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MARTHA MUNIZZI
Last Updated on Monday, 06 September 2010 13:09 Written by admin2 Tuesday, 21 July 2009 13:05
Martha Munizzi/BIOGRAPHY
(Adapted from www.marthamunizzi.com )
In the last decade, acclaimed music minister Martha Munizzi has risen to the upper reaches of the Christian and gospel music spheres, becoming an in-demand worship leader, songwriter, and speaker across the United States and beyond.
Since the 2002 release of her first independent effort, Say the Name, Munizzi has expanded her ministry reach thanks to an unflinching commitment to cross-generational, multiethnic praise and worship music—a calling that began when she was 8 years old in her family’s traveling music ministry.
Munizzi, a Pastor’s daughter, was born in Lakeland, Florida, and since an early age she was involved in day-to-day ministry alongside her parents, her twin sister Mary, and her older sister Marvelyne.
Though chiefly southern gospel in style at the time, the music Munizzi and her family were making was instrumental in planting in her a desire to reach audiences with more than just a song or a musical performance.
In the brink of adolescence, at the age of 12, Munizzi and her sisters came off the road and went to Orlando, Florida, where her parents decided to settle so that their children could attend public school just like everyone else.
Munizzi got her first taste of musical and ministry autonomy when, at 16, she and her sisters formed the group Testament, a praise ensemble that in time created enough of a buzz to book its own concerts at various church events and conferences across Florida.
It was during her stint in Testament that Munizzi, then Martha Stallings, met her husband Dan, a bassist and keyboardist with the group, whom she married in 1987. It was Dan who introduced the fledgling worship leader to black gospel music from the likes of Andraé Crouch and Fred Hammond. Those singers’ ability to mix soulful arrangements with worshipful lyrics revolutionized the way Munizzi viewed her own artistry.
With a renewed vision for worship, the couple continued to minister until 1993, when they were asked to fill a music directing post at FaithWorld, a rapidly growing church in the Orlando area. As founding members of the church, they saw the 250-member congregation and 30-member praise band grow into a “mega church” of more than 5,000 with a music team almost the size of the early church.
Following the end of their tenure at FaithWorld in 2001, the Munizzis felt called to start a ministry of their own. Shortly thereafter, Martha Munizzi Ministries was born—a church-oriented music ministry and independent record label with strong roots in gospel and praise-and-worship music.
Munizzi’s first live release, Say the Name, released quietly but set the pace for the singer’s genre-blending brand of praise. The disc generated the church favorites “Because of Who You Are,” “Say the Name” and “Shout,” and it would later go on to be nominated for a GRAMMY® Award in the Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album in 2006.
The worship leader’s breakthrough came in 2003, with the release of The Best Is Yet to Come. Recorded live at Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church and produced by Israel Houghton and Aaron Lindsey (Israel & New Breed), the album catapulted Munizzi to the top rungs of the contemporary gospel world, yielding such hits as “Mighty God,” “Glorious,” and “God Is Here.” The project sold in the hundreds of thousands, peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums tally in 2004, and remained on the charts for more than a year.
To bookend a capstone season, “The Best Is Yet to Come” earned Munizzi the Best New Artist trophy at the 2005 Stellar Awards—the first time a non-African American singer snagged the honor.
The worship leader followed up the award-winning album in 2006 with No Limits Live, a two-disc set released in conjunction with worship giant Integrity Music. The label also secured rights for the album in the general market through Sony-BMG, an added avenue of exposure that helped the album debut at the top spot of Billboard’s gospel sales chart and at No. 60 of the Billboard 200. No Limits Live was produced by Noel Hall, a former music director with one of Munizzi’s influences—Fred Hammond.
Back in independent mode, Munizzi issued Change the World in the spring of 2008. The album saw the worship leader returning to her roots—namely, her home church and working with Houghton and Lindsey, the same team behind The Best Is Yet to Come. Guests on the album include Israel Houghton, Micah Stampley, and Ricardo Sanchez.
