Hello Everybody...And, thank you for stopping by "MY"Space. To all my MySpace friends, old and new, don't be alarmed...My page is just "Under Construction". (I hope you'll like the changes when I'm done!) And, to all you first-time visitors, I hope you not only enjoy your visit...But, that you'll decide to become a part of my "circle of friends". But, before you put in for a "Friend Request"...Scroll down, using the arrow to the right...And, read my disclaimer. (Bio also displayed, below) Thanks for stopping by...God bless...And, DO come again! Tell your friends! Note: PLEASE..."READ" THESE GUIDELINES BEFORE REQUESTING TO BE ADDED AS A FRIEND: I love people and want my MySpace page to be open to all POSITIVE people. (Christian and Non-Christian, alike.) It is NOT my DESIRE to turn away ANY "Friend Requests". However, I do have the following pre-requesites: 1. All friend requests must have a profile picture. 2. Any friend requests submitted by users with blocked profiles may be denied. 3. Any friend requests whose profiles contain material of an obscene, inappropriate or objectionable nature (i.e., PROFANITY, NUDITY, INAPPROPRIATE ADS or PAGE NAMES, etc.) will be denied. 4. If, after reviewing your site (at a later date), it is found to contain inappropriate language or imagery (INCLUDING COMMENTS/PICTURES POSTED BY FRIENDS on YOUR SITE), you WILL be DELETED! I AM A CHRISTIAN and "MY" MySpace Page is a "DECIDEDLY CHRISTIAN" site and a reflection of Christ and my personal testimony. (Not to mention that this is an extension of MY PLACE OF BUSINESS.) PLEASE...CHECK the content of the comments/images posted on YOUR site to be CERTAIN that it meets the afore-mentioned criteria BEFORE requesting to be added as a friend on MY site. You don't have to "believe" as I do...But, PLEASE...RESPECT MY SPACE! Thank you for your consideration. BORN INTO A MUSICAL FAMILY, where both parents played the piano and sang, and where singing around the piano as a family was a common occurance, Verdena Charla'yne Taylor (or "Polly", as she is known by her family and friends) discovered at an early age that music was her passion and that music ministry was her calling. Taught by her mother and accompanied by her father, she and her siblings (one older brother and two older sisters) would learn songs at their home and perform them together at their local church. Verdena began performing with her family at around age 4 and this experience sparked in her a love for music and vocal harmony. Then, at age 7, Verdena heard an album recorded by "Edwin Hawkins and The Hebrew Boys". Says Verdena, "They were like the 'Take 6' of that era!" It was their intricate harmonies and their beautifully blended voices that caught her attention. Often, she would forgo her childhood playtime, choosing rather to sit by the stereo and pick out, sing and memorize every note of every one of their songs. From that time on, Verdena has been drawn to the complex, the more difficult, the more challenging. At age 9, she became a member of both the Youth Choir at her church and the Young Adult Choir, becoming the youngest member ever to join. Very shortly, thereafter, she was teaching songs and conducting the choir. At age 12, Verdena's brother, who by that time was the bass player for a popular local gospel group, was asked to lead a song in an upcoming concert. Uncomfortable with singing and playing, simultaneously, he solicited her help when he discovered that she had been secretly teaching herself to play his bass. To everyone's surprise, holding a bass almost her size, she played for the group while he sang. The group was so impressed that they asked her to "audition" to sing with them. A month later, she became the new voice and, eventually, the musical director for that group, "The Chimes of Love". They enjoyed local/regional success and exposure throughout the Midwest, the east coast and parts of the south. By age 14, Verdena, along with other group members, began to write songs. Before long, they caught the attention of both The Late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark and of "Pop" Winans. They began to share the stage, at local engagements, with The Clark Sisters and to share concert billing with The Winans. They went on to sing for 17 years, even opening up for The Hawkins Family, until the group decided, in 1988 (after the death of the group's manager) to disband and to go their separate ways. Left with the decision of what to do with the talent, desire and sheer passion for music that God had deposited in her, Verdena decided to keep writing, teaching, directing and developing her ear for intricate harmonies, believing that, in God's timing, she would get the opportunity to do what she did best! While waiting, she continued to work with local choirs, always pushing them to