About Me
With the world as his assignment, the inherently gifted Cedric Shannon Rives has undoubtedly arrested the attention of the masses. A dynamic and spirited talent, Cedric with ease of grace, convincingly masters the arts in musical and theatrical genres. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, a young Cedric spent the early part of his childhood being morally raised in a Bible believing church. Soon, the habitual visits to worship service, the lively singing, and the ministry of the Word would have a promising effect on the unsuspecting youngster—an effect certain to alter the spiritual landscape of his life. Following in the musical footsteps of his father, Cedric joined the youth choir. His honey rich tone would not go unnoticed as he with intensity and registered pitch ushered the congregation into the presence of the Lord. At the ready age of nine years old, Cedric rendered his first solo. And by the age of 11, the seasoned balladeer performed his first concert. With the support of a complete orchestra, the aspiring young hopeful was the featured guest performing several gospel classics to an enthusiastic audience who expressed their approval with thunderous cheers and a standing ovation. Consequently, such musical conditioning would set in motion the ascent of Cedric’s bright future as one of today’s most celebrated talents. A graduate of one of the nations most notable and rigorous performing arts centers—Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, MO, Cedric experienced measured success as he studiously cultivated and perfected his genius by majoring in music and theater which included vocal and jazz ensemble, drama, and musical theater. As faith would have it, this exceptionally versatile 25-year old minister, actor and singer has carved his indelible mark in the music industry as an accomplished gospel-recording artist. His debut album, Psalms of Deliverance, written and produced by Cedric in its entirety, is a compilation of praise, worship, and devotional songs with a contemporary gospel style. The debut has sold over 10,000 independent copies. The popular invitational hit Bow Down and Worship Him can be heard on Cedric’s second release, A Healing Place—another masterful collection of infusive gospel songs set to traditional melodies. While enjoying the fruits of his musical labor, the artistic finesse of Cedric would soon be enlisted in contemporary theater. In 1999, Cedric joined the box hit gospel musical cast of Be Careful What You Pray For. Uniting his remarkable vocal credentials with his natural witticism, Cedric played the three-dimensional character of Michael—a compassionate figure drawing the lost to Christ. Audiences showed their tremendous support by making the play the highest grossing gospel musical in the year 2000. The stage play featured the likes of Cuba Gooding Sr., Shirley Murdock, David Peaston and Clyde R. Jones. In his most recent appearance, Cedric delivered a stellar performance in the 2004 gospel musical stage play, A House Divided, where he impressively played the role of Donald—a “singing minister†whose stage character reflects the reality life lived by Cedric today. Inasmuch as Cedric enjoys his God afforded achievements, he is thoroughly cognitive of the evangelistic call upon his life. And loyal to the call, this faithful servant blamelessly ministers the inerrant gospel to the younger generations of our day. Adolescents from every walk of life respond to the claim of the Lord Jesus Christ through “repentance, conversion, and discipleship.†While Cedric’s God given gifts have indeed “made room for him,†he has quickly become one of the most sought after ministers of his time. Having recently toured Italy and Switzerland, Cedric was an esteemed guest of the Pope at the Vatican. In addition to his successful career in theater and music, Cedric recently hosted his first annual Living Waters Conference in 2003 where nationally renowned ministers, speakers, and musical guests participated in a weeklong praise and worship seminar and experienced life-changing results. While much can be said about this multifaceted spiritual prodigy, one thing is certain—he is a consummate force to be reckoned with, fueled by the divine power of God. And Cedric’s end is nowhere in sight!
