Stampley's "The Songbook of Micah" remains in the top ten


Gospel newcomer Micah Stampley has made a major impact with his record-setting release, The Songbook of Micah. The Dexterity Sounds/EMI Gospel recording artist's debut is the second highest for a male gospel artist in Billboard history. Now, Stampley and his wife and songwriting partner Heidi, have embarked on a nationwide campaign with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that the couple hopes will impact numbers far more important than chart sales.

The Stampleys will be the faces and voices of a print and radio campaign called Know What To Do For Life, a public education campaign to increase awareness about the risk factors associated with infant mortality in the African American community (gospel artist Nicole Mullen is also a part of the campaign). HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt has said the campaign hopes to provide important information for mothers and caregivers in an effort to reduce the deaths that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority babies. According to HHS, African-American infants are nearly two-and-a-half times more likely to die before their first birthday than white infants. African American infant deaths due to low birth weight (less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces) and premature birth are nearly four times that for white infants. The Know What To Do For Life PSAs encourage audiences to learn more about SIDS and the risk factors for low birth weight and premature delivery. Additionally, a tool kit for community and faith-based organizations will be distributed in summer 2005.

For the Stampleys, this newest project occupies a place close to their hearts -- the husband-wife songwriting team have five children at home in Sugarland, Texas. Additionally, Heidi is a registered labor and delivery nurse. "When I worked as a labor and delivery nurse, every time I sent someone home with a new baby, I had to talk about newborn care. Prevention of SIDS was a big part of that conversation," says Heidi. "It's a profound privilege to be a part of this awareness effort."

HHS has set up a toll-free number and Web site for people interested in campaign information, materials and partnership opportunities. The number is 1-800-444-6472 and the Web site is www.healthgap.omhrc.gov.

In addition to making nationwide appearances for the Know What To Do For Life campaign, Micah Stampley is planning for a busy summer as his star in the gospel industry continues to rise. The artist, whom gospel superstar Donnie McClurkin frequently champions -- most recently during an April interview on CNN -- heads to the Bahamas for three days of performances in early June. Then, the July 4th weekend will find Stampley in New Orleans for an appearance at the wildly popular Essence Music Festival Empowerment Seminars (July 1). Stampley travels to Atlanta in August to join his mentor, Bishop T.D. Jakes, as a worship leader for Jakes' Megafest (August 3-6).

Stampley recently completed a spring promo tour which brought him to cities nationwide including Oakland, CA, Atlanta and Dallas, where he shared the stage with gospel star Smokie Norful at The Potter's House for the mega-church's Super Sunday concert series. Stampley wrapped up the tour in April with a series of church performances in New York City.

Stampley and his wife, Heidi, wrote all but three of the 11 songs on The Songbook of Micah, and the young artist says the songs are his exploration of redemption, worship and wholeness. Stampley even researched his namesake, the Biblical Micah, and discovered that most of the prophet's messages were delivered via rhythmic poetry -- something perhaps close to singing -- and that most of the biblical Micah messages were aimed at churches doing "ungodly" things, urging them to change their ways. Stampley focuses his messages on Christians who may have lost their way. "The songs on this project cry out for people to return to the reason we were created - solely to worship Him," says Stampley. "I want this to be a reminder that the real soldiers don't compromise."

In addition to his recording career, Stampley continues to serve Houston's St. Agnes Baptist Church as assistant minister of music.

Brentwood, Tennessee-based EMI Gospel is a division of EMI Christian Music Group, the world's largest Christian music organization that also includes EMI CMG Label Group, EMI CMG Distribution and EMI CMG Publishing. It is part of EMI Group, the world's largest independent music company whose other U.S. labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, Capitol Nashville, EMI Latin, Narada and Virgin Records.


Micah Stampley's Promo/Concert Tour

Date Event City/State

Saturday, May 21 Original Tabernacle of Prayer Ft. Pierce, FL

Sunday, May 29 Greater Cleveland Avenue Winston-Salem
(9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.)

Sunday, May 29 West Angeles COGIC Los Angeles, CA
(10:00 p.m.)

Saturday, June 4 Cover Men Tour Los Angeles, CA

Friday, June 10 Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Washington, DC

Wednesday, June 15 City of Refuge Los Angeles

Saturday, June 25 Cover Men Tour Mempis, TN

Friday, July 1 Essence Music Festival New Orleans, LA
Empowerment Seminars

Saturday, July 2 Faith Temple Ministries Bahamas

Sunday, July 3 Faith Temple Ministries Bahamas

Sunday, July 17 Towerful Praise Tabernacle Brooklyn, NY

Friday, July 29 Humble Civic Center Houston, TX

Sunday, July 31 GMA in the Rockies Denver, CO

Tuesday, August 2 Bishop T.D. Jakes Mega Fest Atlanta, GA

Wednesday, August 3 Bishop T.D. Jakes Mega Fest Atlanta, GA

Thursday, August 4 Bishop T.D. Jakes Mega Fest Atlanta, GA

Friday, August 5 Bishop T.D. Jakes Mega Fest Atlanta, GA

Saturday, August 6 Bishop T.D. Jakes Mega Fest Atlanta, GA

Thursday, August 18 Faith Fellowship Bible Church Corona, CA

Saturday, August 20 Pentecostal Outreach COGIC Lansing, MI

Friday, September 2 Harvest Time Church/ Houston, TX
Harvest Fest Conference

Sunday, September 4 Harvest Time Church/ Houston, TX
Harvest Fest Conference

Thursday, Sept. 29 American Association of Houston, TX
Christian Counselor Conference

Friday, September 30 Bishop Jakes' Potter's Kenya, Africa
House Mass Recording

Saturday, October 1 Bishop Jakes' Potter's Kenya, Africa
House Mass Recording

Sunday, October 2 Bishop Jakes' Potter's Kenya, Africa
House Mass Recording

Monday, October 3 Bishop Jakes' Potter's Kenya, Africa
House Mass Recording

Tuesday, October 4 Bishop Jakes' Potter's Kenya, Africa
House Mass Recording

Saturday, October 15 Southern University vs. Baton Rouge, LA
Jackson State

Sunday, October 16 Southern University Coliseum Baton Rouge, LA

Sunday, October 30 Grace Church Durham, NC

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