Cover Art Donated by Inmate at Angola

Music by Inmates from 9 different Louisiana Prisons
CD Recorded Live Inside Angola
Four Original Songs
Original Artwork
Purchase online for $15
www.chapels.org

CD Face Art Donated by inmate at Angola

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America’s most populated prison and most filmed prison (Dead Man Walking, O Brother Where Art Thou?) is now the country’s newest entry into the music world.  Loose These Chains is a historic, first-of-its-kind inmate-recorded gospel music compilation of original and traditional songs recorded inside Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

Inmate musicians and vocalists traveled to Angola Prison from throughout the state’s penal system to make a series of live recordings one week in February. Record producer Larry Howard of Georgia-based Omega Arts installed equipment and instruments at no cost under the guidance of Prison Warden Burl Cain.  Howard was given creative control in working with the prisoners to make their best recordings.

Cindy Mann, executive director of Louisiana Prison Chapel Foundation which sponsored the project says the idea for the CD came out of LPCF’s desire to showcase inmate talent and creativity.  “We want the public to see what so many of us see -- that inmates have enormous potential to give back.  They are creative, talented, and hardworking when encouraged.”

Among the 11 songs on the CD are Wonder Workin’ Power, Amazing Grace, Fix It Jesus, He’ll Deliver, Love the Lord, Deliver Me and Loose These Chains.  The last four are songs written, scored and recorded by inmates.  Money raised by CD sales will go to build chapels at 14 state facilities.  LPCF has already constructed nine chapels with two more in progress, citing a 35 percent success rate of stopping recidivism through faith-based initiatives.  In Louisiana, 15,000 inmates are released each year.

CDs are available for purchase through Louisiana Prison Chapel Foundation, at www.chapels.org.