Art Reynolds is an African-American songwriter, producer and singer that has put music at the forefront of his life for over seven decades. His love for music was harvested by his grandmother “Doll” buying him a piano when he was age 10 in Long Beach, California. She told him to play, and play he did. From that simple start, he has used music to say what’s on his mind, heart and soul. He listened to the Doo-Wop groups of the mid-1950’s well into the 1960’s and found a simple set of chords that allowed him to play the most current interaction of R&B/Rock and Roll/Gospel and other forms of music that made it’s way into the fabric of our America.

Art was popular in junior high and high school because of his involvement with music. He also was a pretty good dancer and loved to wear cool clothes. Early on around age 14 Art began shinning shoes on the ocean front near the Long Beach City Hall. He shinned shoes for US Navy personnel stationed in the city. Art’s mother knew the man that owned the shoe shine booth and inquired if he could give Art a job. He told him to come down and learn the craft of “shinning”. He excelled making over $100 dollars on a great day back in the 1950’s. Of course he was the best dressed student because he had the money to buy his own clothing. Independence runs deep within Art. He became President of the Teen Tavern, a community multipurpose building frequented by local black teens. He then became President of the California Youth Association. Started working in the community programs fostered by the Long Beach Community Improvement League. He directed programs including early childhood education, a tutorial program, neighbor to neighbor integration and assorted social services offering job training and placement for disadvantaged youth. He was part of a small group of people that created the Miss Black Long Beach Pageant which was a rousing success. He was Executive Director of the Long Beach Opportunities Industrialization Center, a manpower training program and worked for the City of Long Beach as a Community Development Analyst assisting businesses to relocate in the Central Area.

Art’s love for gospel music got him attention when he started learning the newest gospel music as soon as it was released. Memorable music by The Caravans, Shirley Caesar, James Cleveland and various other pioneers in the evolution of gospel music. After conducting choirs for 3 Long Beach churches, Art started concentrating on the five best singers from the choir at St. Vestal CME Church and called them the “Art Reynolds Singers”.

The Art Reynolds Singers were one of the first black gospel groups ever to record for Capitol Records from 1966 to 1972. Their four albums are collector items and their original recording of “Jesus Is Just Alright” has been covered by countless artists. DC Talk won a 1994 Dove Award for “Best Rock Recorded Song”.

Art Reynolds and Bunny Hull wrote original music for the movie “Leap of Faith” starring Steve Martin which featured the song, “Ready for a Miracle” recorded by Patti LaBelle and later by LeAnn Rimes for the film, “Evan Almighty”. LeAnn’s version won the DOVE Award for “Traditional Gospel Recording Artist of the Year”.

One of the crown jewels is the use of “Ready for a Miracle” in the Tyler Perry trailer for the film “A Madea Family Funeral”.