About The Phoenix

I started working on this project in 2017. The first song that I wrote was On Ramp, followed by Summer’s Soul. In fact, the original title for the Project was originally “Summer Soulstice”. However,  in 2018, as the Coronavirus started sweeping through the country and the world, I lost momentum on the project, tending to the more pressing matters of looking after my family. However, in late 2018, as Darian and I began working on the song now called The Phoenix, it became clear to me that this song was indeed a metaphor for the all the musicians in the world, whose livelihoods had been disrupted by the pandemic, but who continued to create and hone their craft, preparing for the return to normalcy and the eventual reemergence of live musical performances.  Therefore for me, this project “The Phoenix” represents the unyielding and immutable musical spirit that cannot be diminished nor contained; not even by a Global Pandemic. A Force that in spite of the enormous challenges and obstacles facing musicians around the world, will indeed rise from the ashes to continue to bless the world with the Spirit of Notes in Time.

Album Art

Juxtaposed onto the backdrop of the Global Pandemic was of course the murder of George Floyd. I wanted the album art to reflect the painful yet necessary awakening of our sense of humanity, justice, and love and could think of no better symbol of this essence than the Black Queen.
 

Acknowledgements

I want to thank The Creator for the inspiration that has made my vision become a reality, my wife Cynthia for her loving support of my second project, and also my children Pelham, Corey and Madison for their love, support and encouragement.

I also want to thank all of the amazing musicians who sang and played on this project namely Rob McDonald (My Detroit Homie), Meta ‘LP, Tad Gulley, Prayre Aneau, Brett Gaines, Rod Kelley, Darian Emory and Jason Meekins. And lastly, I would like to thank my fellow Morehouse brother Eric Maxie for coming through AGAIN with some amazing lyrics!

I would also like to thank my Detroit Homie Jesse Tolbert @ Studio Mekka, Toronto for his support in helping me realize my vision for this Project.

 

Production Credits

All songs recorded @ Wilda Mae Studios, Smyrna, GA

All songs Mixed and Mastered @ Studio Mekka, Montreal, Canada