Damien Sneed is an award-winning artist who excels in classical, jazz, gospel, and contemporary music. He is a rising star who is widely admired for his range of musical talents and his extraordinary achievements in his burgeoning career. A 2014 recipient of the prestigious Sphinx Medal of Excellence, which is presented annually to emerging Black and Latino leaders in classical music, Sneed has also garnered attention in a wide range of other musical genres, including jazz, gospel, pop and R&B. He has already been featured in the New York Times multiple times for his work in various genres. A pianist, organist, conductor, composer, producer, arranger, vocal coach and lecturer, Sneed has worked with jazz, classical, pop and R&B legends such as Wynton Marsalis, Jessye Norman, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Carlos Santana, Ashford & Simpson, David Sanborn, and Kenny Burrell.
Sneed’s other professional affiliations have included The Juilliard School as a staff accompanist, Jazz at Lincoln Center as an artistic consultant, the City University of New York (CUNY) as a professor of music, New Brunswick Theological Seminary as an instructor, The Boys Choir of Harlem as an accompanist, the Martina Arroyo Foundation as an artistic consultant, and Yamaha as an endorsed Influential Artist. In September, 2014, he will be an adjunct faculty member of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University.
Sneed created an independent label, LeChateau Earl Records, with Bishop Iona Locke in 2009. Through spiritual, gospel, jazz and other musical genres, LeChateau Earl, which means House of Nobility, is committed to giving artists an opportunity to deliver fresh music capable of inspiring the masses. The label reflects the Sneed’s varied musical interests. It boasts music from critically-acclaimed artists such as Bishop Iona Locke, Damien Sneed, and Lawrence Brownlee; upcoming inspirational music stars such as Tekesha Russell; and two groups assembled and directed by Sneed: the musically versatile Chorale LeChateau, and the gospel ensemble, the Levites.
Sneed released his debut solo album, “Introspections LIVE,” on the label in 2011, followed by the 2012 release of “Kingdom Victory Live”, the musical debut of Iona Locke. Sneed’s credits on Locke’s two-disc CD include producer, writer, musical director, keyboards and vocals. In June, 2013, the label released “Spiritual Sketches,” a compilation of traditional spirituals freshly arranged by Sneed and performed by world renowned operatic tenor Lawrence Brownlee. In the fall of 2013, the label released the EP, “Broken to Minister,” featuring the Levites. Also, in 2013, the label released the single, “God Bless America,” from the “Introspections LIVE CD.” The label released Tekesha Russell’s debut project on April 19, 2014. Sneed has produced all of the projects released by LeChateau Earl Records.
In Damien Sneed Words:
This is the first day of Black Music Month and the first video features raw and unedited snippets taken from my first recording, “Introspections LIVE,” which was recorded at Columbia University’s Miller Theater. The project is available on iTunes and contains the following musicians and singers:
“Introspections Live”
Damien Sneed, piano, vocals, composer, arranger, producer
Bishop Iona Locke, spoken word and exhortation
Ali Jackson, drums
Dezron Douglas, upright bass
Kenneth T. Whalum III, saxophone
Tekesha Rolle Russell, lead on “Hallelujah Says It All” and “Just For Me”
Preston Robinson, dancer
David Bratton, organ on “His Love Is Sure” only
Arcel Vickers, organ on entire project
Leon Lacey, acoustic guitar
Jermaine Parrish, drums
Brian Cockerham, electric bass
Timiney Figueroa-Caton, lead on “His Love Is Sure”
Rev. Darius Thomas, lead on “Send Your Anointing”
Cherub Alethia Ruth, lead on “Send Your Anointing”
Chenee Campbell, lead on “God Bless America”
Charles Wesley Evans, soloist on “This River”
Audrey Dubois Harris, soloist on “Give Me Jesus”
Melonie Daniels, lead on “A Place Called There”
Anaysha Figueroa, lead on “Here With You”
San Franklin-Jackson, lead on “Healer of My Emotions”
Bettina Pennon, lead on “Jehovah God, You Are My All”
Nikki Ross, lead on “God Is Blessing Me”
Chorale Le Chateau, background vocals
Cassondra Kellam, soprano
LaShaye Paschal, soprano
Chenee Campbell, soprano
Rev. Darius Thomas, tenor
Djore Nance, tenor
Linny Smith, tenor
Tiffany Stevenson, alto
Melaine Rochford, alto
Cherub Alethia Ruth, alto
Jeff “Jedi” Jones, producer
