The first show kicks off in Philadelphia on October 13, 2010 at World Cafe Live with singer -songwriter Carol Riddick, Grammy Nominated duo Helen Bruner & Terry Jones with special guest Jaguar Wright. Bruner & Jones along with Riddick will be scheduled for each show while picking up support from hot female soul singers in each city the Indie Soul Sistah Tour will play. Soul singer Chinah Blac joins the tour for it's November 5, 2010 date at the Key Club in Newark NJ.  The tour will hit the West Cost on  November 21, 2010 date  Zanzibar, in Santa Monica CA.

The Indie Soul Sistah Tour will truly be a high point of the soul music scene for 2010/2011. More dates to be announced don't miss it!

ARTISTS BIOS

Carol Riddick

Carol Riddick has released her solo debut Moments Like This for all the world to hear.The sultry singer/songwriter has graced stages from her hometown of Philadelphia to across the globe, winning fans and admirers with her extraordinary voice. Highly regarded in the music community for her vocal dexterity, mesmerizing performances, and genuinely warm personality, Carol Riddick’s time is now.  Born and raised in South Philadelphia, music has been a part of her life since she was a teenager. It was in her early adulthood that the industry took notice of her vocal talent when she got her start touring with Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff.  Since then Carol has blessed the tracks of many notable artists. She is featured on records by Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott, Norman Brown, and Kindred. Most recently her distinct vocal delivery can be heard on Musiq’s “Soulstar”, the title track on his multi-platinum album.  “I so love sharing my gift of music and creativity with others. It’s amazing to have worked with such stellar artists and vocalists like I have. I am blessed to have been able to work on beautiful music with some of the most talented musicians in the universe.” Yet even while working with the industries finest, Carol always dreamed of sharing her own music.  Now, with the release of her debut album, Carol has evolved into an artist in her own right.  After partnering with Axis Music Group, a Philadelphia-based record company, Carol spent the majority of 2005 writing material for her project.  Moreover, Carol creatively spearheaded her debut album. What some may consider a huge undertaking for an artist came natural to Carol who co-produced and co-wrote the majority of tunes on Moments Like This. While penning her lyrics, Carol drew inspiration from her loving family and an unyielding quest for living her dreams.  Musically, it was imperative to deliver a stellar live sound. To achieve this goal, she collaborated with Grammy award winning producers and songwriters including James Poyser (Erykah Badu, The Roots), Anthony Bell (Jill Scott, Jewel), and Carvin Haggins & Ivan Barias (Musiq, Faith Evans). Carol’s fondness for the Philly International and Motown recordings she grew up on is reflected in Moments Like This, which carries on the tradition of music that moves people. The album is laced with live instrumentation and purely soulful vocals; it is simply music for the grown and sexy.  Highlights include a song dedicated to her daughter entitled “All I Wanna Be (Krystal)”, the women’s anthem “Brown Eyed Girl”, and the hit single “You Better Not Hurt Me”. “I’m committed to writing empowering, positive music that people can gain inspiration from. It’s my hope that listeners will feel the songs as strongly as I do and make them a regular part of their listening experience. I poured my heart and soul into this music and I hope that it touches all who hear it with that same intensity.”

We invite you to the Carol Riddick experience. Her beautiful spirit, sensuous stage shows and passionate vocal delivery will hit your ears and alter your spirit in the most beautiful way.  Kick back, light a candle, get comfortable, and enjoy. Artist website: http://www.carolriddick.net

Helen Bruner & Terry Jones

Grammy® Nominated artist Helen Bruner & Terry Jones known as Helen & Terry individually and collectively have worked on many recording projects as songwriters, producers and vocalist. Terry has worked on recordings for Grammy® winners Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, and is the featured vocalist on the Redman and Method Man's platinum seller "How High".  Helen wrote and produced her critically acclaimed album 'Have You Heard About It" on Cardiac/Virgin. Helen also scored the music to the film short Luv Lines starring Gary Dourdan formerly of the hit TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.  Helen & Terry have been the secret weapon behind many DJ/Producers putting their unique R&B production, songwriting and vocal style to many of today’s hits. Joe T. Vannelli’s “Attention” “Doctor House”, “He Is Your Friend”, Doctor. Helen and Terry songs have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Charts, featured on Film/TV soundtracks, most notable the blockbuster film The Score starring Robert DeNiro. Their voices can be heard on national commercials and theirs songs have been licensed to numerous international compilations.

As performers Helen & Terry put on a live show with intense passion and energy.  The duo has toured internationally performing in numerous venues throughout New York, Europe, Japan and have headlined at the Supper Club on Broadway in New York USA, Ministry of Sound in London England, The New York Bar, Supalova Club in Milano Italy, Grammy Pre-Telecast 2007 & 2008, and performed at Club Yellow in Tokyo to name a few.  They have also shared the stage with Dave Koz, Steve Vai, Ledisi, Patti LaBelle, Koko Taylor and others.