Among other accomplishments over the years, Munizzi has scored multiple GRAMMY®, Dove, Stellar, and Soul Train Award nominations, as well as several radio hits and appearances on BET, TBN, Daystar, and the Sisters in the Spirit Tour. Concurrently, Munizzi has attended to a long list of ministry opportunities with Osteen, T.D. Jakes, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, CeCe Winans, and many others.
Of her heart’s passion for global worship expressions, Munizzi says, “My deepest desire is to transcend cultural, generational, and denominational boundaries, and to bring all people together through worship.”
Visit www.marthamunizzi.com for more information on Martha Munizzi’s life and ministry.
MARION SHAKO
Last Updated on Tuesday, 11 May 2010 17:11 Written by Administrator Tuesday, 21 July 2009 08:27
MARION SHAKO
A musician and songwriter, Marion, who is the youngest child of Mr. Aggrey and the late Mrs. Sylvia Shako has come a long way to penetrate the music industry and all glory no doubt goes to God.
Marion’s childhood was spent in Mombasa and from the time she was 10 years old she would prominently feature in the Sunday School Choir where her mother strived to take her every Sunday in her upbringing as a Christian. Sylvia Shako would on many occasions in the evening after having a tiring day give her daughters hymn books and they harmonise and sing along with mum before retiring to bed.
She had long harbored a desire to minister and serve God and it is in singing that she found she could without any inhibitions live in service to God.
Her early influences in music include Cece winans whose strength and passion in gospel music she admired. Having joined the Jesus Celebration Centre church choir in Mombasa Kenya, she consistently showed a passion to minister and later became one of the worship leaders in the church. It was on this platform that Marion began writing her songs and has gone on to produce an Album called “Msaada Wangu”. She also serves under Ev Teresia Wairimu of Faith Evangelistic Ministries.
Throughout her life she has continually poured herself to service, both in ministry and in community projects, attending to the needy. When she is not working, Marion writes songs, reads widely mostly inspirational books and engages in social activities like swimming, and drawing strength from the bible everyday.
With a full time job as an Administrative Assistant, her interests are broad and varied. For example, while in high school she participated in theatre groups and music festivals, and featured prominently as a soloist in the various performances that saw her school capture district and provincial trophies. Depending on the day and the project, she's a producer, singer, actress; songwriter Marion’s first love is her ministry in music. She takes pride in leaning on the biblical verses, which many bear testimony for her music. She believes that it is the inspired word of God that makes the difference from being “songs of entertainment” to ministering songs for worship, healing and deliverance.
Her first Album takes its title “Msaada Wangu” (“My Help”) from the bible. It is through a wilderness experience that she hangs onto a prophetic word spoken into her life by a Prophet of God, that God would give her a new song that will change her life.
She is popularly known for her song “Ahadi Zake” which talks of the faithfulness of God, and that which He promised; he will bring it to pass. The song stayed at the top of the gospel charts for months earning her a spot in the mainstream music spotlight. Testimonies have poured of people who were at the end of the tether and saw no meaning in life…but the song has since transformed lives. She is the most sought after Kenyan Gospel artiste today, and has made a name through her captivating music which cuts across all age and cultural divides and this has endeared her to the hearts of the young and old alike. Her music is relevant to the current times, easy to sing along and has touched the lives of millions of people with her lyrics, catchy tunes and her wide variety of music.
Marion has extensively toured Kenya and internationally, her first album (MSAADA WANGU) has been one of the best selling albums in Kenya.
• Nominated and won various music awards some of which include
Worship Song of the Year – Groove Awards 2008
Songwriter of the Year –Groove Awards 2008
Worship Song of the Year –Groove Awards 2009
Gospel Female Artist of the Year –Coast Music Awards 2008
Impact Awards –Judah trophy of the year –2008
Kisima Awards Nominee 2008- Urban fusion
- Female Gospel Artiste
- Female Artiste East Africa.
Marion Shako’ s most anticipated second album is out and in the market INUKA BWANA, with one of the songs JINA LA YESU , scooping the WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR 2009.
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