Beryl Quinton

Artist Information

Biography

BERYL QUINTON - Artist (Vocalist/Keyboard) featured on EWTN and among winners in 2009 International Christian Art Competition, Song/Music Category, sponsored by Stephen Sawyer's Art4God website. Born to a musical and God-centered family, with radio/TV/stage performances as a child, Beryl’s experience ranges from a “doo-wop” group in high school, to her own rock band, raising 5 children, singing in the “Papal Choir” during Pope John Paul II’s visit to New Orleans in 1987, and a group musical ministry at her parish church for over 25 years. Beryl was once the Civilian Personnel Director for the Eighth District of the U. S. Coast Guard; and, after completing her Federal career, was Choir Director at St. Louis Cathedral Catholic Elementary School from 2001-2004. In 2002, under her direction, her "children" performed their gospel music at the New Orleans Jazz Fest. A descendant of the Caruso family, Beryl's father David was a Plumber and a New Orleans composer with a couple of notable compositions back in the 20's; her mother, a schoolteacher; and her brother David Jr., an attorney, the composer of the title song of her first CD "Like The Seagull."
Having survived her own personal tragedies -- including the loss of a child, her teenage daughter, in a fatal automobile accident -- through the years, Beryl has poured the emotion of losses and faith into her music. That is what her music ministry is all about... connecting with persons seeking God's presence, and also with hurting souls needing God's intervention in the midst of crisis or tragedy. Fan response to her music validates this connection. More recently, with their home in New Orleans destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and now relocated to Baton Rouge LA, Beryl and her husband Juan are grateful for their survival and recovery from the storm, and also for their blessings of talent, love, and the opportunity to share with others their abundant love of Jesus Christ through their music.
JUAN QUINTON, JR. - Artist (Vocalist) and Percussionist. Juan has a primary career in law enforcement with the New Orleans Police Department. His musical heritage carries on to the fourth generation of his family a name which originated with his great-grandfather Juan Bautista Quinton, a composer and organist who studied at the Conservatory of Paris before moving to Puerto Rico. Juan's grandfather Jose Ignatio Quinton later became one of the island's most celebrated composers, known especially for his Danzas and Requiem Mass. Juan's father Bobby Quinton was a pianist known for his "Bach to Boogie" at locations such as Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, La Lune, and Bobby Quinton's Lounge on Tulane Avenue.
BERYL AND JUAN have been in the photography business since 1983. Both she and Juan were in rock bands in the early years, but it was at St. Dominic over 25 years ago that they met, both having joined the "Contemporaries," a guitar group in which they participated until the end of August 2006. "Endless Love," one of the tracks on "Amazing Graces," was their first duet sung at a friend's wedding. They are now members of the 11:30 a.m. choir at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church in Baton Rouge LA, with Juan once again providing percussion and vocals.
In the production of "Amazing Graces," the musical depiction of a Christian lifetime, their home was utilized as a "recording studio," and Beryl did the pre-mixes before bringing the tracks to Marc Hewitt at Sound Services Studio in New Orleans for final mixing and mastering. She also prepared the CD artwork for the cover, traycard and discface.
As an independent Christian recording artist, Beryl has released three CD's and a music video distributed throughout the United States, and also to other parts of the world, including Australia, England, Ireland and China. Her songs/albums are also available for downloads on major internet sites, such as, Napster, iTunes, and Rhapsody.
Beryl's CD releases and music video have been recognized in nationwide U. S. competition sponsored by the United Catholic Music and Video Association (UCMVA), reaching finalist status in both 2002 and 2005 Awards. Her music has also been accepted by the Catholic cable network EWTN, to be featured in their programming.
http://www.berylquinton.com

Instrumentation

Beryl Quinton - Keyboard/Vocals
Juan Quinton, Jr. - Vocals
Juan Quinton, Jr. - Percussion
Elizabeth Caruso – Vocal
Members of St. Louis Cathedral Catholic Elementary School Choir – “Back-Up” Vocals
Lee Quinton - Guitar
Frank Janusa - Guitar
Timmy Todd - Bass Guitar
Vince Tividad – Bass Guitar
Barry Bouvier - Keyboard
Mike Burtchaell - Keyboard/Trumpet
Mike Doyle - Keyboard
Judy Seghers - Harp
Christopher Drayton - Sequencer/Keyboard

