LeJuene Thompson

There’s a lot of brilliance around LeJuene Thompson’s way.

The debut solo release, Soul Inspiration from the widely heard Thompson has a lot of tunes that mention the sun in the title. One could only deduce that it’s because there’s some glowing going on in her life. After many years of illuminating from the background, Thompson come strong and sheds some strong light on the ‘solo female’ category.

The album is remarkable for successfully planting a neo-soul sound into no-doubt church soil, with frequent musical references to that traditional sound that Thompson has made her own in previous projects we’ve heard her on.

Arrangments, when not simply for solo voice, often include a select ensemble of tightly-knit backing singers that for some reason, you have no problem in visualizing, with the buttery soul effects that they bring to the table. All this is propelled and solidified by the usual but always under-appreciated production genius of Cedric Thompson.

While there’s much to be said about the original material presented here, Thompson takes on no small task in covering two huge classics. The first is Richard Smallwood’s “Psalm 8”, which comes draped in majesty and grandeur and is also graced with vocals supreme.

She rolls up her sleeves and digs into the Clark Sisters’ “You Brought The Sunshine”. Now I don’t have to tell you redoing a Clark Sisters’ classic is something easy to mess up, but Thompson stakes her flag in it and garners some points for the 2k1. Boisterously soulful and with plenty of horns to set the pace, this groovy take does justice. You know that Twinkie would approve.

On the delicate “Heaven”, Thompson reflects on what it would be like if a bit of the divine would rest on here on earth —a world of no racism or war. Clearly a message we need right now.

Thompson is a vocal chameleon that wonderfully wears all her colors. From the smooth to the groove, she ably transitions, and all without sounding gimmicky. The bluesy “Born Again” is a prime example. Thompson slides right into the genre without sounding like a cheap imitation.

The ballad “One More Sunny Day” drops the signature pen of Donald Lawrence and “Brighter Days” is a luminous happy tune, penned by Myron Butler, Candy West and Jerome Allen.

Throughout —and there’s certainly a depth of material here—the combination of LeJuene’s skilled vocals and husband Cedric’s production prowess leaves people simply trying to keep up with the Thompsons.

— reviewed by Melanie Clark and Stan North — - GospelFlava.com

The Wait Is Over: Soul Gospel Diva, LeJuene Thompson, Emerges To Give Gospel What it’s Been Waiting For!

Raleigh, NC – June 27, 2008 Soulful contemporary Gospel singer, LeJuene Thompson is poised and set to release her sophomore project, entitled “The Metamorphosis Project ”. The highly anticipated project will hit stores in July 15, 2008 .

Dubbed as “The Diva in Waiting ” by Billboard , LeJuene Thompson has completed her metamorphosis …The Diva has arrived with her long awaited sophomore recording, appropriately titled, “The Metamorphosis Project ”. This project is a gospel music lover’s dream come true.

LeJuene Thompson is no stranger to the gospel music community. LeJuene Thompson has worked with a variety of the Nation’s premier artists including, Donald Lawrence , John P. Kee , Twinkie Clark , Karen Clark-Sheard , Shirley Caesar , Bishop T.D. Jakes , Micah Stampley and many others.

The release of “Metamorphosis ” will be significantly different from her debut album “Soul Inspiration ”. Although this was LeJuene’s first live recording, it was an extremely uplifting experience that allowed the anointing to flow through her. This recording illustrates the full vocal range of LeJuene’s diverse vocal styling and ability through praise and worship ballads, neo-soul grooves, contemporary Gospel, and Churban music.

LeJuene enlightens listeners of this recording session by featuring a hot new group, “Dennis Reed & G.A.P .” This energetic Charlotte-based group, with its youthful presence and interesting rich sound, is bound to electrify any audience. LeJuene Thompson is well known for her impactful and spirit-stirring debut album, Soul Inspiration , for which she received numerous Dove and Stellar Award nominations. “Metamorphosis ” offers Gospel music lover’s foot-stomping songs like “Gotta Feelin ” and “Wait, ” while music lovers are sure to appreciate “The Praise. ” The track “Ooh La La ” is a feel-good groove, which displays the effects of God’s unconditional love. LeJuene’s release of “Metamorphosis, ” definitely delivers an eclectic blend, “Lost, ” will take you on a soulful journey.

She teamed up with her husband Cedric Thompson , a multiple Stellar Award winning , Grammy & Dove nominated producer . She credits him with the overall theme and direction of this project. “Metamorphosis ” is being released on the newly launched label, Le Ce Entertainment .

