Sweet Angel

New Release Coming Soon

Mr. Wrong Gonna Get This Love Tonight

Release Date: March 1, 2012

The Triple Threat

Sweet Angel

www.sweetangel.org

Others are trend-followers; Sweet Angel is a trend-setter!

Sweet Angel - R&B/Soul/Blues Recording Artists

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Who is Sweet Angel you ask? Born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1964, Sweet Angel is one of few who did not get her launch singing in church. Sweet Angel has been compared to Gladys Knight, Etta James, Dinah Washington, Irma Thomas, Denise LaSalle, Millie Jackson with the spunk of Tina Turner.

Sweet Angel’s love and appreciation for good music though, stemmed from her childhood. Her mother loved listening to the Blues on Saturday mornings and her father sung gospel in the church choir. Never considering a career in music, Sweet Angel worked in corporate America as a mortgage banker and real estate agent until as fate has it, she became acquainted with her now husband and personal manager, Mac “Mike” Dobbins.

In elementary school, Sweet Angel was part of the Orff Music Program. There she song with the chorus and learned to play the xylophone. In middle school, she broadened her musical abilities when she learned to play clarinet in the band. She excelled in music and won top seats in the All-City Band and All West Tennessee Bands. She later began playing the tenor saxophone because of its shiny appeal. She honed her skills further by not only playing in the marching band, but also the jazz band. In the late 80’s, Sweet Angel played alto saxophone at Libertyland in Memphis, Tennessee with the unit that played for the Elvis Presley impersonator, Andy Childs.

Sweet Angel's first album (2007) was “Another Man’s Meat on My Plate” which included singles she is still known for today: ‘Another Man’s Meat on My Plate’, ‘I Must Be Crazy’, and ‘Right Street, Wrong Way’. Recorded initially under an independent label formed by her and her husband, the album received favorable recognition. In 2008, this album was the key to Sweet Angel winning the Jus’ Blues Music Awards - Best New Southern Soul Female. ‘Another Man’s Meat on My Plate’ remains the singer’s signature song. In 2008, Sweet Angel signed with Memphis-based Ecko Records. The album was re-released with two new cuts added, ‘I’d Rather Have A Cheatin’ Man’ and ‘I’m Gonna Give You Good Love’.

Sweet Angel's music is currently classified in the Southern Soul genre. Although her music doesn’t sound like any other Southern Soul being produced. This has been the fact since her very first album in 2007. Daddy B. Nice states, “The jazz and pop hints that made Dinah Washington a crossover star are there in Sweet Angel's delivery. It's what gives the songs their power. It's also what makes Sweet Angel's songs sound suspect to the Southern Soul ear. At this point in time she represents the urban diva of Southern Soul from the northern and urban point of Southern Soul's world: Memphis.” Sweet Angel’s “fierce articulation and her knife-edged vocal timbre make almost everything she sings sound emotionally focused and suffused with hard-won, life-affirming power. [Living Blues]”

In 2008, Ecko Records released Sweet Angel’s second album ‘Handle Your Business’. The title cut received some attention along with ‘Guilty as Charged’. This album was classic southern soul/blues sound that is so hard–to-find these days, but an approach that Sweet Angel can certainly handle with assurance. She sounds totally convincing on every track.

In mid-2009, her third album, a gem of an album, was released entitled ‘Bold Bitch’. The title cut, though controversial because of its provocative title, is great music of the highest order. Sweet Angel's vocals provide a center of gravity that never waivers, even when she "spreads her wings," as she does on the redolent slow blues song ‘Let Me Be Your Angel’. In ‘Don't Let The Clean Up Woman Pick Up Your Man’ Sweet Angel's delivery is impeccable. Sweet Angel brings her reed playing talents into the picture on ‘Blow That Thang, Sweet Angel’. ‘Good Girls Do Bad Things’, marks the high point of the album. Sweet Angel rides the music like a veteran. Her trademark enunciation has never been as razor-sharp, her phrasing never more inspired.

There's a lot to be said about Sweet Angel. She sings with a big, bold voice and can hold her own with her alto saxophone. In March of 2010, this Memphis, Tennessee raised blues and R&B vocalist won her first national award. The West Coast Blues Hall of Fame & Awards Show 2010 presented her with R&B Female Artists of the Year on 'Don't Let The Clean Up Woman Pick up Your Man', Sweet Angel boldly covered the great Betty Wright.

Sweet Angel released her fourth album with the Ecko Records label in August of 2010 entitled “A Girl Like Me”. This album achieved a fresh-sounding, aurally-perfect, luxurious kind of soul from Sweet Angel. Sweet Angel's vocal quality retains a subtle umbilical cord, and that is the secret to her uniqueness. The title song, ‘A Girl Like Me’, is mostly spoken and tells the very entertaining story of how Sweet Angel was desirous of being one of the Legendary Bobby Rush’s dancing girls. The album includes ‘What I Want, What I Need’ is a laid-back stepper and an up-tempo bluesy roller titled ‘I Like The Money But I Don’t Like The Job’ and a rock and roller with a satisfyingly gospel-tinged called ‘Do You Feel Alright?’. ‘Last Night Was Your Last Night’ is a nice and mellow mid-tempo floater. But the real jewels are found among the six slow songs; ‘I’d Rather Be By Myself, Than To Be Unhappy’ is a big-voiced ballad interpreted in a determined style. This song is a slow, elegant ballad that quickly gained deejay supporters across the country. ‘I’ve Got To Get Paid’ is a slightly bluesy number on the album along with ‘Don’t Be Lonely, Be Loved’. In ‘Don’t Be Lonely, Be Loved’ Sweet Angel delivered it in an authoritative manner, which complimented its solid arrangement. The most soulful sides are a powerful slowie called ‘Mrs. Number Two’, a touching swayer titled ‘The Comfort Of My Man’ and a country-soul ballad named ‘I’m Workin’ On My Job’ which is a very well-done ballad with a soft, feathery vocal and memorable melody. On this album, Sweet Angel depicted an uncompromising lady, and it definitely paid off, because music-wise this has been her strongest album to date.

