Sunday June 21, 11:58 AM

UK soul singer Ruby Turner preaching the gospel

LONDON (Billboard) - It's been almost 20 years since Ruby Turner became one of the few U.K.-based soul singers to hit No. 1 on Billboard's R&B chart, with 1990's "It's Gonna Be Alright." Now, for the first time, she's turned her hand to a gospel album.

The Jamaica-born Briton's career has including performing with Culture Club, solo albums and a current residency as a featured vocalist with Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. "I'm Travelling On," on her own Nova/Universal-distributed RTR Productions label, is set for U.K. release Sept. 7. Already available digitally, it's introduced by the July 20 single release of the Sister Rosetta Tharpe song "This Train."

Turner says she was moved to create the album by listening to originals by the Swan Silvertones, Soul Stirrers and others while on the road. "I was driving between dates on Jools' tours and got fueled up by these wonderful spiritual songs," she says. "I'm from a Pentecostal background. I left the church when I was about 15, but the church never left me."

Turner is looking to secure international licensing for the album. She says setting up RTR "gave me great satisfaction and a sense of empowerment -- that it can be done."

(Editing by Dean Gooodman at Reuters) (please visit our entertainment blog via www.reuters.com or on http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/)