Singer-Songwriter Rickie Byars Beckwith Releases Debut Book with New CD: "Let My Soul Surrender: Grace Notes of a Journey"

    NEW YORK, NY, June 10, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Rickie Byars Beckwith, a gifted composer and singer who has healed the hearts and lifted the spirit of countless fans and friends, announces the June 21st release of her debut book, "Let My Soul Surrender: Grace Notes of a Journey," with a companion CD by the same name. Rickie BB, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina with early musical roots traced to Nina Simone, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke and the music of Motown, Liverpool and Stax Records, started singing at the age of three and over time evolved her unique style, talent and flair to become lead singer with the New York Jazz Quartet, the Pharoah Sanders Ensemble and the Ronald Muldrow Ensemble.

Rickie currently tours internationally as a singer songwriter, and is also Music & Arts Director of the Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City, California where she directs the world-famous 200-voice Agape International Choir and House Band. Featured guest artists who have performed with Rickie and the choir include KRS-ONE, Carl Anderson, Teena Marie, Will.i.am, Stevie Wonder, Niki Haris, India.Arie, Brenda Marie Eager, and Chaka Khan. Rickie and her husband, Michael Bernard Beckwith, founder of Agape, form a prodigious and powerful partnership that has produced a dynamic catalog of original songs focused on evoking and supporting transformational healing through the power of music. Her dedicated and growing international fan base have helped her sell over 100,000 records independently, worldwide. Rickie plans a world tour to promote the book/CD package, "Let My Soul Surrender: Grace Notes of a Journey" beginning in Kansas City on June 10th and ending in Denmark in October. She also has choir performances in Havana, Cuba in September 2011.

The Book. Never one to rest on her laurels, Rickie has been inspired to author an exceptional book of poetic prose, memoir and storytelling styles that converge in a colorful mosaic of imagery and memories. Her stories are embellished by the graphic design of Judi Paliungas and paintings by artist extraordinaire, Dudley Declaime Perkins (of SomeOthaShipConnect). Award-winning photographers Bonnie Schiffman, Shawn Keane, and Carl Studna; and amazing fashion designers that include House of SITA and the Wilbourn Sisters round out the project. Cascading with grace, rhythm and Rickie's trademark honesty, humor and home-spun wisdom, "Let My Soul Surrender" provides an intimate look at how the Spirit works through the artist in the creation of her music.

The CD. For her newest release, Rickie has assembled a crew of musicians and singers, each a noted musician in their own right, including Georgia Anne Muldrow, Diva Gray, James Gadson, Ndugu Chancler, Sekou Bunche and Parliament Funkadelic's Ricky Rouse. Grammy Award-winning producer John Barnes, who produced and co-wrote with Michael Jackson and has platinum and gold records from Lionel Ritchie, Pointer Sisters, Janet Jackson, and Toni Braxton projects, is project manager. Says Rickie, "The music on this CD is so special for so many reasons. I truly accepted that I get to be me this time! I've been recording for many years with incredible producers but this time, I knew what I wanted to feel and I stood for my ideas!"

Rickie Byars Beckwith has recorded eight original solo albums including "I Found a Deeper Love," "In the Land of I Am," "Soul Fulfilling," "From Within," "Pray For Me," "Supreme Inspiration," "The Love Project" and "Let My Soul Surrender."

Track Listing
1. Let My Soul Surrender
2. One With the One
3. Main Line
4. Move Mood Interlude
5. In God's Hands
6. A Mighty Gift
7. Heavenly Body
8. About Robbie
9. Sanctified Mabel
10. Discovery Interlude
11. Pure Agape Love
12. Prelude In the Right Way
13. Move In the Right Way
14. Interlude for Nokware
15. Let My Soul Surrender (Live Version)

Release Date: June 21, 2011
Format: CD/Book 6-1/2 x8 138 pgs
File Under: Soul Music
Retail 27.00
ISBN# 9780983404200
Label Contact: Shana Jenson
LoveTrust Media
Office: (877) 999-9802

For additional information go to:
www.rickiebb.com
www.facebook.com/RickieByarsBeckwith
www.myspace.com/musicbyrickiebb

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