EMI Gospel recording artist Anita Wilson had a banner year in 2012, as she stepped onto center stage with the release of her debut album, Worship Soul, a powerful and moving 11-song anthology in which Wilson gives the listener a worship experience that extends beyond Sunday morning. The solo album by the
worship leader and former featured vocalist for the award-winning ensemble, Donald Lawrence and Company has garnered rave reviews, as well as nominations for a GRAMMY® Award and three Stellar Awards.
Worship Soul was named as one of the top ten albums of 2012 by celebrated New York Times music critic Ben Ratliff, who described the album as “a set of polished slow ballads and hard funk that keeps moving narratively, turning new pages and stepping to higher levels.”
Wilson received a GRAMMY® Award nomination for Worship Soul for Best Gospel Album of the Year. The 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be televised live on CBS from the Staples Center on Sunday, February 10, 2013. She is ecstatic about the honor. “I am incredibly grateful that my debut project Worship Soul, has been nominated for a GRAMMY,” she exclaimed. “How humbling to even be considered among such amazing artists who consistently inspire me. All glory to God!”
Wilson was nominated for three 2013 Stellar Gospel Music Awards in the categories: Contemporary Female of the Year, Praise & Worship CD of the Year (for Worship Soul) and Urban Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year (for “Speechless”). She will perform at the 28th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN.
In addition, “Speechless,” the lead single from her album, made Billboard‘s Top Ten Gospel Songs chart and had great success at gospel radio. The hit song was featured on the WOW Gospel 2012 album.
This year is also shaping up to be another successful one for Wilson. She will be the featured artist on TBN’s “Praise the Lord” program, and a special concert performance on SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio (airing on Tuesday, January 22 at 5:00 p.m. EST). She will also continue touring around the country to promote Worship Soul.
Wilson grew up in East St. Louis as a “PK” (preacher’s kid). She began singing at the age of five in her father’s church. Prior to her solo turn and work with
Donald Lawrence she was as a background singer for gospel greats such as Hezekiah Walker, Marvin Sapp, DeWayne Woods and Vanessa Bell Armstrong. As Wilson developed her singing style, she merged gospel with jazz and R&B influences from artists such as Sarah Vaughn, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Taking the passion of worship and mixing it with a heart of soul, Anita Wilson has created an inimitable style all her own.
For more information about Anita Wilson, log on to www.msanitawilson.com.