Music of Tuesday, 24 July 2007

Source: ghanamusic.com

Prince launches Mabel’s latest album

Musician Prince Tuffour of Mentor I fame found it tough controlling a crowd of Liberian fans when he performed at the launching of Pastor Mabel H. Buckett’s inspirational and praise album at Buduburam in the Central region.


Prince, who performed two songs from his collaborative album ‘W’aseda,’ was a guest artiste at the launch of the Liberian pastor’s first album, ‘You Are My Everything.’


“I’m amazed, for a young boy like me to be loved by many people across the country, even in Buduburam, where I am for my first time,” he said.


The young and talented singer had to pose for cameramen for long hours as hundreds of Liberian fans requested to have photographs with him. He told Beatwaves: “They were too much for me and I had to be protected and hidden by church officials.”


The Mentor I star described Pastor Mabel’s performance and recording as very good, saying “she loves music and makes time for it, and with the passion she would go places in her career.”


Prince said when he hears Liberian musicians sing, he sees Boyz II Men or Black American artistes, because, as he put it, they have the flair for singing.


Prince however pointed out that though Liberians had the ability to sing well in English, there was the need for them to prioritise their local languages in their songs to give them a common identity.


On his plan of coming out with a new album, Prince Tuffour stressed that he was considering his university education, whereby he would specialise in Information Technology (IT) alongside his music career.


While he expects to come out soon with an album, he did not indicate when but noted: “My plans are on course, the public should expect a track that would be my real self.


It would be inspirational and innovative and of international standard without collaboration. His current album, ‘W’aseda’, according to him, was totally a mentor collaboration.


Pastor Mabel Buckett is being managed by her husband, Rev Thomas C. Buckett, who describes her as someone who is easy to work with and is good at listening and taking corrections.


Pastor Mabel, married with two children - a boy and a girl -

fell in love with singing at age 13, at which time she began writing songs.


She said the title of her album represents the hardship and trying times she passed through during her country’s 16-year civil war, even while in Ghana as a refugee.


Considering the recording of the album as a dream come true, she said she would use her career to establish a music ministry to reach out to the youth in Liberia.


The eight-track album, recorded by a Kasoa-based studio, ‘Markalia Recording’, was engineered and produced by Michael S. Dennis.


According to Pastor Mabel’s manager, there were plans to launch the album in both Accra and Monrovia.