Audience of One

Heather Headley

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 13, 2009)
• Original Release Date: January 13, 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI
• ASIN: B001KBUA8U
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,221 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

BILLBOARD

Heather Headley is among the top singers with a vocal that absolutely astounds with its intensity... This woman is one of the great entertainers of the day, on record and on stage.

About the Artist

Acclaimed by Billboard as "one of the great entertainers of the day," Tony award winner and multiple Grammy nominee Heather Headley makes her triumphant debut on the EMI Gospel label with the most personal album of her multi-faceted career, AUDIENCE OF ONE, recorded with Grammy award winning producer Keith Thomas. Following critically acclaimed performances on her certified gold debut CD This Is Who I Am (2002) and her second album In My Mind (2006), Headley now returns to the gospel roots that became the foundation of her career singing as a child in her father's church in Barataria, Trinidad.

"My dad was a preacher, and my mother once told me that I should do a gospel album," Heather recalls. "I told her it would be amazing to do it one day." Now she is displaying her wonderful voice with a powerful collection of inspirational songs, including the first single "Jesus is Love," a cover version of the classic 1980 tune by Lionel Richie and the Commodores featuring fellow EMI Gospel artist Smokie Norful.

"I grew up singing that song in Trinidad. EMI Gospel President Ken Pennell suggested that I record it as a duet, and when he mentioned Smokie's name, I immediately said yes. He's an amazing singer and a great pastor," Heather says with admiration. "It was a joy to work with him, his choir, and musicians and observe the great respect and love they have for him."

The CD's title also takes Heather back to her father's one room church in Trinidad. "That is where I learned to sing," she fondly remembers. "I would close the windows and practice singing and playing the piano for hours pretending I was performing for a crowd of people, using a hairbrush as a microphone. I was singing to an empty church, and God was my audience, an audience of one."

Explaining the album title, AUDIENCE OF ONE, the Trinidad-born, Indiana-raised, and Northwestern University educated star gives credit to her husband Brian Musso. He reminded her one day about the little church back home, "the joy that I found singing in that empty church to my `audience of one.' And so that is what this album is... a girl singing to the only audience that really matters... the One Audience who is truly worthy." "I grew up in the church, actually above the church, and this album not only grants me a way to sing music I've always wanted to, but it also gives me a chance to give God some overdue praise for everything He has done, and continues to do for me. I really don't deserve all that He has given me. I can't help but be grateful; so, we'll take the voice He gave and thank Him with it... This is My gift to God. My relationship with Him is paramount."

Recording a gospel album is a natural transition for Heather who admits that as a Christian, she was uncomfortable with provocative lyrics submitted to her. "I never wanted to compromise anything, now I want to make sure God is happy," Heather says. "This album is for Him."

The concept for a gospel CD was born when Heather chose the spiritual "I Know The Lord Will Make A Way" to record for the EMI Gospel/Vector compilation album, Oh Happy Day. The label executives were so impressed with her breathtaking performance that they suggested that she record an entire album of songs of faith.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING VOICE...AMAZING BEAUTY, January 27, 2009

By	Fj Verzijl "Tweek" (the netherlands) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I buy a lot of cd's but do not write reviews a lot. But this time it's different. I just HAVE to let the world know what an amazing album Heather Headley has recorded. I still think she is one the best (if not THE best) female singers of this time but strangely enough on her solo albums that never showed (except on the Broadway albums). But this time it's different: This is Heather how she sounds like, what a voice, what a power, what an amazing talent has this woman...every song is a gem and if it takes gospel to let her sing like this than i hope she is going to record a lot more gospel albums like this.....
A MUST HAVE for everyone who loves good music. Also check out her video on YouTube where she peforms 'He Touched Me'...anyone who doens't get moved by this performance isn't human!!!!
ENJOY!!!A HUGE fan from The Netherlands.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heather Shines!, January 15, 2009

By	Kevin E. Jones (Birmingham,Al) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Heather is a true vocalist. If you really appreciate an artist that

does not hide behind synthesizers and the other studio tricks that can

often make someone sound decent in a studio. Heather is different and

I'm glad that she decided to make this album.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT TRANSACTION...............GREAT CD, June 20, 2009

By	Anointed (Thomasville, NC United States) - See all my reviews

Highly recommend this CD......Excellent Praise and Worship. I hope she puts out another Gospel CD!!!!