Black Angel Girls

Songwriter/Producer/Guitar Player, J. C. Martin, not only produces and plays in Black Angel, but he also created another version of Black Angel fronted by young, talented, very beautiful women.......the Black Angel Girls. The first version of the Black Angel Girls occurred in 1994 when J. C. Martin began working with Heather Wynalda. Heather had made a name for herself by singing at the House Of Blues in Los Angeles at the World Cup party sponsored by the United States World Cup soccer team. Heather's brother, Eric Wynalda, is the all time United States World Cup soccer scoring leader. The song, "Play With Fire" was a huge hit with record companies at that time, but the band broke up soon after the demo was shopped. Early in 1999 J. C. Martin started working with Audrey (Mrs. Ike) Turner and Ronnie Turner (bass player and son of Ike and Tina Turner) on an album called, "The Prophets". This version of the Black Angel Girls played all the major Los Angeles clubs including The Roxy, Luna Park, Jack's Sugar Shack and many Santa Barbara clubs. One of the outstanding back-up singers in this version of the band was Tomeka Haywood. When Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm went back on the road, Audrey and Ronnie went back on the road with Ike Turner. Later in 1999 and 2000 Andrea Buchanan fronted the Black Angel Girls. Devera Edwards, Shakira Baly and Melissa Gunther sang back-up and shared some lead vocals in this version of the band. In 2000-2001 Tishara became the lead singer of the Black Angel Girls. This was what was called the "Blonde Adventure" version of the band. Tishara was a Hawaiian Tropic bathing suit contest winner and quite a beauty. When half the band fell in love with Tishara, this version of the Black Angel Girls quickly dissolved. In 2003 the album, "13 Stories", was released with Andrea Buchanan, Lois Minato (now named Lois Mahalia), Shalonda Young and Shawn T singing on the album. After the release of this album and major shows at B. B. King's Blues Club, S.I.R., The Scientology Celebrity Center, The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano and about 50 other Los Angeles area clubs, the Black Angel Girls were put to rest so that J. C. Martin and Black Angel could concentrate on J. C. singing lead and playing guitar in the band that is now called Black Angel. The one remaining female in Black Angel is drummer, Tina Stefens, although Audrey (Mrs. Ike) Turner and Lois Mahalia have continued recording with Black Angel on duets with J. C. Martin and on back-up vocals. The just released "O' Santa Barbara" album features both Audrey and Lois singing duets with J. C. Some other duets with J. C. Martin featuring Micki Morris and Denise Patterson, formerly back-up singers for Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Bill Withers may also show up on Black Angel Girl song lists.