Princess Pittman: A Blooming Onion at Center Stage
By Bai Best
Published: 04 April, 2008
It wasn't my first time hearing her sing and, though I don't attend close to half of the gospel music concerts and recitals in Monrovia, I can speak for most music lovers who have heard her that Princess Pittman isn't just an incredible songstress. Yes, she's been singing since she was 9 years old and her vocal maturity has lately come of age. In the same regard, she has probably had more than the doctor's dose of guest appearances as a blooming onion at other gospel musical programs.
But her gig last Sunday at Monrovia City Hall was different. By her own initiative and of course, by God's grace thorough a host of personalities, Princess Pittman took the stage to churn out her passion into a full fledged music career. Launching her debut album in the smallest of three rooms at the City Hall, she drew in people of all ages under one groove. The crowd fell silent as she began, although not quite speechless, as you could hear the audience shout “Amen! Sing it, girl!” Her opening piece “Let your will be done” which was done quite prayerfully, backed by a live band and singers including her siblings and friends such as reigning Star is Born star, Moses Swaray.
Throughout the program, she seemed to command the attention of the audience, as evidenced by forward-leaning postures and fixed eyes on the artist. At a moment I wondered if she even noticed it. Her eyes were closed much of the time she sang. Maybe she was praying the entire time. No big deal, I do it too. But the audience really wants you to communicate with them too, you know. The roster of guest artists who performed there included Swaray, doing “Amazing Grace”; The Arc of Jesus Christ Choir and members of the a-cappella brotherhood Vow2Praise, doing an original piece in the Bassa dialect.
Georgette Harris, a friend of Pittman's and a fellow musician who attended the program, referred to Pittman as “bold, creative and someone who loves Jesus.” Our eloquent Information Minster, Laurence K. Bropleh who, in his elaborate deliberation as Chief Launcher of Pittman's album, praised the artist for putting her talents to such exquisite use. He also admonished all musicians and lovers of music to support Liberian artists such as she, signifying that by doing so, we are also supporting other Liberian artists “in connectivity.” Talent and special events promoter Barkue Tubman asked all Liberians to visit the websites of MTV and Channel O and request for Princess Pittman and other favorite Liberian artists to be aired on their channels. “If enough of us vote for our Liberian artists MTV and Channel O will come here to look for us,” she said. Other personalities who attended the program included a surprise appearance by the Liberian-born Nigerian movie star Venn Vicker (aka Raj), UNMIL Radio Excutive Kojo Mensah, Pittman's manager Chris Wolo and Varney Gbassey, the host of the program.
Kudos to the organizer of the program, for it was extremely well put together for such a unique space! And the live band was a real treat. That's usually only found in churches or at UNMIL events, and rarely elsewhere. The use of it here added value to the launch of the album, which is harder to achieve by lip-synching.
Princess Pittman is a young vocalist who grew up as a pastor's kid (PK) in the Arch of Jesus Christ Church in Monrovia. She lost her father at the age of 12 and has the complete love and support of her mother and three siblings. Harris commends Pittman for steering clear of the stigma that PK's always turn out to be a bunch of unruly misfits. It is noteworthy that young Pittman thanked her mother for strongly supporting her and her siblings as a single mother without a job. “I am a student at AME University and I don't look like my mother doesn't have a job,” she says. “That's a testimony of God's grace to those who firmly trust in him.”
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