For over two decades, Kurt Carr has been blessing the household of faith with modern day hymns such as “The Presence of the Lord is Here;” “For Every Mountain;” “I Almost Let Go;” “In the Sanctuary,” and “God Blocked It.” In due course, the maestro’s earned an RIAA Certified Gold CD; a Grammy Award nomination and a gaggle of Stellar Awards. As he unveils his seventh CD, Bless This House (Verity Gospel Music Group), the gifted songwriter, conductor and producer says his new music doesn’t diverge from his masterful work of the past but merely builds upon it. “It’s a continuum of who I am,” Carr explains. “I believe I’ve come into what my niche and what my purpose is – to make music that edifies the Body and blesses the church of Jesus Christ.”
For over two decades, Kurt Carr has been blessing the household of faith with modern day hymns such as “The Presence of the Lord is Here;” “For Every Mountain;” “I Almost Let Go;” “In the Sanctuary,” and “God Blocked It.” In due course, the maestro’s earned an RIAA Certified Gold CD; a Grammy Award nomination and a gaggle of Stellar Awards. As he unveils his seventh CD, Bless This House (Verity Gospel Music Group), the gifted songwriter, conductor and producer says his new music doesn’t diverge from his masterful work of the past but merely builds upon it. “It’s a continuum of who I am,” Carr explains. “I believe I’ve come into what my niche and what my purpose is – to make music that edifies the Body and blesses the church of Jesus Christ.”
There are 17 new soul-stirring songs of encouragement and gratitude that comprise the double disc, Bless This House. The title track was a last minute addition that came to Carr while he was in Los Angeles to record the final songs for the CD. “I woke up at 4 a.m. in the morning with that title [in my mind]. I thought that would be a great way to summarize all of the music because I wanted to do an album full of songs that were great for the church experience,” he says. “I tried to go back to sleep and I couldn’t, so I sat up in my bed and wrote that song. I went to the studio around noon and when I taught it to my singers the worship was so strong that I knew this song was God-give and I knew it was the title cut.”
“It’s really a prayer asking God to bless and cover his people,” Carr says of the mellow congregational plea for divine favor that features Nikki Potts. “So many songs are directed towards the world and the unsaved, but a lot of times believers need encouragement as well.” Carr spent the last three years writing and creating these songs designed to inspire both churchgoers and passive observers alike – in the United States and abroad.
The CD opens with the lush, fully orchestrated “Let Everything That Has Breath Praise,” featuring praise & worship leader extraordinaire Dr. Judith McAllister. Gospel fans voted in an online contest and chose the testimonial driven “I’ve Seen Him Do It” to be the first single off of the CD. “I really believe the reason that people chose that song is because of the climate we are in right now,” says Carr. “People are making it day by day because of faith. Every believer has seen God do incredible things and we know He will continue to do so.”
Kurt Carr/BLESS THIS HOUSE/2
For those who appreciate the traditional old school experience, Carr delivers a handful of numbers like “We Cannot Be Silent (Psalm 34)” – which opens with veteran artist Lorraine Stancil-Lawson’s meteoric soprano dancing over a simmering organ. He challenges her to take it to “the valley,” where she shows off her deep contralto notes, and then commands her to take it back to the mountain top where she hits a crystal-shattering note before the ensemble launches into a harmonious refrain of “I will bless the Lord at all times.” The organ squeals on the riveting hand clapper “Amen” (dedicated to the late queen of gospel, Albertina Walker) and the soul-stirring, “Between Here and There” that showcases the dynamic Kathy Taylor on the vamp.
For those who love the praise and worship genre, Carr brings that into the house too with such soaring ballads as “There Is A Sound” featuring Yvette Williams; “Praise and Worship” featuring Nikitta Foxx and “Touched By The Fountain of Grace” featuring Troy Bright – all which, in true Carr form, possess the pomp, majesty and classical ceremony of light opera.
BLESS THIS HOUSE also has high energy songs surely to become praise & worship team favorites, such as “Oh Magnify The Lord” and “Great God Great Praise.” The pop-infused “We Gotta Put Jesus Back,” featuring 7 year old Myles Caton, speaks of society breaking down as a result of taking Jesus out of Christmas and removing prayer from public schools. The solution: Put Jesus back! There’s a feel good vintage R&B vibe to “It’s A Good Day” which proclaims “every day you wake up…it’s a good day.”
Carr branches off into real dance territory on “Always Covering Me,” featuring Michelle Prather. The song boasts wailing vocals and a fusion of House music with a nod to the orchestrated beats of the `70s disco era. “It’s definitely different from any style of music I’ve ever done, but I like to call myself a musical chameleon,” Carr laughs. “I like to joke and say I really could do a Hip Hop album if I wanted to, and no one would ever know it was me! This is a song that will reach different people than I normally reach. It’s a stretch musically. It’s out there and it sounds like a dance song and all of that but the message is clear: That God is always covering his children, especially through the challenges of life. God is always there.”
