NASHVILLE /Christian Newswire/ – Gospel/Jazz pioneer Ben Tankard and R&B/Gospel sensation Shirley Murdock recently received RIAA Gold records for their 2006 hit Jesus Is Love for 500,000+ sales as part of the 2006 WOW Gospel collection. Originally written and recorded by Lionel Richie, Jesus Is Love was covered on Ben Tankard’s PIANO PROPHET 2006 Smoothjazz release and has been selling and receiving heavy airplay for a staggering eight years – WOW! Shirley says, “I am so excited to receive this Gold record. Working with ‘Tank’ was thrilling because he is a tough, hard nose producer but he makes you laugh while he is pulling the best out of you.”
Tankard and Murdock teamed up again on Ben’s brand new musical release, Full Tank 2.0 for a remarkable remake of the Staple Singers hit, I’ll Take You There. Ben says, “I have been blessed to work with some remarkable artists over my career including: Yolanda Adams, Gerald Albright and Take-6. Shirley Murdock is like family and such a monster of a talent. Her soulful voice was a great choice and she did an awesome job helping me take and old masterpiece to a new level.” The song is picking up steam at national radio.
Full Tank 2.0 also features Kirk Whalum on an instrumental rendition of another classic, Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand. Looks like another Gold record may be coming for these two…… Full Tank 2.0 released February 10th and is already the Amazon #1 Bestseller for jazz-fusion category.
Murdock will guest appear this week on Tankard’s hit Bravo / NBC reality show Thicker Than Water on Sunday night 8/9 EST. This episode features a VIP grand gala celebration for Tankard’s 25 years in the music arena. With a smile Tankard says, “I am thankful for the gift of music God gave me after I left pro basketball with an injury. Sometimes when one dream dies in your life, it is because God is planning something bigger. I have a great family, a hit TV show and multiple awards as a musician but zero NBA championships as a basketball player. I wanted to be a Portland Trailblazer but GOD wanted me to be a Kingdom Trailblazer. I’m glad I listened to him.”
Ben Tankard / Full Tank 2.0 is produced and distributed by BENJamin’ Universal Music / Central South Music and available on Amazon, iTunes, Walmart and stores everywhere.
