Kim Burrell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kim Burrell | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Background information | ||
| Origin | Houston, Texas | |
| Genre(s) | Gospel, Jazz | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, arranger, producer | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, Piano | |
| Years active | 1995-present | |
| Label(s) | Pearl Records, Tommy Boy Gospel, Elektra Records, Epic Records/Sony Gospel | |
| Website | KBCrewProductions.com | |
Kimberly Burrell Wiley [1] is an American gospel singer from Houston, TX. She calls her musical style jazz gospel. Though she is comparatively new to the gospel music industry, having only debuted in 1995, she has quickly become one of the most influential voices in the genre.
Contents |
[edit] Life and career
Burrell began her gospel career at a young age performing with Reverend James Cleveland's Gospel Music Workshop Choir, Trinity Temple Full Gospel Mass Choir of Dallas and The Inspirational Sounds Mass Choir of Houston.[2]
Her first independent album Try Me Again was delivered on the Texas-based boutique label Pearl Records in 1995. Though limited distribution kept the album from nationwide recognition, it did build a strong buzz that helped her get signed to Tommy Boy Gospel and deliver the now-classic Everlasting Life produced by Asaph Alexander Ward. The album performed well and peaked at #12 on the Billboard Gospel Charts.
Quickly becoming known as a virtuoso vocalist and pianist, it seemed only logical to deliver a live album which Burrell recorded November 2000 at the annual COGIC Convention in Memphis, Tennessee. Though the recording of the concert was widely storied to be troubled requiring notable some overdubs and post-production, the resulting Live In Concert album released in 2001 sated eager fans and earned Burrell a Grammy nomination for Best Soul Gospel Album in 2002.
Though her then-label Tommy Boy Gospel folded shortly after the release of Live In Concert, she soon signed a recording contract with Elektra Records, who had newly considerable success in the gospel market with signing Yolanda Adams and Karen Clark Sheard. Unfortunately, this contract yielded naught but 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[3], but was later featured on Karen Clark Sheard's 2nd Chance album. Since that time, Burrell has become a wife and mother, as well as continuing to perform live and collaborate with other artists.
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 Beyoncé Knowles, Faith Evans, Mariah Carey and more.
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.
Burrell is signed to Epic Records/Sony Gospel and expected to deliver a new album soon.
Burrell is married with one child.
[edit] Recent & Future
- Burrell will be featured on "I Can't Make This Journey (Without You By My Side)," a song from Richard Smallwood's soon-to-be-released Journey: Live In New York. The song was recorded live at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York in August 2005.[4]
[edit] Selected discography
[edit] Albums
 Pearl Records |
 Tommy Boy Gospel |
 Tommy Boy Gospel |
 (re-issue with bonus track) |
[edit] Other
| Year | Title | Artist | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Jesus Paid It All (Reprise)" | Ricky Dillard & New G | Worked It Out | Crystal Rose |
| 1998 | "I Don't Know Why (He Loves Me) (Remix)" | Kim Burrell | Tommy Boy Gospel: Keeping It Real | Tommy Boy Gospel |
| 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 | 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" | Karen Clark-Sheard feat. Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Dorinda Clark Cole, Mary Mary & Missy Elliott | 2nd Chance | 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" | The Stewart Singers featuring Kim Burrell | Back to the Roots | Independent |
| 2003 | "O When I Come" | The Stewart Singers featuring Kim Burrell | Back to the Roots | Independent |
| 2003 | "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 featuring Kim Burrell | Life | Columbia/Sony Gospel |
| 2005 | "Soldier" | The Andrews Brothers featuring Kim Burrell | Free Indeed | Sic Records |
| 2005 | "You Can Change" | Tye Tribbett featuring Kim Burrell | Life | Columbia/Sony Gospel |
| 2005 | "If Your Love Cannot Be Moved" | Stevie Wonder featuring Kim Burrell | A Time 2 Love | Motown |
| 2006 | "Everything Will Be Alright (reprise)" | Tye Tribbett 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 | "Journey" | Richard Smallwood featuring Kim Burrell | Journey: Live In New York | Verity |
[edit] References
- ^ Nourishing the soul through song. Essence Lifestyle magazine.
- ^ Diva for the New Millenium: An Interview with Kim Burrell. GospelFlava.com.
- ^ Missy Elliott has raised the bar on hip-hop. BlackFlix.com.
- ^ Murray, Jawn (August 30, 2005). Jubilant Journey. AOL Black Voices.
[edit] External links
- KB Crew Productions Official site
- Kim Burrell Official Sony Music Website
- Kim Burrell at the Internet Movie Database
- Kim Burrell at All Music Guide
 This article about an United States singer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
