EP - Thank You Bullock captured the hearts of millions on the #1 rated weekly gospel music competition show, Sunday Best. Over 2 million viewers tuned in to watch the Sunday Best finale. Season 4 ranks as the #1 telecast in BET franchise history and the #1 cable competition show and Sunday's #1 cable series among blacks in 2011. Sunday Best of Amber Bullock features new studio recordings of jazz infused and neo-soul inspired interpretations of some of Bullock's most memorable songs performed on Sunday Best. The EP is produced by Eric Dawkins for E Flat Entertainment. The first single, Walter Hawkins' "Thank You Lord," impacts gospel radio in early November. Bullock offers an upbeat soulful rendition of the Walter Hawkins classic. Other songs on the EP include a jazzy solo turn on Kurt Carr's "For Every Mountain;" where she shows off the runs that she became known for on the Sunday Best competition. She performs a more traditional gospel version of J. Moss' "We Must Praise," she offers a contemporary take on Asaph A. Ward and Dorinda Clark Cole's "If It Had Not Been For the Lord;" a stunning solo performance of Chris Tomlin's choir favorite, "How Great Is Our God;" a show-stopping jazz interpretation of the Negro spiritual, "A City Called Heaven"' and a neo-soul version of Richard Smallwood's "Secret Place," the song she performed during the finale of season 4. Sunday Best mentor, Kim Burrell, said "Amber Bullock has a voice that can take her from the church to the top of the charts." The show judges all echoed her sentiments about Bullock's extraordinary talent. "She's amazing from top to bottom," say Erica Campbell of Mary Mary. "She's the real deal -a stylist," said Donnie McClurkin; and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary concluded, "Sunday Best ain't never seen nothing like that." Prior to her Sunday Best fame, Bullock was living and working in Dallas, where she had moved to be with her mom. Shortly after moving to Dallas, Bullock and her daughter were in a bad car accident that totaled her car. After another unfortunate incident, Bullock ended up sleeping on the floor in the house of a co-worker who had six children. She was also unable to get Amya into a daycare center. Life had become so difficult for Bullock at that point that she had to send her daughter to live with her father. Once her daughter was with her father, it was difficult to see her regularly without a car, which made her life even more challenging. Praying for a blessing, Bullock decided to attend the last day of Sunday Best auditions at the Potter's House in Dallas, Texas. Near the end of the day, word had spread among the staff and other contestants that the lady with the "Red Feather Earrings" had the "most amazing voice and the slickest runs." Bullock recalls praying "Lord let your will be done." The rest is history. Bullock has received overwhelming support from a broad array of people, from celebrities to her community in St. Louis. New England Patriots' wide receiver, Chad Ochocinco, tweeted to all of his followers to encourage them to vote for her during the finale. After being crowned Sunday Best, an "Amber Bullock Homecoming Celebration" was hosted at the historic Kennerly Temple Church of God in Christ in St. Louis. During her earlier career, Bullock performed with a variety of recording artists, professional choirs and ensembles. She sang with Kirk Franklin, Myron Bulter & Levi, Troy Sneed and Youth for Christ, Meaghan Williams, and Oscar Williams. She performed with Perfected Praise in a Christmas theatre production in Italy. She also was a member of the gospel choir Changed, under the direction of Sean Tillery, based in Baltimore, MD. Bullock currently is a member of Fresh Anointing Prosperity Ministries, in St. Louis, where Michael A. Lampkin is Senior Pastor. She attended Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, where she studied classical vocal performance. As a member of the Oakwood University Aeolians, a concert choir, she traveled throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean. Bullock started singing at an early age; her father remembered "At three years old, Amber marched down the aisle to sing with the children choir." Bullock loves the neo- soul tradition. Jill Scott, India Arie, and Musiq Soulchild are among her favorite contemporary neo-soul singers. Her musical influences include PJ Morton, her mother, Linda Bouie and Cherise Carrol of St. Louis. Listen to the audio provided below. Audio tracks are available in RealAudio format (click logo below to listen. )
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