THROWBACK: Shirley Murdock cooks up spiritual nourishment on new CD, "Soulfood"
buzzz worthy. . .
In honor of September being Gospel Music Heritage Month, heres a throw back to Shirley Murdock, one of many artists that enjoy singing gospel ad R&B music.
By Mona Austin
Shirley Murdock is cooking up nourishment for the heart and soul
with her sophomore gospel recording, Soul Food, a multi-format CD.
Upon her buoyant return, the acclaimed singer redresses a subject
that is closely associated with her name: relationship with oneself and
God.
The first serving from her upcoming sophomore album is "I LoveMe
Better than That," a self-esteem boosting groove seasoned deliciously
with positive attitude and a guttural garnish of ad libs at the end that
make you want a second helping.
Her second album is intended to inspire all Shirley Murdock fans
to look to the main man in her life (God) to fortify their relationships
and live balanced lives. "I sing at conferences and prisons. I wanted
the CD to reflect total ministry because we're body, soul and spirit. A
lot of times, in the body of Christ, we aren't balanced. We know how to
do church but do we know how to be a wife or a husband and develop
relationships?"
As she and her husband, Dale Anthony DeGroat (an associate
minister at 2nd Baptist Church in Springfield, OH) began to write and
produce Soul Food themselves, they were looking for songs that talked
about consequences and solutions to consequences.
The Toledo, Ohio born singer describes the first singles that
embodies the vision: ". . .'I Love Me Better Than That' -- dealing with
the fact that God made you on purpose with purpose. But there are some
things that are blocking you that may be separating you from being all
that you ought to be But you got to look into the mirror of your own
life. Your battle might be different from my battle, but whatsoever it
is, God's love is better than that, so take back whatever was stolen
because the enemy cometh to kill, steal and destroy, but Jesus said I
cometh that you might have life more abundantly."
Although she still has droves of fans Murdock has waded through
the waters of misunderstanding from people who still associate her with
her R&B past.
Over twenty years ago Murdock foretold the coming of Internet
dating singing "Computer Love" in tandem with her mentor, the late Roger
Troutman. Debuting as a soloist in 1986 with her self-titled release,
the sultry voice of the former Zapp member wrapped around the lyrics of
several relationship ballads such as the classic urban adagio about an
adulterous affair, "As We Lay" and purred "Husband," which deals with a
woman who resists the desire to cheat with a married man. Her
full-bodied churchy voice quickly gave rise to a successful R&B career.
Then after years of unexplained hibernation she re-emerged with her
signature buttery riffs and runs as a featured artist on T.D. Jakes'
Sacred Love Songs singing the hit love songs for married couples, "You
Are My Ministry," and the "The Lady, Her Lover, Her Lord." Her widely
embraced first gospel album "Home" would soon follow.
"A lot of people want to hold me hostage because of `As We Lay'
but they fail to understand that the song never glorified infidelity,"
she protests. "It dealt with a real life situation. The fact that it was
infidelity got your attention but the meat of the song was about
consequences and hind sight being 20/20. Baby, you got to count up the
cost because you may not be able to afford that thing."
As Murdock grew up dreaming of becoming a professional gospel
singer, secular music was never in her plans. As the story goes, her
cousin took a recording of Shirley singing gospel to Troutman who did
not have any ties to the gospel industry. Being amazed by Murdock's
voice, Roger offered her a deal that she initially refused. "I said,
'Lord is this you?' . . . I wasn't going to leave church and just be out
there in the world doing drugs and drinking." She held on to her roots
transporting listeners to the front pew no matter what she sang about.
Attempting to satisfy her tendency toward gospel she sang a set of
gospel songs in her concerts, but needed more: "My life would not be
full if I did not have an opportunity to sing gospel."
Her break into the gospel industry came through Bishop T.D. Jakes
with total support from Troutman. "I was signed to Warner Brothers to do
another R&B album when Bishop Jakes came into my life and offered to
have me sing on some of his projects. I went to Roger Troutman and told
him what I wanted to do. The first thing he did was release me from my
production deal with him because he knew this meant a lot to me and he
respected that. The second thing he did was that he got Warner Brothers
to release me."
Now she is well on her way to ministering encouragement to those
who love her as the voice behind "As We Lay" or the woman who sang on
Bishop T.D. Jakes' Sacred Love Songs.
To sum up the flavor of Soul Food she says, "It's all that good
stuff you need to build up your inner man to get through this thing
called life. We did songs of encouragement, praise and worship because
His presence is all we need. We [sic] just giving you good
medicine--Something to hold on to!"
