COMPANION CD TO THE HIT VH1 REALITY
SHOW FEATURES PERFORMANCES BY SUPERSTAR ENTERTAINERS BRANDY AND RAY J
WITH PARENTS WILLIE AND SONJA NORWOOD, MARKING THE FIRST TIME THE ENTIRE
FAMILY RECORDS TOGETHER

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — One of the most talented, fascinating and close-knit families in music, Brandy, Ray J, Sonja and Willie Norwood will release their first album together, Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business, on SRR (Saguaro Road Rhythm) Records in March 2011.
Inspired by breakout success of their highly-rated VH1 reality show of
the same name, the album is both an intimate and hit-bound collection of
duets, collaborations and solo performances, marking the first time the
entire family has ever collaborated together in the studio.  The CD’s
first single, “Talk To Me,” was released in December, just as VH1 began
airing a new season of Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business (Sundays, 11pm ET/PT, 10pm CT).
   In addition to the television series and the new album, the family
members each continue to work on a number of high profile projects and
build tremendous individual success.  Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business continues to air on Sundays on VH1, with select episodes rebroadcast throughout the week.

“My Family has
always been involved in my career,” Brandy says. “Family is truly
everything. This project is the beginning of many more family ventures.”
Adds Ray J, “Brandy and I have been very blessed to have talented
parents who were also able to teach us the value of learning the
business side of being an artist. Through this project we have shared
moments of love, obstacles and a preparedness for future family
projects.”  

SRR Records
Senior Vice President Audio Video Retail Mike Jason said, “It’s
incredible how each member of this superstar family has and continues to
achieve such great success individually, and bringing them all together
on one record is a powerful thing.  The album and television series
reveal their unparalleled combination of musical talent created within a
tightknit and loving environment.”

Already making
its way up the charts, the first single off the album is a sweeping,
powerful ballad that combines Brandy’s soaring voice and the force of
Ray J’s R&B stylings with Willie Norwood‘s
sweetly soulful vocals.  Destined to be a hit, “Talk To Me” serves as a
testament to the incredible talents that live within this renaissance
family.  Written and produced by Scott “Shavoni” Parker (Patti LaBelle, Brian McKnight, Bebe and Cece Winans, Michelle Williams), the song was also co-written by Tommy Niblack (Monica).  Other standout tracks on the disc include “Lifeguard” and “Turnin’ Me On,” both produced and written by The Jam (Mike ManiJordan Omley), the hitmaking duo who have worked with Leona Lewis, Santana and JoJo. and

Sonja and Willie Norwood
are the anchors in this family of gifted entertainers, guiding the
successful and versatile careers of Brandy and Ray J with incredible
skill, unwavering dedication and a deep commitment to family.  Their own
musical talents lay the foundation for Brandy and Ray J’s hit solo
careers and business savvy developed them into multi-platform
entertainers.  One of the most dynamic managers in Hollywood,
Sonja has successfully launched the multi-faceted careers of both
Brandy and Ray J while building a definitive family brand in all forms
of entertainment including film, television and music.  “I have worked
with my family on so many different levels throughout their lives and
careers,” says Sonja, “to have a project we can enjoy and share will
continue to bind us closer together and give us courage to do more as a
family.”  Willie Norwood is known throughout the United States
as a top vocal coach and an impassioned gospel singer.  It is his
talent and ability to nurture and develop voices that originally
inspired both Brandy and Ray J to want to be performers.  “I love the
idea of molding natural talents into a piece of art,” explains Willie,
“and being able to work so closely with my family to develop their gifts
and love for performing has been such a blessing. Recording with them
is a dream come true.  It is an album for everyone in the family, for
all the times that families get together.  It is the music for
togetherness, closeness and love–a soundtrack to family life.”

The Norwood
family album is the first R&B signing to SRR (Saguaro Road Rhythm),
the R&B imprint of Saguaro Road Records, an affiliate of Time Life
Records that was launched two years ago with a commitment to American
music.  The company is home to the Norwoods’ album, Smokey Robinson‘s Time Flies When You’re Having Fun and Here and Now albums, various Grammy-nominated/winning albums from the Blind Boys of Alabama and Christmas with the O’Jays, among others.  

Saguaro Road Rhythm