Worldwide Release of “Loving the Silent Tears: The Musical” album, featuring Black Uhuru
NEW YORK – Just in time for the heartwarming holiday season, music enthusiasts can welcome the highly anticipated release of the Loving the Silent Tears: The Musical album to recreate the magic of the new musical exploring humanity’s universal search for inner peace.
Vocalists representing 16 of the world’s glorious cultures include:
• Grammy-winners: Black Uhuru (Anthem), Jon Secada (Just Another Day), Jody Watley (Real Love)
• Broadway stars: Patti Cohenour (Phantom of the Opera), Liz Callaway (Miss Saigon), Kiril Kulish (Billy Elliot the Musical), Debbie Gravitte (Jerome Robbins’ Broadway)
• International stars: Kay Tse (Hong Kong), Brian Joo (Korea), Siavash Shams (Iran), Hồ Quỳnh Hương (Vietnam)
Loving the Silent Tears: The Musical was a unique celebration combining a talented team who collectively hold over two dozen Academy, Grammy, Tony and Emmy Awards. Oscar-winning composer Al Kasha (The Poseidon Adventure) was inspired to create and write music for the musical after reading the poetry anthology Silent Tears written by Supreme Master Ching Hai during her own spiritual quest. Mr. Kasha stated “Silent Tears…has touched my heart so greatly, that I saw the potential it had to affect people’s lives by being turned into a musical.”
As MTV noted, the composers are “titans in their musical fields” who include Jorge Calandrelli (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), Doug Katsaros (Footloose), Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls), Don Pippin (La Cage aux Folles), Nan Schwartz (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) and David Shire (Saturday Night Fever).
Directed by Tony nominee Vincent Paterson (Michael Jackson’s and Madonna’s world tours) and choreographed by Emmy-winner Bonnie Story (High School Musical 1, 2, 3), Loving the Silent Tears transformed Supreme Master Ching Hai’s profound and engaging poems into a musical sensation that takes listeners across six continents. The one-time only benefit show was held on October 27, 2012 at the 6,300-seat Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.
In keeping with the international theme of the show, the music features a wide range of styles and genres, such as Jody Watley’s song, the African-inspired “A Real Fool” with its rich, rhythmic melodies and distinct percussion. The tender ballad “Singing Praise,” sung by Korean pop star Brian Joo and Korean-American singer Heather Park, incorporated elements of traditional Korean music, while the lively “Make a Deal,” features Caribbean rhythms performed by the legendary reggae group Black Uhuru. Singers representing other cultures include Camellia Abou-Odah (Arab), Mark Janicello (Italian), Liel Kolet (Israeli), and Katie McMahon (Irish).
Black Uhuru founder, Derrick “Duckie” Simpson, remarked of this special and significant occasion for the group, “First time representing Jamaica, I have never represented Jamaica worldwide. I’ve never got the opportunity to, so this is a first time. Never done a musical before, but it’s all about one love.”
The group’s vocalist Andrew Bees added, “It’s beautiful. The poem of the Supreme Master is so deep, and everyone should get a chance to really experience and read about the poem and feel the soul of what she’s trying to explain, [and what] we put out, to the audience and to people worldwide.”
The legendary Jon Secada also set Supreme Master Ching Hai’s poem “All Love, All Forgive,” to music in a salsa piece inspired by his native Cuba. He said, “I love the fact that it’s a simple message but with a lot of depth: love, forgiveness, understanding, and caring. Those messages we need today more than ever.”
After viewing the musical, singer/songwriter Sunny Hilden, who has written songs for Ray Charles, Sting, Patti LaBelle, Herbie Hancock, expressed, “If we keep reminding each other we’re supposed to be kind and loving to each other, then we get back to that place where I think that’s our natural state. And I think this musical really spoke to that beautifully.”
The CD includes a special bonus of Supreme Master Ching Hai singing “Talking to a Stone Buddha,” which was composed by the poet herself.
Distributed by Ocean of Love Entertainment, this original cast album comes in a 2-disc CD set and includes a full color booklet with the English lyrics, along with artist and composer biographies and color photos.
The album is also available in MP3 format for download, with PDF e-booklet included. Both are available for purchase along with other souvenir items at www.SilentTearsMusical.com/store
Discover the deeper, harmonious tones of peace and love that will surely satisfy and uplift the spirit for you and your loved ones this holiday season.
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