Helen & Terry own and operate Phil’erzy Productions. The duo wanted to create a multifaceted music company customizing music for artist, film/tv, commercials, ringtones, ringbacks and gaming.  Phil’erzy’s released “Soul Talkin” produced by Helen & Terry on legendary soul singer Linda Jones, who happens to be Terry’s mother.  During a live televised program in the US the GRAMMY® Nominations for the 2009 51st Annual GRAMMY® Awards were announced and Phil’erzy Productions basked in an emotional triple treat:  The Empress of Soul Linda Jones, Terry Jones and Helen Bruner all earned a GRAMMY® nomination for “Baby I Know,” a song off the Linda Jones CD “Soul Talkin” for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.  Artist website www.helenandterry.com

Jaguar Wright

Jaguar Wright is a soul/R&B vocalist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is part of the Okayplayer collective. She has performed along rap acts such as The Roots, Jay-Z, and Blackalicious.

Career

She was brought to the attention of hip-hop group The Roots in 2001, which eventually led to her going to tour with them. She later appeared as a backing singer for Jay-Z in 2001, and appeared in a Coca-Cola advert as part of the brand's 'Nu Soul' campaign.

She has released two solo albums to date - 'Denials, Delusions & Decisions' in 2002, and 'Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul' in 2005. Wright also recorded an album titled '...And Your Point Is?' which was due for release in 2003 on MCA Records (who also distributed her debut), before the label folded. However, many of the tracks recorded for that album later appeared on 'Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul'.

In 2007, two new songs appeared on her MySpace profile. One was a live version of new song 'Sometimes', the other a cover of 'Let's Do It Again' - a collaboration with a male vocalist, widely believed to be either Bilal or John Legend, although he was never officially identified or credited.

She has toured every year since her debut album was released. In March 2008, she toured Europe with Bahamadia and Hezekiah for the 'Philly Sounds' tour. Wright did not perform any new material on the tour, but did live cover versions of Cherrelle's 'Saturday Love' and Crystal Waters' 'Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)'. During the tour, she announced that she was in the process of writing a novel, and working on a third album to be released summer 2010.  Artist website www.myspace.com/jaguarwright

 Chinah Blac

Blac has gained fans all over the world for the past 15 years. Her rare, soulful, sultry and profound voice has been compared to the definitive voice of Chaka Khan, spirit of the late Betty Carter, and the vocal dimensions of the early Abbey Lincoln during her reign with Max Roach. ChinahBlac's vocals have made contributions to projects of major recording artists like Lauryn Hill, Dave Matthews Band, Erykah Badu, Redman, and Black Ice (just to name a few). ChinahBlac is best noted for her work as a background singer and serving as the vocal director for Erykah Badu. She is also credited with recording, arranging, and touring with Jill Scott (Hate On Me, My Love, and All I from “The Real Thing” Words and Sounds Vol. 3). ChinahBlac has become one of the most sought after vocal arrangers in the industry. While reaching this status, ChinahBlac has seasoned herself in the world of music and is now making her introduction to the world as a solo performing artist. Her debut single “Touch Me, Wit Your Hands” was presented to the world in 2005 on DJ Jazzy Jeff's Soul Mixtape. As she steps into her own light, she has reincarnated soul music into an original sound- one that is addictive, aggressive, astounding and without a doubt, revolutionary. With a commanding stage presence and unrelenting vocals, ChinahBlac leaves you thirsting for more. “Every time I open my mouth, I want whoever is listening, to feel and connect with every word, I want to bring the fire back to music”, ChinahBlac says.  Artist website www.myspace.com/thechinahblac

RES

They say that it’s a long way to the top if you wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll, and that’s an expression singer/songwriter Res knows all too well. 2001 was the year Res changed the game with How I Do, a cross-genre masterpiece that she co-penned with childhood friend Santi White (now known as Santigold). The album yielded four hit singles – the Nas remixed “Ice King”, the Billboard chart-topping “They Say Vision”, “Golden Boys”, and “Sittin’ Back” – and placed Res in a unique albeit coveted position of soulful songstress with a Hip-Hop edge. Like many great artists on the majors, the Philly native fell victim to label politics. “In a nut shell, I put out the first record [How I Do] and MCA went under,” she explains. “Instead of letting all of the people go, they handpicked like a hundred artists and brought them to Geffen. I went to Geffen, made a whole second Res album and they never put it out.” The album was mixed, mastered, and shelved. After a few years of stunted creativity while living in LA on a label salary, Res made the bravest decision in her career – she severed ties with Geffen and became a free agent. “Years were going by and they were just paying my rent and letting me live but not putting my music out,” she recalls. “I asked if I could leave.”

