Local doctor shares her inspiration on CD

Angela Thompson lets her faith guide her, and it has taken her from her hometown of Detroit to Shallotte, where she has practiced family medicine for the past eight years.

And now it has led her to something she never expected—a career as a gospel songwriter and recording artist.

“I’ve liked to sing all my life,” she said. “I really started writing and performing since I moved here.”

Recruited in her residency by Dr. George Saunders, she moved to Shallotte in 2000.

After joining Emmanuel Sounds of Praise Church in Shallotte, she began playing music and soon became a part of the praise and worship team. She began to put music to the lyrics she had been writing in her free time.

When she mentioned to one of her patients she enjoyed gospel songwriting, Thompson learned about Christian music producer Tim Greene of Ocean Isle Beach, who runs “The Loft,” a professional music studio based in his home.

“I brought my songs to let him hear, and we started recording immediately,” Thompson recalled.

The two began recording in July 2007, and the CD was completed in March.

“I’m extremely excited,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed singing, but as far as writing, I didn’t see that coming.

“The Lord started giving me songs during my prayer time.”

Her CD, “Good Morning,” contains 10 songs she wrote herself, each a mid- or slow-tempo, jazz-influenced, rhythm-and-blues style gospel song with an uplifting message.

Greene says it’s one of the best CDs he’s produced in several years.

“The theme is one of inspiration to the listeners and encouragement,” Thompson said. “I speak to the loneliness people feel. I tell people to ask the Lord for things you need.”

Her songs are more than just entertainment, she says.

“It’s a call to know the Lord more intimately. It takes more to have a successful Christian walk than going to church.”

While her inspiration comes from a higher power, Thompson’s musical influence is popular gospel singer CeCe Winans, whose brother, Marvin Winans, was the pastor of her former church in Detroit.

“I like the spirit that [Winans] exhibits to the world. She lives the life she sings about and doesn’t get caught up in ‘me’ or the business side of things. It’s all ultimately about the Lord and inviting people to Him.”

Thompson says she has written more songs that she’d like to record, and she’s also interested in writing songs for other artists.

Although she came a long way to wind up practicing medicine and writing gospel music in Shallotte, Thompson believes she is right where she needs to be.

“The Lord ordained it,” she said.

To order Thompson’s CD, call 579-7701.