You won’t find yourself skipping any of these tracks, at least not until you’ve identified with your favorites. The Music on this Soulful-R&B CD simply sells itself from beginning to end. You will truly be reminded of the music of the late, Marvin Gaye , Gladys Knight fast forward to Stephanie Mills, Phyllis Hyman and Anita Baker . The music of Singer-Songwriter Marilyn Ashford-Brown will pull you in and take you on an inspiring musical journey, one much longed for considering the direction today’s music has taken. Best of all she holds her own and can compete with the best. So, if you love REAL MUSIC, then this CD is for you….Enjoy!
I began writing the music during a time when our economy was rapidly declining. People were losing jobs, homes and financial investments in unbelievable record numbers and it's still happening even today. I found myself asking, what would Marvin Gaye be singing about had he still been with us? Having asked the question, the molody and lyrics came to life for track one titled: " I've Got A Feeling" . This song is so REAL, and VERY TIMELY of current events taking place in the world we live in today. As the opening lines go: " Fear is in the air, everybody's running scared. Stock markets crashing on the downfall, Crooks are everywhere". Both music and lyrics will simply draw you into a world of reality by asking, What Is Really Going On? Sadly, the completion of this CD came on the day that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson went home. I know he's dancing in Heaven and making a joyful noise.
Track two titled: "Old-School" says it all. I am old school and refuse to conform to what the new music industry's ideals of what and how I should be marketed or who I should try and sound like. Though I find myself in a youth dominated industry, I must stay true to myself by realizing that there is a market for my music in every age and category. As the lyrics go, "You can call me old-school A---I don't give a darn what they say, you can call me yesterday, I'm keeping my music, singing my music".... Now, THAT's the truth. Though the quality of music may have changed, people's thirst for good music hasn't. What I sat out to do, was to put back some of the integrity that has somehow been lost in the black music culture, especially in Soul-R&B. I want to remind my listeners of the days when reaL good music was pure and appreciated. Remember the yesterday's of Marvin Gaye, Ashford & Simpson and the Motown Sounds and how it impacted the entire music industry? If you can remember, and want to recapture the essence of f pure soul-R&B, then come aboard and allow the depths of your soul to be truly enriched and transformed with real music elements.....your soul will truly be satisfied....This is the SENSATIONAL SOUNDS OF..... Marilyn Ashford Brown.
A very special thanks Dewey Hughes who saw in me, what I was much too young to understand way back when. I was only 14 or 15 years old when I auditioned for a high school talent show in my hometown, Washington, D. C. Following my audition, a gentleman came to me to say that Mr. Hughes would like to speak with me. Dewey Hughes encouraged me to "never stop singing, no matter what". He apparently, knew something that I didn't. I had no idea that this journey would be such a long one. This CD is evidence of my my ability to truly PERSEVERE and overcome all OBSTACLES.
To: Elton John, let's take a tour and spread love all over God's World. I BELIEVE IN LOVE, IT'S ALL WE'VE GOT". To: Barbara Streisand, I wrote "Joy" just for you whenever you're ready to record it....IT'S YOUR'S. To: The Hollywood movie Industry, there's lots of great music on this CD that would make great movie soundtracks...DARE TO LISTEN.
Finally, the best part of releasing this "Just Doing Me" CD is receiving such an outstanding CD Review from one of the toughest Music Critics at the Washington Post. Read for yourself and see what Mike Joyce had to say about this CD.
Friday, September 4, 2009
MARILYN ASHFORD-BROWN
"Just Doing Me!"
Kindred spirits: Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige, Marvin Gaye
Show: Wednesday at Blues Alley. Shows start at 8 and 10 p.m. 202-337-4141. http://www.bluesalley.com.
Marilyn Ashford-Brown isn't the sort of R&B vocalist who needs to rely on songwriters for inspiration, and her output almost always seems tailor-made to suit her talents and capitalize on her influences. The veteran vocalist insists that she's "old-school" on her latest release, "Just Doing Me!," an album almost entirely devoted to original songs.
Listeners scarcely need to be reminded of her musical roots when she alludes to Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke on the inspirational opener, "I've Got a Feeling," or when she lets her voice soar from sassy tones to falsetto flourishes on other cuts. Producer-keyboardist Derek Wille underscores her ties to vintage R&B and classic soul with arrangements laced with funk accents, double-stop guitar licks and dramatic modulations.
Still, for all her old-school passions and yearning balladry, Ashford-Brown is very much a contemporary artist. An alliance with rapper Lasalle Marciani comes off without a hitch on "Commitment," a cover of "Louisiana Sunday Afternoon" shines brightly and there are times, on "Don't Be Stupid" and other tracks, when the lyrics prove topical and pointed. In the end, Ashford-Brown covers a lot ground, with personality and assurance to spare.
-- Mike Joyce
This is REAL MUSIC….Enjoy!
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