As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday this Fourth of July, GRAMMY®‑nominated composer‑keyboardist Mark Stephens delivers a rallying cry for unity with “E Pluribus Unum,” arriving on Friday (May 29).
E Pluribus Unum — Latin for “out of many, we are one” — has been America’s motto since its inclusion on the Great Seal proposed by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson in 1776. In a moment when the nation is deeply divided along political, racial, religious, and cultural lines, Stephens’ poignant new single serves as a timely reminder of our shared ideals and the freedoms that bind us.
“I created the song to celebrate the high ideals set forth by our founding fathers — freedom, equality, liberty, and justice for all, and as a dedication to those among us who take an oath to protect and preserve the Constitution. At this time of deep division, what better moment than the country’s 250‑year anniversary to look again to America’s unfinished promise of unity in diversity? This song champions those ideals and our national motto, E Pluribus Unum, with the lyric ‘with every color, under the sun, out of many, we are one,’” said Stephens, who wrote, produced, and arranged the rousing anthem.
Theatrical, celebratory, and empowering, “E Pluribus Unum” opens with a military snare-drum cadence under Tata Vega’s powerhouse improvisation, followed by lead vocalist Amin El weaving his way through the ornately orchestrated track, soulfully delivering Stephens’ lyrics. The single builds towards a rapturous crescendo as the full band joins in, powered by an eight-piece horn section along with Vega leading a soaring gospel chorus, culminating with the voice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivering an excerpt from his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed…”
Stephens performed on GRAMMY®-nominated projects by Boney James, Chris Botti, Josh Groban, and George Howard. He contributed to James’s Billboard No. 1 single “Powerhouse” and Alanis Morissette’s Billboard No. 1 album Under Rug Swept. His genre‑spanning résumé includes work with Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, James Ingram, David Sanborn, Stanley Clarke, Take 6, and George Duke.
Stephens released his debut album, The Dream of the Peaceful Warrior, in 2011 featuring Michael Brecker, Marcus Miller, Jonathan Butler, Khan, and the Andrae Crouch Singers. He’s currently completing his next album, A Great Day on Earth, which features Larry Carlton and Vinnie Colaiuta. The first single, “Golden Hour,” will arrive in September.
The “E Pluribus Unum” video will premiere on YouTube at https://youtu.be/wMUUftzxHis.
For more information, please visit www.markstephensmusic.net.
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