Derrick Doc Pearson recieved 4 nominations for the 2015 Rhythm Of Gospel Award for his Billboard Top 10 CD project “It’s Alright”

Nominated for: Special Event CD of the Year/Urban Contemporary or R&B CD of the Year /Alternative Christian Gospel CD of the Year /Music Video of the Year – “Please Don’t Cry”

Derrick Doc Pearson’s “It’s Alright” enters the #10 spot on Billboards Gospel Album Charts this week gaining 9 spots from last weeks Hot Shot Debut at #19. “It’s Alright” by Derrick Doc Pearson Featuring Al Johnson, a project destined to touch one’s heart while inspiring the inner man, is Doc Pearson’s tribute album in honor of and featuring his long time friend and soul music legend Mr. Al Johnson. “It’s Alright”, an incredible collection of gospel and inspirational songs, is also and Enhanced CD that includes Al Johnson’s final music video “Please Don’t Cry” on the physical CD. Proceeds from this project will benefit the Washington D.C. Area National Diabetes Association in honor of Al who passed away October 26, 2013 from complications relating to the disease.

http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/artists/Derrick_Doc_Pearson/26883/

Tony Cummings spoke to the Washington DC-based producer, songwriter and record label owner DERRICK DOC PEARSON Derrick 'Doc' Pearson
Derrick 'Doc' Pearson
By the late 1970s some of the hottest records in clubland were coming out of Washington DC. For a season the funk derivative known as go-go music brought acts like Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers, E.U. (Experience Unlimited) and Redds And The Boys to national and international attention while in DC itself the percussion-heavy funk style of go-go packed the clubs. When the following for go-go began to evaporate some of its most talented exponents were able to move into new musical arenas, for example Chuck Brown with his musical association with singer/songwriter Eva Cassidy. Another musician, Derrick 'Doc' Pearson, once a key figure in the go-go scene when his Redds And The Boys band made the national charts, turned to mainstream soul, writing songs for top R&B acts like The O'Jays and The Whispers while at the same time working as a police officer. Then after a dramatic conversion in 1990 Derrick to slowly step back from the music scene. In 2005 the veteran started a gospel music company, I Am Music. Nine years on the company still continues to put out releases, the latest two being 'It's Alright: Derrick Doc Pearson Featuring Al Johnson', gathering together versions of Pearson's songs sung by recently deceased soul singer Johnson and 'Just The Music', an R&B-style instrumental album offering tracks described as "general uplifting instrumental enjoyment." Over a crackling telephone line Doc Pearson filled in the gaps of his fascinating story.

Derrick was born and bred in Washington DC. He said, "I was raised by women because my father and mother split up when I was very young. My mother had to work two or three jobs to try to keep us in a home and keep me going in the right direction; so I spent a lot of time with my grandmother, a Holy Ghost-filled woman who wanted me to know the Lord. We went to church service on Wednesday nights, Saturday mornings, all day Sunday, and I went to Sunday school. I was a church boy."

All the church attendance seemed to pay off. . . for a season. "They tell me I had a conversion experience when I was like 11, but I barely remember it. They used to pray over me - the nurses and the older sisters had a prayer service on Saturday morning. I barely remember this room: they used to go down in the back, and they'd get in this small room and pray for hours. One day when they prayed, I got to jumping all over this place. I can't even tell you what happened, but I guess the anointing fell on me at this time, and it's been with me ever since. That was my early days, then as I got older I didn't seek too much of all that church stuff."

It was the gift of an acoustic guitar from his father which was to play a part in Pearson's involvement in music. He remembered, "That guitar sat over in the corner for a long time: I had no real interest in it. One day I was playing in the alley and I heard this music, this band, and - you might relate to this - they were playing 'The Horse' and they were playing Archie Bell & The Drells, 'Tighten Up'. I could hear this music and I was just drawn to this garage. In the garage were three musicians - guitar, bass and drums - and I was just in awe. I loved the bass, so I went home, and since the guitar had six strings, I took two of them off so then I had a bass. I used to go to this guy who played bass and I'd tell him, 'I want to play the bass like you. Could you show me some stuff?' He said, 'No, man, your fingers are too short: you'll never play bass'. I was devastated: 'Why would you tell me that?' From then on, I always wanted to play bass. I asked my mother for a bass guitar, and she bought me one at 15. I started a band called Omega. Looking back on it now, we were able to pick up some amazing talents, because everyone in that group has gone on to do some great things. Our guitar player, my buddy who records with me now, Mike Scott, today plays with Prince and Justin Timberlake. One of our lead singers, Ralph Hawkins, wrote stuff with David Peaston."

