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MP3 Phillip Boykin - "You Believed In Me"
17 MP3 Songs in this album (68:16) !
Related styles: Pop: with Live-band Production, Classical: Musical Theater, Type: Live Recordings
People who are interested in Brian Stokes Mitchell Josh Groban Nat King Cole should consider this download.
Details:
Hello and thank you for purchasing my first CD! As a young man beginning my performance career, I took pictures and documented ideas with hopes of using them one day in my very own show. I dreamed of being on a stage showing my pictures, sharing stories about my life and singing songs that coincided with them. Through faith, the strength of my mother, my wife, my family, my teachers, my very talented friends and a few sponsors, you now hold that dream in your hand.
This is a compilation of songs from my show "You Believed in Me" recorded live at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts in my hometown Greenville, SC. Thank you for your support and for believing in me.
PART ONE OF THE CD...
We invite you to come with us on a journey through the life of a young man who faced many struggles and difficulties. At a young age he decided he wanted a better life than what he was living in the projects of West Greenville, SC. Using his PURE IMAGINATION he dreamed of becoming a world class singer.
In spite of the odds being against him, he understood that he still had much to be thankful for. With this CD he wants to thank all of you for the things you have done to help him realize that things eventually work out FOR SURE.
Phillip was born to a wonderful mother who believed in God. His father was a Baptist Preacher who left his mother to care for ten children alone. It was his mother Alice that taught him the power of faith; he recalls his mother telling him that "all things are possible if you believe". She also reminded him, with her Carolina drawl that "things will work out FO'' SHO''". It was his mother who taught him how to pray and have faith and from that day on he decided to make A CITY CALLED HEAVEN his home.
Being abandoned by his father, living through the stabbing death of his younger brother, having poor reading skills, going to bed hungry, having no money, and constantly tempted by drugs and alcohol; All of these things could have ended his dreams or his life, but he decided to persevere and cross that DEEP RIVER of pain. He prayed that his singing would someday be his way out of poverty.
At the home of his mentor Phillip saw an album with the picture of Leontyne Price and William Warfield on the cover as Porgy and Bess. Seeing these two proud African Americans made him interested in classical music. He said ADIEU to the ideas that he''d never amount to anything. He began to study and work extra hard and now he travels around the world performing the role of Crown in the opera that inspired him singing WHAT YOU WANT WID BESS?
PART TWO OF THE CD...
Today I often look back and wonder HOW I GOT OVER? There were many people whom I grew up with who made very different choices. In my own family I have four siblings in prison and other family members struggling with addictions every day. I can only pray that they make it over their obstacles too.
My mother became ill and I didn''t know what I would do if she passed away. I wondered Momma, IF I REACH OUT FOR YOU and find that you are not there... what will I do? It was this song that I dedicated in the memory of my mother, Alicia Ruth Boykin. Now, I know that while my mother may not be here physically, her spirit and love are always with me. Momma, I hope I still make you proud and I hope I still make you smile. You gave me a reason to live and work hard to achieve my dreams and I am so thankful to have had a mother like you. You were the first to believe in me and I miss you so much. Momma, you are ALWAYS ON MY MIND.
It has been quite a journey, but I have performed at the Alice Tully Hall and The Kennedy Center and travel the world to places I never dreamed I''d be; Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Poland and performed in some of the top Opera houses in Europe. I traveled, but it was in my hometown where I met a young lady named FELICIA. She is now my beautiful wife who has been with me every step of the way. Everyday I''m a few steps closer to performing on Broadway to sing WHAT I DID FOR LOVE and FREE AT LAST. I am free from the pain of my past and it is great to be free. To all of the men and women in the armed forces, especially my dear friend Nate Manchester, THANK YOU! For those who have lost their lives in the war it is with heavy hearts that we pay tribute to you each time we hear TAPS. Let us continue to pray that God will BRING HIM HOME and bring them all home safely. This CD is my gift to you as I say thanks to you all because YOU BELIEVED IN ME. With your continued support, like that OL'' MAN RIVER, I will keep rolling along.
More thank yous...
I first thank God, the Spirit of good in everything and in everyone for my gift. Thanks and much love to my wife Felicia, I never could have done this without you! I know mere words cannot properly or adequately thank each of you for supporting me throughout my life in Greenville, SC and my travels around the world. Thank you for making this recording a success. I am here today, because You Believed In Me. From the best place in my heart, I THANK all of YOU... GHS and Marge Bennett, Tony, my dad Dwight, Brian Smith, Marge, Emile and Judy, Jerris, Adam, Tromell, Brandon, Tia, Virginia Uldrick, Michael Rice, Mr. John McCarroll, Ira Echols, Richard Heusel, Dr & Mrs. Jeff Giguere, John and Ethel Piper, Phillis Wheatley Repertory Theatre and Board of Directors, Debra, Marzella, Stephen, Doug, Ree-Ree, David, Frank, Donald and Ricky, my nieces and nephews, my sister and brother-in-laws, SC State University, NC School of the Arts, University of Hartford - Hartt School of Music and Dr. Fredrick Moses, Linda Twine, Poplar Springs Baptist Church, Sheila Creek, John Watson of Watson Video, Tim Lawter of Studio 151, Ann Hicks, Kristi York, Rene''s Steak House, Flowers by Danny, Tom Bugg, Shelby Wirt and the Peace Center Production Managers and staff. OH... and YOU! You thought I forgot you : )
Special thanks to the band! Music by Adler - Marge B. Adler - Musical Director, Arranger and Piano; Anthony "Tony" Bennett - Piano, Keyboards and Coordinator; Tia Sullivan Smith - Keyboards; Tromell Blassingame - Percussion; Brandon Gilliard - Electric and Acoustic Bass; Felicia Boykin - Executive Producer: Brian Smith of BKS Production - Producer and Sound Engineer
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