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THE PULSE OF ENTERTAINMENT: Deborah Cox gives you a sweet promise with latest CD
Also: Grammy Award nominated R&B singer/songwriter Trueful to re-release debut album with bonus tracks
Deborah Cox gives you a wonderful promise on her first R&B CD release in six years
*Before there was Alicia Keys and Mario, there was Deborah Cox, the “discovery” of Clive Davis when he was at his Arista Records label. Cox was a background singer for Celine Dion when Clive took her under his wing. Thirteen years later after her self titled debut in 1995, which included the hit she co-wrote, “Sentimental,” Deborah releases her first R&B CD in six years on DECO Recording/Image Entertainment titled “The Promise.”
“Last year’s album was a tribute to Dinah Washington, it received a Grammy nomination,” powerhouse vocalist/songwriter Deborah Cox said about her tribute CD off the DECCA label when ask about the long period between albums. “I wanted to mix it up a bit…don’t want them bored,” she went on to say about her new CD, “The Promise.”
Bored you will not be on “The Promise,” which can be considered a party album for Cox - who co-wrote the entire album - and enlisted the help of hit makers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, John Legend and of course her childhood sweet heart, business partner and husband Lascelles Stephens (just to name a few).
“I had so much flexibility,” Deborah said about producing an album on a label she owns. “I have to micro-manage…manager every aspect…It is an insult when corporate people get in the way of creativity. People want to be part of the success... (they) can get in the way.”
But Cox says of the hard work of having your own label is all worth it when you have a product you are totally satisfied with and one that she (and husband) will reap most of the benefits from. Deborah is a multi-platinum selling artist whose second album “One Wish” in 1998 achieved platinum status giving her fans the hits “We Can’t Be Friends” and “No Body is Suppose to Be Here,” which was the number one single for 14 consecutive weeks. In 2002 she released “The Morning After” on Clive Davis’ J Records.
Deborah went on to become an actress appearing in the films “Love Come Down” and “A Good Man is Hard to Find” starring Golden Brooks and Darrin Dewitt Henson, as well as an episode of “Nash Bridges.” She went on to tour in musicals such as David Talbert’s “Love on Layaway” and Tim Rice and Elton Johns’ “Aida.”
The beautiful title track, “The Promise,” is written by John Legend and co-produced by Cox.
“That song amplifies where I am right now as a mother, wife, friend, sister…,” Deborah said about the powerful selection. “I heard the song two years ago and kept that song …its special…a song to sing to a loved one.”
Aside from the title track my favorite cuts on “The Promise” CD are “All Over Me,” co-written by Cox and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, a sexy number; “Where Do We Go From Here,” which she co-wrote, has a Pop dance feel to it; “Love is not Made in Words,” a cute Pop/R&B song, and “Beautiful U R,” which is a “hot” Pop dance number.
French Royalty Records’ debut artist Trueful receives Grammy Award nomination and looks to re-release CD with bonus tracks
“I am always singing….I am told I was singing since I was four,” twenty-year-old R&B singer/songwriter Trueful (Dazel French) said about his musical beginnings that brings him to a point where he has garnered a Grammy Award nomination; opened for rapper Lil’ Flip; performs always with an entire show (which includes hot dancers); performed at Carnegie Hall, The House of Blues, and B.B. King Club, and headlines a college tour and is planning another in January.
His self-titled 2008 debut on his parents “indie” label, French Royalty Records, is full of hot club tracks and some sweet ballads like one of the singles from the CD, “Where ever you go,” which the young artist always sings at the end of a concert while he hands out to the ladies red roses.
“Uplifting Minds II was my first performance (at age 15),” Trueful said about performing at my Los Angeles entertainment conference five years ago. “My mom brought it to my attention, she said, ‘You’re not just a singer, you’re an entertainer.”
Entertaining is certainly his goal when performing. The young gentleman, who prides himself on keeping performances and his music clean, dances, sings, raps and is an awesome song writer. When I saw him perform recently in Long Beach, California at the Rhythm Lounge when he performed at the Star Strucc Entertainment concert featuring Lil’ Flip, the audience went wild over his 30 minute concert performance. During wardrobe changes his dancers kept the crowd entertained. This young superstar is also currently attending UCLA with a dual degree in Recording Engineer, and Songwriting and Music Business.
Trueful has also performed as opening act for singer Rome and Mark Woods, Jr. of Lakeside. Rome was so impressed with him he wants Trueful to duet with him on his new CD.
His label, French Royalty Records, is planning his second college tour, “Welcome to my World,” co-hosted by label-mate comedian/actor Peanut (BET ComicView/The Soloist) to start in January, 2009.
For now you can check Trueful out at his MySpace.com/trueful or catch his December 4th performance at 7 p.m. for the city of Compton at the Heritage House.
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