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.

2021 Dunamis Gospel Awards set for Nov. 13

The 2021 Dunamis Gospel Awards, said to be one of the fastest-growing awards events in the Southeast, is set for this weekend in Winston-Salem, NC. 

“These prestigious awards of honor will highlight some of the area’s most prominent pastors, first ladies, church and independent gospel artists, radio stations, radio announcers, and choir directors for their accomplishments and spiritual commitment through their ministry gifts to the Kingdom,” says Dunamis Gospel Awards founder, Bishop Terry L. Young. 

The eighth annual ceremony takes place November 13, at Central Triad Church on 2935 Cole Road. Red carpet interviews begin at 5 PM and the awards show starts at 6 PM. 

Among several artists delivering special music performances are Will Harris and Friends, Sir Jerry Sadler and SOP, Jonathan Parker-Ashley and Higher Dimension, and Macedonia Mass Choir. First Lady Billie Mason Johnson and Yves McKenzie have been tapped as the evening’s co-hosts. 

In recent weeks, the public had the opportunity to cast their votes to help determine winners in each of the awards categories. Winners will be revealed at Saturday’s event. Gospel Music Fever is honored to be nominated for Media Publication of the Year. 

Tickets for the Dunamis Gospel Awards can be purchased at ticketbud.com.

Quartet documentary ‘How They Got Over’ opens in select US cinemas

How They Got Over celebrates the spirit of gospel performers and how they helped usher in a musical revolution that changed the world forever.

Beginning in the 1920s, Black singers across the country took to the highways as the new technology of radio and records made it possible to reach a wider audience. Intense competition brought new ways to entertain, first with guitars, later with full bands, then with a performance style that would inspire Mick Jagger and a host of other rock and rollers.

Their music was infectious, wrecking many a house on the chittlin’ circuit, then graduating in the 40s and 50s to the Apollo and other major auditoriums across the country. The success of gospel quartets inspired record labels to form “doo-wop” groups that enticed gospel singers like Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls and Wilson Pickett to cross over to greater fame.

How They Got Over features classic performance footage of the Soul Stirrers, Dixie Hummingbirds, Blind Boys of Alabama and Mississippi, Sensational Nightingales, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Highway QCs, Davis Sisters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and many more. Some of the greatest names in quartet music are interviewed in the film, giving vivid accounts of how they “got over” in their performances: shouting, bending over backwards, dancing, jumping off the stage – what came to be known as “gospel drama.” The film celebrates the spirit of gospel performers and how they helped usher in a musical revolution that changed the world forever.

For screening locations, dates, and times, visit https://www.firstrunfeatures.com/howtheygotover.html

– From a press release

2021 GMA Dove Awards: CeCe Winans collects four statuettes

Published October 26, 2021, at 4:01 PM ET
Updated October 27, 2021, at 5:32 PM ET

Photo Credit | Terry Wyatt

Nashville, TN (October 26, 2021) – The 52nd Annual GMA Dove Awards were recently handed out in 38 categories at the Allen Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Under the banner Stronger Together, Christian/Gospel music’s biggest night of the year stressed a theme of racial harmony in light of America’s polarization following the birth of COVID-19 and the death of George Floyd. The show was hosted by gospel singer Jonathan McReynolds, and Christian Pop star Natalie Grant, who lost thousands of social media followers when she condemned Floyd’s killing last year.

The biggest winner of the night was gospel legend CeCe Winans, who won four awards, including Gospel Artist of the Year. Draped in an angelic silver and black gown with feathers, she belted out the title track of her album, “Believe for It,” to standing ovations when she opened and concluded the dramatic performance. Later, R&B star and Maroon 5 keyboardist PJ Morton, along with gospel showman Pastor Mike Jr., presented her the Gospel Artist of the Year trophy.

“I’m honored to lift up the name of Jesus,” Winans said, echoing the evening’s theme. “I’m so glad for all of my brothers and sisters and it’s time we understand the importance of unity because it’s through us really loving each other that the whole world is going to come to know who He is.”

