September 15, 2025 • 31 mins
In this episode of The Jimmy Rex Show, Jimmy sits down with gospel music legend Kim Burrell — singer, songwriter, pastor, and founder of The Legend Vocal Academy. Known for her powerful voice and influence in gospel and R&B, Kim has worked with icons like Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Brandy, Celine Dion, and many more.
Kim opens up about her journey growing up in a musical family, her close relationship with Whitney Houston, and the lessons she’s learned navigating both the gospel world and the mainstream music industry. She also shares her passion for mentoring future singers through her academy and the importance of authenticity, spirituality, and truth in her career.
This powerful conversation dives into music, faith, resilience, controversy, and the timeless influence of gospel on culture.
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Kim Burrell’s extraordinary journey in music
02:00 Growing up in a musical family and early influences
05:00 The Legend Vocal Academy and teaching others to sing
07:00 Memories and lessons from Whitney Houston
12:30 Navigating gospel, mainstream music, and controversies
18:00 Career highlights: performing with Stevie Wonder, Harry Connick Jr., and others
23:00 The mission behind The Legend Vocal Academy
25:00 Gospel music, culture, and the power of soul
28:00 Kim’s proudest moments and legacy
30:00 Where to connect with Kim
30:52 Outro
Kim opens up about her journey growing up in a musical family, her close relationship with Whitney Houston, and the lessons she’s learned navigating both the gospel world and the mainstream music industry. She also shares her passion for mentoring future singers through her academy and the importance of authenticity, spirituality, and truth in her career.
This powerful conversation dives into music, faith, resilience, controversy, and the timeless influence of gospel on culture.
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Kim Burrell’s extraordinary journey in music
02:00 Growing up in a musical family and early influences
05:00 The Legend Vocal Academy and teaching others to sing
07:00 Memories and lessons from Whitney Houston
12:30 Navigating gospel, mainstream music, and controversies
18:00 Career highlights: performing with Stevie Wonder, Harry Connick Jr., and others
23:00 The mission behind The Legend Vocal Academy
25:00 Gospel music, culture, and the power of soul
28:00 Kim’s proudest moments and legacy
30:00 Where to connect with Kim
30:52 Outro
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Jimmy Rex Show.
And today on the podcast we have Kim Burrell, and
she's an American gospel singer, songwriter and pastor. She also
owns her own the Legend Vocal Academy, and she is
somebody who's worked with everybody from Whitney Houston to Stevie Wonder.
She is a legend in the gospel music space and
it was a pleasure to sit down and jam with her.
(00:24):
So without further ado, let's get to the podcast with
Kim Burrell, and today's podcast is brought to you by
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(00:45):
Bucked Up as soul. Kim, great to have you on
the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
It's really good to be here. Thanks so much for
allowing me to come.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Yeah. Well, I you know, when I started this podcast,
I wanted to leave it a vague category so if
I ever had the opportunity to meet, you know, really
amazing people that are in industries that maybe I never
would have had the opportunity to have this conversation, I
still could. So I just said, it's going to be
about exceptional people living in an extraordinary life. And you have
definitely lived an extraordinary life, Kim.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
You know I must agree with you.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I'm just I find God's creation to be extraordinary. Each
one that I find out about pay much more of
an extraordinary life live.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
So maybe backed into it a little bit. How did
you end up getting into I mean, I think so
many people that you know have this desire to seeing,
especially you know, with the people that you've had the
opportunity to work with and to be able to have
the opportunity that you have. How did you get started
in this whole world?
Speaker 3 (01:50):
You know, as a young girl in a house field
with a lot of musical intellect. My mother took music
appreciation in college, and my father, as young as eighteen
played the piano for the likes of Nancy Wilson and
Saravone in clubs. Dad is still alive with us today,
eighty seven years old. And so our house was filled
with a lot of music, and that I was, you know,
(02:10):
born with quite a bit of a talent, and my
parents got me tested intellectually, I guess at four and
I tested genius. And I think all of us were
musically inclined, but my life just kind of took on
a different life style of what singing. I eventually looked
at it, what it requires from me.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
No, it's well, give a little background on that. I
think a lot of people, you know, one of the
advantages of that what your parents did was at that point,
you know, okay, this is something special, so that I'm
guessing they really doubled down or quadrupleed down on the
amount of time and effort you put towards it at
that point, which can take you from because the are
a lot of people that have genius in them, but
they never really actually do anything to create the genius.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
It's so very true.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
My parents contributed to that by having us ready at
the last day of school every year for many years,
the car was already locked and loaded for us as
a family to get on the road. My parents were evangelists,
so we spend a lot of time going in and
out of churches and even when we were not on
the road, every single summer we did something locally here
in Houston and singing and doing what it is I'm
(03:16):
into now. The precursor to all of that was very
much sewn into by my parents that it caused me
to not be afraid to go locally to different events
that garnered me recording my very first album with a
company that started, you know, grassroots out of Houston called
Pearl Records, by a lady named Sadie Jackson who got
some money together and put some people together back then.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
To create a company and expand it.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
My voice went on to go with different platforms that
gave me a different reach.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
That's amazing. Well, I mean, I know you talk a
lot about you have your vocal academy that you work
with now and everything and can anybody sing or like
how hard I mean cant. I've always wish I was
a better singer. If I would have put a lot
of time on effort towards it, could have I been
somewhat of a good singer.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Absolutely, because I say that to anybody, Oh I don't
have such a good voice, of course you do. You know,
singing is about just what you said, putting in work
toward whatever you want to make better. I love singing
because it is a universal language and it has gotten
me into and out of quite a few things. And
I would encourage any in everybody that has a desire
to sing that they could be a part of the
(04:22):
Legend Vocal Academy and become better at it. You know,
I like interviewing people and based on how they think
to me is going to be how they sing.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Mmm, no, that makes sense. Well, you've had the opportunity
to sing with my favorite all time female singer, which
is Whitney Houston. I think she is just I think
there's her, and then I think it's everybody else. I
mean the first time. It's funny. When I was I
served in another lifetime. I served a Mormon mission in Mexico,
right and when I was there, we weren't allowed to
listen to music. But Mexican people they just love Whitney Hughton.
(04:53):
I don't know if you know this or not, and
so they would always be blasting her music in the
streets and I just it just like made me feel
like I was back at home. So I just remember,
you know, hearing her her voice all the time, just
like this angel from heaven just singing to me and
making me feel safe or whatever. But maybe if you
could tell a little bit of what you learn and
maybe some stories or just some of the experience of
working with her.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Thank you for mentioning that whenever I hear anyone speak
well of her, it makes my heart just bloom and
running into Whitney had the time of life that I did.
I just recorded, believe it or not, on an inspirational
record with Sean P.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Diddy Combs that he.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Took some recording artists off of his R and B
records and created an inspirational song, so he let Whitney
hear it before it ever was heard from the public
call Special Place that I wrote along with Mario Winans.
