Winans' latest, "Thy Kingdom Come," is notably richer and more eclectic than the standard contempo-gospel release. Sweet but earthy lead arias mix with punchy rhythms and uncommonly strong lyrics. The singer refuses to let us kick back and listen: participation is required.
Seven-time GRAMMY winner CeCe Winans is set to once again share with the world her passion, praise-and-worship with her long-awaited eighth career album, Thy Kingdom Come, due April 1 on Winans' own PureSprings Gospel label.
Produced by award-winning hit-makers Tommy Sims, Luther "Mano" Hanes, Percy Bady, Cedric & Victor Caldwell (along with CeCe's son Alvin Love III as co-producer) and new comers Christopher Capehart and Brannon Tunie. The 14-track disc finds the beloved gospel vocalist performing empowering, congregationally accessible songs of praise, intimate worship and inspiration.
"When you're in the throne room, your focus is just God," Winans said. "Nothing's more powerful than that. When you do other music?positive music, gospel, inspirational, whatever you want to name it?you're teaching lessons to other people, which is still very important. But nothing's more powerful than when you're face to face with God."
Thy Kingdom Come is the follow-up to 2005's chart-topping Purified, which showcased the gospel veteran interpreting buoyant, life-affirming songs with a contemporary edge. The album earned the songstress her sixth and seventh GRAMMY awards in the categories of Best Gospel Performance and Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.
For Thy Kingdom Come, Winans performs heartfelt, earnest songs for God and His church, reminiscent of her career-defining, RIAA Platinum-and Gold-selling albums Alone in His Presence, Alabaster Box, and Throne Room.
"It's great to sing songs that help us or that encourage us to live right, or to talk right, or to love each other?and those are all powerful messages, things that God smiles upon," Winans said. "But when you just talk about the power of the living God and His awesomeness and His holiness, nothing is more powerful than that. It penetrates the heart more than anything."
The first single "Waging War" was serviced to radio and went for adds Feb 25. In preparation for the eagerly anticipated album, she also has some upcoming speaking and concert dates which include an April 10 performance in Fort Hood, Texas, as part of the "Salute to Our Heroes" event. Winans will also be appearing on TBN's Praise the Lord on April 14th, performing new music.
You can be one of the first to experience an amazing time of praise and worship with one of Gospel Music's most admired?devotional singers, CECE WINANS.?
Though times of bleakness and recession are being reported and hopelessness is the order of the day, we must continue to invest in what will remind us of the report of the Lord, and that's worship. The selection of tunes were designed to bring joy, encouragement and take you to a place that true worshippers love to dwell. To keep up with CeCe's appearances and find more info about THY KINGDOM COME just by visiting www.cecewinans.com
Also hear "Waging War" at http://www.spotlightgrooves.com/WagingWarcece.m4a
For a limited time, you can get an?advanced track from?CeCe's new album called "Forever"! This track is out ahead of the album but Verizon has it NOW on VCast!??On your?cell phone?handset, go to VCast Music and look under "What's New".??Plus Verizon is making all of CeCe's new Ringtunes and Ringbacks available?in an artist feature folder on Tuesday, April 1 featuring hit radio track "Waging War"?plus more!?Just go to the Verizon Wireless VZW Tones Deluxe?store via your cell phone handset?and and look under "Featured".?You'll see CeCe's smiling face with the other 9 featured artists.
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Multiple GRAMMY, Dove, Stellar, and Soul Train award winner CeCe Winans is one of the leading female vocalists in pop and Christian/gospel music. In her more than two decades as a performer, she has sold more than 3 million albums as a solo artist and 5 million as part of blockbuster duo BeBe & CeCe Winans, as well as attained a number of smash singles, including the epic "Count on Me," her hit R&B duet with Whitney Houston. Throughout her career, Winans has garnered widespread media coverage, including cover stories for Essence, Jet, Women's World, CCM, and Today's Christian Woman, plus high-profile appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Live with Regis & Kathie Lee, Oprah, and countless more. In 1999, Winans launched PureSprings Gospel, a boutique imprint for her own albums and those of new, up-and-coming talent in gospel music and beyond.