Multiple Grammy® Award Winner Regina Belle Releases Debut Gospel Album

Love Forever Shines in Stores May 13

First Single “God Is Good” #1 Most Added at Gospel Radio

MegaChurch Tour Scheduled for Spring and Summer

From a press release by:
Gwendolyn Quinn
Robyn Ryland-Sanders
GQ Media & Public Relations, Inc.
(212) 765-7910
GwendolynQuinn@aol.com
gqmediapr@yahoo.com

(New York, NY – March 10, 2008) – Four-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist REGINA BELLE will release her debut Gospel album LOVE FOREVER SHINES in-stores May 13 on the re-launch of Ruben Rodriguez’ Pendulum Records in association with Walker Davis Entertainment, distributed by Fontana. The CD is executive produced by Ruben Rodriguez, Ray J. Davis and Chris Walker.

LOVE FOREVER SHINES features the first single, “God Is Good,” that takes the listener on a journey back to the “ol’ time, down home, take me to the river” gospel tradition. Already off to a great start at radio, “God Is Good” is #1 Most Added Gospel record, #2 Most Added Gospel record (monitor only), #1 Most Active Record at Gospel Radio (approaching 300 spins) this week, and top 25 at R&R. “God Is Good” is available at iTunes.com and all other online music outlets everywhere.

“Regina Belle is an exceptional artist,” states Pendulum Records CEO and Founder Ruben Rodriguez. “We shared great success during our Columbia years and I’m looking forward to sharing more success with the release of LOVE FOREVER SHINES. It’s truly a blessing to find us together again. ‘God is Good,’ generates major phones at radio. It’s all very special.”

LOVE FOREVER SHINES comprises 14 spirit-filled tracks including such songs as “Almost Slipped,” “I Hope He Understands,” “Victory,” and “I Call On Jesus” featuring award-winning gospel artist Shirley Murdock. Belle, a noted songwriter in her own right, penned many of the songs featured on the project, while working alongside Chris Walker who produced and co-produced all but two songs on the CD. Musical talent seemingly runs in the family as her brother Bernard Belle, a well-known music industry songwriter, wrote, produced and arranged two of the album’s tracks — “God Is Good” and “Good To Be Loved.” Award-winning Gospel artist, Melvin Williams (Williams Brothers) duets with Belle on the song, ”Good To Be Loved” as well Williams’ vocals can be heard accompanying her on background on the first single, “God Is Good.”

“These songs are very personal,” Belle comments about the new CD. “They come from my own life experiences. So I had to be very active in the writing part of the project. One day I was sitting in a hotel room in Detroit. I was feeling completely alone. So I asked the Lord to show me that He was with me. It seemed that in an instant He began to say, ‘I’ll Never Leave You Alone.’ From that moment He began to give me the song so quickly that I couldn’t keep up with writing it as fast as He was giving it to me. My inspiration for this project is simply – gratefulness.”

As a ministry powerhouse and Minister of Music at New Shield of Faith Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia where her husband, John S. Battle, III is senior pastor, Belle’s life has been full of change and challenge. But she proclaims that it has served as one of the vehicles for the anointing and effective ministry of her upcoming project.

The award-winning singer, songwriter and producer never stopped singing in the church. Since those early childhood days, Belle always had a desire in her heart to do a Gospel project. And although she had always incorporated Gospel into her albums and performances, this wish to do a complete Gospel album would not leave her heart. With the release of LOVE FOREVER SHINES, Belle is fulfilling this desire that the Lord placed in her heart.

Belle’s undeniably powerful and unique vocal talents have garnered her recognition from both the music industry, as well as fans worldwide. The New Jersey native discovered her love of music at an early age while attending church services with her family, first singing in the church choir, and then going on to sing solo at the tender young age of eight. Although she loved to sing, she also went on to learn instruments as varied as the trombone, tuba and steel drums throughout her school years. During high school, she also attended the Manhattan School of Music for preparatory operatic voice training with Inga Wolfe.

The Rutgers University graduate began her career recording a duet with the GRAMMY® Award winning group, The Manhattans, becoming the legendary group’s opening act. Her performances were so stirring that she grabbed the attention of record company executives at Columbia Records and soon earned a record deal with the company. Belle went on to release her debut album ALL BY MYSELF (1987), featuring the hit single, “Show Me The Way,” followed up by the sophomore album, STAY WITH ME (1989), which produced chart-topping hits such as “Baby Come To Me”, “This Is Love” and the GRAMMY®-nominated song, “Make It Like It Was” another #1 single on the R&B charts.

She went on to record duets with Johnny Mathis, and most notably Peabo Bryson, on the song, “A Whole New World” from the ALADDIN Soundtrack, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, won four GRAMMY® Awards and has earned multi-platinum status. Her third album, PASSION (1993), featured the hits “Dream In Color” and “If I Could,” which reached #9 on the R&B charts. Over the next few years, she released several more albums including REACHIN’ BACK (1995), BELIEVE IN ME (1998) and THIS IS REGINA (2001). In 2004 she released the chart-topping jazz album, LAZY AFTERNOON, working with GRAMMY® winner and music extraordinaire, George Duke.

Audiences will have the opportunity to experience Belle’s anointing first-hand during her upcoming tour dates at mega churches across the country this spring and summer (see dates and markets below).

For more information on Regina Belle, please visit http://www.pendulumrecords.biz/

REGINA BELLE 2008 MEGACHURCH TOUR

April 20
The Potters House
Friendship-West Baptist Church
Dallas, TX

April 27
Allen Temple
Greater St. Paul Baptist Church
Oakland, CA

May 4
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church
Sharon Baptist Church
Philadelphia, PA

May 11
World Changers Church International
New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
Atlanta, GA

May 18
University Park Baptist Church
Friendship Missionary Baptist
Charlotte, NC

May 25
Word of Faith International Christian Church
Greater Grace Temple (City of David)
Detroit, MI

June 1
Windsor Village United Methodist Church
New Light Christian Center Church
Houston, TX

June 8
Jericho City of Praise
Ebenezer AME Church
Baltimore, MD

June 15
Eastern Star Church
Indianapolis, IN