Veteran praise & worship singer/songwriter Kelly Willard marks her return to the Christian marketplace with the upcoming release of Pagá, her first new studio album in 11 years. Pagá will release August 7th, 2007 on Autumn Records.

People who were part of the "Jesus Movement" of the late '60s and early '70s know Kelly Willard's music. She was a featured soloist on over two dozen praise projects from Integrity, Vineyard Music and Maranatha! Music, including 16 of the Maranatha! Music Praise albums, which were precursors to the resurgence in popularity of worship albums today. She sang duets and background vocals with artists like Steve Fry, Twila Paris and the late Keith Green, in addition to cutting nine of her own solo projects.

So, why did Willard walk away from a vibrant career and ministry? It was her commitment to family. "I couldn't travel, be there for my marriage and children and be everything the public wanted me to be for them, as far as ministry," Willard states. "I was being pulled in too many different directions."

Caring for her family included caring for her mother, who suffered for 10 years with Alzheimer's. As if that wasn't enough, it was during this time that Willard was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Then in 2004, Willard's life unraveled. In less than one year, her marriage failed, both her parents died and her teenage daughter, Haylie Grace Willard, who also struggled with bipolar disorder, took her own life.

Many people would give up after a year like this-and few would fault them-but Willard never did. During all of this, Willard never stopped writing songs, and the songs on her new album Pagá are a reflection of this. Despite what she has been through, her music shows no evidence of bitterness, no "Why me, Lord?" Woven throughout her music, there is just a sense of leaning into and trusting the loving hand of God.

Named after the Hebrew word meaning sacrifice for the purpose of intercession, Pagá features arrangements that are simple and clear from start to finish, yet never simplistic. Irish pipes, harps and strings accent the beauty of Willard's pure, uncomplicated melodies. "A lot of my songs are a heartfelt cry to walk with Him through it all and experience some kind of joy, peace and comfort; I needed a closer walk with the Lord and a sense of His presence."

Kelly Willard's Pagá will be released and distributed on Autumn Records. The Autumn Records roster includes Matt and Sherry McPherson and Erin Schneider, as well as guitarists Dave Cleveland, Mark Baldwin, Tom Hemby, Bruce Gaitsch and Phil Keaggy. For more information, visit www.autumnrecords.com.

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