New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The singer and songwriter known as Zuri has released her latest contemporary music single, "Joy (Send Them Prayers)." The sonic message of goodwill has been proudly published on the Ayaba Records independent music label without the direction of the corporate music industry. Heartfelt, sonorous, and beautiful in both tone and intent, "Joy" showcases Zuri as a born entertainer and true humanitarian.
Chicago's Zuri has cited as main artistic influences a broad array of legends, including
Sarah Vaughn, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Rachelle Ferrell, R. Kelly, and
Celine Dion. Her own music shows a songwriting intuition similar to Stevie Wonder's, a clarion singing voice like
Celine Dion's, and a natural studio production style akin to that of
Sarah Vaughn's.
Zuri is a genuine artist in her own right, having been singing and practicing music since the age of three. All her music is written by Zuri, herself. The themes of her songs are clearly very important to her, and "Joy (Send Them Prayers)" is a strong example of this.
Zuri writes of her new track, "My desire is that listeners feel the lyrics and that the message inspires them to reach out to those who may not feel the joy others may feel during Christmas season due to various situations in these turbulent times."
An official music video for "Joy" is also expected to appear online in coming weeks.
"The lyrics will tell the story," writes Zuri. "The upcoming video will paint the picture."
A well-rounded artist, Zuri has worked in music, television, commercials, and stage plays. She is also a writer, having penned poetry, spoken word, a novel, a screenplay and a series of short children's stories. In her spare time, she paints, she sculpts, she's a natural hair stylist, a meditation instructor, and a fashion designer with her own line of motivational tanks and tees.
Zuri has worked for and with various artists including Michael Bolton, Chaka Khan, Brenton Wood, Vesta, Shirley Caesar (Lou Rawls Telethon), Brenda Holloway, Ramsey Lewis, DJ Rogers, Etta James, Solomon Burke, Mable John and Jennifer Holiday, as well as others. She has also worked alongside musicians from Jamaica, Africa, and Haiti. She has written songs for veterans of soul such as Johnnie Taylor, Shirley Brown, Lattimore, and King Floyd.
Zuri sang all background harmonies on the classic soul record, "Soul Heaven," by Johnnie Taylor, and wrote "Too close for comfort" for his Grammy-nominated album, "Gotta get the groove back." She shared a No. 1 duet on southern-soul charts with Taylor's son, Floyd Taylor, "Baby I've Changed." She has opened for Bon Jovi, Jermaine Jackson,
Howard Hewett, and
Kevin Nash, among others.
"Joy (Send Them Prayers)" by Zuri is available online worldwide at over 700 quality digital stores now.
