Houston, TX –Music World Gospel Recording artist Le’Andria Johnson’s debut CD, The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson debuts at #1 on multiple music charts, including both the Billboard Top Gospel Album and the Top Christian/Gospel Album charts. The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson also debuts at #1 on the Christian Music Trade Association’s (CMTA) Current Gospel Overall chart. The CD enters at #3 on Billboard’s Independent Record Label chart, #21 on the Billboard Overall Digital Albums chart and #26 on Billboard 200.
Le’Andria’s new single, “Jesus,” lands at #23 this week on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Song chart and was #1 Most Added Single with 11 adds. “Jesus” was Billboard’s #1 Most Increased Spins, #1 on the Most Added and Most Increased Spins List on the Gospel Indicator charts. A live video version of Le’Andria performing “Jesus” at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Nashville, TN (Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III) is now available on YouTube (see link below).
“We are profoundly thankful for the initial success of Le’Andria’s debut project,” said Mathew Knowles, founder, President and CEO of Music World Entertainment. “It shows the power of partnership between music labels and TV, when it is the right brand. We look forward to working with future Sunday Best winners and contestants. The feedback from retail has been extremely positive. And the reaction of the music-buying public is very encouraging. Le’Andria will have a worldwide platform to bring her music and her message to audiences near and far, and we believe she will continue to grow her fan base that she developed on Sunday Best.” After being out of the national spotlight for over a year, Le’Andria states “It feels good. To God be the glory.”
Recently named among the 15 Top Gospel Artists to watch on ESSENCE.com, Le’Andria has been on tour promoting her new CD across the country with church and concert appearances, as well as radio and press visits. She also performed in her hometown of Orlando, Florida, at the Cricket’s sponsored event at the National Baptist Convention, where over 60,000 people were in attendance. This week, Le’Andria appeared on the season 4 finale of BET’s Sunday Best, where she performed her new single and joined season 1 and season 2 winners, Crystal Aiken and Y’Anna Crawley, in a tribute performance to gospel icon Mahalia Jackson. This season’s airing of Sunday Best broke all records. Over 2.1 million viewers tuned in and the show ranks as the #1 telecast in franchise history. The show is the #1 cable competition show and Sunday’s #1 cable series among African Americans this year.
The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson is receiving rave reviews. “The awe-inspiring qualities of Johnson’s voice that helped her snag the Sunday Best crown are evident on this debut effort,” said Mona Austin of EURWEB.com. “Listening to ‘Jesus’ is like jumping in the river of Jordan, from a music critic’s perspective. Le’Andria Johnson’s voice has revived hope for this generation of singers.”
“Her talent will blow you away,” said Pat McKay, Program Director of SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio Praise Channel. “I don’t doubt that Le’Andria owns her place in the present and the future of gospel. She defines it. Her wholesome, elegant, soaring, soulful voice finds, then fills, a beautiful and strong spot for anyone with ears.”
Le’Andria’s star-turn on Sunday Best was not an “overnight success” story. For the 29-year-old, twice divorced mother of three, it has been a long and often arduous journey to the spotlight in the gospel music industry. An accomplished singer and songwriter and an anointed praise and worship leader, Le’Andria was born in Orlando, Florida, but moved to the small town of Palatka, Florida, where her father Dr. G.A. Johnson, Sr., served as presiding Bishop of the Head Quarters (HQ) Ministries. She began singing at her father’s church at the age of six and became praise and worship leader when she was 16. At 17, she had her first performance before a major audience when she sang for 8,000 people at a conference sponsored by gospel legend Pastor Shirley Caesar. She also sang with gospel artists Luther Barnes, Jimmy Hicks and Voices of Integrity and the Williams Brothers.
