Veteran soul and gospel vocalist Shirley Murdock is on a journey just as the title of her latest CD, The Journey (Tyscot Records), suggests. Back in the `80s, she set out to become a gospel singer but her path led to becoming a back-up singer for the funk band, Zapp. Bandleader, Roger Troutman, eventually snagged Murdock a record deal with Elektra Records where she recorded Top 10 R&B hits such as “As We Lay,” “Go On Without You,” “Husband” and “In Your Eyes.” Then, in 2002, renowned evangelist Bishop T.D. Jakes made Murdock’s lifelong dream of recording a gospel CD come true when he released her first gospel album, Home, a Top 10 smash.
Over the last two decades, Murdock has dreamed up a new career as an actress in the new holiday musical entitled, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” Murdock co-stars with R&B veteran Freddie Jackson in the comedy that also features Lisa Page Brooks and Sam Logan. In it, Murdock portrays a feisty pastor’s wife who keeps order in her husband’s church and has her eye on her son being paroled from prison right before Christmas. The musical will be staged at the Newark Symphony Hall (Sarah Vaughan Concert Hall), 1020 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102, on Friday, December 16, 2011 and Saturday, December 17, 2011 @ 8 p.m. each night.(973) 643-8014. All tickets $38.32. On Sunday, December 18, 2011 @ 3:30 p.m., the show will make its debut at the famed Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027. Tickets range from $55-$90. Phone: (800) 745-3000. For more information, log on to www.homeforxmas.com
Meanwhile, Murdock’s current radio single “Dream” is in the Top 30 of Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart. It’s one of a dozen musical chestnuts that Murdock either wrote or co-wrote for her first ever live concert CD The Journey (Tyscot Records) that features cameos by R&B divas Kelly Price, Regina Belle and gospel powerhouse Beverly Crawford. This will be Murdock’s second gospel project with Tyscot Records. Her 2007 label debut, Soul Food, included the chart hit “I Love Me Better Than That.” For more information on Shirley Murdock, log on atwww.tyscot.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/