Omega were briefly called Alpha & Omega and as their name would indicate, all the band members had some kind of spiritual roots from their parents. But as Derrick observed, "We didn't really know what we believed." Omega got a chance to make a record with a local label with a song they had written, "Free". It didn't produce a hit but it did spark in the 15 year old musician a lifelong fascination with recording technology. He recalled, "When I first went in the studio, I just fell in love with it and knew that was the place I needed to be. That's where I got the nickname Doc: I started playing bass, then I started writing songs, then I started playing keyboards for the group. They were coming up with nicknames, and they said, 'Since you want to operate in so many different areas, we're going to call you the doctor'. I went on from there, writing for local groups - I wrote 'Movin' And Groovin'' for Redds And The Boys. I wasn't playing bass for that band, I was the keyboard player and writing songs. It was quite an experience, because right at the time we came in with that song is when Max Kidd had signed a deal with Island Records to put out all the go-go stuff; and that's when we did the movie Good To Go. Redds And The Boys and 'Movin' and Groovin'' were featured in that movie a lot. However, business and greed got in and blew that all up."

Derrick 'Doc' Pearson: A producer and songwriter's journey from go-go to gospel
Disillusioned by the wheeling and dealing of gigging within the go-go scene Doc moved more heavily into songwriting, recording demos in his home studio. During this season as a soul music songsmith Doc met up with Al Johnson. Al had broken through onto the national scene as lead singer of The Unifics who in 1968 and 1969 had enjoyed big R&B hits with "Court Of Love" and "The Beginning Of The End" and by the '80s was collaborating with jazz soul man Norman Connors before getting an R&B hit with a duet with Jean Carn. Derrick remembered, "In 1984 a friend of mine, Terry Stubbs, who wrote a lot of the O'Jays hits - he and I were writing together. I get a call out of the blue: 'This is Al Johnson. I love your stuff. Do you have anymore?' I'm like, 'Yeah!' The rest is history: we just started writing together, I was sending him stuff, he'd record it, take stuff for his artists."

In 1986 Derrick joined federal law enforcement for the Supreme Court of the United States. The policeman/songwriter continued writing songs. In 1989 Doc landed a song on the 'Serious' album by Philly sound hitmakers The O'Jays, followed by tracks on albums like Mystique's 'Love, Mystique'. But despite his work as a policeman bad habits picked up during his years in the music biz were having a negative effect in his life. In 1990 things came to a head for Derrick.

Admitted Doc, "I believe God spoke to me. He said, 'I'm taking you somewhere and you need to stop this. If you don't stop [taking drugs], you're not going to live to see your children.' I remember going to a church service one night; I was so muddy - I had cut grass, and I still had grass all over me - and God showed up for me. I remember it was mother's day and everyone was in white. Here I am with grass stains all over me, and I saw one of the musicians who knew me; he said, 'Come on in, Doc'. I said, 'I can't go in' - because I'm from church, I had respect for the houses of God. He was like, 'Man, come on in'. I went to the altar, gave my life to the Lord, and everything changed from that point."

