Spensha Baker 'Outloud!' album

15-year-old Geffen Records gospel artist, Spensha Baker has been spreading her youthful and vibrant music ministry all across the country. So commanding is the voice and presence of this young lady that Spensha Baker was invited to sing at the White House for its Black Music Month "Salute to Gospel" celebration on Tuesday, June 17th alongside Kurt Carr and Edwin and Walter Hawkins. Her debut album, Outloud! is due for release on August 5th on Geffen Records.

To kick off the New Year, Baker was invited to be a presenter at this year's 2008 Stellar Awards (the Grammy Awards of Gospel music). Baker performed alongside luminaries such as Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin and Mary Mary at Fort Hoods' "America Salute to the Troops" celebration where over 4,000 soldiers and their families were in attendance.

Baker also performed for over 6,000 people at the Hard Rock Cafe in Miami on Mother's Day along with gospel music notables, such as Yolanda Adams, the legendary Shirley Caesar and Martha Munizzi, participated in the Mercedes-Benz-sponsored "Grammy Jams -- Tribute To Stevie Wonder" concert, performed at the First Grammy Salute To Gospel Music Tribute and invited by gospel superstar CeCe Winans to appear on the international televised TBN Network's "Praise the Lord" program where she was seen by over 40 million people.

Recently, Spensha was handpicked to perform at the "Chrysalis 7th Annual Butterfly Ball" -- a major Hollywood charity event with an audience that included cast members from the hit television show "Grey's Anatomy," actor Ashton Kutcher and entertainment mogul Russell Simmons that gave Spensha a standing ovation for her moving performance.

Geffen Records Chairman Ron Fair witnessed the young gifted singer's vocal talent firsthand as one of the judge's on the CBS show "Star Search," when Spensha was a 12-year-old finalist on the show. Although she didn't win the contest, Fair was so impressed with Spensha's talent that he signed her to Geffen immediately.

Spensha Baker, who is a dynamic new breed of contemporary gospel artist, has released her first single, "Hallelujah," a scintillating cover of the Clark Sisters' classic produced by hit-maker Warryn Campbell, which is available on iTunes along with "Purpose," the buzz single that has been
playing on XM Radio for over a year. The just-released video for "Hallelujah" puts Spensha's FRESH face and soul stirring sound front and center and will begin playing on gospel video channels and internet sites in the coming weeks.

Inspirational and danceable, the twelve songs of OutLoud! are total and natural musical extensions of Spensha Baker. "Gospel music is my life," she explains. "I live it and breathe it!" OutLoud! was produced by some of the music industry's most talented craftsmen, including award winning producers Warryn Campbell (Kanye West, Mary Mary), Shep Crawford (Whitney Houston, Heather Headley), Eric Dawkins (Fantasia, BeBe Winans), Tim Miner (Steve Perry, DeLeon Richards) and Jazz Nixon (Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, Darius Rucker). Mervyn Warren, who has worked his musical magic for artists ranging from Quincy Jones and Barbra Streisand to Vickie Winans, lent his arranging skills to Spensha's amazing debut recording.

Baker's powerful, persuasive music ministry and sparkling personality is irrestible and is being embraced by Gospel and Urban audiences alike. Beautiful, confident, mature and wise beyond her years, Spensha Baker is a young lady who's dedicated to living her life's purpose OUTLOUD!

biography
It’s rare these days to find a young artist whose music conveys a deep, passionate message that is energizing, shying away from the typical cliché songs. The universal message in SPENSHA BAKER’s debut, CD, OUTLOUD!, puts a new spin on contemporary music.

“I named my album Outloud!, because that is the way I live my life: Openly. I want to succeed and fail out loud. I want to laugh out loud, breathe out loud, love out loud, and live out loud. Not only is this my personal anthem, but I’m positive it can be an anthem for everyone. It’s also the title track on my album.”

Wise and mature beyond her years, there’s nothing quiet about SPENSHA BAKER. Picture this: A tiny, seven-year-old with a bellowing voice that could overpower adult singers three or four times her age. This special little girl’s voice caught her mom’s attention, which, believing in her daughter’s special gift encouraged her to make the rounds through the entertainment circuit. Spensha quickly landed a performance spot on the Inspirational Network’s Christian Artist Talent Search that lead to a nine-week appearance and FINALIST position on the CBS-TV show, Star Search at twelve (12) years of age; performing in front of tens of millions. With glorious naturally long hair, eyes that pierce right through to the soul and a voice that was as professional as any signed recording artist, Hampton, Virginia-born Spensha Baker’s fan base began to grow.

Following her stint on Star Search, a star was born. Moreover, Ron Fair, Geffen Records Chairman and judge on one of the Star Search shows, called SPENSHA’s home directly to offer her a deal. Before you know it, the pre-teen singing her heart out around the country, performing for audiences at military bases, NBA all star games, the Bobby Jones Gospel hour, the internationally viewed Trinity Broadcast network (TBN) and creating her debut album. Spensha even made an appearance in front of United States President George Bush, who gave this young prodigy the “thumbs up” seal of approval when she performed at an event honoring him as well as 25,000 military personnel at Fort Hood, Texas.

SPENSHA’s carefully crafted debut CD, OUTLOUD! is filled with effervescent message-oriented material where her intense vocal skills were challenged by award winning producers Warryn Campbell (Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, Mary Mary), Shep Crawford (Whitney Houston, Heather Headley), and Eric Dawkins (Fantasia, BeBe Winans) of Dawkins and Dawkins fame to name a few. The message conveyed by Spensha is a young woman’s personal testimony and serves as inspiration to listeners who are seeking relief from some of the harsh stories too often told in music today.

Among the standout cuts on OUTLOUD! is “Teach Me,” an R&B/popish song where she abashedly admits, “I’m young and it’s important for me to learn from the Lord. The debut single, “Hallelujah,” is a Clark Sisters remake that challenged even SPENSHA’s powerful vocals. “It was very exciting to do this remake. It’s one of those handclapping/foot stomping kind of songs,” says Spensha.

Spensha digs deep within her soul on another stellar track, “Love Somebody.” A personal testimony, “Love Somebody” addresses the issue that one shouldn’t go through life without influencing people. “Life is about how you can impact someone’s life,” she believes. Another tune, “Purpose,” which has been playing on XM Satellite radio for a whole year, is a song that Spensha co-wrote with her mother when she was just 12 years old. “I found that I was starting to lose sight of what was important and thought I was greater than I am, so in that song, I apologized to God.”

The now 15-year-old ninth (9th) grader attends Judson High School in San Antonio, Texas where she studying English, Integrated Physics, Chemistry and Geometry, is an exceptionally good student. Not only has perfect pitch in the studio but also on the field where she’s a member of the high school softball team. During her quieter moments, this only child can be found curled up in her room, reading classics like the Odyssey, or working on short stories.

SPENSHA’s father, Wayne Barker, gave Spensha her beautiful, unusual name. Through her parent’s stint in the military (Army), she has lived in a variety of places throughout the United States. Although she has enjoyed traveling and advocating to people, her biggest journey lies ahead with the release of the messages on OUTLOUD!: “I want to be a role model; someone people aspire to be like. That’s why the album is called Outloud!, I’m not afraid to show the world who I really am. One thing about me is that I am a regular girl. I struggle with certain subjects just like everyone else; I don’t try to hide it, it’s out there. I believe I’m here to encourage young people and I don’t mind doing it.”

There’s nothing quiet about SPENSHA BAKER. Give her a listen, and you will see.

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Spensha Baker - Outloud!