More.. For more information on LeJuene Thompson “Metamorphosis ” go to www.lejuenethompson.com , booking@lejuenethompson.com or www.myspace.com/lejuenethompson

Press contact: Michael A. Clark , EmSquared Entertainment Management Group , Telephone: 919-868-8274 , Email: mikenmillie@bellsouth.net - GospelMusicBites.com

LeJuene Thompson Live Recording


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Washington, DC - Soulful contemporary Gospel singer, LeJuene Thompson will render a live recording for her sophomore album, called “Metamorphosis.” The recording will be held at the New Life Fellowship Center, 1337 Samuel Street, Charlotte, NC on March 31, 2006 at 7:00pm. There will be a special appearance by national gospel recording artist, Micah Stampley.

Although this is LeJuene’s first live recording, it is expected to be an extremely uplifting experience for all. This recording will illustrate the full vocal range of LeJuene’s style and ability through praise and worship ballads, neo-soul grooves, and contemporary Gospel music. LeJuene plans to enlighten this recording session by featuring a hot new group called "Dennis Reed & G.A.P." They will provide her background vocals on “Metamorphosis”. This energetic Charlotte-based group, with its youthful presence and interesting rich sound, is bound to electrify any audience. LeJuene Thompson, known for her impactful and spirit-stirring debut album, Soul Inspiration, received numerous Dove and Stellar Award nominations. Now, she is diligently working on a new project, “Metamorphosis” that is set to drop in 2006. “Metamorphosis” is a project that will display a complete spiritual, mental, and emotional change in LeJuene’s life, over the last five years. Gospel music lovers can look forward to foot-stomping songs like "I Gotta Feelin" and "Wait," while contemporary music lovers are sure to appreciate "The Praise" that will have you begging for more. LeJuene testifies to God's goodness in songs like "Tears" and "Vessel," which truly capture the essence of praise and worship.

She will introduce her soulful and jazzy signature style to Gospel music with an album, speaking and singing engagements, teaching opportunities, and other projects that are definitely worth the wait. In addition, LeJuene is currently featured on John P. Kee and New Life's " Reunion " CD and on the soon-to-be-released Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers "Finale" CD. - GospelCty.com

By J. MATTHEW COBB
Founder, Editor-In-Chief of PRAYZEHYMN Entertainment

BILLBOARD MAGAZINE cited her for being the "diva in waiting". Now the "diva in waiting" waits no longer as she begins the final stages of metamorphosis, a future project recently recorded at John P. Kee's New Life Fellowship Center located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Of what we have witnessed of Lejuene Thompson's career, we have gathered enough information to know that her best is yet to come. Many may recall her beginnings with Donald Lawrence's Tri-City Singers, touching us with her calming vocals on "Cast Your Cares" from the infamous "Bible Stories" project. But she blew us away on the heavy-hitting dance machine of "Testify", which also invaded the the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts and proved to be a seasonable cut on the Tri-City4.com project in 2000. She also made a round of appearances on projects from T.D. Jakes, John P. Kee & New Life, GMWA Youth Mass Choir and a host of others. She then launched out on her own, with the assistance of her husband and renowned producer Cedric Thompson, with the EMI debut "Soul Inspiration". The buzz then leaked out about her amazing tone of voice, her remarkable sense of milking a song and effortless ability to float like a vocal chameleon going from smooth & soulful to gospel-styled belting. Recently, she also contributed her gifts with the New Life Community Choir, a group that has paved illustrious walkways for the careers of many gospel artists, as they reminisced the wonderful years of powerful ministry and birthing on the 2-CD collection; "The Reunion".

Now the morning sun is resting upon Lejuene once again as she readies for the blooming release of her live recording session. Michael G. Marshall, a good friend of the PRAYZEHYMN Fellowship and guest contributor, attended the musical celebration and sat down with Lejuene to discuss matters of the heart, details on upcoming events, her opinions on the gospel music industry and other important topics concerning her ministry and her life.


PRAYZEHYMN (PH): Are you releasing the project independently? Will it be nationally-released on a major label?
LEJUENE THOMPSON (LT): It will be independently released and will be nationally distributed. It is on LeCe Entertainment and that's the label that my husband and I are launching tonight.

PH: You have sung with Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers for several years and have blessed their projects with a wealth of vocal talent. How did it feel contributing to Finale and what do you think will come of their musical departure?
LT: WOW. It was a bittersweet experience. You know, it's like saying "bye" to your family, because Tri-City was really a family, but there are so many ministries and so much coming out of that. Sometimes the mother eagle has to push the babies out of the nest and that's what Donald is doing...pushing us all out of the nest to branch off to minister effectively.