tackle pieces they thought to be beyond their capabilities. She also developed the ability to work with all types of musicians (most often "male") and to bring them together to create one uniform sound. Under her musical leadership, and due, in large part, to her incredible ear for music and her great patience in teaching parts, Verdena's local church choir, The Redeemed Choir, of Greater Northwest Church of God in Christ, went on to become one of the first church choirs in the Detroit area, at that time, to have a full band (including a horn section and a percussion section) and their reputation as a ministering, performing choir drew large crowds and the respect of some of Detroit's finest gospel artists, such as The Winans, The Clark Sisters and the late James Moore. Through college, marriage, child-rearing and (unfortunately) through divorce, Verdena continued to work with local choirs and to cultivate her writing and arranging skills. In the early 90's, Verdena met the incomparable Tommie Walker and their mutual love of music made them "fast friends". They worked on a local play together, as music/stage managers, and vowed to work together someday, on a much larger scale, to put out their own special "brand" of music. However, "life" happened, and for 10 years, they traveled in different directions and circles...Tommie, becoming a principle band member for Fred Hammond and RFC and Verdena, a "steelworker" at a huge, dirty, dangerous and often frightening factory, affectionately dubbed "Gotham City" and "Schindler's List", by its employees. But, it was in this environment, while in the midst of her separation and, ultimately...her divorce (after 17 years of marriage), that God began to "show Himself strong" to her in a very personal way. She accepted (personally and, later, publicly) her call to the ministry, in both word and song, and while attending Bible College and graduating Valedictorian, Verdena continued to work to provide for her three sons. Amidst the taunts of some of her unbelieving co-workers who told Verdena she'd "retire old and tired...like everybody else in the plant", Verdena held to her belief that, in 10 years, God would "bring her out...on EAGLE'S wings" and begin to open doors for her, in the music business. In her 9th year at the plant, after having had to turn down a previous opportunity to tour with Fred Hammond and RFC (due to family obligations), Verdena heard from long-time friend, Tommie "Big Tom" Walker, who lovingly kept his word to her...That he would return for her, if and when he got his foot in the door. Says Verdena, "I remember I got this call, one day, right when I was coming in the door from work, covered in grease and soot. I heard this familiar voice ask me, 'Hey Girl...Whatchu' doin'? You might wanna sit down....'Cause, at this very moment, I'm building my studio!!!' I screamed! Then, I cried and began to thank God! Then...I started paying off everything!...So I would be free to pursue my music with everything I had!" A year later, TommieGunn1965 was born and Verdena was brought in as the principle songwriter/arranger. Under the tutelege of Tommie Walker, and drawing on her skills and experience as a music director, Verdena soon "honed" her skills as a Vocal Producer. Then, to her surprise, the opportunity to sing with Fred Hammond and RFC once again presented itself and she appeared on his "Speak Those Things" CD project("Everything To Me"), while it was in its final stages of production. God proved to her that He was "Faithful, Who had PROMISED"! And, that her times and seasons were in His hands! She and Tommie went on to make great music together, and the rest, as they say, is "history"! Together, Verdena and Tommie began to make their mark in the music business as a successful production/writing team, along with engineer, Jonothan Hogue. Verdena and Tommie managed to have two of their first five songs placed on the project of Vanessa Williams, acclaimed lead singer and veteran member of "Richard Smallwood and Vision". Verdena wrote, co-arranged and provided background vocals on the songs "Give Praise" and "Joy" with the late, great writer/arranger/producer, Kayla Parker. Shortly thereafter, with Tommie producing the hot track, and Johnnie assisting him as engineer, Verdena went on to become the primary writer of Pastor Marvin Sapp's hit single, "Do You Know Him", from his 2005 "Be Exalted" CD project. The project did very well and, due in large part to their hit song, Pastor Sapp received his first Grammy nod and "Do You Know Him" was included on the 2006 WOW CD. Following the success of this project, Verdena and Tommie went on to produce the entire soundtrack CD for the highly-acclaimed, nationally-touring Gospel Production, "Issues...We All Got 'Em", written and directed by up-and-coming playwright "phenom", LaTerras R. Whitfield, and starring famed artists such as Kim Fields, Angie Stone, Dave Hollister, Christopher Williams, LaToya London, and Darrin Henson. On this project, Verdena stepped into the foreground, singing lead on four of the tracks, including the title cut ("Issues...We All Got 'Em") and the "Take 6/Manhattan Transfer/Good and Bad Hair-styled" cut, "Battle of The Sexes"; a parody addressing (rather comically) the problems that can exist in romantic relationships between males and females. Verdena is also featured singing two duets, one of which she sung with top-notch vocal stylist and former member of the well-known group, "Commissioned", Marcus Cole, as well as her duet with the very talented and anointed singer (and long-time friend), Tamieka Hall. Since that time, TommyGunn1965 ("Big Tom", Verdena [a.k.a. "Polly"] and Johnnie have been instrumental in the production of the projects of two of Gospel music's current hot artists: New Gospel Artist, "Marc Ivory and Excelled Praise" ("Season of God's Will", his debut CD project) and veteran Gospel Recording Artist, Psalmist and Word Network TV Personality, Lexi ("What Heaven Hears")...Both in stores now, throughout the country. (To hear samples of these artists' projects, simply listen to their songs featured on this page, or click onto their profiles, displayed in Verdena's "Top Friends" section.) Desiring to help other aspiring artists who, like herself, just need someone to "believe" in them, and to give them a much-needed push, along with a strong desire to pursue her own solo career as a gospel artist, Verdena, at the urging of Tommie "Big Tom" Walker, made the decision, in January of 2007, to start her own production company, "PollyTunes Productions", with her three adult sons, Brandon ["BT/Bassman"], Mike ["Big Mike"] and Dan Taylor, who are, themselves, gifted musicians and engineers, and who have been featured on the "Issues..." soundtrack and on Lexi's new "What Heaven Hears" CD. While pursuing her own personal goals and assisting others to do the same, Verdena continues to work with TommyGunn1965 and MoLife Entertainment ("indie" record label to Lexi and Marc Ivory & Excelled Praise), as well as with other gifted producers and musicians, such as Noel Hall and Rod Long. Verdena ("Polly") Taylor is slowly but steadily making a name for herself in the music industry as an excellent producer (instrumental and vocal), songwriter, vocal arranger and live/session background vocalist. She is best known for her unusual harmonic blends and vocal tapestries, as well as her vocal range that reaches from Baritone/Bass to 1st Soprano. This unusual vocal range, as well as her ability to create complex harmonies, can be heard on Lexi's "Psalms 27", "How Excellent" and "There Is None Like Him", where she can be heard singing everything but 2nd Soprano. She is also known for her ability to hear an "unwritten" track, pen lyrics and make an accurate assessment as to what songs will fit what artists and cause their careers to "take off". She is confident that Marc Ivory's and Excelled Praise's "Radical Prayze", which she helped "pen", is destined to become a classic! But, most importantly, Verdena is known for having a heart for souls, as well as for her intense love of Jesus Christ and His Gospel message. Her ministry of song is her principle way of "reaching the masses", for Jesus Christ. Watch (and "pray") as the Lord continues to mature her and to prepare her to make her own mark in the industry, as well as to promote her as one of the "premiere" background vocalists in the music industry. And, pray for the success of her two companies, PollyTunes Productions and AdonaiDestiny Publishing, as well as TommyGunn1965 and MoLife Entertainment, as they continue in their quest to reach the world for Jesus Christ, while creating some really great music for all to enjoy! Note: Watch out for the Live DVD Recording of Lexi's "What Heaven Hears" concert, due out later this summer. And, keep your eyes and ears open for upcoming tour dates for both Lexi...and Marc Ivory and Excelled Praise, as Verdena will be singing for both artists! Now...ENJOY THE MUSIC!!! *All musical selections featured on this page appear courtesy of the artists featured (*See accompanying CD Cover Photos) and with their express permission. Both "Marc Ivory and Excelled Praise" and "Lexi" appear, courtesy of MoLife Entertainment. "LaTerras R. Whitfield"/"Issues...We All Got 'Em", The Soundtrack" appear courtesy of TommyGunn1965. "PollyTunes Productions" is a Sister-Company of TommyGunn1965...Not the featured artist or the Record Label which represents the artists featured. *For a brief list of Verdena's credits, click onto her blog, which will be forthcoming, and which will highlight her most prominent musical contributions.