BLESS THIS HOUSE is rounded out by such songs of gratitude as “I’ve Got So Much” that opens with Brandon Winbush’s soaring tenor and closes with Vonnie Lopez’ gutsy alto; and “I Want to Be True” where Timiney Figueroa sings about remaining true to her calling regardless of any accolades that may or may not come her way. A militaristic drum line filters the powerful anthem “Soldier On” in which Carr sermonizes, “For every Christian soldier who’s ever gotten weary from the battle of life…let me remind you that Jesus is your captain and because he’s your captain you cannot fail.”
These motivating words were born within a person who wasn’t raised in church. The Hartford, CT native started attending worship services on his own when he was 13 years old. “We moved within a stone’s throw of a church,” he recalls. “I come from a family of believers but we just weren’t church regulars. It was the leading of the Lord. One Sunday I got up and went around the corner to the church and I kept going. Then, my brother started going and eventually my entire family started coming. God used my gift to bring a lot of my family together to see me at church and to see me ministering. God used a child to bring a lot of people together.”
Kurt Carr/BLESS THIS HOUSE/3
Carr’s mother noticed her son’s penchant for music and brought him a present that’s arguably responsible for the career he has today. “She had gone to New York to see the musical `Your Arms Too Short To Box with God’. At that time, I had just gotten in to the church. She brought me back the soundtrack to that musical and `Jesus Christ is the Way’ by The Hawkins Family. Those two records changed my life. I learned how to play piano listening to that `Jesus Christ is the Way’ album. That’s why it was so amazing how God took my life in full circle a few years ago when I had the opportunity to produce Tramaine Hawkins. Tramaine, Walter and the Hawkins Family were my heroes. I literally learned how to play songs by picking out notes from that album.”
After graduating from the University of Hartford circa 1986 with a degree in music, Carr moved to Los Angeles and became the music director and pianist for the late Rev. James Cleveland. By 1991, his group, The Kurt Carr Singers, had recorded its debut CD and became one of the biggest names in gospel music a decade later. In the time since, Carr and his singers have delivered unforgettable songs like “In the Sanctuary” and “God Blocked It” that have become radio staples and songs sung by local choirs and church praise teams around the globe.
KURT CARR BEING HONORED STELLAR AWARDS WEEKEND;
KICKS OFF PROMOTIONAL TOUR FOR NEW CD JANUARY 20 AT
CATHEDRAL OF PRAISE COGIC IN NASHVILLE
Carr to Receive James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award at
The 28th Annual Stellar Awards and will be Honored as BMI Trailblazer
CARR’S 7th CD – BLESS THIS HOUSE – IN STORES JANUARY 22
New York, NY – January 11, 2013 – The new year is off to a bright start for Gospel artist Kurt Carr, who will release his 7th CD project – the double disc BLESS THIS HOUSE – on January 22.
The weekend prior to the CD release, Carr will be celebrated in Nashville as he receives the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award at the 28th Annual Stellar Awards. This is an especially humbling honor for Carr, who received his break in Gospel music when Cleveland hired him as a keyboard player. The day prior to the Stellar Awards, Carr will be honored at the BMI Trailblazer’s Luncheon, which annually salutes premier Gospel artists in an afternoon of stirring tributes.
A Musical Evening with Kurt Carr will be presented on Sunday, January 20 at Cathedral of Praise Church of God In Christ in Nashville. Attendees will be treated to a one-of-a-kind evening with Carr, who will provide an exclusive BLESS THIS HOUSE experience. “We are always interested in involving ourselves in areas that will uplift and empower people through the Word of God,” said Bishop Jerry L. Maynard, Senior Pastor of Cathedral of Praise church. “I believe we will be uplifted through the music of Kurt Carr and inspired by his style of praise and worship, which has drawn thousands to a closer relationship with Christ.” After leaving Nashville, Carr will make promotional stops in Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago.
Written and produced by Carr, BLESS THIS HOUSE is comprised of 17 lush songs of encouragement and gratitude. The title track was a last minute addition that came to Carr while he was in Los Angeles to record the final songs for the CD. “I woke up at 4 a.m. in the morning with that title [in my mind]. I thought that would be a great way to summarize all of the music because I wanted to do an album full of songs that were great for the church experience,” he says. “I tried to go back to sleep and I couldn’t, so I sat up in my bed and wrote that song. I went to the studio around noon and when I taught it to my singers the worship was so strong that I knew this song was God-give and I knew it was the title cut.”
The first single, “I’ve Seen Him Do It,” was selected by Gospel music fans. Last Fall, Verity Gospel Music Group ran a poll across a variety of websites so that fans could choose either “I’ve Seen Him Do It” or “Bless This House” as the first single. “I think this song will touch and inspire believers everywhere because every believer has seen God do miraculous things,” says Carr. Open this link to hear “I’ve Seen Him Do It” → http://youtu.be/MYuEjAWdw8g.
