Singing ever since she can remember, Lura Daniels-Ball began formal training at the ripe old age of eleven at the UC Berkeley Summer Music Institute under the instruction of Phillip Reeder, her music mentor and voice instructor. Undaunted by rigorous year-round courses in classical voice, piano, music theory, conducting and composing, Lura loved what she was learning and knew that she was destined to sing.
Lauded for her tonally rich, emotionally powerful and uniquely nuanced vocals that belied her youth, Lura had a full performance schedule during her junior and senior high school years as a soloist with the Oakland Symphony Orchestra and featured soloist for her Castlemont High School choir, the internationally-acclaimed Castleers Chorale, where she was a standout during their tour of Europe.
Though formally classified as a lyric soprano with dramatic tendencies, Lura would stun listeners with her ability to vocally in any genre – whether classical, traditional, spiritual, gospel, jazz, R&B or pop music…
Lura attended the renowned USC Thornton School of Music. It is a testament to Lura’s talent that while at USC, she was the only African-American vocal performance major for four consecutive years. There she produced and performed in USC’s legendary student talent program, Evening of Soul, presented before packed audiences from not only the campus community, but the greater Los Angeles community. As an alumna, Lura eventually expanded her support of USC’s African American music students with a scholarship named in memory of her parents, Wilburn and Mary Lee Daniels, as well as, the Lura Ball Music Scholarship.
Though a full-time performance career was detoured by a profession outside of music, over the years Lura continued to perform. Her solo performances in diverse music genres include: featured entertainment for special events; original theatrical productions; orchestral works during Christmas and Easter; and many, many more… She has also performed the National Anthem at NFL games, as well as was selected twice as a national finalist in the prestigious American Traditions Competition for Singers held in Savannah, Georgia.
Lura has performed several times in a signature original multimedia program entitled, MLK: A Tribute in Song, where she takes the audience on a compelling, emotional, yet celebratory musical journey highlighting the milestones of Dr. King’s legendary life and incomparable legacy. Recent performances of MLK: A Tribute in Song, include: the 50th Commemoration of the Voting Rights Act/Immigration and Nationality Act in Los Angeles; and in Houston, Texas at University Christian Church to help launch a regional Voter Registration Training effort for The Disciples of Christ Church. She continues to perform it upon demand. She also was a featured soloist at the 2015 California State Fair’s Annual Gospel program.
Lura’s has now launched her 3rd release, God is the Strength of My Heart, with 10 tracks of Christian and gospel music on the CD version and 11 on the digital download. The bonus track on the digital download is her single Blessing inspired by the original composition of Pastor Joe Browne, founder of LA’s Faith in Christ Ministries (FICMLA). To translate Pastor Joe’s words into a powerful musical prayer to the Lord, Lura worked with acclaimed producer-songwriter, Bruce “Automatic” Vanderveer (Sony/ATV Music Publishing), and singer-songwriter-producer, Ebony Cunningham-Vanderveer. Lura also has a holiday CD, In The Joy of The Season , a fan favorite.
Lura also continues to minister through song as a soloist at the Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship (Sr. Pastor, Rev. James K. McKnight).
Lura lives in Los Angeles, in a home she shared with her beloved husband, Lionel, who passed away in March 2017. They have three children: Langston, a software engineer; Lawrence, a cyber entrepreneur; and Lauren, also a USC graduate and singer, currently a back-up singer for Grammy-nominated recording superstar, Katy Perry and owner of The Holiday Girl, a boutique travel agency for women. There are also 3 wonderful Ball grandchildren: Trinity, Jonathan and Jackson.
TO BOOK LURA CONTACT: (323) 348-3739 or Heartsung.Music@gmail.com
Music Downloads: https://luradb.bandcamp.com/
Blessing has been selected as a semi-finalist in the 2015 Unsigned Only Music Competition (UO). More to come...
Credits:
Written by: Joe Browne, Bruce "Automatic" Vanderveer, Ebony Rae Vanderveer and Lura Daniels-Ball.
Published by: Three Cities (BMI), Futuristic Thug Music (ASCAP)/Sony ATV, Heartsung and Joe Browne.