So one night out of blue, Whitney calls me, and
of course, as anyone would be that had never spoken
with her, I was in complete and utter shock, and
(05:50):
we became sisters not long after that, even closer through
the unfortunate untimely I would say, death of her father
was our first meeting.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
And I ended up singing for that fian and then
we just stood close.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
We got even deeper when she did the whole thirtieth
year anniversary with Michael Jackson. I went and the day
after I flew into Alpharetta to meet with her and
to begin even deeper sisterhood. But she encouraged me to
do a lot of what it is I'm doing. She
showed up at a time in my life that I
needed the type of encouragement from the type of person
she was. As a matter of fact, close toward the
(06:24):
end of her life, she and I had had a
conversation if you time her death and the time of Rihanna's,
should I say erection to the world. I remember her
calling me asking me, had I heard of Rihanna? And
in that conversation, I said, you know, with an incredible
(06:44):
talent like that coming on the scene, it's time for
you to do what only an ambassador should do, and
that to do the what to do and what to
not do.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Some type of documentary that she and I.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Were in a conversation about before her untimely death, and
so there's so manyversations, which I believe it or not.
I'm going to create a documentary not just surrounding that,
but inclusive of what our lives entailed. Because we had
many years of close sisterhood and a lot of encounters
that garners that type of information to at least be
told once by me.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Wow, No, that's amazing. It is interesting. It's you know,
you've played in a couple of different worlds. I mean,
you've been in the entertainment industry. You mentioned you know,
I know you did stuff with R. Kelly, and you
mentioned p did he coum some of these people that
have really had some pretty terrible controversy around their lives.
But then you also are a pastor and you get
to do all this gospel music And is that difficult
(07:35):
to kind of like you're in these different worlds and
you're seeing so many different things and you just never
know who's who. And I imagine it's been it's been
all the different emotions for you throughout the years.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
It has been several emotions.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
But to answer to the question directly, no, and it's
not difficult to just most inviting and rewarding For me.
Growing up in the type of church I did, meaning
the type we were very religious in doing the right
thing and being taught how to do the right thing.
I found out over time there are many variables that
(08:08):
are not necessarily taught in a religious forum based on
what some people like more than others when it.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Comes down to religion.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
In my living out my life through this Destiny of Song,
I've run into so many people that defy that some
religions kind of keep you separate of some things that
I think you should be a little bit more giving
to in order to merge the life and make it
what it should be. But I've had many, many opportunities,
from getting late and I calls from the likes of Chakakhan,
(08:39):
to getting calls from Brandy to get coached through one
of our most incredible records. I have an incredible, rich
history of involvement of so many people that have had controversies.
Matter of fact, I left a voice note of prayer
for Diddy right before all of this recent situation went down,
and I was therefore, even when he was dating Jennifer
(09:01):
Lopez back in the day when we had that gun charge,
I was actually recording the song. I just told you
about a special place, and I had no idea that
Sean was going to come to the recording studio, And
he's always shown me so much respect. I remember when
Whitney was being honored. They had me to come in
and sing that dedication that BT or one of the
larger companies were honoring her, and they were honoring she
(09:23):
Queen Latif for Diddy and someone else, and I happened
to be the surprise vocalist in dedication to Whitney that night.
But I remember did he getting excited while I was singing?
And it wasn't long after that that he invited me
to do that song. So I've had a lot of interaction.
Even Tyree's, a lot of people know he and how
to be very close. He calls me mom. A lot
of them call me mom, mainly because of the respect
(09:44):
that they have for the type of gift that I
have and how it has impacted their lives. I am
celebrating almost forty years at doing this professionally, and a
lot of what brought them to me was my sound,
was my talk, was my singing.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I'll never forget.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
While I was with Whitney and Germany on our final
tour and on nine she said to me, you know,
I wish that I could just come and paint the
walls and get you all set up for church, because
I call you my pastor, because how often that she
and I would talk and most of what our conversations
wouldn't tell will be that about God, because I would
always give her what else do you tell a person
that has everything that money can buy and except for
(10:23):
you know, how to heal their lives with what money
cannot heal except for God? And I enjoy it. I've
enjoyed being that listening ear and the non judgmental side
of the religious side of life, because religion can make
us feel judged, which at times those of us who
want to pursue the better life of pleasing God in
our own understanding about that, we don't mind it. I
(10:45):
don't mind the judgment as long as it can help
me to goard to the details of the variables I
need to make myself a better meet for God and others.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Yeah, one of my mentors he always would say, he said,
religion is those for those that are trying to avoid
going to health, spiritualities for those that have already been
there or something like that, you know, and it can
get in the way. I will definitely say that. One
thing that I've liked about you know, as I was
kind of researching a little bit more about you, is
you you have, you know, stood your ground on certain issues.
(11:13):
You've spoke your mind. One of the things that you
know that me and you have in common is when
COVID hit and we spoke out about that. And imagine
you've got a lot of backlash over the years. You've
had some people that have tried to attack you because
of your takes and some of those you know, more
God centered beliefs that you have that maybe aren't is
popular with pop culture. Yeah, I have.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
You know, the word of the Lord says, beware when
all men speak well of you. You know, I have
had such a ride with conversation with God or moments
like those. What do you want me to do? Because
my goal has never been to be what man wants
me to be. I've always been okay with the gift
that has brought me before great men for what the
(11:55):
gift is there to do to encourage and whatever it
is to make them feel.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
But words have all that has been based out of the.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Word of God, the passion of it has caused pop
culture to want you to realign yourself when you you
know what passionate loving mother's heart gives a warning or
an encouragement or beware so to speak, and you don't
feel some type of passion. Sometimes it can come up
as just judgmental. It just depends on who's listening.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Yeah, So how do you how do you in the
face of you know, a lot of controversy or people
you know coming at you. You I know you had
for example, you've had people cancel on you or different
things like that. How do you stand on your morals
and your your values in this industry and make sure
that you always put those first?
Speaker 2 (12:45):
You just do it. There's no strategy to truth.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
You just tell it and you pray that people will
feel the love of your heart in it. That you
don't have an ulterior motive but to want to see
people be better, and you hope that that's their motive
for you in return.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
What gifts or miracles have you seen through your music?
And you know, the opportunity that you've had to sing
in all these different places have you seen in your life?
You know?
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Most recently I was in New York doing an event.
I don't know if you remember this. Morgan Freeman did
a stage production called Gospel at Colonus and we did
a reimagining of it at Little Island there in New
York and the New York Times came out and wanted
to interview me, and they did and they said, hey,
how did you feel when you found out that you
(13:33):
had a cast that was mostly a certain community.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
I said, well, I.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Haven't interviewed anyone, so I don't know what it needs
to feel for that in particular, But for the people
that I'm in the cast with, I love them.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
One of the most incredible.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Miracles of that is that they asked me to pray
right before we got into presenting the production one night,
the opening night, and in my praying, the Lord told
me to speak two words, and it was as one.