Blessed with an elite group of musicians participating in the creation of "Amazing Graces," it was known from the beginning that most would be unavailable to sign on for a band commitment. When performing, Beryl and Juan use instrumental studio mixes as accompaniment, occasionally adding a lead guitar and/or keyboard. Juan's vocals and percussion are unique. Never conforming to the usual "ho-hum" drumming techniques, he has been instrumental in transforming the Christian lifetime which is the theme of "Amazing Graces" into a living and breathing experience. Beryl's primary focus is vocals, using her keyboard mostly to prepare accompaniments for church cantoring. Currently, she is studying pipe organ and loving every minute of it.

Discography

(Released in 2005/Widescreen DVD) "Following Christ" Music Video from "Amazing Graces" CD
(Released in 2004) "Amazing Graces"
(Released in 2004) "Jesus, I Trust In You" (Single)
(Released in 2001) "Like The Seagull"

Official Website

http://www. berylquinton.com

Audio

• Amazing Grace ("House of the Rising Sun"melody)
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• Blessings
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• Following Christ
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• The Garden
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• America, God's Country
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• Promised Land
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• Jesus. I Trust In You
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• Righteousness, Peace and Joy
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• Righteousness, Peace and Joy
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• By My Side
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• Bridal Prayer
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• Endless Love
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• Somewhere Out There
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Lyrics

• Amazing Grace (
• Blessings
• Following Christ
• The Garden
• America, God's Country
• Promised Land
• I Will Praise the Lord All My Life
• Jesus, I Trust In You
• By My Side
• Bridal Prayer
• Endless Love
• Somewhere Out There

Video

"Following Christ" fm. "Amazing Graces" CD Release

Photo Gallery

Press

• Beryl Quinton (Bio) [+ Show ]
  

  Beryl's personal music ministry evolved from a group ministry at her parish church. No stranger to p...Beryl's personal music ministry evolved from a group ministry at her parish church. No stranger to public performances, as a young adult "Lady Soul" was her slogan when she was the front vocalist for her own rock band. Through the years, she simply traded a bandstand for a church altar and is now immersed in a personal music ministry, offering three CD's -- two full-length and a single. With grown children, an 15-year-old granddaughter named Harmony, a 7-year-old grandson named Logan and a 3-year-old grandson named Gabriel, a successful "first" career behind her, and having performed all types of music (country, rock, jazz standards, and Dixieland jazz), Beryl is taking advantage of the opportunity for a "second" career embracing her lifetime love of music. While working and raising her children, Beryl and her husband Juan participated in a group music ministry as members of the "Contemporaries" -- a contemporary guitar group at St. Dominic Parish in New Orleans, remaining active until the end of August 2006. Beryl's personal music ministry was added in 1994. With Katrina destroying their New Orleans home, Beryl and Juan relocated to Baton Rouge LA; and became members of the St. Jude the Apostle 9:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. choirs. Beryl still plays and sings for local weddings, funerals, baptisms, masses, and special church events. Having her husband Juan participate in the creation of "Amazing Graces" has been a special blessing, with his beautiful voice and unique percussion.

• Press Release [+ Show ]
  