Sweet Angel is working at the top of her art, fulfilling everything anyone expected of her and more. She is a skillful solid indubitable entertainer. She has shared the stage with notables as Keith Sweat, Bobby Rush, Denise LaSalle, Willie Clayton, J. Blackfoot, Sir Charles Jones, Theodis Ealey, Floyd Taylor, Jeff Floyd, Mel Waiters, T. K. Soul, Ms. Jody and many more.

Albums:

Another Man’s Meat on My Plate (2007) (2009)

Handle Your Business (2008)

Merry Christmas My Baby-Single (2008)

Bold Bitch! (2009)

A Girl Like Me - Lessons In Life (2010)

Purple Rain (Single) (2011)

Sweet Angel may be available for your next event!

-----Based in Memphis, TN

To Book Call: (901) 338-9901

Website: www.sweetangel.org

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http://www.thebluesblast.com/bbnow.htm

Featured Blues Review 1 of 6

Sweet Angel - A Girl Like Me (Lessons in Life)

Ecko Records

www.sweetangel.org

13 songs; 58:57 minutes

Styles: Southern Soul; Soul-Blues; Soul; R&B

Sweet Angel doesn’t play pure blues, but when it comes to pure vocals, she’s pure magic! Born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1964, this “dangerous diva” (Clifetta Dobbins) got her start as a mortgage banker and real-estate agent before meeting her now-husband and personal manager Mac “Mike” Dobbins. It’s corporate America’s loss--and listeners’ gain--that Sweet Angel changed careers. Her latest and fifth CD, “A Girl Like Me,” with its all original tracks, proves that point relentlessly!

The title track--and this may come as a scintillating shock to his fans--describes Sweet Angel’s crush on blues artist Bobby Rush. She desired to be one of his hootchie dancing girls, only to be turned down because of factors not easily altered: first “you’re too young,” and then “you’re too little.” Unfortunately for Bobby, by the time Sweet Angel meets his criteria, it’s too late! Her singing career has taken off, and Mr. Rush has missed out. “I ain’t got much hair on my head,” Angel mentions alluding to her short cropped, platinum hair style, “but I’m as fine as I can be! Don’t you [Bobby Rush] wish you had a girl like me?”

Across her first four CDs, Sweet Angel has been lauded for her vocals. “...fierce articulation and her knife-edged vocal timbre make almost everything she sings sound emotionally focused...” said “Living Blues” magazine. For someone raised on Blues-Rock and Traditional Blues, I found distinct differences, apart from the vocals, in this music’s style.

Most notable is the lack of guitar as the lead instrument and focus of the music. Here, tight rhythm is everything, and guitar is used strictly for rhythm, with a few exceptions like “Don’t Be Lonely, Be Loved.” Well beyond the three-chord confines of conventional blues forms, Sweet Angel’s sound is an urban fusing of elements of black popular music. It uses the hard-driving energy of R&B plus the deep feel found in Southern Gospel. Instrumentally, organ and keyboards rule backed by bass, drums, and often an R&B-styled horn section (although machine sequenced). Ultimately, this is music for dancing.

Angel takes one higher and higher to Soul-music paradise in her second song, “I’d Rather Be By Myself than to be Unhappy.” It presents a hard realization that some may experience at the end (or, more sadly, the beginning) of a relationship. Some people say they’d rather die than be alone. That may be true, but for her, death is living with the hurt. “You make me want to run to the street, be on my own. How can I find heaven when there’s so much hell in my home?” The answer, at least for her, lies in parting ways.

Even though her stage name is Sweet Angel, she’s got a dash of the devil in her repertoire! “What I Want, What I Need” reveals this. “I’m seeing two, and I know that’s wrong. I’m so ashamed of what I’ve done. I know I’ve gotta--I’ve gotta set one free, but both of them are so damn good to me!” One has the finances, the other the finesse--in bed, that is. One wonders if these two men know about each other, and if she could lose them if they do find out.

The best slow song on the album is “The Comfort of my Man,” a saucy, swaying ballad celebrating the joy of a (dance) partner.

Throughout this release, Sweet Angel sings with power and pep, grace and glory. Long live Sweet Angel’s unique style that has been inaccurately reduced by some to the simple, limiting label, “Southern Soul!”

Reviewer Rainey Wetnight is a 31 year old female Blues fan. She brings the perspective of a younger blues fan to reviews. A child of the 1980s music, she was strongly influenced by her father’s blues music collection.

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