Individuals who plan to attend the 10th Anniversary Women’s Empowerment Series this weekend will receive a musical treat that is not yet available to everyone.
Indianapolis based Tyscot Records, the nation’s oldest African American owned gospel music label, will have a significant presence at the event. Two of its artists, Bishop Leonard Scott and Christopher Lewis, will offer special previews of upcoming releases. From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. the two artists will host an ecumenical service for the event and perform several new praise songs.
Scott, a local pastor and dentist who co-founded Tyscot, will sing several selections from his new project, “Be Lifted Up.” The 14-track CD, which officially goes on sale next month, represents a slight departure from Scott’s last two releases, which focused heavily on traditional hymns.
“I guess you could call most selections on this project contemporary songs that you would be more likely to hear in a concert setting,” he said. “This album should be a great blessing to the Body of Christ as well as the nation and the world. I think it’s my best one yet.”
Scott, who sings and has played several instruments throughout his life, adds his own guitar flavor to a couple of the energetic praise and worship songs.
“Most of the disc features professional musicians who can play a whole lot better than I can,” Scott joked. “They probably just allowed me to play on a couple of the songs so I wouldn’t feel bad.”
Lewis will soon release the album “Crisis” and is very excited about performing at the Women’s Empowerment Series.
“It’s been a while since I did a program in Indianapolis, so coming back to the city is exciting in itself,” he said.
The double-disc “Crisis” is Lewis’ fifth album but the first he has completed for Tyscot, which recently established a partnership with his Atlanta-based Frontline Entertainment company. Although “Crisis” won’t be released until May, gospel stations are currently playing the single “Joy.” The song is based on the scripture “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 3:5)
“We hear that line all the time, but it’s true,” said Lewis. “Your weeping throughout financial strains, struggles in your marriage and other challenges won’t last forever. There is a time when joy will come. A lot of times we just have to know how to respond to the ‘night’ seasons in our lives and get prepared for the ‘morning’ to come.”
Lewis, a singer, songwriter and guitarist, said he is committed to bringing “real music” back to the center of popular music. He performs with his 15-member Frontline Band, which includes a cast of seasoned vocalists, rhythm musicians and horn players.
Lewis, who counts artists as diverse as The Beatles, Bob Marley, Commissioned and Tupac as influences, explained that he enjoys combing the uplifting message of gospel with the musical flavors of R&B, hip-hop, rock, blues and reggae.
“My objective is to meet people where they are, not to talk to, sing over their head or challenge them with a whole bunch of theology, or look down on them because they don’t have the same level of understanding you might have,” said Lewis. “I think that was the main approach of Jesus. He always met people where they were. It is a very personable approach that reaches people at a point they can relate to.”
