Why don’t you know about producer, composer, keyboardist, and last but not least, vocal stylist Raymond Reeder? Tony Terry knows. The Isley Brothers know. Richard Smallwood knows. Yolanda Adams knows. Stevie Wonder knows. Jennifer Holiday knows. The Cast of Hopeville knows... Need we drop more names? In short, some of the hottest talents in Black popular and Gospel music, and musical theater are happily familiar with this amazingly versatile, creative dynamo. They know him as a kind of "stealth, musical Mr. Fix-it" who has, with extraordinary facility, penned great songs in both R&B and gospel genres, handled production and arrangements for recording sessions and musical theater, provided just the right ingredients as a keyboardist, and performed as a professional lead and background vocalist.
Actually, you probably know more about Raymond Reeder’s music than you think. Remember Epic recording artist Tony Terry’s 1991 megahit single "With You"? Raymond Reeder wrote and performed on that tune, and garnered a coveted ASCAP Writers and Publishers Award. Terry recorded yet another song written and produced by Reeder, entitled "I’m Sorry" on the CD "Heart of A Man". He provided the same service to the legendary Isley Brothers with "I Wish" featured on their "Smooth Sailing" album.
Reeder worked as a preproduction coordinator on projects for A. Winbush Productions, Inc. He also performed with Angela Winbush and The Isley Brothers on their "1990-93 World Tour" as a background vocalist/arranger and featured soloist. A partial list of the outstanding artists with whom Reeder has worked in various capacities includes: René & Angela, The Isley Brothers, André Crouch, Edwin Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Richard Smallwood, Jennifer Holiday, Yolanda Adams, Keith Pringle, Greg Phillinganes, Paulinho Da Costa, Rodney Franklin, and Tony Maiden & Bobby Watson of "Rufus".
In October of 1995, Reeder had the pleasure of serving as musical director for a choir of professional singers and children (The Union Temple Youth Choir) who performed with superstar Michael Jackson for a United Negro College Fund benefit broadcast on BET.
Reeder received a coveted Grammy Award for production on Yolanda Adams’ “The Experience†. He also performed background vocals on “Fragile Heart†from the award winning CD "Mountain High/Valley Low," Adams first release on Elektra Records. On an earlier Adams’ project, he composed the title cut "Save the World", and was the vocal coordinator and conductor on two of Adams’ music videos.
Reeder has written, produced and performed on recordings for The Teagle Family (Praise Records), Jackie Ruffin (Messiah Records), The Richard Smallwood Singers and Richard Smallwood with Vision (Verity/Zomba Records). He produced The Union Temple Baptist Church Youth Choir’s critically acclaimed "God Reigns", and served for several years at the South East Washington, DC church as its music administrator.
Reeder’s impressive theater credits include writing and arranging for "Lord I’m Coming Home", "Spell No. 7", "Breakfast in Harlem", "Wait Till The Fat Lady Sings", "Dream Girls", "The Panama Limited Blues", "Blues in the Night", "Bubblin’ Brown Sugar", "God’s Trombones", and "Once On This Island". He lent his voice to the 1991 production of "God’s Trying To Tell You Something", and was the vocal contractor for the 1994 production of David Talbert’s "Lawd Ha’ Mercy". Each December from 1995 to 1998, Reeder performed at the John F. Kennedy Center as one of three wise men in the holiday production "Black Nativity" directed by the late Helen Hayes Award winner, Mike Malone. Raymond has one film performance credit as an extra in the 1991 Eddie Murphy hit movie "Boomerang". Raymond Reeder is no secret in the firmament of contemporary performing and recording artists. He is a rising and shining star!by Vern Goff
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