Music
Press
Singer gets Intimate with gospel
By JOEY GUERRA
Joyce Pierce planned to release 24/7 Intimate Praise at a much earlier date. But life got in the way.
The stirring gospel disc, released late last year, was born out of Pierce's personal struggles and triumphs. But she didn't promote the project until this year.
"My only brother, Blaine Bedford Wright, was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer during the writing and recording process," says Pierce, who has lived in Sugar Land for almost a decade. "I continued to work on the CD, and eventually completed it, but I couldn't release it while my brother was suffering the way that he did. I needed to be there with him until he took his last breath. After he died, God gave me a wonderful peace, which allowed me to finally release the CD."
24/7 Intimate Praise was produced by local studio whiz Dan Workman, best known for his work with Destiny's Child and ZZ Top. Pierce also collaborated with locals Bob Gallarza (guitar) Keith Vivens (bass) and Eric Sotelo (guitar).
The disc is an emotive, elegant affair. It's buoyed by Pierce's accomplished vocals, which switch effortlessly from quiet grace to full-on, soul-diva wails. She also wrote the bulk of the lyrics.
Because of Love is a sweeping moment that recalls Patti LaBelle. And Candy is a deceptively sultry tale of a woman's journey from prostitution and drugs into the arms of God. It's a familiar, yet freshly-told tale that Pierce says "just started flowing like a river."
Two songs — I'll See You Again and the moving Stay Awhile — are dedicated to Pierce's brother.
"Everything just flowed so naturally," Pierce says about her songwriting. "I learned that I had to trust God and rely on my faith. That I could still work and be creative, through the dark valleys, trials and tribulations."
Before settling in Houston and switching to gospel music, Pierce was part of Grammy-winning group the Fifth Dimension. She joined the ever-changing quintet in 1979 and stayed with it for eight years, touring the world.
She sang commercial jingles and had solo success overseas. In 1992, she and husband Ricky Pierce, a retired NBA player with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Seattle Supersonics, bought a house in Sugar Land. The couple has three children, all of whom are home-schooled. She is working on booking shows in and out of Texas.
"I was born and raised in California, and had never dreamed of living anywhere else, until I visited Houston," Pierce says. "We wanted a place where we could keep our horses and not worry about the noise level. Sugar Land fit the bill . . . especially since my oldest turned out to be an awesome drummer, and I like to crank up the piano when I write."
Her journey to this point in life has been learning experience, she says.
- THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Singer gets Intimate with gospel
By JOEY GUERRA
Joyce Pierce planned to release 24/7 Intimate Praise at a much earlier date. But life got in the way.
The stirring gospel disc, released late last year, was born out of Pierce's personal struggles and triumphs. But she didn't promote the project until this year.
"My only brother, Blaine Bedford Wright, was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer during the writing and recording process," says Pierce, who has lived in Sugar Land for almost a decade. "I continued to work on the CD, and eventually completed it, but I couldn't release it while my brother was suffering the way that he did. I needed to be there with him until he took his last breath. After he died, God gave me a wonderful peace, which allowed me to finally release the CD."
24/7 Intimate Praise was produced by local studio whiz Dan Workman, best known for his work with Destiny's Child and ZZ Top. Pierce also collaborated with locals Bob Gallarza (guitar) Keith Vivens (bass) and Eric Sotelo (guitar).
The disc is an emotive, elegant affair. It's buoyed by Pierce's accomplished vocals, which switch effortlessly from quiet grace to full-on, soul-diva wails. She also wrote the bulk of the lyrics.
Because of Love is a sweeping moment that recalls Patti LaBelle. And Candy is a deceptively sultry tale of a woman's journey from prostitution and drugs into the arms of God. It's a familiar, yet freshly-told tale that Pierce says "just started flowing like a river."
Two songs — I'll See You Again and the moving Stay Awhile — are dedicated to Pierce's brother.
"Everything just flowed so naturally," Pierce says about her songwriting. "I learned that I had to trust God and rely on my faith. That I could still work and be creative, through the dark valleys, trials and tribulations."
Before settling in Houston and switching to gospel music, Pierce was part of Grammy-winning group the Fifth Dimension. She joined the ever-changing quintet in 1979 and stayed with it for eight years, touring the world.
She sang commercial jingles and had solo success overseas. In 1992, she and husband Ricky Pierce, a retired NBA player with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Seattle Supersonics, bought a house in Sugar Land. The couple has three children, all of whom are home-schooled. She is working on booking shows in and out of Texas.
"I was born and raised in California, and had never dreamed of living anywhere else, until I visited Houston," Pierce says. "We wanted a place where we could keep our horses and not worry about the noise level. Sugar Land fit the bill . . . especially since my oldest turned out to be an awesome drummer, and I like to crank up the piano when I write."
