“Loose These Chains,” a historic inmate-recorded gospel music CD performed inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, will be released in September 2007. The CD, the first ever recorded by inmates inside a Louisiana prison, will be available for purchase through Louisiana Prison Chapel Foundation in September of 2007. If you ever had an opportunity to hear inmate music groups, you always left asking for more. Well, here it is.

Inmates came to Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola from institutions over Louisiana in February 2007 to make the live recordings. The Louisiana Prison Chapel Foundation gave creative control of the project to Larry Howard of Omega Arts in Macon, Georgia.

A respected recording artist, music producer and recording engineer, Larry and his wife, Peggy, devoted themselves to helping these inmate recording artists create a unique and memorable collection of gospel recordings. The Howards generously brought their professional instruments and recording equipment, along with two assistants, to the Hospice Chapel at Angola for the week-long recording session.

Overnight, the guard room was transformed in to an engineering booth. The altar area became the drummer’s station and music and video equipment filled the center of the chapel.  Angola inmates assisted with the video equipment and help set up the room between each recording session.

Four of the songs on “Loose These Chains” are original compositions, written and performed by inmates. Even the cover art is an inmate creation. The art work was chosen because it expressed what most inmates say the chapels stand for – freedom in Christ. The title, “Loose these Chains,” was selected from an original song that conveys the message of freedom.

The idea for the CD came out of the Foundation’s desire to showcase the talents and creativity of inmates. We want the public to see what so many of us see -- that inmates have enormous potential to contribute to contribute to society, as while they serve their sentences. Our hope is that this project demonstrates that these inmates are creative, talented, hardworking people who have a great deal to offer to their communities. In addition to showcasing their talent, this project allowed them to learn or develop new skills.

Special thanks to:
Louisiana Department of Corrections Secretary Richard Stalder , Warden Burl Cain of  Louisiana State Penitentiary , and the Louisiana Wardens Association for their support of this project.
Larry and Peggy Howard, Omega Arts Producer and Engineer , for giving so generously of their time, talents and connections to make this project possible and to help these artists express their God-given talents.
Willie Byrd for donating his graphic art talents to design and typeset the packaging.  He allowed the inmates artistic talents to tell the story of freedom.
We hope this CD uplifts your spirits and frees you from whatever may be holding you captive.

Purchase here