Author: Libra Boyd

Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.

Sizzlin' This Week (4/18/11) – "I Know It Was the Blood"

“I Know It Was the Blood”
Smokie Norful feat. Joe Ligon & the 12th District AME Mass Choir
From the CD, How I Got Over…Songs That Carried Us (2011)
EMI Gospel

Regardless of whose project he’s featured on, it’s safe to say that if Joe Ligon is singing, it’s going to be churchy.

Well, this time the quartet legend teams up with the phenomenal Smokie Norful, and just right for the Lenten season is their rendering of “I Know It Was the Blood,” on Norful’s How I Got Over…Songs That Carried Us.  Church is exactly where they take you, singing about the blood of Jesus with such conviction that you have the impression that they were eyewitnesses to that dark hour at Calvary.

Historic Malaco Records structures destroyed in storm

GMF is sad to learn that an historic music landmark is nearly reduced to rubble.

Malaco Records was destroyed yesterday by destructive storms.  Malaco has been the home to numerous blues and gospel performers throughout its 44 year existence.  Its gospel roster has included greats like The Jackson Southernaires, The Soul Stirrers, The Sensational Nightingales, The Williams Brothers, the Angelic Gospel Singers, and the Mississippi Mass Choir, among many others.

The owners, staff, and artists are in our thoughts and prayers.

NBC affiliate WLBT has the report here.

Pop music writer profiles Dorothy Love Coates

It’s always refreshing to read about the artistry and impact of trailblazers from gospel’s Golden Age.  Today, Mary Colurso of The Birmingham News spotlights the inimitable Dorothy Love Coates.

Nowadays, Coates is perhaps best known for the songs she composed.  However, at the height of her stardom, her gravelly voice and theatrical stage presence drew the attention of singers both sacred and, well, “worldly,” as it was called in the 1950’s and 60’s.

Read about her and her lasting contributions to music here:  Year of Alabama Music: Dorothy Love Coates.

Bishop Harold Ivory Williams, Sr., celebrates 90th birthday this weekend

Bishop Harold Ivory Williams, Sr., former Presiding Prelate and Senior Bishop of the Mount Calvary Holy Church of America (MCHCA), Inc., will be honored this weekend at his 90th birthday celebration.

The celebration will be held at Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church on Sunday, April 17, 2011, at 5:00pm.  The guest speaker is Rev. John Flowers, Jr.  Bishop Williams’ wife, Pastor Shirley Caesar-Williams, is the host pastor.

Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church is located at 3100 Sanderford Road in Raleigh, NC.

Bishop Williams led MCHCA for more than 37 years as Senior Bishop before choosing to take emeritus status in 2008. 

Happy birthday and God’s blessings to you, Bishop Williams!

Duke Voice Care Center hosts vocal workshop series, features opera singer Estes

In conjunction with World Voice Day on April 16, 2011, Duke Voice Care Center will host a day of workshops on vocal health and good voice habits for both singers and non-singers.  International operatic bass-baritone and professor, Simon Estes, will be featured.  He will first facilitate a free Master Class on Friday, April 15, before discussing his life and singing career during a Saturday bonus session.  Estes has several CDs to his credit, including Simon Sings His Favorite Gospels and Spirituals.

Event Information

  • Saturday, April 16, 2011
  • 11:30am – 5pm
  • Renaissance Raleigh Hotel at North Hills, 4100 Main at North Hills St., Raleigh, NC
  • Admission is FREE; refreshments provided
  • For more information, contact 888-ASK-DUKE or dukehealth.org/events

    Beverly Crawford joins Kirk Franklin on his newly released CD

    Press Release from JDI Records

    (New York, NY) Gospel Superstar Kirk Franklin features gospel’s it girl and JDI Records artist Beverly Crawford on his newly released CD Hello Fear on Gospocentric/Fo Yo Soul/Zomba. After a nearly three year hiatus from recording, Kirk Franklin returned with the most highly anticipated gospel release of the year.

    The top selling gospel artist of all-time, with over 12 million records sold, Kirk Franklin is renown for his collaborations, and his selection of Grammy winner Beverly Crawford speaks volumes about the resurgence of her career as one of the top female artists in gospel.

    Fresh on the heels of her of electrifying performances at the BET Celebration of Gospel & the Stellar Awards, Beverly Crawford’s smash hit single “It’s About Time For A Miracle!” continues to burn up gospel radio.  Likewise, everywhere you turn on TV, radio and on her 100-city tour, the red-hot Beverly Crawford continues to demonstrate why she is universally regarded as one of the top vocalists in the world.

    With a legion of ardent fans including Ochocinco, President Obama, Fantasia, and Natalie Cole, Beverly Crawford’s new CD Live from Los Angeles – Vol. 2 is garnering rave reviews all over the country.

    Editor’s note: Crawford is also scheduled to join Shirley Murdock for her first “live” CD/DVD recording slated for April 28th.  See GMF’s related post here.

    Lee Williams takes concert detour to visit shut-in fan

    Gloryland Gospel Blog shared this moving story from Daytona Times.  God bless Lee Williams of the Spiritual QC’s and James Parks of the Golden Wings Quartet.  Ministry is purposed to extend beyond church walls.

    “Happy birthday, Rev. Al Green!”

    GMF wishes a very happy birthday to The Reverend Al Green, who turns 65 today.

    Green serves his Full Gospel Tabernacle congregation in Memphis as pastor while continuing to travel as both a gospel and R&B performer. Among his accolades are multiple Grammys, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the distinction of being one of Rolling Stone magazine’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.”  He is also a Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee.

    Green’s most recent achievement is that his chart-topping 70’s hit, “Let’s Stay Together” has been selected this year for inclusion in the National Recording Registry for preservation in the Library of Congress.  On that note, happy birthday and congratulations, Rev. Green.

    Great-nephew pens biography on gospel singer-songwriter, Brother Claude Ely

    He was a soulful singer and a Pentecostal Holiness preacher who influenced Ray Charles, James Brown, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley. Now, Brother Claude Ely’s influence is again being recognized in a biography entitled, Ain’t No Grave: The Life and Legacy of Brother Claude Ely.

    Knoxville News has the feature story on the man whose 1950’s recordings earned him the distinction of the “Gospel Ranger” of the Appalachian Mountains.

    "Shine On Me" – Mary Griffin

    “Shine On Me”
    Mary Griffin
    Walker Entertainment Group / Mahogany Music (2011)
    Available at CDBaby

    Nothing stirs your soul like an oldie, and Mary Griffin delivers “Shine On Me” with the fervor that this soul-stirring spiritual requires.  To say that Griffin’s voice is powerful is an understatement.  It is soulful.  It is unique.  It is full of expression.  Hearing her belt out this number takes me back to my childhood days in the Baptist church when, just before leading the worshipers in prayer, the church mothers would make their way to the altar petitioning God, “Let the light from the lighthouse shine on me.”

    Griffin is very much in her zone performing soulful music.  She is currently touring with George Clinton and Patti LaBelle, and one of her songs, “I Surrender,” was re-recorded by Celine Dion.

    Is there any doubt that the light is shining on her?