Gena Heelz
- Apr 1, 2021
- 2 min read

Leading By An Extraordinary Example,Musical Powerhouse & Legend, Shirley Murdock's Latest EP Is Here

Leading By An Extraordinary Example, Musical Powerhouse & Legend, Shirley Murdock Is Here And Present Doing God's Work

In the early `80s, she aimed for a gospel career before the late great Roger Troutman, funk bandleader for the group Zapp discovered her and landed her a record deal with Elektra Records, where she recorded her first Certified Gold cd, as well as several Top 10 R&B hits such as As We Lay, Go On Without You, Husband and In Your Eyes. She not only performed on, but co-wrote the Zapp R&B hit single, Computer Love.

Meeting Bishop T.D. Jakes in the late ‘90s, led to features on his Sacred Love Songs, Woman Thou Art Loosed Worship 2002, The Potter’s House: The Storm Is Over projects and the realization of her life long dream to sing gospel. He signed her to his Dexterity Sounds /EMI Recording Label and her debut gospel cd, entitled Home, was nominated for a Stellar Award. The following project, Soulfood (Tyscot Records) received both Stellar & Dove Award nominations. She is a recipient of the 2015 Legendary Award, alongside Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis as well as Barack Obama’s 2017 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.

Shirley is no stranger to the Urban Theatre Audience, from Michael Matthews’ Fake Friends/ Tyler Perry’s: I Know I’ve Been Changed/ Your Arm’sToo Short To Box With God, featuring Cissy Houston, to stage & film versions of The Man Of Her Dreams/3 Ways To Get A Husband/ A Mother’s Prayer/ The Ideal Husband/ Love me or Leave Me and A Mother’s Love, Mrs. Independent to Momma’s Boy, working with industry powerhouses such as Billy Dee Williams, Clifton Powell, Malik Yoba, Leon, Jackee Harry, Vivica Fox, Robin Givens, Eddie Levert, Kandi Burress, Johnnie Gill, Lenny Williams, Ralph Tresvant, and David Hollister.

Murdock’s Gospel project, The Journey...is a live CD/DVD recording that features her long-time industry friends, Regina Belle, Kelly Price and Beverly Crawford.

Shirley has made guest appearances on TBN, Dr. Bobby Jones’ Gospel, Lift Every Voice, Gospel Superfest and The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She had the privilege of singing at the MLK Memorial Dedication Ceremony and with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Shirley stands along side of her husband of 30 years, Rev. Dale Anthony DeGroat, Assistant Pastor of Second Missionary Baptist Church, Springfield, Ohio and Senior Pastor of Praying4You Ministries, an online and teleconference church without walls in which she is an associate minister. They are the proud parents of one son, Devin Alexander DeGroat.

Shirley not only enjoys the special connection between herself and her fans on and off stage, but she also enjoys encouraging young people to dream big dreams and serving her community. All of Shirley’s music, along with her latest EP: Good Man/The Little Things/ Call Me, are available at her product table, iTunes, Amazon and retail stores everywhere.