Depending on whether or not you watched much of BET‘s hit gospel talent search, Sunday Best, you may or may not have heard of Shari Addison (she was the runner-up to the winner, Crystal Aikin). But if you haven’t yet, you soon shall…
Honestly, I had heard of her, but wasn’t really checking for her. I planned to listen one day, but hadn’t gotten around to it. I played myself! LOL
Last week, my wife and I watched an episode of the Bobby Jones International Gospel Industry Retreat, airing on The Word Network, and she was a featured guest. She was singing an old James Cleveland cut, “Please Make Me Better.” In the interest of full disclosure, I have to tell you that I immediately thought “she’s cool, but more of the same.” Not so!
This sister got to singin’ and shufflin’ across that stage, and I nearly LOST MY MIND. She BRINGS IT! And I cannot stop listening to her and watching the video clips. I love that she praises God from the moment she hits the stage, that she’s got great vocal stamina and stage presence, that she’s mature and seasoned, that she can ad lib well, that she is committed from the first beat to the last… she’s just a refreshing addition to the industry (plus, she’s from Chicago, so you KNOW I’m partial!).
Featuring production and songwriting help from Kevin Bond, Donald Lawrence, and Percy Bady, her self-titled debut album (from Zomba Gospel) is due on January 13th. I can’t wait to hear more from her.
Do yourself a favor and check her out: http://www.bet.com/onblast/?chan=3&id=2326&sub=3&itype=v
(Note: Click the link above for the video clip… it’s the only one I wanted to use, but it’s only available streaming directly from BET directly, so I can’t embed it. BUT WATCH IT!)
LOL... I do love it. Isn't she singing?! My GOODNESS. So, did y'all end up singing it at church yet???
no... i only remembered the choir up/down response to her verses -- without the words in the verse. forgot the bridge completely. remembered the vamp. the band -- youngish guys reared in church like myself -- had never heard it and thought i was nutz. nothing new. BUT OH I JUST SENT AN ATTACK EMAIL WITH A LINK LIKE NOBODY'S BUSINESS. look at how God vendicates me!
Shari is my cousin and when she resurrected that song, "Make Me Better", it became my daily prayer!!! Just wait til you hear the CD. Know this, God promised her a singing career in Gospel Music and she WAITED!! She is 46 years young! If God said it, stagger not at the promise. God told me this morning, "we are still in the year of the opened door"! Walk through it. P.S. She'll be singing at 2 of the events in Washington for the great President Elects Inauguration. Look @ God!
Tammy: Thank you SOOOO much for coming to the site and commenting! Shari is a refreshing addition to the industry and I'm SO excited to hear the CD. I heard about the inauguration events, too. I'm probably gonna post something about 'em. Thanks again!!! Come back soon, ok?
You should let Gwen know that you blogged about Shari. She manages her.
Ok, so I can't let this one go by without commenting. I so love to watch this woman sing. I mean, EJ said it all already, but I have to reiterate how refreshing she is. It's almost like, you want to just lump her in with everyone else, but by the end of the song, she's won you over. Her spirit is truly infectious!
Chloe: Thanks. Will do!
Looks I'll be picking up another CD on January 13th!! :)
His cd is simply amazing, I love the blood still works, conqueror and you reign. Those are my favorites, and of course Nobody greater.