Blair Underwood

Zondervan and Inspired By Media Group will release Inspired By … The Bible Experience, a dramatized audio recording of the Bible featuring an unprecedented roster of stars from stage and screen.

More than 80 stars including gospel artists Minister Juanita Bynum, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, Faith Evans, Tyrese Gibson and award-winning actors Angela Bassett (Esther), Blair Underwood (Jesus), Denzel Washington (Solomon) and Cuba Gooding Jr. (Judas)lend their voices to this project to form an all-star ensemble cast.

Inspired By … The Bible Experience will release this fall and will deliver a reenactment based on the entire text of the New Testament. The dramatic performances will be set to sound effects and an original musical underscore.

Developed and produced by Inspired By Media Group, a company comprised of media and entertainment industry veterans committed to producing creative and culturally relevant products for the faith-based and family markets, this first-of-its-kind audio Bible will be published and distributed by Zondervan, the world’s leading Bible publisher.

“With the recent resurgence of faith-based entertainment and its appeal to both urban and mainstream audiences, this project serves as a cultural bridge connecting people of all races and ethnicities,” said Ron Belk, president and CEO of Inspired By Media Group and one of four of the audio Bible’s executive producers. “We are excited to partner with Zondervan to produce this unique and inspiring Bible.”
Veteran television and film producer Kyle Bowser, Grammy-winning music producer Louis “Buster” Brown and Emmy-winning casting director Robi Reed also serve as executive producers for Inspired By … The Bible Experience and comprise the multimedia company’s senior management team.

The company also plans to launch Inspired By … The Bible Experience, Old and New Testaments in 2007, as well as a number of other Inspired By … branded products, including an accompanying soundtrack.

“I am proud to be a part of this landmark project that has afforded me the opportunity to collaborate with so many of my peers to bring this unique and timely version of the Bible to the global marketplace,” said Blair Underwood.

Inspired By … The Bible Experience will be recorded using Zondervan’s Today’s New International Version (TNIV) Bible translation, a version selected by Inspired By Media Group because it represented the best combination of accuracy and readability for the audio Bible product and is targeted specifically for the 18- to 34-year-old demographic.

“Zondervan recognizes that there is a large and powerful audience looking for this type of culturally relevant product,” said Paul Caminiti, Zondervan vice president and publisher of Bibles. “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring Inspired By … The Bible Experience to the urban Christian market and expect it to have strong crossover appeal.”

For more information log on to www.inspiredby.com or