The long awaited collaborative and exciting new album by Jimmie Earl Perry has finally been released. Titled "Knocking on Heaven's Door", this brand new work features the iconic and multi Grammy award winning, South African mega group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

This 2 year nurtured project also includes some of Jimmie's talented associates, locally and internationally. Including the New York based dance music diva, Ms. Inaya Day on "Let Somebody Know" and the gospel highlight "Jesus Will Fix It". The Netherlands 2007 X-Factor winner Sharon Kips on "Up Where We Belong", and South Africa's inspirational vocalist Rouchelle Liedemann on "Your Heart and Mine" written by SA's Andrew Ford specifically for Jimmie. The diversity and range of Jimmie's powerful voice will be recognized on SA's songwriter/singer Wilmot Fredericks' jazzy "Love Will Make This A Better Place". Ms Kat Dyson of Los Angeles, an exceptional guitarist and former band member with Prince, Sheila E, Zucchero, B.B. King, Yolanda Adams and many other legendary artists, lends her soulful expertise on several tracks as well as Brandon Coleman of Los Angeles on keyboards.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo blend their unique African voices to the title track "Knocking on Heavens Door, "African Dream" and "Man In the Mirror". The collaboration with Jimmie is part of a long term association to use the creative arts in the education of HIV/Aids in South Africa and around the world. Mambazo's high profile music industry branding, together with the Africa Centre for HIV/Aids Management's successful community mobilization program, these talented and international artists will have a very strong impact on awareness and prevention of HIV.

One of South Africa's premier rhythm sections sets a musical foundation on most of the tracks, bassist Shaun Johannes, saxophonist Don Veno Prins, guitarists Richard Caesar and Bruce Muirhead, keyboardist Andrew Ford and Johnny Clegg's exceptional drummer Barry van Zyl. One of Cape Town's extraordinary arrangers, Mike Campbell has textured horn and string arrangements that were recorded in Stellenbosch and Dallas,Texas to surround Jimmie's R&B and gospel tinged vocal interpretations in this eclectic 10 track collection.

All of the backing vocal arrangements recorded by South Africa's Voices of Love Ensemble, several of America's top sought after studio vocalists in New York and Los Angeles were all arranged and musically directed by Jimmie. SABC's CT Studios and Stellenbosch University's Recording Studio were used as well as Flux Studios in New York City. Fabrice DuPont (owner and premier engineer/ producer at Flux) mixed all the material in New York City along with assistance of Gerhard Roux of Stellenbosch. The album was expertly mastered at Capitol Records in Los Angeles.

Executive Producer Prof. Jan du Toit, director of the Africa Centre for HIV/Aids Management is pleased to deliver this inspiring collection of music to the world in hopes it will inspire everyone to understand and realize the importance of everyone's responsibility to reach an HIV-free planet.

The FIFA World Cup, the Icelandic volcano eruption, the release of the 2 nd Jimmie Earl Perry album in South Africa… can we really handle all of this? Yes We Can!!!!! Jimmie is about to erupt on the music scene with a new album featuring the iconic South African mega group “Ladysmith Black Mambazo”. Joseph Shabalala and Jimmie have forged a dynamic relationship through music and their advocacy on HIV/Aids awareness and education.

South Africa’s first Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS’ (UNAIDS) Goodwill Ambassador has called on organisations involved in the fight against the pandemic to join hands to increase the impact of the work being done to reduce new infections. Professor Perry was appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador by the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr. Michel Sidibe, at the Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management’s fifth annual World AIDS Day gala concert last year.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has appointed Professor Jimmie Earl Perry as its first UNAIDS National Goodwill Ambassador for South Africa in an effort to address the alarming rate of people infected with the disease in the country. The announcement was made by Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr. Michel Sidibe, at the World Aids Day gala concert held at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town, produced and directed by Prof. Perry and hosted by Stellenbosch University’s Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management on World Aids Day. Professor Perry, a singer, actor and dancer, is currently the Director of the Centre’s Educational Theatre and Creative Arts Program.

It is 21 years since this day was first dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.

The Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management at Stellenbosch University marked its 4th sold out annual World Aids Day with a Gala Concert at the Artscape theatre in Cape Town last night (1 December). It was brilliantly directed and produced by the Director of Educational Theatre and Creative Arts at the Centre, Prof Jimmie Earl Perry.

CAPE TOWN, SA, -- Actor and drama professor Jimmie Earl Perry sits in his colorful and personalized office at Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. On the walls around him are posters and other impressive reminders of his theater past in America and Europe.

Hes worked with Celine Dion and Luther Vandross, performed with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, toured internationally with hit shows Cats, Dreamgirls, Starlight Express and Jesus Christ Superstar. Now Jimmie Earl Perry heading up educational theatre and creative arts at The Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management in Stellenbosch.

How a musial virtuosso tweaks his diet and combats high blood pressure.

Multi-talented singer, dancer and preformer Jimmie Earl Perry makes no bones about his cravings for his momma's Southern-style roast beef.