While the world hadn’t heard a follow-up Res album, that didn’t mean there was no music. In 2006 Res was asked by Hip-Hop crooner Cee-Lo to join the Gnarls Barkley world tour promoting their Grammy Award winning album St. Elsewhere. "That was a ride I will never forget! We performed in places like New Zealand, Australia, Japan, all throughout Europe and the United States...in the most ridiculous costumes," she fondly remembers. Throughout the year and a half touring as a background singer for Gnarls Barkley, Res constantly wrote new material, including the song “To Empower” which landed on the soundtrack to Akeelah and the Bee. Upon returning to the States, she started a residency at Hollywood’s the Mint and began doing spot dates in LA, Atlanta, and San Francisco performing new material. “Then I decided to get my act together,” she says. Then Idle Warship happened.

“I started a group with Talib Kweli " Res says of the genesis of Idle Warship. Their music melds the rapping of Kweli with the singing of Res peppered in. Idle Warship took the 2008 SXSW by storm, making their official debut with an unlikely paired fanbase of Rock and Hip-Hop heads. While the duo is still forming songs and gearing for an official release, the stage is now set for Res to re-emerge with her second solo offering.

Black.Girls.Rock! is a true labor of love for Res. Growing up in a household warmed by Marvin Gaye plus being a child of the ‘80s, Res was always eclectic in her musical tastes. While her early days offered electro-laden Soul, Res spent a large portion of her in between years crafting singer/songwriter folk songs. Add in the influences from touring Europe with Gnarls Barkley and the music she is now making has never been heard before. With songs that were previously unreleased from her Geffen days coupled with newly penned hymns of heartache, love, and rebirth, Black.Girls.Rock! is the long-awaited album that will live up to every fan’s expectation. 

Res’ near-decade long career is filled with winding paths and memorable experiences. While she’s no stranger to the hardships of being an artist, Res is simply in love with making music and the world will fall in love once again with Black.Girls.Rock! Her voice, her style, and her sound are a combination lacking in today’s music. While her debut set the tone for the start of the first decade of the new millennium, Black.Girls.Rock! will own the close of it. By now many would have given up, but Res was born to make music. Simply put, “You’re destined to do what you’re destined to do.” 

Sy Smith has an impressive career. As a much in-demand vocalist, Sy has gained as much respect behind the scenes as she has on stage. Her musicianship has attracted the attention of fellow artists such as Whitney Houston, Macy Gray, Usher, Jamie Foxx, Me’shell N’degeocello, DJ Quik, Eric Benét, Ginuwine and Brandy who recruited her to sing background vocals on various television shows and tours.

She has appeared in tv commercials (e.g. Gap, Chevrolet, Coca-Cola) and regularly sang with Vonda Shepard on the FOX television series “Ally McBeal.” In addition, Smith shares the vocal spotlight with legendary singer Al Green performing the title song to the hit drama "Soul Food." Sy pushed her own boundaries by serving as musical director for BET's spoken word series, “Lyric Café.” Currently, Sy can be seen and heard in the latest seasons of FOX’s wildly popular series American Idol as a backing vocalist in the house orchestra. Born in New York, raised in Washington, DC. and drawing on a wealth of influences; Sy was exposed to a diverse musical palette at an early age. She studied classical piano for most of her childhood and early teens, and later found a musical outlet in the school choir.  Smith went on to attend Howard University earning a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Music Therapy (magna cum laude). Soon after graduation, Smith’s musical aspirations began to swirl – she joined a local all- female band. With encouragement from fellow musician-friends, she packed up and moved to LA, hoping to get a toehold in the business. Studio sessions and local clubs allowed her to have her voice heard, and luckily, producer/songwriter Sauce (Somethin' For The People, Will Smith) was listening. Sauce summoned her for vocal and writing sessions, pushing her to develop her own skills as a producer; Sy was a quick study. 

She went on to write songs for artists in various genres including Santana, Mya, Me’shell N’degeocello, and Gerald Albright.  She has since released 3 CDs independently to critical acclaim (“One Like Me”, “The Syberspace Social”, “Psykosoul Plus” and most recently the top-selling “Conflict”) and a live DVD (“Worship At The Temple - Sy Smith Live”).  In 2001, she was nominated for an Emmy for her writing contribution to “Welcome Back All My Soulmates”, the opening title theme of HBO’s Dancing in September.    Her guest appearances with Chris Botti (including the Botti & Friends concert at the Boston Pops in September 2008) are winning her a whole new audience of fans.  Sy continues to wow new aficionados with her soulful and energetic interpretations that critics have called “rousing” (Boston Globe), “lighting up the stage” (The Current, St. Louis), and “worthy of the spotlight” (EDGE, Boston)!  It’s no wonder that the Cincinnati Pops has  summoned her talent for their 2008 holiday concert series in December!  In 2007, Sy was elected to and now proudly serves on the Board of Governors for NARAS’ Los Angeles Chapter.