Gabriel Allen & The Rock Him Crew
Albany, Georgia, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2003
Music
Press
When Luke Crampton heard a school choir singing in an Atlanta mall, he noticed one voice that stood out above the others. The music producer dropped his bags and stopped to listen, then learned that the voice came from then-17-year-old Gabriel Powell (now 22). Crampton approached Powell and asked him to lay down a couple of demos. Those led to the recording of Powell's full-length debut, "Albany," an all-covers set that Crampton co-produced and released with Dafydd Rees under the pair's Crossover Entertainment production company.
While these AC covers sets are concoctions of Crossover Entertainment, it's Powell's own compositions with gospel combo Gabriel & the New Priests that remain completely unsigned. Touring live primarily in his native Southeast with the help of agent Sonja Miller, Gabriel's versatility as a "coffeehouse crowd" singer, as well as an impressive gospel talent, shines through on both recordings.
"The landscape of the music industry has changed, so we're pondering whether we go with a major or if there's no real reason to do so anymore," Powell says. "I'm hoping that the album does just as well as if I were signed to a label—or better."
While recording "Albany" at Crossover Entertainment Group's studio in Atlanta, Powell worked with vocal coach Jan Smith, who has trained Rob Thomas and Usher. "I come from that type of [choral] training so it wasn't unfamiliar," says Powell, who had classical training in his school choir. "But it's great to know that there is so much more to learn."
To reach the AC audience, Crampton says he is shopping "Albany" to daytime and late-night talk shows. Powell isn't doing much touring solo, but when he graduates from Savannah College of Art and Design next year, he'll start to hit small clubs and venues to perform acoustic showcases. - Laura leebove
When Luke Crampton heard a school choir singing in an Atlanta mall, he noticed one voice that stood out above the others. The music producer dropped his bags and stopped to listen, then learned that the voice came from then-17-year-old Gabriel Powell (now 22). Crampton approached Powell and asked him to lay down a couple of demos. Those led to the recording of Powell's full-length debut, "Albany," an all-covers set that Crampton co-produced and released with Dafydd Rees under the pair's Crossover Entertainment production company.
While these AC covers sets are concoctions of Crossover Entertainment, it's Powell's own compositions with gospel combo Gabriel & the New Priests that remain completely unsigned. Touring live primarily in his native Southeast with the help of agent Sonja Miller, Gabriel's versatility as a "coffeehouse crowd" singer, as well as an impressive gospel talent, shines through on both recordings.
"The landscape of the music industry has changed, so we're pondering whether we go with a major or if there's no real reason to do so anymore," Powell says. "I'm hoping that the album does just as well as if I were signed to a label—or better."
While recording "Albany" at Crossover Entertainment Group's studio in Atlanta, Powell worked with vocal coach Jan Smith, who has trained Rob Thomas and Usher. "I come from that type of [choral] training so it wasn't unfamiliar," says Powell, who had classical training in his school choir. "But it's great to know that there is so much more to learn."
To reach the AC audience, Crampton says he is shopping "Albany" to daytime and late-night talk shows. Powell isn't doing much touring solo, but when he graduates from Savannah College of Art and Design next year, he'll start to hit small clubs and venues to perform acoustic showcases. - Laura leebove
Discography
Superhero: The Genesis
2011
Photos
Bio
On February 4, 1986, a dreamer was born. The son of Victor and Sandra Powell, Gabriel Allen Powell was born in Albany, Georgia. Reared by parents who welcomed, encouraged, and supported his dreams, the young Gabriel would soon discover his God-given talent to woo his audiences with a soothing and soulful voice as from above. A son of a preacher-man, young Gabriels music career began at the early age of eight as he would sing regularly at his fathers church.
His musicianship would later flourish under the tutelage of his high school choral director, Mark Butler. In 2004, while on tour with Mark Butler and the Dougherty High Performing Arts Chorale, Gabriel was discovered by CNN executive producer Luke Crampton and signed to Crossover Entertainment Group. In 2004, Gabriel recorded his debut album Albany- a collection of classic ballads which would garner airplay in London, England, top charts in Billboard Magazine, and provide national platforms such as the official unveiling and opening of Atlanta, Georgias Atlantic Station.
Amidst national and international platforms, Gabriels dreams would continue to blossom as he would found a world-class entertainment company, A.C.E. Crew Entertainment. Irrespective of audience, A.C.E. Crew Entertainment firmly believes in the value of hard work and the production of top notch entertainment. Gabriels vision for A.C.E. Crew Entertainment is one that envelopes every form of artistic entertainment for professional development and production. Actors, dancers, instrumentalists, and vocalists, just to name a few, are now equipped with the avenue to have their skills sharpened and packaged for quality production. Gabriel is currently signed to A.C.E. Crew Entertainment along with several other artists.
A living and breathing manifestation of one of Gabriels many dreams is Gabriel Allen & The Rock Him Crew. The 2003 humble beginnings of the music group, then named Inspiration, would bear witness to the hard work necessary to build such a powerful voice that would impact a generation longing for answers and struggling through the woes of self-identification. Gabriel would later name the group Gabriel and The New Royal Priesthood (T.N.R.P.) and later Gabriel and New Priests. This recording group performed a wide array of concerts to packed theaters and churches throughout Southwest Georgia. There remained more work to sustain the vitality of this dream. To ensure its sustainability, Gabriel labored with grave tenacity to develop a distinct sound to be heard around the world. They have opened up for world renowned artists Tye Tribbett, Family Force 5, Joshua Rogers, Tamela Mann, and Tasha Cobbs. They have also traveled across the world to New Zealand and Australia and toured both countries for three weeks. Currently a group unable to be fully categorized into or defined by one particular musical genre, Gabriel Allen & The Rock Him Crew performs an eclectic mix of Hip-Hop, Pop, and Christian music. Gabriels dreams continue to unfold as Gabriel Allen & The Rock Him Crew released their 2010 chart-topping debut album Super Hero: The Genesis. Sweeping the airwaves near and abroad, Super Hero: The Genesis has attracted a response uncommon to an independently produced, freshman album. As Gabriel chooses to rise above the cacophonic tones of naysayers, his dreams, coupled with hard work and determination, continue to propel his production and musical career toward success.
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