Gina Loring

Following several showcases produced by Norman Lear, Gina was hired as a writer/ performer on his "Declare Yourself" tour. In conjunction with Diddy's "Vote or Die" campaign and Rock the Vote, Gina helped to register thousands of young voters. She was also a featured vocalist/songwriter on the Brand New Heavies album "We Won't Stop" and has been mentored by such artists as Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Suzan-Lori Parks and Marla Gibbs.

In 2007, Gina went to Kuwait as a guest of the American Embassy’s cultural envoy program and according to the American Embassy and Kuwaiti records, made history as the first American hip hop artist to perform in Kuwait. While there, she made several television appearances, performed her original poetry and music to packed crowds, and conducted poetry workshops. She was invited back for a second trip in 2008 to teach a ten-day intensive poetry workshop with Kuwaiti high school students. She again made several television appearances and performed her poetry and music in numerous venues, prompting a lasting relationship with the American Embassy’s cultural envoy program. Gina wrote and starred in a currently airing Women in Film PSA and was awarded the prestigious Bibby scholarship to the Idyllwild Intensive Poetry workshop, where she studied under Pulitzer Prize winning poet Natasha Trethewey.

A graduate of Spelman College, Gina performed with their award-winning Jazz Ensemble, Glee Club and Theater Ensemble and also attended Columbia University, where she studied under renowned Hip Hop historian Michael Eric Dyson. A gifted actress, Gina starred in a production of George C. Wolfe's "The Colored Museum" and various theatrical shorts during her time in the Atlanta/ Tri-State areas. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Gina would like to follow in the footsteps of such pioneers as Ruby Dee and Lena Horne in positively contributing through her art.
With influences ranging from classic Hip Hop to Nina Simone, Sylvia Plath to Sonia Sanchez, her highly reflective lyrics demonstrate her ability to reveal the intimate. Gina is one of very few artists who seamlessly balance music and poetry, both of her talents equally strong enough to stand on their own. Encompassing such subjects as love, spirituality and social activism, her work is raw and passionate, yet always presented with the grace that seems inherent in this young woman's spirit.

She is the daughter of actor William Marshall, cousin of actor Paul Winfield and Jazz composer/musician Teddy Edwards Sr., and she would like to dedicate her work to their memory. Above all else, Gina lives, creates and moves forward in honor of the life of her brother, Malcolm Marshall. Please visit www.myspace.com/ginaloring or www.cdbaby.com to purchase Gina's debut CD and hear her for yourself.