Wife. Mother. Messenger.

Debra Ashley Makes Gospel Debut .. Jacksonville, Florida housewife answers call that first came more than thirty years ago. .... When Debra Ashley was a little girl, a voice inside said that she’d grow up to be something special, that she would sing. Debra dismissed the idea as a girlish dream and it wasn’t until more than thirty years later, when her singing moved family and friends to tears at her fortieth birthday party, that Ashley finally listened to that voice.

After two years of writing her own songs and working with producers in Florida and Georgia, Ashley makes her gospel music debut on Angel Calling Entertainment, distributed through Angel Calling Entertainment, LLC. ..Visit www.debraashley.com, to purchase CD.

This personal and moving collection is tangible evidence of Ashley’s faith and persistence. She wrote all ten tracks on Keep The Faith, though she had no experience as a songwriter. “All the credit goes to God. It came from Him. It came so natural –– that’s how I know it wasn’t me,” says Ashley, who sat down and prayed before each writing session.

The idea fits in perfectly with what Ashley feels is her mission. “I am here to spread God’s word through my music,” says the wife and mother of three. “The only thing that I know is to reach out to the ones who are spiritually lost in this world, who don’t know God, who don’t know that he is real.”Being lost and finding the way to God is a journey the Florida-based singer knows intimately. After growing up in the church in her hometown of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Ashley and her husband, Roy, wandered without spiritual direction during nearly a decade spent in California.

Then, in 1993, the couple and their family returned to their hometown and to the church. It was there as a member of the choir that Ashley began to listen again to the voice from her childhood, telling her to sing. In 2002, armed with her divinely inspired songs, Ashley worked with several Florida producers before finding her way to Atlanta’s Real Deal Entertainment –– boxer Evander Holyfield’s production company. Real Deal provided the polish the project needed and the result is a debut release that embodies one woman’s personal and spiritual evolution. Ashley shares her journey in He Called Me, a smooth, bouncy track inspired by her own tumultuous young adulthood.

In Keep The Faith, the title track and the very first song she penned, Ashley explores the power of faith and its ability to bring us through struggles big and small. She touches on the subject again with Call On Jesus, an R&B-infused groove. “Even if you feel like nothing, lost in the world, if God anoints you, you’re somebody. You can go out and do his work,” says Ashley of Anointed, a silky, poignant track that soars with the singer’s earnest and powerful belief. That insistent faith also fuels the jazzy and expressive Jesus Is Real, an engaging tribute to Christ’s sacrifice. Ashley further explores the power of Jesus and his relationship to the faithful with Get Ready, a funky, easy foot-tapper urging us to prepare for Christ’s return.

On I Just Wanna Thank You, Ashley takes it to church, complete with the swell of the organ and soaring vocals, for what is, essentially, the singer’s very personal conversation with God. Beautiful Flower, another intimate and revealing gem, was written for Ashley’s close friend, Yolanda Thomas, who was just 36 when she died in 2002. “Her mother spoke at the funeral and said God don’t pick his flowers until they’re bloomed and ready,” says Ashley of her inspiration. “That stayed with me.” The last two tracks rounding out the album are two of Debra’s favorites. They include I’ll Praise Your Name, a soft, moving ballad and My God, an unabashed testimony of her love for God featuring a jazzy, soulful swing.

In 2005, Ashley performed music from Keep The Faith at various events throughout the country, some of which included a recorded performance at the Urban Impact Summit, New Artist Showcase at Foxwoods Resort Casino (recorded for The Word Network) last June, as well as performances at the GMWA in Milwaukee, WI last August; the Jacksonville Gospel Fest 2005 in September; the Texas GAG Annual Convention in San Antonio, TX in November and Bobby Jones Gospel Industry Retreat - New Artist Showcase held in Fort Lauderdale, FL this past December.

On March 23rd, Ashley was asked to perform at the Harlem YMCA’s “2006 National Salute To Black Achievers In Industry 36th Annual Awards Dinner” in New York City. The event, held at the prestigious New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, honors African-Americans who achieved prominent positions in business and industry and were recognized for their accomplishments. Notable attendees included Bill Cosby and Dr. Johnnetta Cole, President of Bennett College, among others.

The Jacksonville artist has numerous upcoming performances planned for this spring leading up to the CD release including the North Carolina Gospel Announcers Guild Conference (April 20); D&J Promotions Artist Showcase in Lansing, MI (April 22); Greater St. Joseph AME Women’s Committed to Spiritual Excellence Breaking Through to Unlimited Abundance Banquet in Defuniak Springs, FL (April 29); National Association of Gospel Promoters & Managers in Atlanta, GA (May 2-7); Gospel USA Magazine Independent Music Conference in Savannah, GA (June 15 – 19) and the Urban Impact Summit at Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, CN (June 25 – 27). Debra has just recently completed her first Music video “I’ll Praise Your Name”, directed by Darryl Lassiter of DDL Entertainment, filmed on-location in Miami, Florida.

Visit Debra’s website at www.debraashley.com for up-to-date tour dates and additional information. In addition to performing, Ashley is also dedicated to helping others. After the Hurricane Katrina disaster caused havoc along the southeast coast, Debra raised and presented a check for $30,000 to the BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund for Hurricane Katrina Victims. She also donated $2,500.00 in Wal-Mart gift cards to hurricane Katrina victims on behalf of Angel Calling Entertainment, LLC in Laurel and Biloxi, MS as well in Fort Walton Beach, FL - cities also ravaged by the hurricane, but that received less attention and support then larger cities such as New Orleans. Additionally, 300 free singles of Keep the Faith were sent out to those who requested the music after visiting the BlackAmericaWeb.com website. Debra Ashley is a gospel artist who’s been a long time coming and Keep The Faith is a debut worth the wait.

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