Gospel Songstress Lisa Page Brooks is topping the music charts once again with her latest album Strong. The Detroit native is no stranger to the music business growing up in a town so famously knows as “Motown”, her Dad was signed to Motown Records and she was exposed to the positives and negatives of fame. She followed the path of positive and allowed her faith in God to guide her in the direction of gospel music. With numerous albums and various awards under her belt, Lisa is a living testimony to her latest album and still going Strong on her quest to make great music and minister to the people.
GospelFab: You are originally from Detroit, Michigan, the home of Motown Records, How did you make the decision to follow the path of Gospel in a town so famously known for Rhythm & Blues?
Lisa: Wow, Good Question. It’s really ironic that you would ask that… My father was in a group who was signed to Motown Records and growing up I was in the element where I saw what that environment did to people. Being a Christian first and my relationship with God, I just couldn’t see myself not giving it back to him and using my gift for what he gave it to me for. I feel like there was no other option, I had to give it back to God. I am grateful to God that he had his hand in my life and gave me the ability to sing gospel, because we not only have to sing it, we have to live it.
GospelFab: Who were your musical influences growing up?
Lisa: With the harmony and all, I would say The Hawkins Family, I like The Clark Sisters, The Winans too, when I first met them I was a young girl and they were known as “The Testimonials” they are from Detroit also and I got a chance to meet them.
GospelFab: Who are your influences now?
Lisa: I really like so many. I like when I feel it!! Not so much the skill, because a lot of people have skill, but I like to feel the music, so I like Jonathan Butler. He can minister to me any day; it comes from his heart. I’m friends with so many artists and they all do it so well, but I would say Jonathan Butler just to name one.
You were first introduced to us as ¼ of the female gospel quartet “Witness” and you eventually branched off into a solo career, Why the decision to go solo?
I was kinda pushed into it in 1997. The record company we were with at the time they were adamant about me doing a solo career…I didn’t want to do it. I just loved the whole group atmosphere, traveling together, witnessing together, so it took me a minute to do my own thing, but in the end it was good. More Than You Ever Know was my first solo project released in 1997.
Throughout your career you have been the recipient of many awards and award nominations [Lisa has received award nominations including (2) Grammy, (1) Dove, and the winner of the Gospel Music GospelFab: Excellence and Steller Awards]…Does that add pressure each time you go into the studio to make music?
Lisa: For me that doesn’t really pressure me. To me we never arrive in what we do as gospel artists. What we do is not really about us, we are singing about God, we are singing about someone else. I’m so grateful for any award I have received, but to me it’s not about that, it’s always about focusing on the assignment of touching peoples lives. My main goal is about remembering the people.
GospelFab: What upcoming projects are you currently working on?
Lisa: My current project is my album in stores now Strong. I have a new single “I Want To Say Thank You” and it’s the #5 song in the country right now this week on Billboard. I will probably start some new music in the Fall and have it ready for Spring [2011]. My husband and I, Pastor Micheal Brooks (one of the founding members of gospel group “The Commissioned”) have a church in Detroit that we pastor. I have a women’s ministry in my church and it’s really busy, busy, busy. We have a Women’s Conference coming up in Detroit called “Restored Women Sharing” and it’s July 16th -18th , you can find more information about that on my Facebook Page. I also have a book entitled “In the Process”, you can order from AuthorHouse.com. In my book I share a lot of secrets about the death of my Mom and Dad, my Dad being in Motown Records and how he was abusive.
GospelFab: What are some of the challenges you face, if any, being a gospel artist in these times where Hip-Hop and R&B are so mainstream and more recognizable?
Lisa: The challenges I face…Well, I think one of the challenges is with marketing, this gospel market should be structured in a certain way to reach all people. Another challenge is some other [gospel] artists have to understand what we are supposed to be doing. Some of these people we see on TV as celebrities they need us as gospel artists to come in and minister to them and help them. If you listen to these R&B artists the cords of their music sound a lot like gospel, so in a lot of ways they are trying to be like us and some of us [gospel artists are trying to impress them instead of ministering to them. We have these opportunities and we don’t take advantage of them.
GospelFab: A few of your upcoming tour stops have been in Baltimore, Can you tell us one of your favorite things about Baltimore?
Lisa: Yes, I love the Harbor!! The city is great and I’ve been here several times, I have some friends here. I like the shopping and the great restaurants and I like the area and atmosphere.
Article courtesy of GospelFab.com
