Biography

Donna Ulisse testifies....I Am A Child of God

Gospel music followers are about to discover what aficionados of country and bluegrass music have known for years: Donna Ulisse can flat-out sing — and write — a gospel song.

As her warm, pure voice caresses ten heartfelt songs reflecting her lifelong faith, she transports you to a welcoming, down-home church that you won’t want to leave (even if you’re getting hungry and thinking about Mama’s pot roast). It’s a voice brimming with joy, a voice that remains firmly grounded even as it soars heavenward.

“I am trying to use my music to honor Him and to spread the word of His love through song,” says Ulisse, who wrote or co-wrote all but two of the songs on this career-spanning collection. Gospel songs have figured prominently on previous albums, and this CD culls the best of those, plus two newly recorded chestnuts.

While earning worldwide kudos for her singing, Ulisse has consistently been building a first-rate reputation (and catalog) as a writer. Artists including Claire Lynch, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, The Bankesters and Nu-Blu have recorded her songs, with two of those on Nu-Blu’s recent gospel album (the Bankesters and Lynch cuts were also gospel songs). And Ulisse earned a 2012 nomination for IBMA songwriter of the year.

I Am a Child of God has its eyes on an eternal prize, and it’s clear Ulisse believes what she’s singing. From the soulful testimony of the title song to the irresistible mountain harmonies of “Everything Has Changed,” through fresh spins on “Wait a Little Longer Please Jesus” and “This Is My Father’s World,” to the urgent confession of need in “I’m Calling Heaven Down,” Ulisse delivers confident, convicting gospel that, like the best of the genre, feels timeless, impervious to trend.

The accompaniment, of course, is sublime, with stalwarts including Keith Sewell and Bryan Sutton (both of whom produced songs here) on acoustic guitar; Viktor Krauss and Byron House on upright bass; Andy Leftwich on fiddle, Rob Ickes and Randy Kohrs on Dobro; and Scott Vestal on banjo. The Isaacs lend their unmistakably gorgeous harmonies to “This Is My Father’s World.”

By turns jubilant, prayerful, reflective, pleading and emphatic, I Am a Child of God shines as a uniquely personal expression of a believer’s spiritual journey. There’s not a false note here, lyrically, vocally or instrumentally. And that’s the gospel truth.
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This CD is a collection of gospel songs included on several of Donna's past album releases except for Wait A Little Longer Please Jesus and This Is My Father's World which are newly recorded.

1. I AM A CHILD OF GOD
Written by Donna Ulisse
(c) 2009 Uncle Hadley Music (ASCAP)
Acoustic Guitar: Keith Sewell
Upright Bass: Byron House
Fiddle: Andy Leftwich
Dobro: Randy Kohrs
Engineer: Jeff Servais
Recorded at House of David
Mixed by Keith Sewell at The Tool Shed
Produced by: Keith Sewell & Donna Ulisse


2. WALK THIS MOUNTAIN DOWN
Written by Donna Ulisse & Rick Stanley
2009 Uncle Hadley Music/Pop ‘N Paw Music (ASCAP)
Acoustic Guitar: Keith Sewell
Mandolin: Andy Leftwich
Dobro: Rob Ickes
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Upright Bass: Byron House
Background Vocals: Keith Sewell & Jerry Salley
Engineer: Joey Turner
Recorded at Sound Kitchen
Mixed by Keith Sewell at The Tool Shed
Produced by Keith Sewell


3. WAIT A LITTLE LONGER PLEASE JESUS
Written by Hazel Houser & Chester Smith
(c) Beechwood Music Corporation (BMI)
Acoustic Guitar: Bryan Sutton
Mandolin & Fiddle: Andy Leftwich
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Dobro: Rob Ickes
Upright Bass: Viktor Krauss
Background Vocals: Rick Stanley & Larry Stephenson
Engineer: Jake Burns
Recorded and mixed by Jake Burns at Loud Recording
Produced by: Bryan Sutton & Donna Ulisse


4. I WANT TO GROW OLD WITH YOU
Written by Donna Ulisse & Claire Davidson
2005 Uncle Hadley Music(ASCAP)/Oven Music, Inc. (BMI)
Acoustic Guitar: Keith Sewell
Dobro: Randy Kohrs
Upright Bass: Byron House
Mandolin: Andy Leftwich
Fiddle: Andy Leftwich
Background Vocals: Keith Sewell & Wendy Buckner Sewell
Engineer: Jeff Servais
Recorded at House of David
Mixed by Keith Sewell at The Tool Shed
Produced by: Keith Sewell & Donna Ulisse


