Antwaun Stanley is the newest Christian music singer poised to breakout onto the faith based music scene. Antwaun Stanley’s mantra, which has carried throughout his life, has been I Can Do Anything. He has faced seemly insurmountable obstacles but has emerged into an intelligent, articulate, creative young man who is currently a college sophomore. However, Antwaun is no ordinary college sophomore. While maintaining a rigorous college curriculum, he is busily scheduling church and youth concerts, photo shoots and promoting his first Christian Music CD “I Can Do Anything” (Bajada Records/Lightyear Entertainment) which will be released August 8, 2006 with production work by some of the USA’s top gospel producers such as J. Moss & Paul Allen (PAJAM), Noel Hall, Marcus Cole and Percy Bady.

This is a road Antwaun Domoniqe Stanley has been traveling since he was three years old. That’s when this Flint, Michigan-native’s mother, Khadija Stanley, first recognized his vocal gift. While sitting in the kitchen, in his yellow little tike’s chair, his mother was preparing dinner and singing “Amazing Grace,” all of a sudden he starts to sing the song. His mother was very surprised by how good he sounded. After telling family and friends about his voice, people wanted to hear him and Stanley made his singing debut at his great-grandmothers birthday dinner. By the age of four, he was singing at youth conventions and church functions across the country.

The big break came when Stanley auditioned for a Motown Records talent search that aired on BET in 1996. Out of a pool of 25,000 aspirants, Stanley’s stirring rendition of Yolanda Adams “Just a Prayer Away” won him a spot as one of the top two finalists in the competition. He then appeared on talent competitions on NBC’s “Queen Latifah Show” and the syndicated “Showtime at the Apollo." He also appeared in Angela Barrow’s Detroit stage play, “I'll Always Love My Mama.”

During that period, Tanya Heidelberg and Roger Yopp became Stanley’s managers. The couple which attends Bishop Andrew Merritt’s Straight Gate Church in Detroit learned that Bishop Merritt had founded Bajada Records. They arranged for Stanley to audition for Bishop Merritt. Stanley’s dramatic take on Yolanda Adams’ “Just a Prayer Away” won the pastor over and Stanley was signed to Bajada Records in 2004.

Although Bajada has brought in power-producers, they have allowed him to chart his own musical path. "It is a young style of music that genuinely ministers to the heart of listeners, and allows a one to one connection with God. I enjoy worship because it enables me to give praises to God through my own understanding of life and how much He means to me," Stanley says. “Worship is a different level; you actually go out there and communicate with God. You don’t just go out there and sing.” Stanley has done just that and has since shared stages with gospel greats such as Kirk Franklin, J. Moss, Israel Haughton & New Breed, Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Pastor Marvin L. Winans and Martha Munizzi among others.

In May 2005, Stanley graduated from Flint’s Central High School with a 3.7 grade point average and served as Vice-President of the school’s National Honor Society chapter. Now, he’s a sophomore at the University of Michigan with a major in choral music education and organizational studies. Still, he finds time to volunteer at soup kitchens and convalescent homes. It’s all a testament to the solid foundation that Stanley’s mother has provided for his brother and him over the years. “My mom always went that extra mile with me and she worked hard and has always been there for me,” he recalls. His father, Melvin, lives in Georgia, and keeps him encouraged.

“I feel truly blessed to have had the chance to come this far,” he says. “This project is a complete reflection of me in my spiritual walk with Christ. I owe all of the successes of this project to those who have helped me get to this point. It is my hope that this upcoming generation will not just accomplish their dreams but also maintain God-centered lives.”