PH: What songs can we look to hear you on from that project?
LT: They did a walk down memory lane so on "Gods Favor" and on "Cast Your Cares".

PH: Who are your musical influences? Who do you look up to or inspire to as an artist?
LT: I have to say Pastor John P. Kee and that's because he has poured so much into me as far as vocally, musically...and as well as Donald Lawrence; they have just poured into me. Pastor Kee for over 20 years and Donald at least 10 years, so it's a blessing to me. They never cease to amaze me with what they come out with. So those are my two most notable influences.

LEJUENE THOMPSON
Album & Guest Appearance Discography

2006:
Donald Lawrence presents the Tri-City Singers: Finale' "Cast Your Cares", "God's Favor"

2005:
New Life Community Choir featuring John P. Kee: The Reunion "Survive", "Grateful", "Me Out", "I Worship Thee/I Want To Love You"

2004:
John P. Kee: The Color of Music "I-C-U"

2002:
Various Artists: WOW Gospel 2002 "Born Again"

Bishop T.D. Jakes Presents Woman Thou Art Loosed Worship 2002 "Be Glorified"

2001:
Various Artists: College Survivor "Born Again"

Lejuene Thompson: Soul Inspiration

Various Artists: Gospel Remixes "Testify" (Junior Velasquez Remix)

2000:
GMWA Youth Mass Choir: New Orleans 2000 "Your Name"

Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers: Tri-City4.com "Testify"

1998:
Greg Hoover & the Charlotte Community Choir: It's Gonna Be Alright "God Will"

1995:
Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers: Bible Stories "Cast Your Cares"

PH: BIG QUESTION: "Soul Inspirations" was your debut, and long overdue, solo project. It has been almost five years since the release of that project. What have you gained and learned artistically since then?
LT: WOW, Finally comfortable in my own skin. Not trying to duplicate, you know, what's popular or whatever, just being true to who I am as an artist. I finally learned that out the hard way, its not about being a cookie cutter. It's about being true to - Prayzehymnonline.com

LeJuene Thompson
Soul Inspiration (EMI Gospel)
reviewed by Russ Breimeier
not yet rated


Sounds like … soulful gospel, pop, and rhythm and blues that recalls recent releases from Beverly Crawford, Londa Larmond, and Yolanda Adams

At a Glance … LeJuene Thompson's debut doesn't quite grab my ear as much as similar releases from this past year, but her vocals are beautiful and strong - fans of gospel will be satisfied.

Gospel music fans may recognize LeJuene Thompson from her contributions to Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers, for which she was a featured vocalist. She was the lead vocalist on the smash-hit single "Testify," which led to nominations and awards for the Tri-City singers and earned LeJuene the title "diva in waiting" from Billboard magazine. I'm sure that refers to her musical prowess rather than any Streisand-like personality. To be sure, LeJuene has a humble and hard-working personality, but her vocal ability on her debut, Soul Inspiration, is certainly worthy of the title.

Soul Inspiration has an easier and smoother sound than the bigger and louder sounds of the Tri-City Singers, and the hip-hop tracks don't have the same dance groove as "Testify" (this is an observation, not a critique). The bouncy groove of "Brighter Days" and the funky hip-hop of "Deliverance" and "Best Thing" are among the more upbeat tracks on the album, though even they have a softer, more laid-back edge than you'd expect. Other songs vary from soulful jazz gospel ("Born Again"), modern reggae-pop ("You Brought the Sunshine," a remake of the hit by the Clark Sisters), and traditional gospel ("Psalm 8," a cover of Richard Smallwood's classic). I think LeJeune demonstrates her vocal prowess the most on "One More Sunny Day," a beautiful gospel ballad in which she starts with a gentle soulful whisper but ends up yowling and growling like Tina Turner by the conclusion of the song.

LeJuene's husband Cedric serves as the album's producer, and it's clear he knows how to draw a strong vocal performance from his wife to make a solid gospel album. The talent is there, the music is well-performed, and the lyrics inspire as well as your usual gospel music. Still, there's not quite enough here compared to other similar projects from the past year to earn a rousing recommendation from me. I found Londa Larmond's debut album, Love Letters, much more exciting, and Beverly Crawford's recent album, Beverly, showcased more musical diversity. Nevertheless, fans of gospel looking for another "gospel diva" with a heavenly voice to share timeless truths about our Lord need look no further than LeJuene Thompson. - ChristianMusicToday.com