BLESS THIS HOUSE also features soaring praise and worship ballads such as “There Is A Sound” featuring Yvette Williams; “Praise and Worship” featuring Nikitta Foxx and “Touched By The Fountain of Grace” featuring Troy Bright – all which, in true Carr form, possess the pomp, majesty and classical ceremony of light opera.
A very well-rounded project, the 2-disc set also features high energy songs surely to become praise team favorites, such as
“Oh Magnify The Lord” and “Great God Great Praise.” The pop-infused “We Gotta Put Jesus Back,” featuring 7 year old Myles Caton, speaks of society breaking down as a result of taking Jesus out of Christmas and removing prayer from public schools. The solution: Put Jesus back! There’s a feel good vintage R&B vibe to “It’s A Good Day” which proclaims “every day you wake up…it’s a good day.”
Over the last 20 years, Kurt Carr’s songs have become Sunday morning staples. Such modern day hymns as “In the Sanctuary,” “The Presence of the Lord Is Here,” “For Every Mountain,” “God Blocked It,” and “Peace and Favor Rest on Us” are standards in Gospel music. After graduating from college and experiencing several mentorships with Gospel greats Richard Smallwood and Reverend James Cleveland, Carr put together his own ensemble, The Kurt Carr Singers, and released his debut album Together in 1991. Songs from his debut, such as “Holy, Holy, Holy” reflect Carr’s unique ability to amalgamate classical and Gospel sounds effortlessly.
Carr says his new project, BLESS THIS HOUSE, builds upon his masterful work of the past, and is a continuum of who he is.
“I believe I’ve come into what my niche and what my purpose is,” says Carr. “And that is to make music that edifies the body and blesses the church of Jesus Christ.”
BLESS THIS HOUSE will be in stores January 22, 2013.
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For More Information, Contact:
Kymberlee Norsworthy/212-833-6640
CD Also Launches Kurt Carr Gospel, A Zomba Gospel Imprint
New York, NY – September 11, 2008 – Internationally renowned and celebrated, Kurt Carr is one of the brightest jewels in the crown of Gospel music. He has penned numerous #1 songs, including the ubiquitous “In the Sanctuary” – which has been translated into nine different languages, re-recorded by 20 different acts and is a Sunday morning favorite at churches around the globe. Since his 2005 release “One Church,” Carr has helmed numerous projects including “I Never Lost My Praise,” the critically acclaimed “comeback” CD for the legendary Tramaine Hawkins; and Bishop Paul Morton’s powerful “Still Standing.” On October 28, with the release of his 7th CD JUST THE BEGINNING, Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr singers reunite to deliver a powerful opus of good ‘ole church music with Carr’s trademark cross-generational, cross-cultural appeal.
“The last album was a thematic album; it was a stretch,” says Carr. “We had bagpipes, accordion— sounds that have never been associated with Gospel music,” Carr says. “The songs on ‘Just The Beginning’ are very singer-friendly, very congregational. This time, I’m going back to my roots.”
JUST THE BEGINNING offers Carr’s unique brand of Sunday-morning liturgies and soaring choir-friendly melodies. The first single “Peace & Favor Rest On Us” is a clarion call that points listeners to the essence of life in Christ. The song is destined to be an enduring classic. Another high energy track is “Don’t Let Your Light Go Out,” which is preceded by a musical treat from 89-year-old Narcissus Hinton-Brown, a traditional soloist from Carr’s hometown in Hartford, Connecticut and one of his mentors. “As a kid, she was a star soloist at my church,” says Carr. I didn’t start going to church until I was 15 and God used people like Narcissus to inspire me in my musical journey. I just always wanted to do something special for her because she never received great national acclaim, yet she remained steadfast and faithful to her calling.
“I feel like this CD is for people like Narcissus because people need to be reminded that age nor circumstance matter when it comes to God’s blessings. God also touched my heart to take her to the White House, and she tore that place up! So no one should ever stop believing God has great things in store for them.”
“Psalm 23 – I Don’t Have To Want For Anything” features Kurt Carr and the dynamic vocals of contemporary christian vocal group Avalon. It is a pure praise and worship song that musically interprets one of the most well known scriptures in the bible. “Right Time, Right Place” is at once rousing and reassuring and beautifully demonstrates Carr’s penchant for complex, neo-classical arrangements, while “Spiritual Makeover Extreme” is powerful with its never ending hook declaring ‘I don’t look like what I’ve been through.’
“This CD represents the beginnings of many new horizons for me,” says Carr. “New adventures, new business relationships, I’m excited about what the Lord has in store.
“More importantly, God has called me to preserve and perpetuate the music of the church so that there’s substance to feed seasoned saints, and new converts once we catch them. That summarizes my calling, and these songs are those that God has given for such a time as this.”
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For More Information, Contact Zomba Gospel Publicity:
Kymberlee Norsworthy/212-833-6640/[email protected]
Jamie Clark/212-833-6649/[email protected]
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