Although he wasn’t in attendance, Marvin Sapp won Traditional Gospel Album of the Year for his project, Chosen Vessel. Jekalyn Carr took home the statuette for Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for her track, “Changing Your Story.” Lecrae picked up the 11th Dove of his career for “Deep End,” which won Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year. KB took home the prize Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year for his set, His Glory Alone. 

After 2020’s virtual show, the music community reunited this year with stellar live performances which included Lauren Daigle’s haunting ballad “Hold on to Me” and a chill-inducing rendition of “My Weapon” by Natalie Grant. There were also one-of-a-kind collaborations that lit up the stage such as rapper KB with British worship leader Matt Redman, Jonathan McReynolds with Mali Music, and Dante Bowe with Kelontae Gavin. The show also paid tribute to the Fisk Jubilee Singers’ 150th anniversary with a montage of the choir’s history.

The ground-breaking, multi-racial music collective, Maverick City Music – currently the only act sharing space in Billboard’s Gospel Streaming Songs chart with Kanye West – performed their big hit, “Jireh” that featured solos by Chandler Moore and Naomi Raine. They also ended up winning the New Artist of the Year award.

  • Mali Music performs at the 2021 Dove Awards. | Jamie Gilliam
  • Korwyn Hawthorne performs at the 2021 Dove Awards. | Terry Wyatt
  • KB performs at the 2021 Dove Awards. | Jamie Gilliam
  • PJ Morton and Pastor Mike Jr. present the Gospel Artist of the Year Award. | Terry Wyatt
  • Lauren Daigle performs at the 2021 Dove Awards. | Jamie Gilliam
  • Jonathan McReynolds, awards co-host, and Mali Music perform at the 2021 Dove Awards. | Jamie Gilliam
  • Chris Brown of Elevation Worship performs at the 2021 Dove Awards. | Jamie Gilliam
  • for King and Country display a pair of their awards. | Wander Creative
  • CeCe Winans accepts one of her four 2021 Dove Award statuettes. | Terry Wyatt

For the complete list of winners, click here. 

The GMA Dove Awards aired Friday, October 22, on Trinity Broadcasting Network. If you missed it, you can view it on YouTube.

– From a press release

R.I.H. Andrea Marie Brown of The Brown Sisters of Chicago

Andrea Brown of the Brown Sisters of Chicago

Andrea Marie Brown of the Chicago-based gospel act, The Brown Sisters of Chicago, passed away on September 30, 2021, of COVID-19. The group shot to fame in the gospel world with their self-titled 2009 debut album that featured, “Awesome God,” a Billboard Top 20 radio single. “We are saddened by the loss of Andrea `Lil Bit’ who was a beautiful person inside and out, and was an amazing musical talent,” says Joan Sullivan of Kingdom Records. 

The baby of a family with five daughters and a son, Brown was born August 21, 1968. Her mother, Alberta, was a school teacher and her father, Ben, was the pastor of The Pillar of Truth C.O.G.I.C. assembly in Chicago. Early on, the siblings launched a gospel group under the name of The Brown Singers. It consisted of the sisters Vanessa, Adrienne, Phyllis, Lavette, and Andrea. Their brother, Zachary, played in their band. They sang at church functions throughout the community.

Brown graduated from Curie Metropolitan High School, and later from Pittsburgh’s Robert Morris University in 1988. Over the years, she gave piano lessons and played keyboards at local churches such as The Corinthian Temple C.O.G.I.C./The Cathedral of Praise.

As The Brown Sisters of Chicago, their dynamic stage performances won them big-name fans such as gospel legend, Inez Andrews, who introduced them to a concert promoter who booked them throughout Europe. They went on to share bills with the likes of Mavis Staples, Bobby McFerrin, and Aretha Franklin. From 1994 to 1999, They also served as the house vocal group for the syndicated TV program, “Testify,” which filmed in Chicago.