His conversion caused considerable confusion among his many musician friends. He chuckled as he said, "They thought I'd lost my mind. 'He got too high somewhere; he's gone crazy!' But I had good men of God at that time - I was under Bishop Ralph E Green at Free Gospel Church - and we were taught, 'You have to let this past go'. That's one of the hardest things for young converts. Some of those things you have to let go is your family; sometimes they're your best friends. I had musician friends I had been playing music with for years, and I had to let go because they were still living a lifestyle I was trying to pull away from. That's sometimes a hard thing for people to get to, but they have to be taught to let that go. People will respect you over the long run: those same people now call me for prayer when they're in trouble. 'Doc, can you pray for me now? I'm having some problems.' That was one of the tough things I had to do, to leave all that alone. I left music alone: all I wanted was Jesus. There was no music. I remember one service I was in - sitting, listening; they were videotaping the service. Well, one of the video guys knew me; he saw me sitting there, he said, 'Doc Pearson! Do you all know who you've got sitting here?' I'm like, 'Shh! Don't do that, I'm in church.' 'Do you all know who he is?' I didn't join a choir, I didn't come into church to sing - I came to know Jesus. Who is this Jesus that can turn my life around? How can I know him? Who is this man, and why did he do that for me? Who loved me so much they would give their life for me? How can this happen? That's what I wanted to know about this guy. 'Wait a minute, tell me about this Bible thing!' We have 66 books to tell me how I should live, things I should do, how I should think - what an awesome thing! That's all I wanted."

Derrick's songwriting continued and his compositions appeared on albums like The O'Jays' 'Emotionally Yours' (1991), The Dells' 'I Salute You' (1992) and The Whispers' 'Toast To The Ladies' (1995). But as the years went on Doc's zeal to write mainstream love songs began to diminish. As his involvement in church life grew and grew he found himself beginning to write gospel songs. Admitted Doc, "Most of these songs were songs I had never finished: it was pieces of music that I just had. I realised that God had a call on my life to preach and teach the Gospel, and I was headed toward training in my church - different things - and the Lord said, 'Wait a minute. You haven't done anything with what I already gave you.' I said, 'What do you mean? All those songs?' He said, 'Yes. Finish those songs and put it out.' I got confirmation because my pastor was doing teaching on finishing unfinished things."

Derrick 'Doc' Pearson: A producer and songwriter's journey from go-go to gospel
Derrick continued, "I kind of I argued with God. I said, 'God, who's going to be the artist? Where am I going to get money to sign artists?' He said, 'You be the artist.' Then I argued with that: I said, 'I don't sing!' God said, 'A lot of artists don't sing.' Quincy Jones didn't sing; Herbie Hancock doesn't sing; Kirk Franklin doesn't sing. 'You just do what I tell you to do'. Then the next thing, 'Where's the money going to come from?' God said, 'Do you think I can't provide? Do you think I can't make ways out of no ways?'"

In 2005, Derrick launched his home-based I Am Music Records with the album 'I Sing A New Song To The Lord'. No great shakes as a singer, Derrick called on friends and members of his church choir to provide the lead vocals to tracks which were neatly produced R&B grooves and soul ballads. As well as the singers Tony Peacock, Adrian Gause, Mark Staggers, Michelle Chisolm and Derrick's daughter Shari Pearson, two songs on the album, "The Lord's Been Good To Me" and "I Am That I Am", were sung by Al Johnson. Commented Derrick, "I don't know exactly when Al became a Christian, but I know his brother is a pastor, and I think that kind of got him going. Once I got saved, I wasn't doing any music, so I wasn't talking to Al - I wasn't talking to anybody in the music business. But once God told me to start doing gospel music - or to take my music and offer it to him - I called Al and I told him, 'I'm doing gospel music. I want you to come in and do my stuff, but it's different now: there's no alcohol, no profanity - nothing going on that we used to do.' I was concerned, but he's like, 'I'm saved too, man, let's go! Say no more!' We'd always start with prayer, then we'd get to work."

