Disco Soul Gold: McCrei

Showing posts with label McCrei. Show all posts

Friday, 5 February 2016

Happy Birthday Nigel Lowis

Nigel Lowis has sold a staggering 14 million plus global records and Cd's.

Lowis's first top ten hit production was a Sister Sledge cover of '' Thinking of you '' by UK artist "Maureen Walsh" in 1990 on Polydor.

Lowis's others hits include Dina Carroll: So Close & Only Human albums, which were also, produced and Co-Written by him with both albums reaching #2 in the UK album charts! Then came UK Girl band
Eternal which were also produced by Lowis with their first hit, a cover of Glen Jones Stay, then later a UK #1 hit with the Girls in a duet with Bebe Winans, '' Wanna to be the only one'', for sure they were the UK's answer to En Vogue.

Among the names Lowis has work with include, Burt Bacharach, Gary Van den Bussche, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, Bebe Winins, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Carole King, Gene Page, Tom Moulton to name but a few..

One of the most successful Soul releases of last was the UK Soul #1, Ola Onabule ..Soul Town'' that also featured a "Nigel Lowis Mix". Lowis says, I've always loved this song for what its saying, A real Soul lyric. As I've always been huge fan of Philly Soul music,

When asked by Gary Van den Bussche his partner at DSG Records to Remix the track, he said it just felt so right to take it back to a Golden Era. Gamble & Huff meets Norman Whitfield. i'm thrilled that it has had a fantastic reception here in the UK. Right On! Ola. Ola Onabule has gone on to tour the world and have his latest album in the top regions of the Jazz chart.

The other artists Lowis has written and produced for recently include, Leanne McCrei & McCrei who have an album waiting to be released very soon after the success of, ''Show Me'' UK Soul #2 and ''Take My Hand UK Soul top 10, Rudi Wilburn, ''You Are Love'', Marc Staggers, ''Bring It Home To Me'', The Dig Band starring Dina Carroll, ''We Bring The Party'', plus remixes for the likes of, Lenny Williams ''Hooked On You UK Soul #1,

Ken Knox's and The Chairmen Of The Board, Vivienne McKone UK Soul #1, ''Everything's Gonna Be Alright'', Earl Young & Darryl Grant, '' The Power Of Love'', Samuel D Sanders, ''Make You Mine'', Diana Marsh, ''Promise'', Hannah White, That's Love & Sunny Day, Freda & Clif Payne No Payne No Gain not forgetting The Christmas Charity single by, The Sweet Rhythms Band called, ''Christmas Cheer''

Up & coming releases include, The Soul City People album featuring many artists we all love & know in the Soul world, Leanne McCrei of McCrei with her debut album, Marc Staggers album, Hannah White debut album plus the DSG Chart Busters ''Nigel Lowis remix'' album.

Lowis has also worked with such House royalty as, '' The King Of House'', David Morales under the tag of ''Disco Juice'' which releases include the Grammy award nominated #1 Billboard Dance single with Janice Robinson, called ''There Must Be Love''.

Ralph Tee wrote, Lowis is the closest anyone has got to re-creating the sound of Philadelphia in the 21st century!

When Nigel was asked by Gary Spence on a Solar Radio interview which artist he would most like to work with he said George Benson! Thanks to Preston Glass his dream came true!

Tuesday, 22 December 2015

Santa & The Sweet Rhythms Band - Christmas Cheer - Out Now on DSG Music

At the Solar Radio party Gary Spence said to me... wouldn't it be good if I could make a record, maybe like Steve Walsh did back in the day! You Wot, You What, You What!!!

The first thing we had to do was get the concept of the song together, with the idea that Santa forgot to arrange his own party (yes it is the REAL Santa), Nigel Lowis & myself over the coarse of three weeks has been gathering sound bites, voice drops from all the DJ's that wanted to become involved for this charity single. Now all we needed was a catchy song, something bouncy and some singers ....

Nigel Lowis started to hum the song, putting some lyrics to paper, Leanne McCrei came and laided down some vocals, followed by Minster, Gospel singer, Roger Samuels who has his debut single released early next year.

(Vocal Radio Mix)
The pantomime mix features Gary Spence answering Santa, as a guide for you to maybe to the same on the DJ Tools Mix, which has gaps for you to vocally fill in! Also included is the 7 inch mix of the song which only features the vocals without all of the fun of The Panto Mix... Thanks to everybody involved in the making of this Christmas Song, which Gave producer, Nigel Lowis many sleepless nights piecing the parts together, Now back to the Christmas Jigsaw ...

DOWNLOAD IT HERE NOW on i Tunes all proceeds go to Macmillian Cancer support charity.

Review Read it here!

iDMW Single Of The Week - See Here!

#5 This week on the Sweet-Rhythms-chart as seen in Echoes Magazine

Thursday, 8 October 2015

McCrei - Take My Hand climbs to #1 in the Amazon sales chart!