For many years, many years, I have done a conference
called Ephesians four, and people who dare to read that
(14:09):
chapter it is about unity, it is about coming together
and as one perspective. I think I'm going to rename
Ephesians four as one because everybody's not drawn to scripture
mainly because of what scripture makes them feel like.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
And it's okay.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I believe in the scripture, the total Bible from beginning
to end, and Ephesians four has been a motivation, but
the as one attitude so much so that a gentleman
a part of that last production. On the final night
of the production, when I tell you, he opens up
his arm and presents it to many shows me that
he has had it tattooed on his arm. It is
(14:46):
impactful to remember God, remember others in the love of God.
Tell the truth in love truly, where people can feel
the love of your heart and that your heart is
filled with the love of God. Is not judgmental, but
caring enough to say truth that will draw someone to
a better them and keep you in a better place too.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
How can the country come together more? You know, the
different communities come together more through the church or through.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Just I want to see the church become a little
bit more convenient for those who don't go to church.
And I believe we can become better by listening, listening
to each other. My hope is one day that we'll
have a government that will at least interview each other.
When it comes down to this whole police life, I
(15:42):
think that if our.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Culture would meet our culture.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
There are some black policemen who would understand or another
black criminal, so to speak, cannot convey just because of culture.
Maybe there is a Caucasian female who cannot convey her
personality better to African American cap than she could a
Caucasian cup.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
I want us to just listen to each other.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
There's a language that we all have created because of
the culture, but we all are and I think that
it would cause us to become better in understanding each
other and our perspectives. But we have to listen first
from a place of concern, care and consideration.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Yeah, it just it feels like when I was, you know,
maybe in my teens, in my twenties, it felt like
there was a lot more unity than there is now.
And I just wonder, I wonder where all the division
keeps coming back from. It feels like there's a lot
of people motivated to keep us segregated and keep us,
you know, fighting against each other Black people, white people,
in different communities and races and religions, And so I
just I was wondering your take on that.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Yeah, it's just too much power struggle. You know.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
My thing is if you want power, please know what
to do with it and know how many people that
you're going to do better for, you know. And I
have interest in the church becoming a little bit more desegregated.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
When it comes down to what we believe.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
And only believe to listening to the heart of what
people expect from a God that we serve, that we
can present to them a version of Him according to them.
If there'll be misunderstoods, at least we've listened long enough
to be able to have a camaraderie that brings a
oneness as an understanding that we all do it as
unto God. Where will reverence him and we'll obey him
(17:24):
and fear him, because.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
That's where the wisdom comes from.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
The beginning of knowledge and wisdom is the fear of God.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
I imagine when you first broke onto the scene and
you're touring all over the world, there's got to be
few highs higher than when you first start out in
this industry and you're just playing in front of you know,
get to use your talent in front of so many
amazing people.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
I've had some encounters that have changed my life forever.
I remember when Harry Conning Junior asked me to accompany
him at Yankee Stadium we sang for the Pope in
two thousand and seven. I want to oh wow, he says,
right before we walked out of the dugout. I asked
him I said, why don't you choose me? And it
wasn't the first time that we had done some things together.
(18:08):
We build houses together for the victims and Hurricane Katrina.
I've been a part of that. My house, my name
is still on there. I've been able to provide a
living for people who suffer from Hurricane Katrina. However, I said, Harry,
why did you ask me to come? He says, because
I look at you as the Cadillac and I'm the
jeep that goes up and tills the ground for the
(18:28):
Cadillact to write smoothly out. And I thought that was
one of the most heartfelt things for him to say
as we walked out. He trusted my ability with his
to sing for sixty five thousand people and then let
alone to join him in the private quarters of where
the Pope's private things were, to stand there, to do that,
to be trusted by God and him, and not only that,
(18:50):
to join he and Mark Anthony on stage at what
used to be Union Station in New York, and they
converted it into one of the most beautiful places and
for us to sing Christmas together. I've been trusted for
a lot of events. Steven Wonder and I on the
NAACP Image Awards just a Moment after Moment and Renee Fleming,
(19:11):
one of the greatest Opprea singers of the world, to
include me on something called American Voices, the only gospel
voice joined on stage. There are a lot of things
that had social media have been a little bit more
prevalent back then. I guess I'd be considered to be
one of the most famous people to do what I do,
But I think it is it came at a time
that it gives me a reflection to talk about it,
and it makes me be one of the most fulfilled people,
(19:33):
not famous, and I think that's what means the most
to me.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Yeah. I always say, you only want to be so famous.
You're famous enough that it still opens doors, but you're
not so famous you can't go live your life, you know.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Indeed, I feel like I'm living that life.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Yeah. I like to think I'm like, I'm very well
known in Utah, but outside of Utah, nobody really cares.
I was like when I was last night, my friend
wanted me to go her friend was having a birthday
party and we were going to go to this like
little after party bar thing, and I was like, I'm
tired and I'm gonna go home, and I'm not in
the mood to just like connect, you know. I just
I don't want to go meet new people. And she goes, no, no, no, no,
(20:06):
you just you don't have to meet anybody. I'm like,
all right, I'll go in for like ten minutes. And
as soon as I went in, there's like two random
people came up and I actually enjoy it. Obviously it's
flattering or whatever, but they, you know, and next thing
I know, I'm in these two conversations. And she looked
at it and she goes, I get it, okay, but it's like,
now that's flattering, you know. I don't. It's not like
you get bug. It doesn't like actually disrupt your life
(20:26):
or anything. But I can only imagine you've been around
some of these other people like Stevie Wonder Whinney's, I
can only imagine like it really does change their entire life.
They're not even able to function like normal humans anymore.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Not at all.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
I was with Whitney one time and I said, we're
going to go on T mobile. Whitney, it's only you
and myself. Please just keep everything at a minimal volume,
and we're going to get it done, almost says, I'm
going on and get it done soon as you walking.
Can I get some help, I'm like. And then we
left there and went to Red Lobster it and then
that was it. We couldn't stay but a total like
(20:59):
eight minutes. Everybody wanted, you know, an interview, and everybody
wanted all this stuff. But you know, at a time
like this, I'm excited to have that type of fame
because that type of notoriety makes people believe more in
the idea that what it is that you do is believable.
And I'm glad about that because my voice and my
ability to train voices has gone to a lot of
relationships like that.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
That's why I'm inviting.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
People to do the Legend Vocal Academy, because there are
a lot of people who are going to sleep on
their own dream because they feel like it has passed.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
It has not.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Sometimes you have to get to a certain age to
be able to manage the greatness that's coming. Sometimes in
our younger years, we're not really prepared for what a
lot of attention will do.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
It will get us off of our details of what
destiny calls for.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
So I love doing Legend Vocal Academy, mainly because the
word legend sometimes can feed the mind that it is
something that is aged or has spent enough time to
prove its worth, and for to be a vocal Academy,
the academy just feels safe some people. I was a mentor,
a live on screen mentor of BT's Augustel's Sunday Best
(22:04):
Television Show for about six seasons and the best of
what's considered gospel. Some of them came across that stage
and I was their mentor into their greatest level, and
so a lot of people go off of that, which
it is far believable because a lot of people I've
had my hands on that have done so so good.
