Today we’re excited to be connecting with Yvonne Matthews again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Yvonne, we are so thrilled to be connecting again and can’t wait to hear about all the amazing things you have been up to. Before we jump into all of that, some of our readers might have missed our prior interview, so can you take a moment to reintroduce yourself?
I am Yvonne Matthews of Mobile, Alabama, the founder of the gospel singing group – Nu Image and Youth On the Winning Side, a former high school choral and piano instructor, and administrator who is also a retired minister of music. My life has been filled with music.

From the age of three when I performed my first song in church, to the present, music has carried me from state to state, out of the country, college campuses, concert halls, parks, theaters, churches, and synagogues. My classical training at the University of South Alabama where I received a Bachelor of Music degree in piano and a Master of Education degree, and my upbringing in church music (my father was a pianist, my mother – a songwriter) have produced a musician who ventures into many genres of music and the theatrical arts.

Just before the pandemic, I was invited to perform with a group of singers to tour Italy and Switzerland. One of the requirements was that each member had to have a recording project. This was the beginning of my recording career as an adult. The music was well-received in Europe and my first CD was released in the United States in February 2020.

My debut album GLAD has brought my gospel music career greater visibility and more performance opportunities. The “Glad” music video garnered over 1 million views and my single, “I Owe You Me” music video garnered over 603,000 views on my Facebook artist page and thousands on my YouTube channel. With this exposure and success, I have continued moving higher by releasing a Christmas EP YVONNE’S CHRISTMAS WISH FOR YOU in November 2020, and a “churchy” CD CHURCH GIRL in November 2021.

I was commissioned to write a stage production highlighting African American history in my home county, Mobile County, Alabama. SOULS OF TIME debuted in March 2024 to almost 2,000, and it successfully returned to the big stage on January 17, 2025, with thousands in attendance. I also released a new EP – NEVER ALONE, which includes original music and two cover songs, accompanied by a music video of the released single – “Never Leave Me.”

My Front Porch Ministry started early during the pandemic (April 2020) with over 45,000 views for the inaugural show and my spontaneous Pop up Praise moments all on my social media platforms. I’m on my front porch with my keyboard and a microphone performing for my neighbors and people online who tune in from throughout the world. I show that I love what I have done for years: singing to and for the glory of God.

Awesome, so we reached out because we wanted to hear all about what you have been up to since we last connected.
Life has been interesting and has been “life-ing.” I was commissioned to write a musical drama about the history of African Americans in Mobile County, Alabama. I worked diligently on that project, searching for a good playwright and composer. I also started working on my fourth music project in 2022. However, my husband was diagnosed early in 2023 with a life-threatening disease. I stopped doing everything to focus on his health. We began the journey and after developing a plan of action with his team of doctors, I worked on the play as best I could. After he received a stem cell transplant, my husband was deemed cancer-free. I put my full mindset on completing the play. SOULS OF TIME debuted in March 2024 to almost 2,000, and it successfully returned to the big stage on January 17, 2025, with thousands in attendance. Presented as a Matthews Educational Consultant production, I was blessed to compose and arrange most of the music performed in this production.

As life kept “life-ing,” I became ill in 2024 and spent 10 days in the hospital. By the summer of that year, I was much better, and my mind started focusing on completing my music project. I flew to Chicago where my producer had moved and completed all the vocals for the 5-track EP. Incidentally, all my projects have been produced and engineered by Grammy, Dove, and Stellar Award winner, Rogest “Rosco” Carstarphen, Jr., my former high school choral students. I released the EP – NEVER ALONE – and the single music video – “Never Leave Me” – on January 17, 2025. The release preceded the opening of the curtain for SOULS OF TIME. The music has been well received as shown by streaming numbers, hard copy sales, and views on YouTube.

I am very excited about the opportunity to return to Italy to perform in December of this year.

We have now arrived at one of our favorite parts of the interview – the lightning round. We’ll ask you a few quick questions to give us all some fun insights about you.

Favorite Movie: The Color Purple

Favorite Book: The Bible

Favorite TV Show: Andy of Mayberry

Favorite Band or Artist: Richard Smallwood

Sweet or Savory: Sweet

Favorite Sport (to watch): Volleyball

Favorite Sport (to play): Volleyball

Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): Volleyball and basketball

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: Concert pianist

French Fries or Onion Rings: French fries

Favorite Cartoon growing up: Yogi Bear

Favorite Childhood movie: The Wizard of Oz

Favorite Breakfast Food: Applewood bacon

What do you want people to remember about you and your brand? What are some of things that you feel are most important, unique, special, etc?
I want people to remember that although I am multifaceted in what I do, what I do is centered around music, education, and a love of people.

My dark, smoky, jazzy, soulful, and churchy voice is uniquely mine and God-ordained. Whether I’m presenting a stage play; performing music from one of my projects with a rhythm band and background vocals accompanying me; on my front porch doing a live presentation of music with just me and my keyboard, or in front of a choir teaching music and vocal and performing techniques; or as a featured soloist for a civic, community or cultural event, I want people to feel the emotion and to receive the positive message embodied in my music, my voice, and my fingers.

Website: https://yvonnematthewsmusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yvonnematthews_music/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-reed-matthews-5780229/

Twitter: https://x.com/ymatthews

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yvonnematthewsmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theofficialyvonnematthewsm1162

Other: TikTok @yvonnematthews59

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