In honor of September being Gospel Music Heritage Month, heres a throw back to Shirley Murdock, one of many artists that enjoy singing gospel ad R&B music.
By Mona Austin
Shirley Murdock is cooking up nourishment for the heart and soul
with her sophomore gospel recording, Soul Food, a multi-format CD.
Upon her buoyant return, the acclaimed singer redresses a subject
that is closely associated with her name: relationship with oneself and
God.
The first serving from her upcoming sophomore album is "I LoveMe
Better than That," a self-esteem boosting groove seasoned deliciously
with positive attitude and a guttural garnish of ad libs at the end that
make you want a second helping.
Her second album is intended to inspire all Shirley Murdock fans
to look to the main man in her life (God) to fortify their relationships
and live balanced lives. "I sing at conferences and prisons. I wanted
the CD to reflect total ministry because we're body, soul and spirit. A
lot of times, in the body of Christ, we aren't balanced. We know how to
do church but do we know how to be a wife or a husband and develop
relationships?"
As she and her husband, Dale Anthony DeGroat (an associate
minister at 2nd Baptist Church in Springfield, OH) began to write and
produce Soul Food themselves, they were looking for songs that talked
about consequences and solutions to consequences.
The Toledo, Ohio born singer describes the first singles that
embodies the vision: ". . .'I Love Me Better Than That' -- dealing with
the fact that God made you on purpose with purpose. But there are some
things that are blocking you that may be separating you from being all
that you ought to be But you got to look into the mirror of your own
life. Your battle might be different from my battle, but whatsoever it
is, God's love is better than that, so take back whatever was stolen
because the enemy cometh to kill, steal and destroy, but Jesus said I
cometh that you might have life more abundantly."
Although she still has droves of fans Murdock has waded through
the waters of misunderstanding from people who still associate her with
her R&B past.
Over twenty years ago Murdock foretold the coming of Internet
dating singing "Computer Love" in tandem with her mentor, the late Roger
Troutman. Debuting as a soloist in 1986 with her self-titled release,
the sultry voice of the former Zapp member wrapped around the lyrics of
several relationship ballads such as the classic urban adagio about an
adulterous affair, "As We Lay" and purred "Husband," which deals with a
woman who resists the desire to cheat with a married man. Her
full-bodied churchy voice quickly gave rise to a successful R&B career.
Then after years of unexplained hibernation she re-emerged with her
signature buttery riffs and runs as a featured artist on T.D. Jakes'
Sacred Love Songs singing the hit love songs for married couples, "You
Are My Ministry," and the "The Lady, Her Lover, Her Lord." Her widely
embraced first gospel album "Home" would soon follow.
"A lot of people want to hold me hostage because of `As We Lay'
but they fail to understand that the song never glorified infidelity,"
she protests. "It dealt with a real life situation. The fact that it was
infidelity got your attention but the meat of the song was about
consequences and hind sight being 20/20. Baby, you got to count up the
cost because you may not be able to afford that thing."
As Murdock grew up dreaming of becoming a professional gospel
singer, secular music was never in her plans. As the story goes, her
cousin took a recording of Shirley singing gospel to Troutman who did
not have any ties to the gospel industry. Being amazed by Murdock's
voice, Roger offered her a deal that she initially refused. "I said,
'Lord is this you?' . . . I wasn't going to leave church and just be out
there in the world doing drugs and drinking." She held on to her roots
transporting listeners to the front pew no matter what she sang about.
Attempting to satisfy her tendency toward gospel she sang a set of
gospel songs in her concerts, but needed more: "My life would not be
full if I did not have an opportunity to sing gospel."
Her break into the gospel industry came through Bishop T.D. Jakes
with total support from Troutman. "I was signed to Warner Brothers to do
another R&B album when Bishop Jakes came into my life and offered to
have me sing on some of his projects. I went to Roger Troutman and told
him what I wanted to do. The first thing he did was release me from my
production deal with him because he knew this meant a lot to me and he
respected that. The second thing he did was that he got Warner Brothers
to release me."
Now she is well on her way to ministering encouragement to those
who love her as the voice behind "As We Lay" or the woman who sang on
Bishop T.D. Jakes' Sacred Love Songs.
To sum up the flavor of Soul Food she says, "It's all that good
stuff you need to build up your inner man to get through this thing
called life. We did songs of encouragement, praise and worship because
His presence is all we need. We [sic] just giving you good
medicine--Something to hold on to!"
