Psalmist Doris A. Stokes
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Psalmist Doris A. Stokes

Dayton, Ohio, United States

Dayton, Ohio, United States
Band Christian Gospel

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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"Psalmist Doris A. Stokes CD Release Concert December 2003"

Psalmist Doris A. Stokes CD Release Concert December 2003
12/05/2003

The venue of The Gospel Grille in Sharonville, Ohio will NEVER be the same as Psalmist Doris Stokes lit up the house in praise and worship on the evening of Friday December 5th! There was no doubt that the Anointing of the Lord was all over her as she rendered powerful clear lead vocals and brought forth a heavy presence of the Lord! Accompanied by her band and 6 powerful background singers tighter than a pair of 20 year old denim jeans, the atmosphere was radiant as she graced the stage in a long gold dress designed by herself and cousin (partner, Myrle Small) who designs and dresses her for every engagement. As she sent forth praises in front of family and friends alike, the supercharged energy in the "Grille" was taken to another level from the first song, "Glorious" written by Martha Munizzi to the last song "High Praise" recorded by one of her favorite praise and worship leaders, Dr. Judith McAllister. The roof (and rafters) were definitely raised that night, even after she had long left the platform, the Spirit of the Lord continued to linger in the air for those in attendance to continue "getting their praise on!" Congratulations to such a deserving and hardworking woman of excellence! She deserves to move forward swiftly in this season of "called out" ministry in her life. Doris will take this country by storm one state at a time; before long EVERYONE will know that she is most definitely Anointed and appointed to go forth for this season! Submitted by: Jason Fields
- Jason Fields


"Stokes' Gospel Album is much more than "Churchy""

Wednesday, November 26, 2003
A ministry in music
Stokes' gospel album is much more
than 'churchy'
SHAUNA STEIGERWALD | CIN WEEKLY CONTRIBUTOR


Doris Stokes stands at the piano at the Gospel Grille in Sharonville. She is performing there on December 5. (Photo by Leigh Patton/CiN Weekly)
IF YOU GO

WHAT: Doris Stokes gospel concert and CD sampler release party

SPECIAL GUESTS: New Vision, the Rev. Joy Ann Stokes and The Anointed Dance Ministry of Carla Rhodes.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5.

WHERE: The Gospel Grille, 11473 Chester Road, Sharonville

ADMISSION: $5 at the door

MORE INFORMATION:
(937) 831-1297 or blackpearlent@woh.rr.com
Not many people have as many titles listed on their business cards as Doris A. Stokes does. Hers reads "psalmist, gospel soloist, praise and worship leader, stage play actress, songwriter and workshop clinician."

For Stokes' latest endeavor, she is wearing her gospel soloist hat. The project is a CD titled Black Pearl, and it is slated for release in March 2004.

In the meantime, listeners can get a preview of the album at Stokes' CD release concert Friday, Dec. 5, at which a sampler featuring four songs from Black Pearl will be available to purchase for $7.

Admission to the event is $5 and will also feature the Anointed Dance Ministry of Carla Rhodes, gospel singer the Rev. Joy Ann Stokes and the gospel choir New Vision.

Stokes, who hails from a musical, Christian family in Dayton, says that although the full release of Black Pearl will include traditional hymns and worship, the songs on the sampler can best be described as contemporary gospel. "I think people will be very surprised with the sound," she says, noting that the track "I Don't Know Why," a song composed by Stevie Wonder for which Stokes wrote new lyrics, has a "real rock sound" to it.

"I don't think you have to be so 'churchy' - you have to meet people where they are," she says. "I'm just relating to the normal person who may not be into gospel music."

Stokes says that she was inspired to give the title Black Pearl to her album, but at first she wasn't sure why it was significant.

"Then I did extensive research and learned that a good, cultured black pearl is the most expensive jewel in the world," Stokes says. "But when people first started discovering them, they threw them away because they thought they were pearls gone bad."