Derrick admitted that he had no idea how he was going to get 'I Sing A New Song To The Lord' to the gospel music-buying public. At first it seemed hopeless. "I didn't get any support from the radio, from churches, because my sound still sounded R&Bish; people didn't want to open a door at all, and I was very disgusted. I went to the gym, because I was trying to lose some weight - I'm still trying - and I put on my headphones, and this Hezekiah Walker song came on: 'Anyway You Bless Me' - 'I'll be satisfied'. That made me thankful, even though it was a time I had no albums. First time I sold 500, next time I sold a few thousand; this time I sold several thousand. God keeps building it. First time I had no videos; now I have five or six. God keeps providing, and we keep moving forward; I'm thankful for whatever he gives me. I'm reminded of what Paul says: 'No matter what state, I've learned to be content. Whether to abound or to abase, I've learned to be content.' Then there's a Scripture in Timothy where Paul is saying, 'Godliness with contentment is great gain'. We need to be Godly and be content. If we can be content to be Godly, we'll be just fine: that's my goal, the way I strive to be. I'm not selling Beyoncé numbers or big-time numbers - I'm not even selling big-time gospel numbers - but I'm content."

I Am Music released in 2006 'Lord You Are My Everything' credited to Derrick Pearson and featuring lead vocals from Al Johnson, Adrian Gause, John Butler, Tahesha Jones and Lee Johnson. Three years later the double CD 'You And Me Time' credited to Derrick Pearson & New Covenant was released. New Covenant were a vocal and instrumental 10-piece though guest vocalists included the ubiquitous Al Johnson. On Al's death in October 2013 many in the industry were shocked by his sudden passing. Remembered Derrick, "I was going to St Louis to do another recording with a minister down there that I had known, and I'd just talked to Al. I'm working on a marriage project, and I said, 'When I come back, Al, we'll get started a marriage album'. He said, 'No problem, Doc, I'm ready to go'. That was the last conversation he and I had. I couldn't believe it when it happened. Al and I had been recording since '84, and we've recorded close to over a hundred songs together."

In 2010 after 24 years' service Derrick finally gave up his duties as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer. His musical activities though, if anything, increased. Earlier this year I Am Music released 'It's Alright: Derrick Doc Pearson Featuring Al Johnson'. It was a fitting tribute to a singer who despite providing session help for such musical giants as Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson and many others never received the recognition his impressive vocal talent deserved.

Doc is now busy completing a compilation CD/DVD. He explained, "It's a project called 'No Greater Love'. Everyone comes to me and asks me about our music videos: they seem to be very popular around the church, and people want to see them. So they're asking me, 'Somebody showed me a video. How can I get a copy?' I said, 'You can go to YouTube and just watch it'. A lot of the church folk don't do the YouTube stuff: 'Oh, I don't know about that YouTube'. I need to put the videos on a DVD and sell it to people. For our 10-year anniversary, I'm going to take the best songs from the three albums on a DVD. That's going to be our release for early 2015."

For all of his many musical achievements Derrick stated in the biography on the I Am website that the things he is most proud of are his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and his 31-year marriage to his wife Lamar and his two daughters, Shakina and Shari. For the future Doc is passionate that the Church renews its strength and becomes unified rather than factionalised so that it can fulfil the Great Commission. He finished our talk by saying, "We seem to be in a time where the world clearly doesn't want to follow God; so we, as the Church, must get stronger. There's going to come a time when there's nothing else for them to come to - when everything fails. Most people now, church is not church: it's entertainment, it's not what God meant it to be, which is about Christ, winning souls for Christ, and living a lifestyle in line with what God has instructed us. Right now, it seems to me most importantly - and I see it so clearly - technology has made ways that we can globally connect with each other, and connect our ministries together, where we can now build the Body of Christ so the world can clearly see the difference between us and them. We have a Saviour, and we're following our Saviour. My thing now is we need to grow as one. I have a song called 'Togetherness'. We need to come together, put all that racism aside, all our differences aside - your culture, if you praise that way, I can praise that way with you; if I praise this way, you can praise this way with me - and we can be in line with God, with Christ, with the teachings of the Scripture, and follow that, learn from that, be open minded enough to listen, pray about it, and let the Spirit of God lead and guide us. We must come together, we must be united; we must work to be one with each other." CR

About Tony Cummings
Tony CummingsTony Cummings is the music editor for Cross Rhythms website and attends Grace Church in Stoke-on-Trent.

