UNITED KINGDOM: Soul singer Angie Stone issues her debut solo album "Black diamond"

Record ID: 579756

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Soul singer Angie Stone issues her debut solo album "Black diamond"
  • Date: 24th March 2000
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MARCH 24, 2000) (REUTERS) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) STONE SAYING "Yeah, I think I was as surprised as everybody and was proud of my accomplishment but to be critically acclaimed over Mary J. Blige or to come within one perimeter of Lauryn Hill was an expression of overwhelming ..sorry, an expression of just overwhelming compassion for some
  • Embargoed: 8th April 2000 13:00
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  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA72YFC6V0HU7QEYSALMMCRRJG4
  • Story Text: After years of working in the shadows of R&B and soul music for the likes of Mary J Blige, Lenny Kravitz and D'Angelo, southern belle Angie Stone has finally stepped into the limelight with her debut solo album, "Black Diamond".In London to promote, "Life Story", the first single to be released from the album in Europe, Stone spoke to Reuters about her journey to the top.
    Brought up in South Carolina in the United States, singer Angie Stone says she embraced music from a very young age when her father introduced her to Gospel singing.It wasn't long before her talent was recognised.
    "It was a once in a chance, a lifetime chance, for me to take the opportunity to do music because in the south you are very rarely discovered.It's like a very hand-picked few of people that make it out of the south.So it was you know, do or die for me and I was allowed to go and pursue my career.
    And this was back in 1979 going into '80, it was like around November of '79 and so from that point until now, I've been pretty consumed with helping other people, writing behind the scenes, I've had some forefront venture with other groups, but this is my first solo debut," she said.
    Having started out as a rapper signed to the legendary Sugar Hill Records, Stone moved on to singing when she felt confident enough to do so.She sang with Malcolm Mclaren, Lenny Kravitz and Mantronix which led her to write and produce with Kravitz, Mary J Blige, D'Angelo and Ali Shaheed Muhammed from a Tribe Called Quest.
    Her association with D'Angelo is well documented.She was instrumental in the sound and songwriting of his last two albums and "Brown Sugar", the debut album titled track was actually written about Angie.
    It was only when Stone dealt with her fear of failure that she was able and ready to record her own album.One of the tracks taken from the album is entitled "Life Story" but Stone says, the album itself is only part of her personal life journey.
    "It's part of my life story and the other part is basically things that I've gone through with my musical career in terms of personal as well as professional.So to say safely, it's part of my life story.It is not my complete life story.My complete life story would embody the whole level, I think, of expression," she said.
    "Black Diamond" has already been critically acclaimed in the United States and was recently voted Billboard Magazine's Critics Album of the Year 1999, an achievement Stone says she didn't expect.
    "I think I was as surprised as everybody and was proud of my accomplishment but to be critically acclaimed over Mary J.
    Blige or to come within one perimeter of Lauryn Hill was an expression of overwhelming Â….sorry, an expression of just overwhelming compassion for someone who I think has finally been vindicated in the industry."
    Stone performed last week at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire with her band which includes a 16 year old keyboard player and his 18 year old brother on the drums.They received warm reviews.
    Unwilling to be typecast already, Stone who is currently giving Macy Gray a run for her money in the United States, says her music has something for everyone and she hopes when people hear her material they'll want to see her performing live when she comes back to the UK and Europe in the summer.
    "I think it's music for any and everyone.I don't think it's jazz, hip-hop or any of that I think it's soul music that embodies elements of all styles of music.You have high points and low points in life, in day-to-day life, every individual has a high point and low point and I think, my album is an adjustment of oneself," she said.
    "Life Story" is released on March 27, 2000.
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