Angella Christie

The Wonder Years
Angella's present pietistic lifestyle is an obvious variance from her formative years. The Los Angeles native began her labor with a $300 saxophone purchased at a local pawn shop in Houston, Texas, where she attended the High School of Performing and Visual Arts. The daughter of missionary parents, Angella's dream of becoming a famed rock guitarist was deferred when her mom stood her before the church at 14 years old to perform her first solo. "I was so terrified that Sunday that I hid my horn hoping to avoid the inevitable. But after playing and experiencing the overwhelming response from people, who were encouraged and inspired, I knew that was what I wanted to do. To be able to evoke hope in a person is an awesome thing."

Upon graduation from Houston Baptist University with dual degrees in Music and Social Work, Angella set out to become the world's greatest gospel saxophonist, "Musically, I wanted to offer Christians something they could be proud to play; spiritually, I wanted to save the world."

No road rules, just the real world
No road managers or record companies, no role models or mentors, this freshman in the university of life founded Angella Christie Sound Ministries and recorded her first independent release, "Because He Lives."

"What do you do when God calls you and the record companies don't? I really didn't know anything about establishing a ministry, recording an album, or booking dates, but I knew I couldn't negate the calling or wait for a record company to confirm it. I didn't set out to become the first nationally recorded female gospel saxophonist or to blaze a new trail. I set out to tell everyone about Jesus. As far as skill, I wanted to be a good saxophonist, comparable to the secular musicians. I believe that talent often opens the door and listening ear. The Bible instructs us to play skillfully and with a loud noise." With her older brother serving as her covering and sound engineer, Angella began traveling from church to church, convocation to convention, skillfully her hope with undaunted faith.

From faith to faith, glory to glory
Prior to signing with Atlanta International Records (AIR, Gospel) in 1996, Angella recorded several independent recordings: "Because He Lives," "Rejoice," "It Is Well," and "Walk With Me," which propelled her into "Eternity" (AIR Gospel), her national debut release.

Angella's national platform was greeted with overwhelming success, amassing an influx of new enthusiasts. Her shoeless performances, being anything but vapid, positioned her center stage at the National Church of God In Christ Convocation, the National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc. (where she performed before President Bill Clinton), the National Full Gospel Baptist Church Conference, the Gospel Music Workshop of America, the Women of Promise Conference, the North American Baptist Women's Union Conference and Bishop T.D. Jakes Woman Thou Art Loosed Conference '97.

Her ministry mainstreamed to include performances at the National Black Family Reunion, the National Association of Black Journalists Convention, the Urban League Annual Benefit with television host, Montel Williams, and a powerful televised performance at the 1996 Annual Stellar Awards, (gospel's most coveted ceremony), where she was nominated for Best instrumentalist of the Year.

In keeping with good company, Angella has been featured with such music luminaries as Kirk Franklin, Najee, Shirley Caesar, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Ron Kenoly, and Helen Baylor. She has received optimum media coverage in Jet, Ebony, Billboard, Upscale, BET Weekend and Gospel Today magazines; the New York Times, Chicago Sun Times and Full Gospel Baptist Times newspapers; NBC Nightly News, and BET's Bobby Jones Gospel television. And the best is yet to come...