And then there are a lot of superstars who claim,
you know, such as Beyonce and Christina Aguilera and Brandy
(22:29):
and a lot of them who said Kimborell has been
the inspiration to what it is I do. And I'm
inviting people to get that part of their lives involved.
If you believe there's a singer inside of you that
needs to get out or someone and it's not just singing,
you know, it's about the mentality of what makes you
the best. There may be some who may join the
Vocal Academy that end up finding out in that the
(22:50):
strength of who they are, and although the voice led
them to the Vocal Academy, the information is going to
get them on the right path where they really should be.
So this is all about Kim Barell getting people to
the proper path and hopefully end that destiny include sinking.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Well, it's I think so many people they die with
that genius still in them, like you said, and they
don't even know, they never knew that they maybe had
that potential. And so to create those opportunities. And one
nice thing about today's world is you know, if you
are talented, you will get discovered. There's enough things out there,
there's enough places out there. It's not like it used
to be. If you have the talent, you'll eventually get
discovered by the right people.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
You know, what I like to do in Legend Local
Academy is for those who get that opportunity, that are
that are discovered quickly. The misfortune of that side of
that side of life is some of them will get
it fast and once the world is done enjoying it,
they will forget you.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Just as fast. And I like to give people the.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
Details of what causes them to be sustainable, even if
the talent is not that great. I know how to
teach them the variables of what keeps people interested in
why they even listen to them the first time. So
it has its blessings beyond the sound legend book called
Academy as well.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Yeah. I had the opportunity to go to a Christmas
party a couple of years ago, and they would do
this a couple years a now, and there was this
choir hearing Utah. And Utah is probably the whitest place
in America, let's just call it what it is. And
so there was this black choir and it was beautiful
as this Christian church and they would come in. It's
everybody's favorite event. They were so beautiful to listen to them.
(24:22):
I remember having the question, I want to ask you
this question, but I remember thinking, like, gospel music can
really touch the soul, it can be really beautiful. How
come white people have never been able to get but
like can't do it.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Because white people don't have our story. They don't have
the history of our story. Even those of us who
were not in the day of slaves were connected to.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
The spirit of it. We've been taught at all of our.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Lives, lived everyboys and sing till eleven heaven ran gave.
We were giving a song to celebrate our pain. So
it gives us strength to sing. A lot of us
sing from others say oh they got so well. You
sing from an understanding that pain is your fuel. And
sometimes I believe the history of some Caucasian they don't
(25:06):
have our story. It's a different thing when you can
sing about love and you haven't experienced the heartbreak of it.
But then you sing about love and you sing about
what the heartbreak of it in it is going to
make a person listen a little bit deeper because your
story is extended from your experience. And so I think
that's what's missing. And then those are some things that
(25:26):
black folks are born with that white babies did not get.
We do apologize, but we're here to serve you and
want you to pay for it since you can't do it.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
No, Well, it's that's a beautiful answer. Well, it's a
beautiful answer, and it's really I think you're correct. I
think it speaks to something there where you say, like
that soul, that comes through and you that's what you feel,
and it's you know, because I think there's you know,
there's other cultures that have different types of music's right,
whether it's reggae or you know, you know a lot
(25:56):
of the music that comes out of Mexico different. But everywhere,
everywhere in the world has there on forms of music.
But I think there is you know, I think that's
the thing about gospel music that makes it special. Then
that makes a lot of sense. Thanks, Yeah, it is,
go ahead.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
It it's a story worth telling. Especially it's been a
story worth lived.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
What's been I guess the best thing that's come out
of all this for you, Kim. What's the highlight for
Kimre when you look back on your life? What're he
most proud of through all this whole journey.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
I'm most proud of the fact that God gave me
a gift that made so many people ask questions about it.
Because I'm trusted, I don't want any glory. I've never
done anything for people to call my name. Calling my
name has always been the biggest discomfort. The only thing
that gives me the pride that my name is being
called is that people who want to know what my
name is about. They always end up finding out something
(26:51):
deeper about themselves. My life is a sacrifice. I'm glad
I've lived so much so that I realize that there
are only so many things in life that you can
enjoy before it becomes redundant. And then that's when you
find out who you are. Do you still need the
same stuff that made you happy all over again? Or
have you learned how to live into it that you
want somebody else to have it? And you've learned it
(27:12):
so much that you can consider everyone you meet to
give them just what they need out of what you've learned.
And that's that's the big takeaway for me. How much
of me?
Speaker 2 (27:21):
What have I learned in life?
Speaker 3 (27:23):
How much of it can I give away and make
someone better once they find it out through me?
Speaker 1 (27:28):
That is it? What? In today's world? Which musician well?
And also you have voice tune and some of these
things that you have today that change people's voices. But
who has the most angelic voice today of the modern
musicians most angel or who has the best voice? Like
as a vote? You know you obviously run a vocal academy.
(27:50):
This is something that you specialize in. Who when you
hear their voice right now, which musician do you just go, Oh,
my gosh, like a Whitney Houston type.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Yeah, it's Celandi. Celine Dion does it for me. There
aren't modern people who quite carry the legacy of sound
that has made music great.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
I would agree with that. Why is that?
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Because it's about power, money, popularity. It's about doing the
combination of what makes people make you feel famous. That's
why the Internet is such the go too, because it
can happen fast. You know, growing up in the grassroots
where you really had to have the goods. It gave
music and culture of the culture of arts such a
(28:37):
richer heritage because people literally worked for it. They spent
time in their craft and becoming a great artist. They've
spent time. I'll never forget Omarion. He and I were
in LA and I was there to do an event,
and he heard that I was in town. He found
out where I was and he came and.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
I said, oh, it's good to see. We spent a
little time.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
And he goes, well, I'm going to go and practice now.
I've got a nine hour rehearsal. Said, oh, you have
a tour coming up here is oh no.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Just practicing.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
I got such a kick out of that because he
spent and put time into his craft. As to why
I believe right now, even after years of not possibly
being in front of the people as he was before
with his group, he has believable because he has spent
so much time on making himself great that whoever comes
out now he can contend if that's the case, because
(29:25):
he has put so much time that he can wake
up doing it because it's in his culture. And that's
what I want to get into people again, do something
that causes you to last and have value, that you
can take your gift.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
In any room and make it work.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
That even if you're the only gospel singer at an
operatic event, because you're so good at it, they'll welcome
that sound in a strange land, you know.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
So it's about authenticity.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
That's the only thing that scares me about to do
it quickly route that it can be lived quickly. But
then who are you after the people are done and
enjoying it quickly?
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Yeah? I mean, we really do live in an era
where unfortunately we can get a lot of things very quickly,
and so people want to get good at their art too.
Quick and it just takes time. You just have to
put in those reps. There's no way to really short
shorten that. No. Amen. Well, such a pleasure to have
you on the podcast, Kim. For those that want to
learn more about your academy, just you know, learn more
(30:21):
about you, where's the best place for us to send them?
