Hardest Working Woman in Gospel Vickie Winans Hits Career Milestone As New Urban Gospel CD 'Bringing It All Together' Spends Four Weeks at #1 On the Billboard Gospel Chart

Gospel star Vickie Winans' new urban gospel cd "Bringing It All Together" -- her first album in four years -- is turning out to be the biggest album of the Grammy-nominated singer's career. Since its debut in May, the cd has spent four weeks at #1 on the Billboard gospel chart -- the first album of her 18-year career to hit that mark. The album also reached #1 on the Billboard Heat Seekers chart. Aside from the strategic marketing and promotion of the cd by Winans' recording label, Verity Records, the bubbly vocalist has pumped over $150,000 of her own money into promoting the new cd with a 48 city promotional concert tour and by producing three concept music videos. The first single "Shake Yourself Loose" was #1 for weeks at gospel radio stations across the country and now the single "Shook" is rapidly moving up gospel radio play lists.

"I'm so excited, just so excited," the gregarious singer laughed on hearing the news. "But what I'm most excited about is that this album was created to bring the family closer together. There's music for grandma, mom and dad and the kids. So, I'm really excited about families coming together to listen to gospel music." The singer is also ecstatic that Ebony magazine (Black America's Bible) will feature Winans for the first time in a five page spread in the August issue of the magazine. In the story entitled "At Home With The Gospel Star Who Lost 75 Pounds and Reenergized Her Career," writer Joy Bennett Kinnon talks candidly with Winans about triumphing over childhood poverty, surviving two divorces, a life-threatening illness, the loss of loved ones, the politics of managing her own career and battling obesity. As if that were not enough, the cd has garnered the best reviews of Winans career. From Billboard magazine to USA Today, the reviews have been positive.

   "Winans shows all the Big League chops and credentials she has earned and
   accumulated during her nearly 20 year career .... Should easily be one of
   gospel's most heralded releases of the year."
      -- Billboard Magazine

   "The powerhouse singer delivers messages urging teenagers to abstain from
   sex, encouraging parents to teach their children to pray and extolling
   the joy of reading the Bible. Her praise hymns offer old-school themes
   with a contemporary flair ... "
      -- USA Today

   "Vickie Winans inspires foot-stomping and hand-clapping with Bringing It
   All Together .... But the gospel diva also grabs the heart with touching
   songs." "A fresh contemporary gospel album brimming with hope and
   encouragement. Sleek production ... provides a perfect backdrop for
   Vickie's powerful vocals, which shine on every track."
      -- The Associated Press

   " ... Dynamic and contemporary ... "
      -- Atlanta Journal & Constitution

   For more information, contact:
   Jojo Pada/Verity Records at 212-824-1233 (label publicist)
   Bill Carpenter/Capital Entertainment at 202-636-7028
    (independent publicist)
   Simone Smalls (Susan Blond Inc.) 212-333-7728 ext. 118

SOURCE: Verity Records

CONTACT: Jojo Pada of Verity Records, +1-212-824-1233 (label publicist);
or Bill Carpenter of Capital Entertainment, +1-202-636-7028 (independent
publicist); or Simone Smalls of Susan Blond Inc., +1-212-333-7728 ext. 118