Passionate Praise is one way to describe the inspiring, contemporary gospel grooves of Tampa, Florida’s rising gospel star, Toni Rackard. For the last dozen years, she’s quietly built a following on the Florida music scene and even toured Europe with the renowned Harlem Gospel Choir. As her first national radio single “You Pulled Me Through” (a sizzling duet with Marvin Winans Jr.) continues to gain momentum at gospel radio stations around the country, buzz is also building for the release of Rackard’s forthcoming debut CD “Unconditional Love” on October 26, 2010.
The project is the first joint venture between Rackard’s Beyond The Veil (BTV) recording label and the Emtro Gospel/Taesis Music Group. “We are planning to release other artists in the future,” says Rackard’s husband, Derrick, BTV’s CEO. Emtro Gospel has enjoyed Top 10 radio hits such as Alvin Darling’s “All Night,” “Troy Sneed’s “Work It Out,” and Youth for Christ’s “Struggle is Over” that spent 12 weeks at #1 in 2007.
The CD features a smooth jazz reading of Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day” and closes with the aggressive club track, “The Kingdom Slide.” In between, there are songs of praise such as Rackard’s cover of Hillsong’s “Sing of Your Great Love” and the urban-flavored anthem “Unconditional love.” “You don’t have to be a in a box because you’re saved,” Rackard says of the fresh urban sound of the song. “We are to have fun and rejoice but also spread the importance of intimacy with God.” Rackard is the praise and worship leader at Jesus People Family Worship Center in Tampa, FL. Visit www.tonirackard.com for more information.