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Will you please send everyone to Legendvocal Academy dot com
or to act Kim Burrell Love. My son Tyresee you
know the A List actor Tyresee Gibson. He gave me
that he and Ashton Kutcher we're doing a fight when
Twitter first came out, and he gave me that name,
Kim Burrell Love and it has been that way ever since.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
I love it. Well, thank you again so much and
look forward to whatever's coming next.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Thanks so very much for this opportunity. It's been my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Thanks Kim. Thank you again for listening to The Jimmy
Rex Show. And if you liked what you heard, please
like and subscribe. It really helps me to get better,
get us to be able to get the type of
people on this podcast. It's going to make it the
most interesting. Also, want to tell everybody about my podcast studio,
The Rookery Studios now available in Salt Lake City and
(31:11):
or in Utah. If you live in Utah and want
to produce your own podcasts, we take all of the guests,
work out of it for you and make it so simple.
All you do is you come in, you sit down,
you talk and leave. We record it, edit it, even
post it for you. If interested in doing your own podcast,
visit our Instagram and send us a DM Rookery Studios,
(31:32):
or go to our website, Therookristudios dot com.
Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Jimmy Rex Show.
And today on the podcast we have Kim Burrell, and
she's an American gospel singer, songwriter and pastor. She also
owns her own the Legend Vocal Academy, and she is
somebody who's worked with everybody from Whitney Houston to Stevie Wonder.
She is a legend in the gospel music space and
it was a pleasure to sit down and jam with her.
(00:24):
So without further ado, let's get to the podcast with
Kim Burrell, and today's podcast is brought to you by
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(00:45):
Bucked Up as soul. Kim, great to have you on
the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
It's really good to be here. Thanks so much for
allowing me to come.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Yeah. Well, I you know, when I started this podcast,
I wanted to leave it a vague category so if
I ever had the opportunity to meet, you know, really
amazing people that are in industries that maybe I never
would have had the opportunity to have this conversation, I
still could. So I just said, it's going to be
about exceptional people living in an extraordinary life. And you have
definitely lived an extraordinary life, Kim.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
You know I must agree with you.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I'm just I find God's creation to be extraordinary. Each
one that I find out about pay much more of
an extraordinary life live.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
So maybe backed into it a little bit. How did
you end up getting into I mean, I think so
many people that you know have this desire to seeing,
especially you know, with the people that you've had the
opportunity to work with and to be able to have
the opportunity that you have. How did you get started
in this whole world?
Speaker 3 (01:50):
You know, as a young girl in a house field
with a lot of musical intellect. My mother took music
appreciation in college, and my father, as young as eighteen
played the piano for the likes of Nancy Wilson and
Saravone in clubs. Dad is still alive with us today,
eighty seven years old. And so our house was filled
with a lot of music, and that I was, you know,
(02:10):
born with quite a bit of a talent, and my
parents got me tested intellectually, I guess at four and
I tested genius. And I think all of us were
musically inclined, but my life just kind of took on
a different life style of what singing. I eventually looked
at it, what it requires from me.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
No, it's well, give a little background on that. I
think a lot of people, you know, one of the
advantages of that what your parents did was at that point,
you know, okay, this is something special, so that I'm
guessing they really doubled down or quadrupleed down on the
amount of time and effort you put towards it at
that point, which can take you from because the are
a lot of people that have genius in them, but
they never really actually do anything to create the genius.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
It's so very true.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
My parents contributed to that by having us ready at
the last day of school every year for many years,
the car was already locked and loaded for us as
a family to get on the road. My parents were evangelists,
so we spend a lot of time going in and
out of churches and even when we were not on
the road, every single summer we did something locally here
in Houston and singing and doing what it is I'm
(03:16):
into now. The precursor to all of that was very
much sewn into by my parents that it caused me
to not be afraid to go locally to different events
that garnered me recording my very first album with a
company that started, you know, grassroots out of Houston called
Pearl Records, by a lady named Sadie Jackson who got
some money together and put some people together back then.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
To create a company and expand it.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
My voice went on to go with different platforms that
gave me a different reach.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
That's amazing. Well, I mean, I know you talk a
lot about you have your vocal academy that you work
with now and everything and can anybody sing or like
how hard I mean cant. I've always wish I was
a better singer. If I would have put a lot
of time on effort towards it, could have I been
somewhat of a good singer.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Absolutely, because I say that to anybody, Oh I don't
have such a good voice, of course you do. You know,
singing is about just what you said, putting in work
toward whatever you want to make better. I love singing
because it is a universal language and it has gotten
me into and out of quite a few things. And
I would encourage any in everybody that has a desire
to sing that they could be a part of the
(04:22):
Legend Vocal Academy and become better at it. You know,
I like interviewing people and based on how they think
to me is going to be how they sing.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Mmm, no, that makes sense. Well, you've had the opportunity
to sing with my favorite all time female singer, which
is Whitney Houston. I think she is just I think
there's her, and then I think it's everybody else. I
mean the first time. It's funny. When I was I
served in another lifetime. I served a Mormon mission in Mexico,
right and when I was there, we weren't allowed to
listen to music. But Mexican people they just love Whitney Hughton.
(04:53):
I don't know if you know this or not, and
so they would always be blasting her music in the
streets and I just it just like made me feel
like I was back at home. So I just remember,
you know, hearing her her voice all the time, just
like this angel from heaven just singing to me and
making me feel safe or whatever. But maybe if you
could tell a little bit of what you learn and
maybe some stories or just some of the experience of
working with her.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Thank you for mentioning that whenever I hear anyone speak
well of her, it makes my heart just bloom and
running into Whitney had the time of life that I did.
I just recorded, believe it or not, on an inspirational
record with Sean P.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Diddy Combs that he.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Took some recording artists off of his R and B
records and created an inspirational song, so he let Whitney
hear it before it ever was heard from the public
call Special Place that I wrote along with Mario Winans.
So one night out of blue, Whitney calls me, and
of course, as anyone would be that had never spoken
with her, I was in complete and utter shock, and
(05:50):
we became sisters not long after that, even closer through
the unfortunate untimely I would say, death of her father
was our first meeting.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
And I ended up singing for that fian and then
we just stood close.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
We got even deeper when she did the whole thirtieth
year anniversary with Michael Jackson. I went and the day
after I flew into Alpharetta to meet with her and
to begin even deeper sisterhood. But she encouraged me to
do a lot of what it is I'm doing. She
showed up at a time in my life that I
needed the type of encouragement from the type of person
she was. As a matter of fact, close toward the
(06:24):
end of her life, she and I had had a
conversation if you time her death and the time of Rihanna's,
should I say erection to the world. I remember her
calling me asking me, had I heard of Rihanna? And
in that conversation, I said, you know, with an incredible
(06:44):
talent like that coming on the scene, it's time for
you to do what only an ambassador should do, and
that to do the what to do and what to
not do.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Some type of documentary that she and I.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Were in a conversation about before her untimely death, and
so there's so manyversations, which I believe it or not.