Her journey to this point in life has been learning experience, she says.
- THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Crossover artist now singing for Christ
By George McHendry
One of the neat things about writing a religion column is I get interesting mail. Some of it isn't flattering, some of it is. That just goes with the territory when you write about something controversial.
Since I review CDs from time to time and attend a lot of Christian concerts, it's not unusual to get demo albums and information about new artists. Or in the case of Joyce Pierce, artists who have been successful on the secular music scene, realize they missed their calling and then check out the waters of contemporary Christian music.
The name Joyce Pierce might not ring a lot of bells. But if I said "The Fifth Dimension," chances are you would have memories of a musical group at its peak in the late '60s, and perhaps most remembered for "Up Up and Away" and "Age of Aquarius." The group just celebrated its 40th year in the music business, and during that time singers came and went.
One of those artists that came and went was Pierce, but she was with the group for eight years from 1979 to 1987. Over the years, the group won multiple Grammys, and during her ride with The Fifth Dimension, Pierce gave a private musical performance for President Reagan, as well as appearances on the Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin shows.
More than 40 weeks a year on the road were taking their toll, and one evening, after a performance at Trump Palace in Las Vegas, she began to realize that her musical talent could be used as a source of inspirational power. She eventually married NBA player Ricky Pierce (Milwaukee Bucks and Seattle Supersonics), and decided to devote her attention to raising her family.
Then, in 1994, she decided to sing at her church, and that turned out to be a defining moment in her career. In 2004, she teamed with prominent producer/engineer Dan Workman (Beyonce, Destiny's Child) and came out with a collection of inspirational songs of worship titled "24/7 Intimate Praise." This is her debut Christian crossover CD, and I certainly hope it isn't her last.
The album is diverse, but it clearly sends a message of peace, hope, faith and love. It is a wonderful blend of pop, R&B and contemporary gospel. The opening cut, "I'm ready" serves as a wake-up call that "God is always there beside me just waiting to see what I'd do." The finale of the cut hits home as she states, "So now I'm ready to take you by your very word your very word speaks to me, speaks to me, speaks to me."
My favorite on the album is "Jesus You're My Friend" and the inspiration for the song is John 14:6. The familiar words of that passage come back to us when she sings "Jesus you're my friend, no one else will do. The one I can depend on, when times seem rough. Jesus you're the way, truth and the light. You came that I might live and have eternal life."
The former Fifth Dimension vocalist is working on a national tour, and it's one I hope brings her into Colorado. After doing some research, I discovered "24/7 Intimate Praise" isn't yet available at Family Christian Stores or Lifeway Christian Stores, but it is available through CDBaby.com and OutboundMusic.com. Both Web sites sell the album for $14.99 plus shipping. At CDBaby.com, you get a 20 percent discount if you order more than one copy of the album. Check the site for details.
If it does work out that Joyce Pierce comes to our area, I'll let you know as soon as I have details. In the meantime, check out this album. You won't be sorry.
- BROOMFIELD ENTERPRISE
Crossover artist now singing for Christ
By George McHendry
One of the neat things about writing a religion column is I get interesting mail. Some of it isn't flattering, some of it is. That just goes with the territory when you write about something controversial.
Since I review CDs from time to time and attend a lot of Christian concerts, it's not unusual to get demo albums and information about new artists. Or in the case of Joyce Pierce, artists who have been successful on the secular music scene, realize they missed their calling and then check out the waters of contemporary Christian music.
The name Joyce Pierce might not ring a lot of bells. But if I said "The Fifth Dimension," chances are you would have memories of a musical group at its peak in the late '60s, and perhaps most remembered for "Up Up and Away" and "Age of Aquarius." The group just celebrated its 40th year in the music business, and during that time singers came and went.
One of those artists that came and went was Pierce, but she was with the group for eight years from 1979 to 1987. Over the years, the group won multiple Grammys, and during her ride with The Fifth Dimension, Pierce gave a private musical performance for President Reagan, as well as appearances on the Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin shows.
More than 40 weeks a year on the road were taking their toll, and one evening, after a performance at Trump Palace in Las Vegas, she began to realize that her musical talent could be used as a source of inspirational power. She eventually married NBA player Ricky Pierce (Milwaukee Bucks and Seattle Supersonics), and decided to devote her attention to raising her family.
Then, in 1994, she decided to sing at her church, and that turned out to be a defining moment in her career. In 2004, she teamed with prominent producer/engineer Dan Workman (Beyonce, Destiny's Child) and came out with a collection of inspirational songs of worship titled "24/7 Intimate Praise." This is her debut Christian crossover CD, and I certainly hope it isn't her last.
