Following his appearance on ITV’s Starstruck, where he impersonated the Godfather of Soul James Brown earlier in this year (2023), RAPHAEL TATE – known fondly as the Prince of Soul by his fans – is back in the spotlight with album, ‘Love, Grieve Live’ out today (18th August) via his label, Tate Love Productions.
The nine track album includes previously released singles – the orchestral-led ballad, ‘Lord I Need You Near’ (featuring acclaimed jazz musician JeffMajors), which received a seal of approval from BBC Radio Derby’s Pam Sidhu; ‘Here Without You’, supported by BBC Radio Stoke plus radio stations around the globe, and Reprezent Radio favourite, ‘Everyday Is Mother’s Day’.
‘Love Grieve and Live’ album mirrors the cycle of losing a dear one: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Raphael knows all too well what it’s like to be on the turbulent journey: in 2020, his mother unexpectedly passed away and understandably Raphael went through a rollercoaster of emotions.
Alongside the release of the album, Raphael also shares fifth track, ‘Gotta Hold On’, which arguably acts as an anchor of survival to the cycle of grief. With esteemed jazz/soul musician Mark A. Walker providing guitar riffs which adds an edge of funk to the soulful piece, ‘Gotta Hold On’ serves as the perfect platform for Raphael’s heartfelt powerhouse vocals to deliver an inspirational and powerful message of losing someone: it’s OK not to be OK, as those dark moments are in actual fact a fundamental part of the healing process.
Since impressing judges Adam Lambert, Beverley Knight, Rowland Keating and Jason Mansford with his slick moves as James Brown on ITV’s StarStruck, Washington DC-born Raphael has recently become a member of The Recording Academy/Grammy Awards Class of 2023 (Washington DC Chapter). With back-to-back performance across The Midlands – where he now calls home – and across the UK, Raphael manages to find the time to offer some healing with his new heartfelt album and single ‘Gotta Hold On’, both out now across various music platforms.
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