Gospel Record Label Defies the Odds
Detroit, MI (BlackNews.com) - In a time, where independent recording labels are either folding due to shrinking CD sales because of illegal downloading or selling out to international conglomerates, Detroit's Crystal Rose Records has managed to remain both viable and independent. In the last decade, an array of independent gospel labels such as Gospcentric (Kirk Franklin) and Word (Karen Clark Sheard) have been sold to billion-dollar companies that have now created a virtual monopoly on the gospel music industry.
In spite of the business squeeze, Crystal Rose has maintained a strong footing in the gospel field. Their 2004 project "Unplugged: The Way Church Used to Be" by Ricky Dillard & the New Generation Chorale was nominated for a Grammy award and was one of the Top Ten CDs of the year. This spring, Crystal Rose President, Brian A. Spears, is not resting on his laurels. On February 28th, the label will release a twelve-song CD of gospel classics entitled "Pure Gospel: Top Gospel Choirs Live in Praise & Worship" (Retail List price: $9.99) that features Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers and Kim Burrell, among others. With distribution via Taesis/Ryko/WEA, Crystal Rose has an aggressive release schedule this year. Aside from several high-profile projects that are still in negotiations for release, the label has forthcoming projects on the release schedule by former Oprah pop star contestant, Lorenzo Owens (via the D-Town/Musicmind subsidiary), and smooth jazz gospel pianist Michael Mindingall's first Crystal Rose project, "Praisestrumentals."
Spears began his career in retail management with Dayton Hudson, a mid-west corporation. Later, he met Don Davis, an independent producer and studio owner. Davis had produced artists such as the Dramatics, Johnnie Taylor, the Dells, and Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. He gave Spears the opportunity to learn the music publishing business through managing Groovesville Publishing. Spears later ran United Sound Studios where artists such as Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, and Anita Baker recorded. When LJ Reynolds left the Dramatics in 1984 Spears became his manager and formed his own management consulting company where he also managed the late gospel legend, Thomas Whitfield. In the early 1990s, Spears founded Crystal Rose with attorney Ben Whitfield, producer Michael J. Powell and choirmaster, Donald Lawrence.
In spite of the business squeeze, Crystal Rose has maintained a strong footing in the gospel field. Their 2004 project "Unplugged: The Way Church Used to Be" by Ricky Dillard & the New Generation Chorale was nominated for a Grammy award and was one of the Top Ten CDs of the year. This spring, Crystal Rose President, Brian A. Spears, is not resting on his laurels. On February 28th, the label will release a twelve-song CD of gospel classics entitled "Pure Gospel: Top Gospel Choirs Live in Praise & Worship" (Retail List price: $9.99) that features Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers and Kim Burrell, among others. With distribution via Taesis/Ryko/WEA, Crystal Rose has an aggressive release schedule this year. Aside from several high-profile projects that are still in negotiations for release, the label has forthcoming projects on the release schedule by former Oprah pop star contestant, Lorenzo Owens (via the D-Town/Musicmind subsidiary), and smooth jazz gospel pianist Michael Mindingall's first Crystal Rose project, "Praisestrumentals."
Spears began his career in retail management with Dayton Hudson, a mid-west corporation. Later, he met Don Davis, an independent producer and studio owner. Davis had produced artists such as the Dramatics, Johnnie Taylor, the Dells, and Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. He gave Spears the opportunity to learn the music publishing business through managing Groovesville Publishing. Spears later ran United Sound Studios where artists such as Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, and Anita Baker recorded. When LJ Reynolds left the Dramatics in 1984 Spears became his manager and formed his own management consulting company where he also managed the late gospel legend, Thomas Whitfield. In the early 1990s, Spears founded Crystal Rose with attorney Ben Whitfield, producer Michael J. Powell and choirmaster, Donald Lawrence.
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