I'm going to create a documentary not just surrounding that,
but inclusive of what our lives entailed. Because we had
many years of close sisterhood and a lot of encounters
that garners that type of information to at least be
told once by me.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Wow, No, that's amazing. It is interesting. It's you know,
you've played in a couple of different worlds. I mean,
you've been in the entertainment industry. You mentioned you know,
I know you did stuff with R. Kelly, and you
mentioned p did he coum some of these people that
have really had some pretty terrible controversy around their lives.
But then you also are a pastor and you get
to do all this gospel music And is that difficult
(07:35):
to kind of like you're in these different worlds and
you're seeing so many different things and you just never
know who's who. And I imagine it's been it's been
all the different emotions for you throughout the years.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
It has been several emotions.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
But to answer to the question directly, no, and it's
not difficult to just most inviting and rewarding For me.
Growing up in the type of church I did, meaning
the type we were very religious in doing the right
thing and being taught how to do the right thing.
I found out over time there are many variables that
(08:08):
are not necessarily taught in a religious forum based on
what some people like more than others when it.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Comes down to religion.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
In my living out my life through this Destiny of Song,
I've run into so many people that defy that some
religions kind of keep you separate of some things that
I think you should be a little bit more giving
to in order to merge the life and make it
what it should be. But I've had many, many opportunities,
from getting late and I calls from the likes of Chakakhan,
(08:39):
to getting calls from Brandy to get coached through one
of our most incredible records. I have an incredible, rich
history of involvement of so many people that have had controversies.
Matter of fact, I left a voice note of prayer
for Diddy right before all of this recent situation went down,
and I was therefore, even when he was dating Jennifer
(09:01):
Lopez back in the day when we had that gun charge,
I was actually recording the song. I just told you
about a special place, and I had no idea that
Sean was going to come to the recording studio, And
he's always shown me so much respect. I remember when
Whitney was being honored. They had me to come in
and sing that dedication that BT or one of the
larger companies were honoring her, and they were honoring she
(09:23):
Queen Latif for Diddy and someone else, and I happened
to be the surprise vocalist in dedication to Whitney that night.
But I remember did he getting excited while I was singing?
And it wasn't long after that that he invited me
to do that song. So I've had a lot of interaction.
Even Tyree's, a lot of people know he and how
to be very close. He calls me mom. A lot
of them call me mom, mainly because of the respect
(09:44):
that they have for the type of gift that I
have and how it has impacted their lives. I am
celebrating almost forty years at doing this professionally, and a
lot of what brought them to me was my sound,
was my talk, was my singing.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I'll never forget.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
While I was with Whitney and Germany on our final
tour and on nine she said to me, you know,
I wish that I could just come and paint the
walls and get you all set up for church, because
I call you my pastor, because how often that she
and I would talk and most of what our conversations
wouldn't tell will be that about God, because I would
always give her what else do you tell a person
that has everything that money can buy and except for
(10:23):
you know, how to heal their lives with what money
cannot heal except for God? And I enjoy it. I've
enjoyed being that listening ear and the non judgmental side
of the religious side of life, because religion can make
us feel judged, which at times those of us who
want to pursue the better life of pleasing God in
our own understanding about that, we don't mind it. I
(10:45):
don't mind the judgment as long as it can help
me to goard to the details of the variables I
need to make myself a better meet for God and others.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Yeah, one of my mentors he always would say, he said,
religion is those for those that are trying to avoid
going to health, spiritualities for those that have already been
there or something like that, you know, and it can
get in the way. I will definitely say that. One
thing that I've liked about you know, as I was
kind of researching a little bit more about you, is
you you have, you know, stood your ground on certain issues.
(11:13):
You've spoke your mind. One of the things that you
know that me and you have in common is when
COVID hit and we spoke out about that. And imagine
you've got a lot of backlash over the years. You've
had some people that have tried to attack you because
of your takes and some of those you know, more
God centered beliefs that you have that maybe aren't is
popular with pop culture. Yeah, I have.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
You know, the word of the Lord says, beware when
all men speak well of you. You know, I have
had such a ride with conversation with God or moments
like those. What do you want me to do? Because
my goal has never been to be what man wants
me to be. I've always been okay with the gift
that has brought me before great men for what the
(11:55):
gift is there to do to encourage and whatever it
is to make them feel.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
But words have all that has been based out of the.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Word of God, the passion of it has caused pop
culture to want you to realign yourself when you you
know what passionate loving mother's heart gives a warning or
an encouragement or beware so to speak, and you don't
feel some type of passion. Sometimes it can come up
as just judgmental. It just depends on who's listening.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Yeah, So how do you how do you in the
face of you know, a lot of controversy or people
you know coming at you. You I know you had
for example, you've had people cancel on you or different
things like that. How do you stand on your morals
and your your values in this industry and make sure
that you always put those first?
Speaker 2 (12:45):
You just do it. There's no strategy to truth.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
You just tell it and you pray that people will
feel the love of your heart in it. That you
don't have an ulterior motive but to want to see
people be better, and you hope that that's their motive
for you in return.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
What gifts or miracles have you seen through your music?
And you know, the opportunity that you've had to sing
in all these different places have you seen in your life?
You know?
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Most recently I was in New York doing an event.
I don't know if you remember this. Morgan Freeman did
a stage production called Gospel at Colonus and we did
a reimagining of it at Little Island there in New
York and the New York Times came out and wanted
to interview me, and they did and they said, hey,
how did you feel when you found out that you
(13:33):
had a cast that was mostly a certain community.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
I said, well, I.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
Haven't interviewed anyone, so I don't know what it needs
to feel for that in particular, But for the people
that I'm in the cast with, I love them.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
One of the most incredible.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Miracles of that is that they asked me to pray
right before we got into presenting the production one night,
the opening night, and in my praying, the Lord told
me to speak two words, and it was as one.
For many years, many years, I have done a conference
called Ephesians four, and people who dare to read that
(14:09):
chapter it is about unity, it is about coming together
and as one perspective. I think I'm going to rename
Ephesians four as one because everybody's not drawn to scripture
mainly because of what scripture makes them feel like.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
And it's okay.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I believe in the scripture, the total Bible from beginning
to end, and Ephesians four has been a motivation, but
the as one attitude so much so that a gentleman
a part of that last production. On the final night
of the production, when I tell you, he opens up
his arm and presents it to many shows me that
he has had it tattooed on his arm. It is
(14:46):
impactful to remember God, remember others in the love of God.
Tell the truth in love truly, where people can feel
the love of your heart and that your heart is
filled with the love of God. Is not judgmental, but
caring enough to say truth that will draw someone to
a better them and keep you in a better place too.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
How can the country come together more? You know, the
different communities come together more through the church or through.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Just I want to see the church become a little
bit more convenient for those who don't go to church.
And I believe we can become better by listening, listening
to each other. My hope is one day that we'll
have a government that will at least interview each other.
When it comes down to this whole police life, I
(15:42):
think that if our.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Culture would meet our culture.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
There are some black policemen who would understand or another
black criminal, so to speak, cannot convey just because of culture.