McCrei were formed in 2012, when the two UK Soul sisters, Leanne and Shannon McCrei began sharing their life experiences through song writing and started gigging on the Camden acoustic circuit. Fast forward three years and the sisters have performed at over 250 gigs including the O2 Academy, The Hope, Caister Soul Festival, The Cavern, Camp Soul Festival, Funk Is Back, Distillers, Kensington Roof Gardens, Charlie Wrights and various other venues throughout England .

In 2014 the record producer Alan Glass (whose credits include Aretha Franklin, Misteeq and The Lighthouse Family) discovered McCrei on social media and requested to co write with the girls. McCrei wrote four songs to Alan's beats including the song 'I'm Missing You' which is featured on the film 'Last Round', for which McCrei performed in April at the premier in London.

In January 2015 the record label Disco Soul Gold Music (DSG Music) heard McCrei's music being played on Hugh Williams Soulded Out radio show and approached then McCrei resulting in, '' Show Me'' being released as a single through DSG on the 8th June 2015. The song was also remixed by Nigel Lowis (production credits include Dina Carroll, Eternal, Take That) and reached, #1 on the Soul / R&B sales chart, plus Number 2 in the UK Soul Charts. The track also appears on the new Expansion records,' Soul Togetherness album''. Look out also for a limited edition 7 inch vinyl of Show Me which is now in the shops.

(Picture taken by Alan Harding posted with thanks)

McCrei's second single release of 2015; 'Take My Hand' is now released on DSG Music, with mixes by Yuki T -Groove, Alan Glass the producer of the song & Nigel Lowis who is also the co-writer along with, Glass & McCrei themselves.

(Picture taken by Alan Harding posted with thanks)

Inspired by an introduction into traditional Soul, Disco and Funk, their music takes some direction while staying true to their signature style. McCrei's musical influences include James Brown, Whitney Houston, Teena Marie, Roberta Flack, Stevie Wonder, Joss Stone and Aretha Franklin. The girls recently supported Jean Carn at the Camp Soul Music festival, when the Philly songstress requested the girls to sing to her privately in her changing room. At the last Caister Soul Weekender the UK Soul Sisters supported Joey Negro, by singing to a crowd of over 3,000 at the sold out weekender.

In December 2014, Leanne and Shannon were introduced to an experienced musician trio consisting of Tom O.Mitchell, Charlotte Whiting and Neil Cornwell who have since become McCrei's backing band for live shows.

McCrei - Take My Hand is currently climbing both the Soul Charts and download charts, currently #1 on Amazon sales chart and now available to download below.

Click here to Download it here from Amazon

Click here to download from i Tunes

McCrei web site link below ...

Stay up to date with the latest McCrei live and Pa gigs here!

Breaking news the T-Groove mix has just reached #1 in Japan on the R&B chart!

Saturday, 9 May 2015

McCrei - Show Me - Released on DSG Music 8th June 2015

McCrei were formed in 2012, when the two sisters, Leanne and Shannon McCrei began sharing their experiences through singing and song writing and started gigging on the Camden acoustic circuit. Lets fast forward three years and the ''blue eyed Soul'' sisters have performed at over 250 gigs including the O2 Academy, The Hope, The Cavern, Distillers, Rochester Castle and various other venues throughout England . They are performing in May at The International Pop Overthrow Festival in Liverpool.

In 2014 the record producer Alan Glass (whose credits include Aretha Franklin, Misteeq and The Lighthouse Family) discovered McCrei on social media and requested to co write with the girls. They wrote several songs together including the song 'I'm Missing You' which is featured on the film 'Last Round', for which McCrei performed at the premier in London a few weeks ago.

In January 2015 record label Disco Soul Gold Music (DSG Music) discovered McCrei's music after hearing it being played on Hugh Williams radio show and approached McCrei. Show Me is being released as a single through DSG in late June. The song has been remixed by Nigel Lowis (production credits include Dinah Carroll, Eternal, Ola Onabule, Winans, Terry Ronald.). McCrei are also currently working on new material with Lowis.

Inspired by an introduction into traditional Soul, Disco and Funk, their music takes some direction while staying true to their signature style. DSG Label boss Gary Van den Bussche describes it as Modern Retro, oozing with Ivory Soul.

McCrei's musical influences include Alicia Keys, Teena Marie, Roberta Flack, Stevie Wonder, Patrice Rushen, Whitney Houston, Joss Stone and Aretha Franklin.

In December 2014, Leanne and Shannon were introduced to a musician trio consisting of Tom O.Mitchell, Charlotte Whiting and Neil Cornwell who have since become McCrei's backing band for live gigs.

"The McCrei Sisters are fantastic. From the first time I heard this track I knew it was going to be massive, sounding fresh and classy, reminds me of Teena Marie. I'm over the moon it's my record of the week. A must download on June 8th 2015" Lord Spence - The Man With The Sweetest Rhythms - Gary Spence - Solar Radio Listen here! Live Interview