Kaweah Angel Releases Second CD

Kaweah Angel’s second CD entitled “Our Liberty.”

By Laura Calverley

Kaweah Angel, music director of A Touch From Above Ministry and a popular local singer, has just released her second CD, “Our Liberty.” The CD features some of the best-known patriotic songs, including “America The Beautiful,” “God Bless America” and the national anthem.

“I love my country,” Angel said. “I’m grateful for the men and women who have laid down their lives and are fighting for our country every day. This CD is dedicated to them.”

The compilation also contains two spoken selections, the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution and “The Call,” a poem by Ibraheem Popoola, performed by Angel’s mother, Luauna Stines, pastor of A Touch From Above.

The impetus for the CD came after someone heard Angel sing the national anthem at a local sports event.

“A friend who works for the Seattle Mariners asked Kaweah to create a demo tape of the national anthem for them,” Pastor Luauna said. “We were planning to put it together and I said, ‘Let’s do something more. Let’s take a chance and do a whole CD.’ ”

Pastor Luauna also was executive producer for the CD. She and Angel worked together on it for four months. Angel chose the music, collaborating with Aaron Gayden, who produced the music. The music has a more contemporary, upbeat sound than the traditional accompaniment for these songs. Sound engineer Scott Pike has worked with other well-known recording artists. Throughout the project, their focus remained on doing something to honor America’s troops.

“It’s important to remember our heroes, who risk their lives for our freedom,” Pastor Luauna said. “Sometimes we forget the foundations that our nation was built on.”

They are donating $3 from the sale of each CD to different charities, including charities that assist military families who have lost loved ones overseas.

“It was a lot of fun (working on the CD),” Angel said. “I’ve loved singing all these songs since I was a kid, so it was great to be able to lay them down on my own CD.”

The CD’s jacket features a picture of a Green Beret who has served in Iraq and is a family friend.

Angel, who practices 2 1/2 to three hours per day, started singing when she was 10. She sings each week on A Touch From Above’s evangelical television program, which airs across the country. She regularly sings the national anthem for local sporting event such as Ramona High School basketball games and at local events such as the Ramona Rodeo.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to sing the national anthem for bigger leagues — football and basketball,” Angel said. “That would be a wonderful dream come true.”

Her first CD, “He Is Risen,” was released in 2000 and has been successful, she said.

“He Is Risen” is also a live performance of a musical drama based on the Easter story performed at the Lyceum theater in downtown San Diego’s Horton Plaza in San Diego.

“Our Liberty” costs $14.95 and can be purchased on the Website www.kaweahangel.com. For more information on A Touch From Above ministry, visit their Website at www.atouchfromabove.org.