Maybe there is a Caucasian female who cannot convey her
personality better to African American cap than she could a
Caucasian cup.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
I want us to just listen to each other.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
There's a language that we all have created because of
the culture, but we all are and I think that
it would cause us to become better in understanding each
other and our perspectives. But we have to listen first
from a place of concern, care and consideration.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Yeah, it just it feels like when I was, you know,
maybe in my teens, in my twenties, it felt like
there was a lot more unity than there is now.
And I just wonder, I wonder where all the division
keeps coming back from. It feels like there's a lot
of people motivated to keep us segregated and keep us,
you know, fighting against each other Black people, white people,
in different communities and races and religions, And so I
just I was wondering your take on that.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Yeah, it's just too much power struggle. You know.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
My thing is if you want power, please know what
to do with it and know how many people that
you're going to do better for, you know. And I
have interest in the church becoming a little bit more desegregated.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
When it comes down to what we believe.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
And only believe to listening to the heart of what
people expect from a God that we serve, that we
can present to them a version of Him according to them.
If there'll be misunderstoods, at least we've listened long enough
to be able to have a camaraderie that brings a
oneness as an understanding that we all do it as
unto God. Where will reverence him and we'll obey him
(17:24):
and fear him, because.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
That's where the wisdom comes from.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
The beginning of knowledge and wisdom is the fear of God.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
I imagine when you first broke onto the scene and
you're touring all over the world, there's got to be
few highs higher than when you first start out in
this industry and you're just playing in front of you know,
get to use your talent in front of so many
amazing people.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
I've had some encounters that have changed my life forever.
I remember when Harry Conning Junior asked me to accompany
him at Yankee Stadium we sang for the Pope in
two thousand and seven. I want to oh wow, he says,
right before we walked out of the dugout. I asked
him I said, why don't you choose me? And it
wasn't the first time that we had done some things together.
(18:08):
We build houses together for the victims and Hurricane Katrina.
I've been a part of that. My house, my name
is still on there. I've been able to provide a
living for people who suffer from Hurricane Katrina. However, I said, Harry,
why did you ask me to come? He says, because
I look at you as the Cadillac and I'm the
jeep that goes up and tills the ground for the
(18:28):
Cadillact to write smoothly out. And I thought that was
one of the most heartfelt things for him to say
as we walked out. He trusted my ability with his
to sing for sixty five thousand people and then let
alone to join him in the private quarters of where
the Pope's private things were, to stand there, to do that,
to be trusted by God and him, and not only that,
(18:50):
to join he and Mark Anthony on stage at what
used to be Union Station in New York, and they
converted it into one of the most beautiful places and
for us to sing Christmas together. I've been trusted for
a lot of events. Steven Wonder and I on the
NAACP Image Awards just a Moment after Moment and Renee Fleming,
(19:11):
one of the greatest Opprea singers of the world, to
include me on something called American Voices, the only gospel
voice joined on stage. There are a lot of things
that had social media have been a little bit more
prevalent back then. I guess I'd be considered to be
one of the most famous people to do what I do,
But I think it is it came at a time
that it gives me a reflection to talk about it,
and it makes me be one of the most fulfilled people,
(19:33):
not famous, and I think that's what means the most
to me.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Yeah. I always say, you only want to be so famous.
You're famous enough that it still opens doors, but you're
not so famous you can't go live your life, you know.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Indeed, I feel like I'm living that life.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Yeah. I like to think I'm like, I'm very well
known in Utah, but outside of Utah, nobody really cares.
I was like when I was last night, my friend
wanted me to go her friend was having a birthday
party and we were going to go to this like
little after party bar thing, and I was like, I'm
tired and I'm gonna go home, and I'm not in
the mood to just like connect, you know. I just
I don't want to go meet new people. And she goes, no, no, no, no,
(20:06):
you just you don't have to meet anybody. I'm like,
all right, I'll go in for like ten minutes. And
as soon as I went in, there's like two random
people came up and I actually enjoy it. Obviously it's
flattering or whatever, but they, you know, and next thing
I know, I'm in these two conversations. And she looked
at it and she goes, I get it, okay, but it's like,
now that's flattering, you know. I don't. It's not like
you get bug. It doesn't like actually disrupt your life
(20:26):
or anything. But I can only imagine you've been around
some of these other people like Stevie Wonder Whinney's, I
can only imagine like it really does change their entire life.
They're not even able to function like normal humans anymore.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
Not at all.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
I was with Whitney one time and I said, we're
going to go on T mobile. Whitney, it's only you
and myself. Please just keep everything at a minimal volume,
and we're going to get it done, almost says, I'm
going on and get it done soon as you walking.
Can I get some help, I'm like. And then we
left there and went to Red Lobster it and then
that was it. We couldn't stay but a total like
(20:59):
eight minutes. Everybody wanted, you know, an interview, and everybody
wanted all this stuff. But you know, at a time
like this, I'm excited to have that type of fame
because that type of notoriety makes people believe more in
the idea that what it is that you do is believable.
And I'm glad about that because my voice and my
ability to train voices has gone to a lot of
relationships like that.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
That's why I'm inviting.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
People to do the Legend Vocal Academy, because there are
a lot of people who are going to sleep on
their own dream because they feel like it has passed.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
It has not.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Sometimes you have to get to a certain age to
be able to manage the greatness that's coming. Sometimes in
our younger years, we're not really prepared for what a
lot of attention will do.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
It will get us off of our details of what
destiny calls for.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
So I love doing Legend Vocal Academy, mainly because the
word legend sometimes can feed the mind that it is
something that is aged or has spent enough time to
prove its worth, and for to be a vocal Academy,
the academy just feels safe some people. I was a mentor,
a live on screen mentor of BT's Augustel's Sunday Best
(22:04):
Television Show for about six seasons and the best of
what's considered gospel. Some of them came across that stage
and I was their mentor into their greatest level, and
so a lot of people go off of that, which
it is far believable because a lot of people I've
had my hands on that have done so so good.
And then there are a lot of superstars who claim,
you know, such as Beyonce and Christina Aguilera and Brandy
(22:29):
and a lot of them who said Kimborell has been
the inspiration to what it is I do. And I'm
inviting people to get that part of their lives involved.
If you believe there's a singer inside of you that
needs to get out or someone and it's not just singing,
you know, it's about the mentality of what makes you
the best. There may be some who may join the
Vocal Academy that end up finding out in that the
(22:50):
strength of who they are, and although the voice led
them to the Vocal Academy, the information is going to
get them on the right path where they really should be.