After years of performing and releasing a custom album in Europe, their American debut, The Brown Sisters: Live in Chicago, was released by Kingdom Records in 2009. The radio single, “Awesome God,” peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart. “The harmonies are impeccable…The passion and sincerity pouring from these songs uplift the spirit while feeding you a helping of encouragement and unretained hope,” a music critic wrote of the album in Worship Leader magazine. In 2010, they won Best Gospel Entertainer of the Year and Best Gospel Album of the Year awards at the Chicago Music Awards.

Brown was predeceased by her brother Zachary and her sister, Phyllis, who both passed away from cancer. Donations can be sent to Andrea’s parents Ben & Alberta Brown,  6533 North Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302, or via CashApp ($AdrienneBrown).

The funeral will take place Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Greater Harvest Baptist Church, 5141 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60609. The wake is 9:30 AM and the service is 10:30 AM.

– From a news release

James C. Birdsong, Jr., Lillian Lilly to be honored at 2021 Antigua Barbuda Gospel Music & Media Awards

Birdsong and Lilly will receive recognition for their contributions to the Gospel music industry  

St. John’s, Antigua – James C. Birdsong, Jr., a member of the renowned Birdsong family and award-winning figure in gospel music, and Lillian Lilly, the longtime principal vocalist of the world-renowned GRAMMY®-Award-nominated Mississippi Mass Choir, are among nine honorees for the 7th Annual Antigua Barbuda Gospel Media & Media Awards (ABGMA) on Friday, October 22, 2021, at Kentish Pentecostal Church in St. John’s, Antigua of the West Indies during an invitation-only event.

Birdsong will receive the Impact Award of Honor for his leadership skills, mentoring abilities among today’s youth and aspiring artists to become successful in the Gospel music industry, and other contributions. With more than 35 awards, interviews on multiple television, radio, and print platforms across the country and abroad, he plans to pursue his longtime dream of being a national recording artist, songwriter, and record label owner. 

Birdsong and Lilly will receive their recognition at the Legacy Ball & Media Awards on October 22. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, they will not be in attendance. Their acceptance speeches will be given by video during a live broadcast of the ceremony.

A legend, icon, and trailblazer in gospel music, Lilly will receive the Legacy Award for more than 30 years as a founding member and principal vocalist of the Mississippi Mass Choir. Known for leading the choir’s popular songs such as “I Just Can’t Tell You (How Good God’s Been),” “It’s Good to Know Jesus,” “Holy City,” and “Lord, You’re the Landlord,” she made history as the first solo recording artist in the choir to record two projects, Gotta Have Faith and the Stellar Award-nominated, The Other Part of Me. The red carpet will begin at 4:30 PM EST followed by the awards at 5:30 PM EST. It will broadcast live on So Arise TV at www.soarisemusic.com/soarisetv and UGN Broadcasting Network via Roku TV, Apple TV, Amazon Firestick, and Android TV.

Toledo mayor proclaims Sept. 24th as Rance Allen Group Day

Left to right: Producer Chris Byrd, Tom Allen, Steve Allen, Mayor Wade, and Tyscot A&R executive, Sidney Scott. Out front is Chris Byrd’s grandson, Christopher.

Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz has proclaimed Friday, September 24, 2021, as Rance Allen Group Day in the gospel trio’s adopted hometown of Toledo, Ohio. Steve Allen and Tom Allen visited with the city’s chief executive in his office earlier this week when he officially presented them with the proclamation.  The front man, Bishop Rance Allen, passed away in October 2021. His widow, Ellen Allen, called in on the speakerphone to thank the mayor for honoring the group.

The big day coincides with the Rance Allen Group’s new retro-soul styled track, “Love Makes the World Go Around”  (Tyscot), which debuts on all digital music platforms  on September 24th too. The song about peace and brotherhood features Rance Allen’s signature  squalls alongside the thick harmonies of his brothers, Steve and Tom.