5. THE KEY
Written by Donna Ulisse & Rick Stanley
2009 Uncle Hadley Music/Pop ‘N Paw Music (ASCAP)
Acoustic Guitar: Keith Sewell
Mandolin: Andy Leftwich
Dobro: Rob Ickes
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Upright Bass: Byron House
Harmony Vocals: Keith Sewell & Rick Stanley
Engineer Joey Turner
Recorded at Sound Kitchen
Mixed by Keith Sewell at The Tool Shed
Produced by Keith Sewell


6. MY PRAYER
Written by Donna Ulisse & Rick Stanley
2005 Uncle Hadley Music/Pop ‘N Paw Music (ASCAP)
Acoustic Guitar: Keith Sewell
Mandolin: Jesse Cobb
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Upright Bass: Byron House
Fiddle: Andy Leftwich
Harmony Vocals: Keith Sewell Wendy Buckner Sewell
Engineer: Jeff Servais
Recorded at House of David
Mixed by Keith Sewell at The Tool Shed
Produced by: Keith Sewell & Donna Ulisse

7. FAITH IS A JOURNEY
Written by Donna Ulisse & Marc Rossi
2013 Uncle Hadley Music / Marc My Words Music (ASCAP)
Acoustic Guitar: Keith Sewell
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Dobro: Rob Ickes
Mandolin: Andy Leftwich
Upright Bass: Viktor Krauss
Harmony Vocals: Keith Sewell & Greg Davis
Engineer: Jake Burns
Recorded at Ocean Way Nashville
Mixed by Keith Sewell at The Tool Shed
Produced by Keith Sewell

8. EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
Written by Donna Ulisse & Rick Stanley
(c) 2009 Uncle Hadley Music/Pop ‘N Paw Music (ASCAP)
Acoustic Guitar: Keith Sewell
Mandolin: Andy Leftwich
Dobro: Rob Ickes
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Upright Bass: Byron House
Harmony Vocals: Keith Sewell, Curtist Wright, Rick Stanley, Donna Ulisse
Engineer: Jake Burns
Recorded at Loud Recording
Mixed by Keith Sewell at The Tool Shed
Produced by Keith Sewell

9. THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD
Arranged by Donna Ulisse
(c) 2013 Uncle Hadley Music (ASCAP)
Acoustic Guitars: Bryan Sutton
Accordion & Low Penny Whistle: Jeff Taylor
Harmony Vocals: Ben Isaacs, Sonya Issacs Yeary, Rebecca Isaacs Bowman
Engineer: Jake Burns
Recorded and Mixed by Jake Burns at Loud Recording
Produced by Bryan Sutton and Donna Ulisse

10. I’M CALLING HEAVEN DOWN
Written by Donna Ulisse & Marc Rossi
(c) 2005 Uncle Hadley Music Group/Marc My Words Music (ASCAP)
Acoustic Guitar: Keith Sewell
Mandolin: Jesse Cobb
Banjo: Scott Vestal
Upright Bass: Byron House
Harmony Vocals:
Tracking Engineer: Jeff Servais
Recorded at: House of David
Mixed by Keith Sewell at The Tool Shed
Produced by Keith Sewell and Donna Ulisse

Executive Producer: Douglas Johnson
All songs mastered by John Baldwin at Lake Fever Productions, Nashville, TN
A & R : Kathy Sacra-Anderson
Hair and Makeup: Jamie Corbin
Graphic Design: Sara Ostrovsky
Photography: Mark Mosrie-Mark Mosrie Photography
Jeff Taylor appears courtesy of Rounder Records as a member of The Time Jumpers
Larry Stephenson appears courtesy of Compass Records
The Isaacs appear courtesy of Gaither Music Corp.

For radio interviews or additional information on Donna Ulisse:
Contact Kathy Anderson
kanderson@hadleymusicgroup.com

For additional Gospel music by Donna Ulisse, listen to her CD Holy Waters and her Christmas CD All The Way To Bethlehem. Both titles are available here on Airplay Direct.