Ira Watson - Shining Star

Hello, My name is Ira Watson. I wanted to give you a little background history about how this album came about. I was 29 years old doing studio work as a bass guitarist at Central Studios in Auburndale, FL. I was good friends with the owner Len Walls and I asked him one day if he would give me some studio time to cut one song of my own. He grinned real big and said "sure Ira". That song was "You Belong To Me". I didn't have a budget at the time to hire musicians so I had to play all the instruments myself. The rhythm tracks you hear on this song (Piano, Keyboard Synthesizer, Bass, Guitar, Drums and Percussion) is yours truly. That first song became the catalyst for the entire project and really got things moving for me. A little later, my father Thomas E. Watson who really loved me and believed in me, gave me a loan for $10,000 to complete four songs in the studio. With my new found wealth, I was eager to get back to work in the studio; this time I could afford actually musicians. At Bias Recording Company near Washington DC, I record three more tunes, "Praise His Holy Name", "Nobody But Jesus" and "Are You Running". I completed the Shining Star album in 1982 and soon received contract offers from two record companies at the same time, the famed "Philly International" label (home of The Ojays and Teddy Pendergrass) and from SOZO Records out of Newark, TX near Fort Worth. I prayed about it and took the offer from SOZO. From beginning to end, this project was a labor of love and pure joy. Some of the greatest musicians and singers in the world participated on this project. To name a few were: Norman Harris: Guitar & String and Horn arrangements on Shining Star and We Shall Be Like Him (As you may know, Norman as well as and Jack Faith (below) were at the center of creating the "Philly Sound' back in the 1970's to mid 80's) Matthew Allen: String & Horn arrangements on Breaking Away and Praise His Holy Name Jack Faith: Flute & String and Horn arrangements on Please Come Back To Me Eugene (Lambchops) Curry: Piano, B3 Organ and Synthesizer Bass (on Breaking Away) Warren Jones: Rhodes piano & Horn and String arrangements on 'Nobody But Jesus' (Warren also was a great friend and co-wrote the song with me. I wrote the hook and verses, he wrote the bridge) Arnell Byrd: Guitar Tim Eyermann: Alto sax (you may remember his hot jazz band 'Tim Ireman and East Coast Offering' Kenny Smukal: 1st Trumpet Carl Gray: Congas Ricky Wellman: Drums (Ricky was the drummer for Santana, Miles Davis and Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers) Harold Sutton: Hammond B3 Organ Don Renaldo: String and Harp contractor and Cellist (The Famous" Philly String Section) Dena Purdie: Cello and Copyist ) Mary Grate: Lead Vocals on "Praise His Holy Name" Denise Rankin: Lead Vocals on duet "Please Come Back To Me" Skip Mahoney: Bass background vocals on "Are You Running" (Skip of the famed R&B group "Skip Mahoney and the Casuals" has been a great friend since I was 15 years old. As young teens, we lived in the same neighborhood and every time I saw him on the street I would enthusiastically say "Hey man I can really play the bass - you should let me play for the Casuals". He kept ignoring me until one day he came to a recreation center where I was playing with a band called the "Voltaire's". He loved my playing and "stole" me from the Voltaire's (smile). And we've been great friends and brothers every since. Skip was the first to see my potential and encouraged me to write songs. He allowed me to write and play bass on both of his famous "Funny Moods" and "Land of Love" albums.) Kissy and Tiny: (BG vocals) James Purdie: Conducted rhythm tracks on 'Praise His Holy Name' (Another great friend, James produced the famous "Bustin' Loose" album on "Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers" (which went "Gold") and both albums by Skip Mahoney & The Casuals.) Johnny Ingram: Drums (Out of Philly) Carla Benson: Background Vocals Yvette Benton: Background Vocals Barbara Ingram: Background Vocals (Carla, Yvette and Barbara can be heard on many, many gold and platinum records out of the Philly Sound including hits from "Spinners", Major Harris and so many... many more) Ira Watson: Producer, Arranger, Lead Vocals, BG Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Guitar, Bass and Percussion Recording Studios: Central Sound Studios: Auburndale, FL Bias Recording Co: Springfield, VA Sigma Sound Studios: Philly, PA Cecca Studios: Dallas, TX Eagle Mountain Studios: Fort Worth, TX Mental and Spiritual Support Grace C. Watson: My mom, who provided mental, moral and spiritual support and never stopped praying for me - Thanks Mom. Thomas E. Watson: My dad who believed in me and loaned me the ten grand to take my music to the next level. I can still hear him saying "Bear down on that music son, bear down on it ..." - Thanks Dad Another close friend I'll never forget is Darrell Glen, the General Manager of SOZO Records. He was so impressed with my 4 song music demo that he immediately offered me a recording contract 'on-the-spot' without hesitation. As a result, I became the first artist on the SOZO label. Few may know this but Darrell, at the age of 17, wrote and recorded the #1 million selling song 'Crying In The Chapel' also made famous by "The Orioles" and "Elvis Presley". What a joy and awesome privilege it was to work with such amazing talent on this "Shining Star" album! Some of my dear friends listed here are gone now, but they're always in my heart and in my thoughts. When released in 1982, the first single 'Breaking Away' went to #18 on the TOP 20 national CCM charts and the second single 'Shining Star' went to #1 in Florida and #1 in Tulsa, OK. I received worldwide radio airplay and was able to tour many countries of the globe including Australia (Sidney Opera House - 3 times), England, France, Philippines, Hong Kong (China), Hawaii (U.S. State) and South Africa. - I had a Blast! Since that time, my music has expanded into Japan, Korea, and many new exciting places. What a blessing! Fast forwarding to now, there's been a growing demand for "Shining Star", from fans and collectors globally. I still get emails and phone calls asking the inevitable question 'When will you record some new music"? Well that day has come. Due to this surge in interest in my music, I've decided to launch my own record label Phat Beat Music (AKA PhatBeat.biz). I am truly thankful and grateful to God that people still love my music and have such an interest in it after all these years. Shining Star is the first release on my Phat Beat label. Because I own all the original masters, I was able to re-master the album and bring it to life for this CD with astonishing crystal clear quality. Over the last 12 months I've been extremely prolific as a writer and have "tons" of great new music for the world to hear. In the spring of this year (2012), I'll be releasing brand new music on the Phat Beat label. I'm also signing great new artists in all genres and preparing them for the world's stage globally. Stay Tuned... there's more to come! P.S. Contact Information: For concert bookings, product information or questions, contact me at: irawatson3000@yahoo.com Thanks and God Bless, Ira Watson.