Produced, mixed and mastered by: Bruce "Automatic" Vanderveer and Ebony Rae Vanderveer for WayneBrook Group.
All instruments by: Bruce "Automatic" Vanderveer.
Backing vocals by: Ebony Rae Vanderveer and Lura Daniels-Ball
Joe Browne, Pastor Faith in Christ Ministry Los Angeles - Writer
Faith in Christ is a church located in South Los Angeles. We welcome the poor and oppressed from our neighborhood to provide them with a strong foundation in the word of God along with a wide range of ministries in which they can be involved. These ministries include food distribution, weekly Sidewalk Breakfasts and a variety of tutoring and Bible club ministries for children.
FICM church is led by Pastor Joe Browne and his lovely wife Gwynn. Pastor Joe attended San Jose Bible College which has now been renamed William Jessup University. While there, he began his ministerial learning and training at the First Baptist Church Sunnyvale before moving back to Los Angeles and beginning his ministry through a radio program on KTYM-Inglewood. Pastor Joe and Gwynn became a part of the American Baptist denomination under the leadership of the late Dr. Emory Campbell. Because of their belief in what Faith in Christ Ministries is all about, a ministry in the heart of the city with a heart for the city, Pastor Joe and Gwynn have been able to lead Faith In Christ Ministries in serving the community as the Lord has directed them. Los Angeles is a huge mission field with an abundance of needs, hurt, pain, brokenness, tension, stress, hopelessness, depression, violence, anger, oppression, bondage, and hate. At the same time, Los Angeles has God in its midst, healing the hurt and pain, bringing wholeness and peace, giving rest to the weary, giving home and joy, encouraging, loving liberating, and changing peoples’ lives for eternity.
Their mission is to plant and develop healthy congregations that manifest the glory of God in worship and proclaim the kingdom of God on earth. We also want to grow our service to the community by conducting Christian educational and conferencing ministries to share the teachings and values of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Finally, we want to proclaim the word of God and its mission to the unbelieving, un-churched and the oppressed in our city and all over the world.
Bruce “Automatic” Vanderveer - Writer
On his first production job, Automatic worked directly with Michael Jackson and MJJ Records for female R&B group, Brownstone and Hip Hop duo, Quo. He wrote and produced music as an apprentice under songwriting and production team, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and had a production deal with their label, Perspective Records/A&M. Automatic has worked with artists such as Pink, Pussycat Dolls, Nicole Scherzinger, Christina Aguilera, Cher, James Brown and Raven Simone. Automatic has produced songs for Interscope, Polygram, RCA, A&M Records, Prospective, Morgan Creek, Fox Searchlight, American Airlines and the WB Television Network. In 2009, Automatic produced the #2 song on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales Chart, Cradle to the Grave, recorded by American Idol’s Bettina Bush. He wrote and produced XIA’s second single release, Uncommitted, in 2012. The video for Uncommitted debuted at #1 in Korea and China and held the #1 spot on charts worldwide. His latest collaboration with XIA, Incredible, released in July 2013, debuted at #1 on Japan’s Tower Records Charts and iTunes charts and the album debuted at #5 on Billboard’s World Album Charts. Automatic is co-owner and president of the WayneBrook Group, a trio of music-centered companies—Curbside Vision, Artist Xplode and InRage Entertainment—servicing emerging and major recording artists and record labels.
Ebony Rae Vanderveer - Writer
Ebony Rae Vanderveer is a singer, songwriter, producer and vocal stylist. She had the pleasure of working with K-pop superstar, XIA on his single release Uncommitted, as well as, Incredible, which she also co-wrote with Automatic and XIA. Ebony has worked with The Dream, Cristina Milian, Floetry, and Aaron Neville. She has presented her research on gospel music at Yale University’s Bouchet Conference on Diversity in Graduate Education. Ebony is co-owner and vice president of the WayneBrook Group, a trio of music-centered companies—Curbside Vision, Artist Xplode and InRage Entertainment—servicing emerging and major recording artists and record labels. She is a magna cum laude alumna of USC’s Thornton School of Music and she holds a Master of Religion in Theology and Ethics from Azusa Pacific University.