The album is diverse, but it clearly sends a message of peace, hope, faith and love. It is a wonderful blend of pop, R&B and contemporary gospel. The opening cut, "I'm ready" serves as a wake-up call that "God is always there beside me just waiting to see what I'd do." The finale of the cut hits home as she states, "So now I'm ready to take you by your very word your very word speaks to me, speaks to me, speaks to me."
My favorite on the album is "Jesus You're My Friend" and the inspiration for the song is John 14:6. The familiar words of that passage come back to us when she sings "Jesus you're my friend, no one else will do. The one I can depend on, when times seem rough. Jesus you're the way, truth and the light. You came that I might live and have eternal life."
The former Fifth Dimension vocalist is working on a national tour, and it's one I hope brings her into Colorado. After doing some research, I discovered "24/7 Intimate Praise" isn't yet available at Family Christian Stores or Lifeway Christian Stores, but it is available through CDBaby.com and OutboundMusic.com. Both Web sites sell the album for $14.99 plus shipping. At CDBaby.com, you get a 20 percent discount if you order more than one copy of the album. Check the site for details.
If it does work out that Joyce Pierce comes to our area, I'll let you know as soon as I have details. In the meantime, check out this album. You won't be sorry.
- BROOMFIELD ENTERPRISE
Friday, May 04, 2007
Joyce Pierce Press
Joyce Pierce's CD, 24/7 Intimate Praise, is building momentum one gospel station, one church, and one fan at a time. Consistantly over the past year, the press and reviews have become more frequent and more positive. Here is a story link to the Houston Chronicle.
The only downside (for me) of the article is that it didn't mention the beautiful arranging/composing and playing of Kevin Ryan and Shaun Green.
Joyce and I became very close during our work, and today I count her as a wonderful friend. You can hear one of her songs, Abba Father, on the Soundboard of this site.
Way to go, Joyce. - SUGARHILL
Friday, May 04, 2007
Joyce Pierce Press
Joyce Pierce's CD, 24/7 Intimate Praise, is building momentum one gospel station, one church, and one fan at a time. Consistantly over the past year, the press and reviews have become more frequent and more positive. Here is a story link to the Houston Chronicle.
The only downside (for me) of the article is that it didn't mention the beautiful arranging/composing and playing of Kevin Ryan and Shaun Green.
Joyce and I became very close during our work, and today I count her as a wonderful friend. You can hear one of her songs, Abba Father, on the Soundboard of this site.
Way to go, Joyce. - SUGARHILL
Discography
24/7 Intimate Praise
Photos
Bio
Joyce Pierce offers up a message of spiritual love and worship with her debut Christian release - 24/7 Intimate Praise. And like the balanced wings of a dove, her music conveys a sense of innocence, tenderness, and peace to fans of all styles and genres.
Joyce Wright joined the multi-Grammy winning quintet, The 5th Dimension, in 1979. Already an established act, Joyce stepped into the big time with The 5th Dimension and dates all over the world including private performances for President Reagan, The US Press Corp and a slew of international delegates, as well as television performances on Solid Gold, Johnny Carson Show, and Merv Griffin. After a long run in Las Vegas with several hit shows and a Broadway production and tour of Fats Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’” under her belt, Joyce left The Fifth Dimension in 1987 to pursue a solo career.
The 43 weeks per year on the road, day in and day out had taken its toll, when one evening she encountered Phil Driscoll. Pierce recollects, “I knew the point at which my back was against the wall from the grueling schedule of being in such a huge group. After a show at Trump Palace with The Fifth Dimension, I was watching Phil Driscoll and realized the power and the anointing in what he was doing and how it helped other people.” That overwhelming combination of musical and inspirational power eventually led her in the same direction.
Some time later and now married, Joyce relocated to Milwaukee with her husband, pro NBA player Ricky Pierce, where she performed at the Milwaukee Symphony Pop Series and continued with her music doing ads and jingles until her husband was traded to the Seattle Supersonics. Joyce Pierce recorded and released her debut solo effort in 1992 at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles with noted producer/writer/arranger Patrick Moten (Anita Baker, Rosie Gaines, Ike & Tina Turner). Released independently, the single had great success in Europe.
In 1994, Joyce made the decision to turn her attentions to raising her family but all the while music and the message continued to tug at her soul. She took the opportunity to start singing in church, which became the pivotal point in her career. “I saw what a difference it made to everyone there and what a difference it made to me,” she says, and soon after began to toy with the idea of releasing a Christian CD.
Ten years had come to pass while raising her family and searching for God’s voice from inside. Joyce did a lot of soul searching and listening for Him to convey what He wanted to hear from her. In 2004, she teamed up with prominent producer/engineer, Dan Workman (Beyonce, Destiny’s Child, ZZ Top), to put together a collection of inspirational songs of worship in the name of Our Lord, entitled 24/7 Intimate Praise. For all who listen, the album is as diverse and enlightening as the message that it sends - one of peace, hope, faith and love.
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