About Me
I have been singing since I was two years old. My father played the accordion and the whole family used to sing to friends who were in hospitals and nursing homes. I get my love of harmony from the pleasant times spent harmonizing with my family. In 1989 I met a very influential person in my music career development Reverend Coco Ramos. At the time Coco was the music director at CCU Downtown Orlando. We began working together as a musical team doing weddings and conventions as well as singing at CCU. Throughout the years we have also performed at Unity Village Missouri. Together we recorded two albums “”Cantemos Siempre Cantemos”” completely in Spanish and “”In His Image/A Su Imagen”” which is a bilingual album. Most of the songs on those albums were written by Coco. In September of 2007 the Unity Spiritual Life Center leadership council sent me to the Third New Thought Music Conference in Unity Village Missouri. It was during this conference that the seeds of my two newest albums were planted. Throughout the conference I became more and more clear about what was holding me back and my desire to let go of these limitations. Mainly I realized that I was not serving anyone by playing small; so I became open to be what I was meant to be. I began writing songs. My inspiration came in two languages English and Spanish. Because of this I decided to begin work on two albums. My goal was to have them completed in the Spring of 2008. They came off the press on 6/20/2008 (the last day of Spring). The first original song I recorded was “”Echoes of Ancient Words/Arcanos Ecos””. This song was recently published (2008) in a Unity songbook entitled “”Shine On””. I went on to write 20 songs (ten in English and ten in Spanish) in addition to Spanish lyrics to the Santana song “”Love Devotion and Surrender”” and Richard Mekdeci’s “”Ready Willing and Worthy””. I have had the great fortune of working with very talented musicians. The ones who have participated in this project are David Mikeal David Ezell and Richard Mekdeci. The arranger/multi-instrumentalist for these two albums has been David Mikeal (www.davidmikeal.com). The recording took place in Difference Studios which is owned by David Mikeal. David Ezell (www.heartwindmusic.com) has written the sheet music arrangements of all of my songs. Richard Mekdeci (www.itoimusicministries.org) sang backup on the songs “”Love Devotion and Surrender”” “”Think on This”” and “”Ready Willing and Worthy””. Backups for the songs “”Decisions”” and “”Think on This”” were also sung by David Mikeal. The process of opening up to new possibilities is the inspiration for most of the songs. The rest of them are about celebrating my newfound freedom of expression. I’ve heard it said that when you sing you pray twice. I believe that when you dance you pray thrice. Therefore most if not all of the songs on the album are designed to inspire movement. Because I am a child at heart I sing for our children and for the child in each one of us. The songs are about self worth making good decisions and celebrating life. It seems to me that those are issues that are particularly important in the teenage years. Many of our beliefs goals and intentions are solidifying at that time. It is my desire to lift up the spirit of our youth to keep them from despair and to help them realize how valuable they are. Currently I am the music coordinator at Unity Spiritual Life Center (www.unitychurch.com) a congregation founded by Reverends Alinda and Coco Ramos. I continue to create new songs the most recent one is “”My Father’s Prayer/La Oracion De Mi Padre”” which is a Father’s Day Quinceanera or Wedding Song. I am dedicated to continue birthing more songs to inspire and uplift. With Love and Infinite gratitude Ishtar http://www.myspace.com/ishtarmusiconline”music, dance, human potential exploration, sci fihttp://www.ishtarmusiconline.com11/6/62latin healing dance friends trance movement human potential self help unity positive” 32Albert MillerMusicianCurrently the Music Director for Unity of Martin County, in Stuart, Florida, Albert is an award winning singer-songwriter from the New Jersey metropolitan area. He has been performing since the late fifties. Among his first studio experiences are sessions with The Angels (My Boyfriend’s Back) and other notables of that era. His band, The Valiants, were a regular feature at the New York World’s Fair. In the late sixties he joined the hit group The Critters of “Younger Girl” and “Mr. Dyingly Sad” fame. Albert helped form a new group, Men Working, which was signed by Richie Haven’s MGM Company, Stormy Forest. During that period, he worked with such acts as The Cowsills, The Rascals, The Lemon Pipers, and Rod Stewart. Changing the group’s name to Brandywine, he moved to Brunswick Records. His Brunswick Records album “Brandywine, AGED” remains a well-reviewed collectors’ favorite. He has written for movies, short films, and commercials. In the mid seventies he teamed with moviemaker and computer artist, Lillian Schwartz, to write soundtracks for her computer-generated animations. These experimental films were shown around the world. Two films, “Kinesis” and “Pictures From a Gallery” were featured at the Cannes Film Festival and received the prestigious Cine 1976 Golden Eagle Award from the United States Government. Her experimental computer video work at Bell Laboratories led to what are now considered to be the first rock videos. Albert continues today with the group “The Critters”featuring artists from other well known groups, (The Four Seasons, Tommy James and the Shondells). He writes and performs Positive Music for his JoyFul Noise Choir. He is honored by the selection of his song, “All Over Me” for the recent Shine On! songbook. He is currently busy completing his positive music CD, “I’m In Tune”.