“We actually recorded it years ago and it was never released,” Steve Allen told news reporters at the event. “The song is about bringing people together. There’s a line in the song that says,` When I look through Love’s eyes, things don’t look so bad.’ and it gives us hope.  The Bible says, a house divided against itself will not stand. There’s so much division in our country. There’s a way to have differences without being angry.  We’ve got to find a way to bring it back to love.”

Stax Records’ parent company Concord Records recently pledged a million dollars to establish the Concord Stax Scholarships which will provide full tuition to at least 20 students each year for the next five years to pursue musical careers. Each of the scholarships is named for a prominent personality in the history of Stax Records such as Otis Redding, The Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, and Rance Allen. Visit https://staxmusicacademy.org for more information.

Over the course of their career, the Rance Allen Group has earned five GRAMMY® Award nominations and amassed over 250 million digital streams. Launching their career with Stax Record’s Gospel Truth imprint circa 1972, they scored with soulful message songs such as “Ain’t No Need in Crying” and “Lyin’ on the Truth.” They’ve also enjoyed six R&B chart singles, including the 1979 Top 25 gem, “I Belong to You.” From the 1980s on, their music was more church, and ministry oriented. The reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart in 1992 with the album, Phenomenon, which featured the radio smash, “Miracle Worker.” In 2002, they signed to Tyscot Records where they had hits such as “Do Your Will,” “Closest Friend,” “You That I Trust,” and “Something About the Name Jesus.” Most recently, Allen stepped out from the group to collaborate with rap star Snoop Dogg on the track “Blessing Me Again” which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart in 2018.

– From a press release

“Pass Me Not” – Elder Randall Ogans, Sr. & Dorian Ogans

“Pass Me Not”
Elder Randall Ogans, Sr. & Dorian Ogans (Available Sept. 5, 2021)
Alpha 7 Ministries
Available at https://elderrandalloganssr.hearnow.com/

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Elder Randall Ogans, Sr. and Dorian Ogan’s “Pass Me Not” delights the palates of sacred hymn lovers and jazz aficionados alike.

“Pass Me Not” is interpreted through the artistry of Elder Ogans’ son Dorian – the gospel jazz track’s arranger – who can be heard on acoustic and electric piano, guitar, and bass. Listeners will enjoy tasteful piano and bass comping alongside the guitar solo on the first pair of verses and refrain. Elder Ogans carries the melody through the second verse and subsequent refrain on the Hammond B3. The interplay among the instruments adds both texture and depth to the piece.

“Pass Me Not” is the first single to be released from the Ogans’ forthcoming gospel-jazz CD by the same name. The full project has an early 2022 release date.

Lee Williams of the Spiritual QC’s dies at 75 [Arrangements Added]

Lee Williams of the Spiritual QC’s has died. The quartet great’s death was announced Monday, August 30, on the group’s official Facebook page.

“It is with our deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of our fearless leader, Dr. Lee Williams,” the post read. “We thank God for allowing him to Stop By On His Way Home, and though he has moved from his temporary house, the love, the memories and the music will linger on. We will always remember that to Give Up is not an option if we want to be Welcomed Home.”

Despite health challenges in recent years, Williams continued to perform with the QC’s until retiring in 2018. (Read “Living Legends Concert” honors Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’s as Williams readies for retirement.) In 2011, Williams commented to GMF that he intended to travel and minister with the multi award-winning Tupelo-based group “as long as [God] lets me.”

Our deepest sympathy is with the entire Williams family, the Spiritual QC’s, and the gospel music community. A man of remarkable talent, resoluteness, and humility is now at rest. A memorial service sponsored by the City of Tupelo is set for 4 PM CT on Saturday, September 11, at Gumtree Park. The homegoing celebration takes place Sunday, September 12, at the BancorpSouth Arena at 1 PM CT. Additional details are on the flyer below.

