Livin Out Loud
Encyclopedia
Livin Out Loud is an R&B
music group consisting of Reuben MacCalla, Sylvia MacCalla, Lisa LaShawn, and J Martini. All four are professionals in the entertainment industry. Sylvia MacCalla is an actor/singer/songwriter (Rent
, Hairspray
, Ray [stageshow], etc.); J Martini is an actor/singer/songwriter (Jersey Boys
, General Hospital
, etc.); Lisa LaShawn is a singer/songwriter (written for Mandy Moore
and others); and Reuben MacCalla is a veteran producer/songwriter/performer.
Livin Out Loud was launched when siblings Reuben and Sylvia MacCalla collaborated with their brother, Thomas MacCalla, to form Kin Productions as a vehicle to combine their respective artistic and business talents. According to Reuben, "We've all been very blessed with the opportunity to work in an industry that we love... and the name, Livin Out Loud, is all about sharing that love."
Livin Out Loud has received praise from numerous publications on both sides of the Atlantic. The group was a featured artist in Billboard Magazine (October 4, 2009), which said:
In the United Kingdom, Soul and Jazz and Funk magazine (April 27, 2010) said:
In London, Livin Out Loud achieved chart success with the single, All That Really Matters, which went to #1 on the DJ Play list. This led to a deal with Fontana Distribution
, a Universal Music Group
company. Two other singles, Lately and I Can’t Stop, made it onto Billboard’s Hot Adult R&B Airplay chart. Lately made it to #1 in several markets, including Little Rock and New Orleans. I Can't Stop was #39 at the time of the Billboard article. So Amazing was the featured track on Bob Mardis' award-winning documentary, Keeping The Faith, about rebuilding efforts by faith-based organizations after Hurricane Katrina
.
Livin Out Loud's music can be found on music download sites such as iTunes
, Amazon
, etc. Their CD entitled What About Us (Special Edition) is available in specialty stores in Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, with nationwide USA release scheduled for Thanksgiving 2008. In 2010, the music video, Brokeazz (Radio Edit), received over 300,000 YouTube
views in the first few months of its release (click on link to view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od-waYzQI30). In the UK, Urban Essentials released the single, Cuz I Gotta Know (Souled Out Mix), in anticipation of the group's new album later in the year.
Live At Humphrey's - 2002
Then and Now
- 2004
What About Us
- 2006
What About Us (Special Edition) - 2008
Singles
The Singles: More Than a Fantasy/Come On Baby - 2003
Where's The Love (Single) - 2005
What About Us (CD Single) - 2006
All That Really Matters (CD Single) - 2007
Lately - 2008 (US only)
I Can't Stop - 2008 (US only)
Brokeazz (Radio Edit) - 2010
Cuz I Gotta Know (Souled Out Mix) - 2010 (UK only)
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
music group consisting of Reuben MacCalla, Sylvia MacCalla, Lisa LaShawn, and J Martini. All four are professionals in the entertainment industry. Sylvia MacCalla is an actor/singer/songwriter (Rent
Rent (musical)
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...
, Hairspray
Hairspray (musical)
Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues...
, Ray [stageshow], etc.); J Martini is an actor/singer/songwriter (Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It is a documentary-style musical, based on one of the most successful 1960s rock 'n roll groups, the Four Seasons...
, General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
, etc.); Lisa LaShawn is a singer/songwriter (written for Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore
Amanda Leigh "Mandy" Moore is an American singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Moore became famous as a teenager in the late 1990s, after the release of her teen pop albums So Real, I Wanna Be with You, and Mandy Moore. In 2007, she took an adult pop-folk direction with the release of...
and others); and Reuben MacCalla is a veteran producer/songwriter/performer.
Livin Out Loud was launched when siblings Reuben and Sylvia MacCalla collaborated with their brother, Thomas MacCalla, to form Kin Productions as a vehicle to combine their respective artistic and business talents. According to Reuben, "We've all been very blessed with the opportunity to work in an industry that we love... and the name, Livin Out Loud, is all about sharing that love."
Livin Out Loud has received praise from numerous publications on both sides of the Atlantic. The group was a featured artist in Billboard Magazine (October 4, 2009), which said:
- Livin Out Loud seemingly exists in a series of alternate universes. In the United Kingdom, a handful of the R&B quarter’s singles have been in rotation at dance clubs and urban radio, remixed by prominent DJ’s for the last four years. In the American South, they’ve attracted listeners and programmers at adult R&B radio. In Japan, the act has sold 2,000 vinyl copies of the single More Than A Fantasy, released via Mo’s Music. Not bad for a group based out of Hollywood.
In the United Kingdom, Soul and Jazz and Funk magazine (April 27, 2010) said:
- LIVIN' OUT LOUD are an American four piece group who are well known to the UK soul cognoscenti. What few copies of their 2006 album What About Us that were available in Europe were quickly snapped up... The first track to be leaked from the album is called Cuz I Gotta Know (in a special Souled Out mix) and it's a smooth slice of steppers soul that will delight sophisticated groovers.
In London, Livin Out Loud achieved chart success with the single, All That Really Matters, which went to #1 on the DJ Play list. This led to a deal with Fontana Distribution
Fontana Distribution
Fontana Distribution is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group that was launched in 2004, which deals in distribution, as well as in a range of sales, marketing, and back office support services, for a diverse roster of independent record labels and their artists. The company takes its name and logo...
, a Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
company. Two other singles, Lately and I Can’t Stop, made it onto Billboard’s Hot Adult R&B Airplay chart. Lately made it to #1 in several markets, including Little Rock and New Orleans. I Can't Stop was #39 at the time of the Billboard article. So Amazing was the featured track on Bob Mardis' award-winning documentary, Keeping The Faith, about rebuilding efforts by faith-based organizations after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
.
Livin Out Loud's music can be found on music download sites such as iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, etc. Their CD entitled What About Us (Special Edition) is available in specialty stores in Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, with nationwide USA release scheduled for Thanksgiving 2008. In 2010, the music video, Brokeazz (Radio Edit), received over 300,000 YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
views in the first few months of its release (click on link to view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od-waYzQI30). In the UK, Urban Essentials released the single, Cuz I Gotta Know (Souled Out Mix), in anticipation of the group's new album later in the year.
Discography
Livin Out Loud - 2000Live At Humphrey's - 2002
Then and Now
Then and Now (Livin Out Loud album)
- Track listing :- External links :* *...
- 2004
What About Us
What About Us (Livin Out Loud album)
released first in the United Kingdom. As of July 2, 2006, it ranked #7 on the World Hip Hop Chart and #7 also on the UK Hip Hop Chart.- Track listing :- External links :* *...
- 2006
What About Us (Special Edition) - 2008
Singles
The Singles: More Than a Fantasy/Come On Baby - 2003
Where's The Love (Single) - 2005
What About Us (CD Single) - 2006
All That Really Matters (CD Single) - 2007
Lately - 2008 (US only)
I Can't Stop - 2008 (US only)
Brokeazz (Radio Edit) - 2010
Cuz I Gotta Know (Souled Out Mix) - 2010 (UK only)