Word Entertainment's urban music division is gearing up for an exciting
2005 release schedule. The label has just signed two American Idols to
recording contracts. The raspy-voiced New Orleans chef, George Huff, who won
America's heart on Fox television's "American Idol" competition this past spring
has inked a deal to record his first solo CD. In another coup, Word has won the
bidding war to sign the legendary Karen-Clark-Sheard of the Clark Sisters to a
recording agreement as well. The singer had been in negotiations with several
major labels; but returned to the label that made her group, the Clark Sisters,
a household name in Urban America in the 1980s.
"Karen Clark-Sheard
is exactly the caliber of artist Word is ecstatic about partnering with as a
catalyst for Word's new era of gospel legacy," says Desmond Pringle, Word's
Director of Urban A&R. "George Huff is an example of the new and unique
talent we're going to present to America."
During the 'American
Idol" competition, Huff never hid his faith. He often cited gospel as his
favorite music genre and said that people would be surprised to know that he's
an evangelist. The former University of Oklahoma student and short order cook,
is now on a nationwide "American Idol" concert tour through the end of
September.
One of gospel's most celebrated voices, Karen
Clark-Sheard (whose vocal acrobatics have influenced pop stars such as Mariah
Carey and Faith Evans), has given the world recent hit smashes such as "Nothing
Without You", "Balm in Gilead" and "We Acknowledge You" as a solo artist since
1997. With the Clark Sisters, she recorded classics such as "You Brought the
Sunshine", "Pray for the USA" and "My Redeemer Liveth."
"In the
past, Word Records represented the greatest names in Gospel music and the
signing of George Huff and Karen Clark Sheard sends the message that we want
that valued position back again," says Barry Landis, President of Word Records.
"I want my legacy at Word to be identified as a time where Word Records
reclaimed its status as the industry leader in Gospel."
Word was
founded in 1952 and is the oldest existing gospel recording label. Over its six
decades, Word has spawned gospel radio classics by artists such as America's
first black superstar Ethel Waters, First Lady of Gospel Shirley Caesar and
America's premiere quartet, the Mighty Clouds of Joy.
Source: WordRecords.com
