Sherry Songbird – Made For You

Sherry Songbird
Made for You
Family First Productions (2014)
www.sherrysongbird.com

By Bob Marovich

Singer-songwriter Sherry Songbird’s sophomore release is an EP called Made For You. The six selections are sunny vertical praise songs written by Songbird, and the understated instrumentation, led by acoustic piano and guitar, spotlights her light but passionate soprano.

Set to a robust string section, the title track expresses the joy of accepting Christ. Although the rests in the music pause too long for comfort, and the tempo could be quicker, Songbird delivers the lyrics with appropriate drama and stave-jumping notes that earned her stage name.

While Sherry does her best singing on “Let It Fall,” “Cry for Him” is, to my ears, the best of the six selections on Made For You. Here, she exhorts listeners to prayer so God will make it better and mend their hearts. To emphasize her point, Sherry lets out some Broadway belter notes that show she can really sell a song.

A native of South Carolina, Sherry Songbird (Sherry Futch) appeared on the television program “Showtime at the Apollo” at age 13, and attended arts-centric elementary and high schools. She entered the Army, singing with the 3rd Infantry Division Band, and won the Fort Stewart Army Idol/Rising Star Competition two years in a row.

Sherry’s recent performance at the Rhythm of Gospel Media Awards demonstrated that her sweet spot is in front of a live audience. Nevertheless, Made for You spotlights a gospel artist with plenty of promise.

Three of Five Stars

Pick: “Cry for Him.”