So this is all about Kim Barell getting people to
the proper path and hopefully end that destiny include sinking.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Well, it's I think so many people they die with
that genius still in them, like you said, and they
don't even know, they never knew that they maybe had
that potential. And so to create those opportunities. And one
nice thing about today's world is you know, if you
are talented, you will get discovered. There's enough things out there,
there's enough places out there. It's not like it used
to be. If you have the talent, you'll eventually get
discovered by the right people.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
You know, what I like to do in Legend Local
Academy is for those who get that opportunity, that are
that are discovered quickly. The misfortune of that side of
that side of life is some of them will get
it fast and once the world is done enjoying it,
they will forget you.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Just as fast. And I like to give people the.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
Details of what causes them to be sustainable, even if
the talent is not that great. I know how to
teach them the variables of what keeps people interested in
why they even listen to them the first time. So
it has its blessings beyond the sound legend book called
Academy as well.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Yeah. I had the opportunity to go to a Christmas
party a couple of years ago, and they would do
this a couple years a now, and there was this
choir hearing Utah. And Utah is probably the whitest place
in America, let's just call it what it is. And
so there was this black choir and it was beautiful
as this Christian church and they would come in. It's
everybody's favorite event. They were so beautiful to listen to them.
(24:22):
I remember having the question, I want to ask you
this question, but I remember thinking, like, gospel music can
really touch the soul, it can be really beautiful. How
come white people have never been able to get but
like can't do it.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Because white people don't have our story. They don't have
the history of our story. Even those of us who
were not in the day of slaves were connected to.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
The spirit of it. We've been taught at all of our.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Lives, lived everyboys and sing till eleven heaven ran gave.
We were giving a song to celebrate our pain. So
it gives us strength to sing. A lot of us
sing from others say oh they got so well. You
sing from an understanding that pain is your fuel. And
sometimes I believe the history of some Caucasian they don't
(25:06):
have our story. It's a different thing when you can
sing about love and you haven't experienced the heartbreak of it.
But then you sing about love and you sing about
what the heartbreak of it in it is going to
make a person listen a little bit deeper because your
story is extended from your experience. And so I think
that's what's missing. And then those are some things that
(25:26):
black folks are born with that white babies did not get.
We do apologize, but we're here to serve you and
want you to pay for it since you can't do it.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
No, Well, it's that's a beautiful answer. Well, it's a
beautiful answer, and it's really I think you're correct. I
think it speaks to something there where you say, like
that soul, that comes through and you that's what you feel,
and it's you know, because I think there's you know,
there's other cultures that have different types of music's right,
whether it's reggae or you know, you know a lot
(25:56):
of the music that comes out of Mexico different. But everywhere,
everywhere in the world has there on forms of music.
But I think there is you know, I think that's
the thing about gospel music that makes it special. Then
that makes a lot of sense. Thanks, Yeah, it is,
go ahead.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
It it's a story worth telling. Especially it's been a
story worth lived.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
What's been I guess the best thing that's come out
of all this for you, Kim. What's the highlight for
Kimre when you look back on your life? What're he
most proud of through all this whole journey.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
I'm most proud of the fact that God gave me
a gift that made so many people ask questions about it.
Because I'm trusted, I don't want any glory. I've never
done anything for people to call my name. Calling my
name has always been the biggest discomfort. The only thing
that gives me the pride that my name is being
called is that people who want to know what my
name is about. They always end up finding out something
(26:51):
deeper about themselves. My life is a sacrifice. I'm glad
I've lived so much so that I realize that there
are only so many things in life that you can
enjoy before it becomes redundant. And then that's when you
find out who you are. Do you still need the
same stuff that made you happy all over again? Or
have you learned how to live into it that you
want somebody else to have it? And you've learned it
(27:12):
so much that you can consider everyone you meet to
give them just what they need out of what you've learned.
And that's that's the big takeaway for me. How much
of me?
Speaker 2 (27:21):
What have I learned in life?
Speaker 3 (27:23):
How much of it can I give away and make
someone better once they find it out through me?
Speaker 1 (27:28):
That is it? What? In today's world? Which musician well?
And also you have voice tune and some of these
things that you have today that change people's voices. But
who has the most angelic voice today of the modern
musicians most angel or who has the best voice? Like
as a vote? You know you obviously run a vocal academy.
(27:50):
This is something that you specialize in. Who when you
hear their voice right now, which musician do you just go, Oh,
my gosh, like a Whitney Houston type.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Yeah, it's Celandi. Celine Dion does it for me. There
aren't modern people who quite carry the legacy of sound
that has made music great.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
I would agree with that. Why is that?
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Because it's about power, money, popularity. It's about doing the
combination of what makes people make you feel famous. That's
why the Internet is such the go too, because it
can happen fast. You know, growing up in the grassroots
where you really had to have the goods. It gave
music and culture of the culture of arts such a
(28:37):
richer heritage because people literally worked for it. They spent
time in their craft and becoming a great artist. They've
spent time. I'll never forget Omarion. He and I were
in LA and I was there to do an event,
and he heard that I was in town. He found
out where I was and he came and.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
I said, oh, it's good to see. We spent a
little time.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
And he goes, well, I'm going to go and practice now.
I've got a nine hour rehearsal. Said, oh, you have
a tour coming up here is oh no.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Just practicing.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
I got such a kick out of that because he
spent and put time into his craft. As to why
I believe right now, even after years of not possibly
being in front of the people as he was before
with his group, he has believable because he has spent
so much time on making himself great that whoever comes
out now he can contend if that's the case, because
(29:25):
he has put so much time that he can wake
up doing it because it's in his culture. And that's
what I want to get into people again, do something
that causes you to last and have value, that you
can take your gift.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
In any room and make it work.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
That even if you're the only gospel singer at an
operatic event, because you're so good at it, they'll welcome
that sound in a strange land, you know.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
So it's about authenticity.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
That's the only thing that scares me about to do
it quickly route that it can be lived quickly. But
then who are you after the people are done and
enjoying it quickly?
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Yeah? I mean, we really do live in an era
where unfortunately we can get a lot of things very quickly,
and so people want to get good at their art too.
Quick and it just takes time. You just have to
put in those reps. There's no way to really short
shorten that. No. Amen. Well, such a pleasure to have
you on the podcast, Kim. For those that want to
learn more about your academy, just you know, learn more
(30:21):
about you, where's the best place for us to send them?
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Will you please send everyone to Legendvocal Academy dot com
or to act Kim Burrell Love. My son Tyresee you
know the A List actor Tyresee Gibson. He gave me
that he and Ashton Kutcher we're doing a fight when
Twitter first came out, and he gave me that name,
Kim Burrell Love and it has been that way ever since.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
I love it. Well, thank you again so much and
look forward to whatever's coming next.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Thanks so very much for this opportunity. It's been my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Thanks Kim. Thank you again for listening to The Jimmy
Rex Show. And if you liked what you heard, please
like and subscribe. It really helps me to get better,
get us to be able to get the type of
people on this podcast. It's going to make it the
most interesting. Also, want to tell everybody about my podcast studio,
The Rookery Studios now available in Salt Lake City and
(31:11):
or in Utah. If you live in Utah and want
to produce your own podcasts, we take all of the guests,
work out of it for you and make it so simple.
All you do is you come in, you sit down,
you talk and leave. We record it, edit it, even
post it for you. If interested in doing your own podcast,
visit our Instagram and send us a DM Rookery Studios,
(31:32):
or go to our website, Therookristudios dot com.
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