  Just released is "Amazing Graces." An adventure in music, from the cradle to the grave; from baptism...Just released is "Amazing Graces." An adventure in music, from the cradle to the grave; from baptism to funeral; from a glimpse of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane to glowing descriptives of the Promised Land; from New Orleans "funk" to a patriotic second-line; from a pure harp accompaniment to back-up singers ranging in age from 8 to 13; church bells accompany the listener through life's joys, pain, romance, grief, and hope. With the theme of "Amazing Graces" established as the journey of souls on earth, church bells resound as God blesses us with His wonderful graces in one intimate encounter after another, beginning with our Baptism. Beryl's first CD "Like The Seagull" is a reflection of the vocals of a single cantor in church, with very simple accompaniment. Seventeen of her most-requested hymns are featured, with an original title song composed by Beryl's brother David Caruso, Jr. Receiving 9 nominations in nationwide Catholic musical competition, including Best New Artist and Best Song of 2002, Beryl found her first release in the final balloting among the elite of Christian recording artists. Featured on EWTN, the title song of Beryl's new single "Jesus, I Trust In You" is presented with a new "Our Father" by the same composer, with vocal and instrumental tracks suitable for individual/congregational sing-a-long. Artist History: Born to a musical and God-centered family, with radio/TV performances as a child, Beryl's experience ranges from a "doo-wop" group in high school, to her own rock band, raising five children, singing in the "Papal Choir" during Pope John Paul's visit to New Orleans in 1987, and a group ministry with the "Contemporaries" (a contemporary guitar group at St. Dominic Church). From this group ministry, Beryl also launched her own personal music ministry several years ago, and sings for "church gigs," i.e., masses, weddings, funerals, and baptisms. Now relocated to Baton Rouge LA because of Hurricane Katrina, Beryl and her husband Juan are members of the St. Jude the Apostle 11:30 a.m. choir, and Beryl continues her personal music ministry.
  
  

• Finalist in Six Categories of 2005 UCMVA Awards Competition [+ Show ]
  

  During the aftermath of Katrina, with their home destroyed, Beryl and Juan Quinton learned that thei...During the aftermath of Katrina, with their home destroyed, Beryl and Juan Quinton learned that their recent CD/DVD releases had received nineteen nominations for the 2005 United Catholic Music and Video Association (UCMVA) nationwide competition. While they were still in the midst of Katrina survival and cleanup, when the final ballots were distributed for membership voting, six of those nominations remained. "Following Christ" track 5 on Beryl's full-length CD release "Amazing Graces" and one of her original compositions, was among the finalists for 2005 Song of the Year. "America, God's Country," Beryl's father's 1926 original composition rearranged to reflect the second-line tradition of New Orleans, was a finalist in the Modern Rock/Alternative Song of the Year category. The title song of her devotional CD single, "Jesus, I Trust In You," was a finalist in the Devotional Song of the Year category. Her "Following Christ" music video was among the finalists in three separate music video categories: Music Video/DVD of the Year, Video/DVD Producer of the Year, and Video/DVD Packaging of the Year. Though unable to attend the Awards Show in St. Paul, MN on November 12, 2005, Beryl and Juan are to be congratulated as finalists in this prestigious competition. As independent artists without the sponsorship of a major Christian label, their achievements are impressive and deserving of praise.
  

• American Catholic Meeting Southern Baptist [+ Show ]
  

  July 30, 2006 -- This is the kind of CD that really defies categorization. I think the closest I...July 30, 2006 --
  
  This is the kind of CD that really defies categorization. I think the closest I can get is American Catholic meeting Southern Baptist! It has a charm all of its own. Recorded at a family home since destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, there is a feel of family sing-song. Husband Juan, step-son, son, niece and cousins have all helped out musically and, it has to be said, the production quality does rather say home recording. It's good to remind ourselves that it isn't only evangelical Christians who have a strong musical tradition. These songs have a decidedly Catholic orientation - "Following Christ" takes us on life's journey through baptism, first communion, confirmation and even on to death. Several other songs show an emphasis on the bread and wine of the Eucharist. Then there is a version of the Lord's Prayer and "As I Kneel Before You" has the "Ave Maria" as its refrain. There's also "Amazing Grace" sung to tune of "House Of The Rising Sun". There are assumptions that may not sit too well with some of us - America as God's country, for example. But all in all, 'Amazing Graces' is sweet and charming.
  

Setlist

A typical set consists of original and cover songs -- both upbeat and reverent -- which sing the praises of Jesus Christ. Here is a list of songs included in a recent set performed locally:
1. Amazing Grace (Sung to melody of "House of the Rising Sun)
2. Come To Me, Jesus
3. Lift Up Your Hearts (cover)
4. Blessings
5. Following Christ
6. Pass It On
7. Here I Am, Lord (cover)
8. I Will Praise The Lord All My Life
9. America, God's Country
10. Endless Love (cover)
11. The Garden
12. Let Him Lead You
13. Time Was
14. Amazing Grace (Sung to melody of "House of the Rising Sun")-Reprise

Basic Requirements

Calendar