Derrick 'Doc' Pearson features the late Al Johnson on 'It's Alright'

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- IAM Music Company announces the release of Derrick "Doc" Pearson's tribute album for his friend and soul music legend Mr. Al Johnson titled "It's Alright". "It's Alright" Hot Shot debuted in Top 20 of Billboard's Gospel Album Chart for the week of 9/13. After writing and producing for legendary R&B artists, TV and movies, Doc Pearson has now completed his homage to the life of a musical giant with a collection of encouraging, adult contemporary, inspiring songs and music video featuring amazing poignant vocal performances by Al Johnson. This project confirms their friendship over the years.

Alfred Orlando "Al" Johnson, Jr. formed the R&B group THE UNIFICS in the 1960s and was lead vocalist on their hits "The Court Of Love" and "The Beginning Of My End". After the group split, Al began a long string of studio projects as a session musician, songwriter, arranger and producer. In the '70s, Al worked with Norman Connors and Jean Carne. In the '80s, he was mainstay writing, producing and playing for the likes of the Whispers, Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson and more. Al & Doc Pearson met and started recording together in the 80s and continued for nearly 20 years recording approximately 100 songs. Al scored a smashing success singing lead vocals on "Psalm 23" with Jeff Majors "Sacred" series. In 2004, his group the UNIFICS reunited for a series of concerts and one album. Al passed away October 26, 2013. The Howard University alum left behind a wife, three sons and one daughter and five grandchildren.

Derrick "Doc" Pearson composed and produced hits for legendary R&B/Pop artists as The O'Jays, The Whispers, The Dells and many more. His music and songs were also used in major television shows and movies such as Miami Vice, The Equalizer and Inside NBA Stuff. This new "It's Alright" CD project presents Derrick's production and composing gift in a captivating blend of gospel, contemporary, urban and inspirational Christian music. Part of the proceeds from this project will benefit the Washington DC Area National Diabetes Association in honor of Al who passed away from complications relating to the disease.

Featured singles: "Sweeter Than The Day Before," "It's Alright," "Please Don't Cry" and the remake of Marvin Gaye's spiritual "God Is My Friend"

For additional Information videos, and reviews visit these links:
EPK: artistecard.com/derrickdocpearson
Videos: www.youtube.com/user/DerrickPearson
Website: iammusiccompany.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IAMMusicCompany
Twitter: twitter.com/IAMMusicCompany
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-alright/id871418171
Soul and Jazz And Funk Review: www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/news/2734-al-johnson-says-its-alright.html
Soul Tracks Review: www.soultracks.com/first-listen-doc-pearson-dont-cry
Cross Rhythms UK: www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Derrick_Doc_Pearson_Al_Johnson/Its_Alright_Derrick_Doc_Pearson_Featuring_Al_Johnson/151754/

Derrick Doc Pearson’s “It’s Alright” enters the #19 spot on Billboard Gospel Album Charts this week as a Hot Shot Debut. “It’s Alright” by Derrick Doc Pearson Featuring Al Johnson, a project destined to touch one’s heart while inspiring the inner man, is Doc Pearson’s tribute album in honor of and featuring his long time friend and soul music legend Mr. Al Johnson. “It’s Alright”, an incredible collection of gospel and inspirational songs, is also and Enhanced CD that includes Al Johnson’s final music video “Please Don’t Cry” on the physical CD. Proceeds from this project will benefit the Washington D.C. Area National Diabetes Association in honor of Al who passed away October 26, 2013 from complications relating to the disease. Featured singles are “Sweeter Than The Day Before”, “Very Soon” “Please Don’t Cry” and the remake of Marvin Gaye’s spiritual “God Is My Friend” View Electronic Press Kit - http://artistecard.com/derrickdocpearson Download at iTunes and Amazon https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-alright/id871418171 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K1RG8VM/ref=dm_ws_ap_tlw_alb1 Physical CDs available from IAM Music Company - www.iammusiccompany.com Distributed nationally by Central South Distribution

Derrick Doc Pearson’s new single release “Sweeter Than The Day Before” from It’s Alright Featuring Al Johnson, shoots to #1 position on CRW Indie Chart for most Christian radio stations ads in first week. http://www.crwradiopromotions.com/indie/indieChartAds.cfm

