Today we’d like to introduce you to Calandra Gantt.
Hi Calandra, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started at the age of three years old singing in church. I would attend service with my grandparents and you could always find me in the midst of choirs or groups learning how to harmonize and instrumentation. I began traveling throughout the city and state singing at various programs. My grandfather was my pianist and I began to make my name as the little girl that can sang. I started playing instruments by the age of 9 and directing choirs at 13 years old. I attended a performing arts school and studied Music Education at Morris Brown for a year.
During my freshman year, I had a health scare with vocal nodules and was told that I would not sing again, lost my scholarship and was truly devastated but it actually was turned into a blessing to catapult my music career. I was healed and came out singing better than before with the help of God and a great speech therapist. I began traveling and recorded my first album, entitled the Power of Love and as they say, the rest is history. I have over 30 years in the music industry. I believe what has made me stand out is my energetic live performances and unique style of making every song my own. It is for this reason have been called “The Princess of Praise” by peers. Throughout my journey, I have evolved and become confident in the brand and who God created me to be and it reflects in my style and expressions of color. I am a firm believer that true praise and worship begins in the heart of a Christian and is only capable by having a personal relationship with Christ. It is through my personal walk with Christ that helped developed me into the songwriter I today. Not only a singer and songwriter but I serve as a musical directress, teacher, minister, instrumentalist, community servant, actress, arranger, producer, radio/tv host, mentor, businesswoman and international multiple award-winning gospel recording artists. My signature is my ability to infuse jazz and contemporary with praise and worship style. My desire is to give the listener an experience through my lyrics and expressive vocal style that revealing the many facets of who I am, was and have become on this journey.
As a community servant, I believe in continuously blessing others by volunteering and using my gift on benefit concerts and community events. I partnered with Mind Building Academy that offers summer camp programs for kids in the Dekalb Community and scholarships for college. I have been blessed to travel to Canada, Bahamas and various states sharing my music ministry on stage with well-known national and independent artists like Shirley Caesar, Jekalyn Carr, Melvin Crispell III, Isaac Carree, Damon Little, Keyla Richardson, Joshua Rogers, Darius Paulk, The Wardlaw Brothers and more. God also elevated me to become licensed and ordained to preach the gospel to the masses. I gave my life to Christ at the early age of nine years old in my home church and served under the leadership of Pastor and First Lady Willie Montgomery. Before elevating full time into my music ministry, I served for over 30 years in my home church. Serving as Youth/Young Adult Overseer/Mentor, Sunday School Teacher, Minister of Music and Praise & Worship Leader. She directed her first choir at the age of 13 and continues to develop and train choirs to this day. I am a multiple award recipient and nominee. I love teaching and mentoring youth in academics and music. I served as Praise and Worship leader for New Beginnings International Worship Center in McDonough, GA and currently serve at Word of Life Family Christian Center in Atlanta, GA. Always grateful and honored for the many awards and platforms, my focus is that you have an experience through her music and lyrics that draw you closer to God. I was privileged to host my radio show, “The Princess of Praise Show” Monday – Saturday nights on W.E.M. The Blaze and on WYZE that aired on the 2nd and 4th Fridays, which God elevated into a television show and aired on NowAChildProductions Broadcast Network. My purpose for the platform was to be a blessing to other artists and ministries.
My current singles, He’s Good (Live) and Bless His Name (Live) can be heard on radio and is available on all digital platforms. I am one of the CEO’s of BlueMile Music Consultants, LLC, a company geared toward helping others in the industry on their journey and setting a different standard in the industry. I released a new book entitled “The Inspirational Series: A 30 Day Motivational Book.” My single, Oh How I Love Jesus (Live) was released July 2020. The new single, Bless His Name (Live) in August 2021 and it is rising the Billboard Most Added Charts and my live project entitled, The Praise, Worship, and Soul Experience Vol.1 dropped on September 3, 2021. I am the Co-Host of the show “Conversations with BlueMile” that can be seen on DWGN TV and The OnPoint Channel Network. My prayer is to sow into other artists and help them elevate their craft. My desire is that when you leave my presence, you are empowered, inspired and encouraged through music and my life.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been easy but definitely worth every tear and learning experience. I have dealt with people being deceptive, cheating me out of money for events. There were some that didn’t care for my sound. Others have tried to control what I do and how they felt it should be done. I have dealt with depression when my mom passed away this past year and before that truly learning and realizing I am enough and worthy of all the blessings God has favored upon me. I have had seasons of living paycheck to paycheck, season of no check and deeply relying on God to provide. My story is a story of truly being a faith walker, I left the corporate world to fulfill the calling and everyday I truly walk by faith and not by sight, God has shown himself to be faithful I don’t get it right all the time but my desire is to grow and be the best Calandra I can be on this journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a singer, songwriter, musical directress, teacher, minister, instrumentalist, community servant, actress, arranger, producer, radio/tv host, mentor, businesswoman and international multiple award-winning gospel recording artists. I am one of the CEO’s of BlueMile Music Consultants, LLC, a company geared toward helping indie artists and setting a different standard in the industry. I am most proud of releasing my book entitled, The Inspirational Series: A 30 Day Motivational Book and also having longevity in this industry. I am proud of the business and partnerships that God has brought in my life. I overly proud of my most recent project because it is authentically me and shows my heart. This project represents some of the best music I have released in my career. It was also dedicated in the memory of my mom, The live project entitled, The Praise, Worship, and Soul Experience Vol.1 I am the Co-Host of the show, “Conversations with BlueMile” that can be seen on DWGN TV and The OnPoint Channel Network.
My style and personality on stage and in life separate me from the others. I have learned no one can love who you are until you love who you are.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
At the end of the day, it matters to me that I have lived a life and left a legacy that has inspired those I have met on this journey to want to know the God they have seen in me. That I have encouraged someone to live and love in abundance.
Contact Info:
- Email: princessofpraisebookings@gmail.com
- Website: www.calandragantt.com
- Instagram: @calandraganttpop3
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalandraGanttPrincessofPraise/
- Twitter: @calandra_pop3
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFnwJu85sbLuR4md6FKgiPQ
Image Credits
Photographer: Marie Thomas Cd Designs: Angela Washington AWB Graphics
