 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Traughber Records began in 1978 when MaChelle Traughber decided to start a gospel music label. Many of her friends thought she was crazy and wasting her money. MaChelle paid her friends no mind and went on setting up her record label. She purchased a state-of-the-art recording studio, brand new recording equipment, and a large marquee that sat in front of the recording studio that also served as the label's office. MaChelle thought she had found an artist to sign when a preacher said that he and his choir wanted to sign with the label. MaChelle was excited. She met with the preacher to audition his choir. The choir sounded amazing. MaChelle was ready to sign the choir. The appropriate papers were drawn up and signed by all of the involved parties. It had been agreed that the choir would begin working on their record after they came back from a concert that was being held out of town. MaChelle was excited for the choir, so excited that she gave the preacher $10,000 to sponsor the choir's trip. Something awful happened. The choir never went on the trip. The preacher absconded with $5,000 that the choir had set aside for the trip as well as the $10,000 MaChelle Traughber had given him. After this disaster, MaChelle's friends ridiculed, criticized, and taunted her. She felt so bad that she thought of committing suicide in 1979. She was sitting at her desk at the studio. She had a bottle of pills. She had even written a note. That note said… I guess you all were right. I have no business sense. I was a fool to try to do this. I have nothing to contribute after this disaster. I am through with this cruel world. When a man of the cloth can treat people like this, there is no need to continue to live. My will is in order. My lawyer knows what to do. I am leaving the hateful world! MaChelle Traughber Before she took the pills, she prayed, "Lord, You know I wanted to start this label to glorify You. I tried, but some con artist using Your Name tricked me. My friends have ridiculed me. I am the laughing stock of this city. I am tired of getting laughed at. I tried, but I don't have the strength left to fight. I don't want to give up, but no one is ever going to trust me anymore. It's over. Amen." She put a handful of pills in her mouth. She was about to drink some water when she heard the doorbell to the studio ringing. She wanted to ignore the doorbell, but there was a deep tug at her heart telling her to answer the doorbell. Finally, she spit the pills out into a napkin and went to answer the door. Standing at the door was Rev. Robert Richards. he had a smile on his face and a demo tape in his hands. Rev. Richards smiled at MaChelle and then introduced himself as Robert Richards, purposely neglecting to mention the fact that he was a preacher. MaChelle invited him in and they ended up having a three hour conversation, after which Rev. Richards signed a deal with Traughber Records. MaChelle did not find out that Robert was a preacher until they were doing the album cover for his album. He and MaChelle laughed about it. Rev. Richards album was the top selling gospel album in 1981. Every since then, Traughber Records has been a successful label. Its current roster of artists are among the top selling gospel artists. Traughber Records like to keep its artist roster small so that it can devote its time, money, and efforts to its artists. MaChelle Traughber's vision lives on in her absence. She went home to be with the Lord in 2001. Rev. Robert Richards' son, Damiun Richards is the President of the record label. He continues on with the vision that MaChelle Traughber started with, producing Gospel music that glorifies God. |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
For More Information, Contact Webmaster
|
|||||||||||||||||