Soul Tracks First Look: Derrick "Doc" Pearson pays tribute to Al Johnson on "Please Don't Cry"

Al Johnson was one of the all-time soul greats. First as a member of the great Unifics and then as a solo artist, songwriter and producer, Johnson was the pride of DC and an extremely underrated, talented man. (See our death notice of Al)
When Al died last October, he left a big hole in the hearts of soul music fans as well as in the heart of his good friend, songwriter, musician and producer Derrick “Doc” Pearson.
Pearson pays homage to Al Johnson’s life with the new release, It’s Alright, and the appropriately titled first single, “Please Don’t Cry.” 

http://www.soultracks.com/first-listen-doc-pearson-dont-cry

It’s Alright named Album Of The Week in UK United Kingdom – BBC Manchester Gospel Hour with Mike Shaft named the new IAM Music Company release “It’s Alright’ by Derrick Doc Pearson Featuring Al Johnson Album of the Week for the week of May 18, 2014 http://mikeshaft.com/2014/05/19/bbc-radio-manchestergospel-hour/

AL JOHNSON SAYS IT’S ALRIGHT! Monday, 12 May 2014 19:05 Bill B

Soul singer AL JOHNSON died in October last year. He was just 65. Amongst the soul fraternity he's best remembered for the wonderful 'I'm Back For More' – a scintillating duet with Jean Carn but long before that he'd been a member of 60s group The Unifics and he'd also worked extensively with Norman Connors. Indeed Connors was the producer for Al's 'Back For More' album.

After the success of 'Back For More' Al concentrated on session work and producing though he continued to record his own work – if sporadically, while he also reformed the Unifics for a series of comeback gigs. Parallel to this secular career Johnson also worked the gospel circuit and some of his gospel recordings have just surfaced on a 10 track album.

The LP's called 'It's Alright' and its available on Derrick Pearson's I Am Music label. Pearson is a major player on the US Gospel scene and in the 80s he struck up a relationship with Al Johnson which lasted until Al's passing last October. The 'Back For More' man sang on many of Pearson's demos and as a respectful tribute to Al's talent Derrick has assembled ten of the best of those recordings on this album. Soul connoisseurs know Al Johnson was a great soul stylist with a remarkable, emotive voice and here it shines loud and strong. Yes, these cuts maybe demos but they're far from the rough, unpolished things you associate with works in progress.

There are some wonderful cuts here and even if you're not a believer anyone who loves soul will love stuff like the irresistible up-tempo 'Sweeter Than The Day Before', the groove-heavy 'Very Soon' and the catchy title track. A number of the songs are Pearson's setting of various psalms while you also get a great version of Marvin Gaye's 'God Is My Friend'. Investigation of 'Derrick Doc Pearson featuring Al Johnson, It's Alright' is recommended. Find out more @ www.iammusiccompany.com

Saturday March 29th 7:16 am EST Uplifting Television (formerly the Gospel Music Chanel) will present the World Premiere of Derrick Doc Pearson’s latest music video “Please Don’t Cry”. Please Don’t Cry song and video is the first release from the highly anticipated new project “It’s Alright” by Derrick Doc Pearson featuring Al Johnson, a project destined to inspire one’s heart while toughing one’s soul. “It’s Alright” is an incredible collection of gospel and inspirational songs featuring the vocal genius of Mr. Al Johnson. The collection of songs assembled by Doc Pearson is a memorial to his long time friend and fellow musician. Al Johnson passed unexpectedly October 26, 2013 soon after the filming of this video. In the video, as Al Johnson sings of the promise of eternal life and a home in glory to all that believe, we see a family find peace in the loss of their loved one, when that loved ones life, is a life well-lived; as memories remembered by the family are memories of faith, love, dedication and sacrifice. Please Don’t Cry video and song, encourages everyone to live a life that matters to others, matters to our family & friends, and most of all will matter to the Lord Jesus Christ. Derrick Doc Pearson featuring Al Johnson “It’s Alright” In Stores and Online everywhere June 27, 2014