Stokes sees this as symbolic of the hardships she has faced in her life. "God was trying to show me that no matter what you go through, other people can't put a value on you," she says.
- Cin Weekly


Discography

"Black Pearl" debut CD from Neuhaus Entertainment Group
"A New Song of Worship" by Rodney Posey & Praise
from Crystal Rose Records
"The Fire Choir" Solid Rock Fire Choir/Independent Project
"Otis Stokes" debut solo CD from JustUs Records
"All Dogs Go To Heaven" Walt Disney Movie Soundtrack Song: "One Down, Two Down" by Hakim and Lady Diana from Curb Records

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

PSALMIST DORIS A. STOKES
Gospel Soloist/Praise & Worship Leader
Songwriter/Actress

Out of the Stokes clan of Dayton, Ohio, comes STILL another multi-talented artist and performer. Doris A. Stokes, the youngest member of this star-producing family, possesses a song and style all her own. She has been singing ever since she can remember, starting in church and at home with her brothers Otha (formerly of The Ohio Players and The Sugarhill Gang), Frank, Ralph, Otis (formerly of the R&B group “Lakeside”), Arthur (“Hakim” formerly of the Dayton band “Heatwave”) and her sister, Diane. The family often sang in huddles in the back room or in the basement of their parents’ home. “Otis and Hakim were always in charge of giving out the singing parts to all of us and we would sing some commercial jingle or cartoon theme song in at least five part harmony!”

Like the rest of the crew, Doris was raised in a Christian home by parents who loved the Lord. “That’s where it all started. It’s really all we knew from the very beginning. My mom and dad made us sing in the choir. We were "drafted" into it once the secret was out that we all could sing! Since going to church was NEVER an option in our household, being in the choir was a requirement that was not open for discussion. Just like school…it was “understood.”

Doris began writing songs at the age of nineteen, however, she first sang professionally at the age of sixteen with Otis on his first solo R&B project. During these teenage years, Doris also sang with their elder brother, Arthur “Hakim” Stokes, on several recordings including the soundtrack to the Disney movie, “All Dogs Go To Heaven,” on Curb Records. Soon, she began singing gospel professionally, and became a founding member with contemporary gospel choir “David Minor with One Voice” of Cincinnati, Ohio. She went on to lead praise & worship services in penal facilities (prison ministry is her passion) throughout the Ohio Valley and Tri-State areas. “I realize there’s nothing glamorous about singing in prison, but you are either anointed to do it, or you’re not. I looked beyond the metal bars and barbed wire and realized that Jesus died for them too.” Doris was later brought into her oldest brother's music ministry, the late (and dynamic) gospel saxophonist, Minister Otha Stokes, Jr., singing background vocals with his ensemble “The Gospel Troupe." She sang on Otha's debut gospel album entitled “Praise Him,” which he completed before his unexpected passing in June 1999.

Doris’ old choir, "David Minor with One Voice," which had disbanded in 1997, was regrouped and re-named “New Vision under the direction of Archie Byers”. New Vision made an impressive impact on the gospel music scene all over Cincinnati, the Tri-State and the South. They completed one “live” CD in 2001 in which Doris was a featured soloist. New Vision has opened and/or served as the workshop choir for such gospel artists as Rodnie Bryant, LaMar Campbell, Marvin Sapp, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Minister Kurt Carr, Byron Cage, Tramaine Hawkins, Beverly Crawford and Charles Fold and the Charles Fold Singers.

Doris is fast becoming a premier guest at workshops, seminars, convocations and conferences nationwide. In addition to her role as the featured Psalmist, she is also a teacher / clinician on the importance and power of praise and worship in our churches and in our personal lives. She is also a member of the powerhouse praise and worship group, and Crystal Rose recording artist, “Elder Rodney Posey & Praise."

“Rodney is a master at leading God’s people into His presence. I have been heavily influenced by his gift. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to have a great friend and mentor like Rodney Posey.”

Other musical influences include Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin. “They have unmatched vocal abilities…awesome.” Her greatest gospel "awes" go to Rance Allen, Shirley Caesar, Vanessa Bell –Armstrong and LaShun Pace (for their “not to be messed with” runs). The Clark Sisters, The Winans, Yolanda Adams (for the power of ministry behind her vocals) and Tramaine Hawkins (for her powerful soprano vocal dynamics) are also favoirtes. Out of the new era of gospel artists she gives "thumbs up" to Fred Hammond and Radicals for Christ, Hezekiah Walker, Donald Lawrence, Kurt Carr, Richard Smallwood and John P. Kee. “I love all of them for the unique gifts they bring to the Body of Christ.”

In addition to her busy music ministry, Doris is very active as an actress/vocalist in gospel stage plays whenever the opportunity arises! She was featured in the gospel play “An Upper Room Experience” that also starred Shirley Murdock. She is presently writing her own stage production tentatively entitled, “We Are Family…?” She believes that this stage version of her testimony will have audiences hysterically laughing one moment, and in tears the next. It should also make everyone who sees it