Lee Williams' final service arrangements

Journal of Gospel Music’s Bob Marovich wrote a brief bio of Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC’s that you can read here.

GMA announces 52nd Annual Dove Awards nominees

52nd GMA Dove Awards Nominees Announced

Nashville, Tenn. (August 11, 2021) – The Gospel Music Association is pleased to announce nominees for the 52nd Annual GMA Dove Awards. Top nominations include Steven Furtick with ten (10) nominations, Chris Brown with nine (9), Wayne Haun with eight (8), seven (7) nominations each for Elevation Worship and Brandon Lake, six (6) to for KING & COUNTRY and five (5) nods to CeCe Winans, Ed Cash, Tiffany Hammer (Hudson) and Zach Williams. Voted on by the GMA Professional Membership, this year’s nominees were chosen from over 4,600 submitted entries and include a wide range of creativity and artistic integrity in both artist and non-artist categories.

Nominees were announced in a star-studded livestream event featuring Alex Campos, John Cooper, Bill & Gloria Gaither, Kari Jobe, Brian & Jenn Johnson, Jonathan McReynolds, Wande and Tauren Wells. The announcement premiered on the GMA Dove Awards YouTube and Facebook pages with clips on the Dove Awards Instagram and TikTok.

“We are thrilled to welcome back an in-person Dove Awards this year and equally excited about our impressive list of nominees,” says GMA President Jackie Patillo. “As we continue to celebrate the immense creativity and diversity within our community, we’re looking forward to an awards program this year’s nominees deserve.”

Voting for the final winners will run August 19 through August 26. The GMA Dove Awards are happening live and in-person in Nashville, TN, October 19, 2021. A limited number of tickets and Fan Experiences are still available. The broadcast will air exclusively on TBN, Friday, October 22, 2021 8:00 p.m. ET and then again at 10:00 p.m. ET.

For the complete list of nominees, visit doveawards.com.

Jason Nelson to release sixth album, ‘Close,’ after three-year recording hiatus

Jason Nelson, best known for his No. 1 gospel ballads “Forever” and “I Am,” will emerge from a three-year recording hiatus on August 6th with the release of his sixth album, Close (Jaelyn Song Music / Tyscot / FairTrade). 

“First, it’s a studio record [his past sets have been live sessions],” Nelson explains. “Secondly, I delve into music that helped to nurture my sound as a singer. It pays homage to Dawkins & Dawkins, Fred Hammond, Commissioned. The first album I ever purchased was by Jaco Pastorious (a legendary bassist known for his work with jazz fusion band, Weather Report). All of them played a major role in my musical journey.”   

With hints of Jazz, R&B, and Pop flavors, Nelson is flexing new musical muscles on Close. Joining him for this sonic workout are luminaries such as R&B singer, Chrisette Michele; jazz bassist, John Patitucci; and Cross Worship leader, Osby Berry. Although the set breaks new musical ground for Nelson, it’s still an album that solidly delivers the heartfelt, Jesus-centered songs of faith that Nelson’s core fans have come to love. The first radio single, “Residue,” has already racked a million streams and charted in the Top 20 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart.

The twelve-track set is also the first fruit of Nelson’s Jaelyn Song imprint’s new marketing and distribution partnership with Tyscot Records and FairTrade Services. “I love the freedom of being able to curate my career and make decisions that I feel are the best for me,” Nelson says after a nearly decade-long recording relationship with RCA Inspirational. 

A Baltimore, Maryland native, Nelson has been active on the national stage since 2005. Over the years, he’s enjoyed a string of gospel radio hits such as “Shifting the Atmosphere,” “Nothing Without You,” “I Am,” and “Forever” that have earned him over 100 million digital streams. He is also pastor of The Tab (formerly The Tabernacle at Greater Bethlehem Temple) in Windsor Mills, MD. He and his wife, Tonya, have two children, Jaelyn Paris and Jason Christopher.