabernacle Choir Randy Jackson's Music Club: Volume One Concord Music Group 2008 "He Has Made Me Glad" Tye Tribbett & GA featuring Kim Burrell Stand Out Columbia/Integrity 2008 "Mathematics of Love" [11] George Clinton featuring Kim Burrell George Clinton and Some Gangsters of Love Shanachie Records 2008 "Song for the Hopeful" Harry Connick, Jr. featuring Kim Burrell What a Night! A Christmas Album Columbia/Sony
