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.

Rev. Dr. Clay Evans dies: Pastor and singer was also prominent civil rights activist

Gospel Music Fever joins countless others in mourning the passing of Rev. Dr. Clay Evans today.  The pastor, civil rights activist, and gospel recording artist was 94 years old.



Read more about Rev. Dr. Evans’ ministry from our friend Bob Marovich of the Journal of Gospel Music: RIP: Rev. Dr. Clay Evans – Pastor, Civil Rights Icon

We offer condolences and prayers to the entire Evans family and Chicago’s Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.  The schedule of events celebrating Rev. Evans’ life is below, culminating with the Governmental and Civic Celebration on Friday, December 6, at 7 PM, and the Official Celebration of Life service on Saturday, December 7, at 9 AM.  Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. and Rev. Stephen J. Thurston will deliver eulogies.  The services will stream live.

2020 GRAMMY nominees announced

Congratulations to nominees for the 62nd GRAMMY Awards, announced November 20.

Kirk Franklin, Travis Greene, Koryn Hawthorne, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and Tauren Wells are among this year’s Gospel/CCM nominees, along with Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers, Gene Moore, William Murphy, and CeCe Winans.  Gloria Gaynor from R&B and Disco fame also received a nod in the Best Roots Gospel Album category for Testimony.  

Gospel also appears this year in the Best Album Notes category with The Gospel According to Malaco.  Kudos to Robert Marovich, gospel historian, founder of the Journal of Gospel Music (formerly The Black Gospel Blog), and album notes writer for the eight-disc project. 

See the complete nominees list in all 84 categories here.  The GRAMMYs will air live Sunday, January 26, on CBS.

DunAmis Awards announces winners, honorees; GMF wins Media Publication of the Year

DunAmis Gospel Awards logo

Congratulations to all of the winners and honorees announced at this year’s DunAmis Gospel Awards.  The 6th annual DunAmis Gospel Awards–conceptualized by Bishop Terry Young to honor independent gospel artists, pastors, pastor’s wives, churches, and other local and regional talent–was held Saturday, November 2, at Cornerstone Conference Center in Greensboro, NC.  

Our own Gospel Music Fever won this year’s award for Media Publication of the Year.  Below is the complete list of winners and honorees. 

 

Female Pastor of the Year
Apostle Carolyn Lazenby
 
Male Pastor of the Year
Bishop Kelly Derek
 
First Lady of the Year
First Lady Frenchie Dawson
 
Church of the Year
True Word Fellowship
 
Choir Director of the Year
Marshall Troublefield
 
Musician of the Year – Male
E.J. Stewart
 
Musician of the Year – Female
Vangie Alderman
 
Gospel Announcer of the Year
Darlene Vinson
 
Quartet of the Year
Michael Boykin and the Mighty Voices
 
Church Choir of the Year
Galilean House of Worship
 
Female Vocalist of the Year
Taliah Huntley
 
Male Vocalist of the Year
Darryl Murchison
 
Community Choir of the Year
Sir Jerry Saddler and Sounds of Praise
 
CD/Song of the Year
Bishop Stephen Williams
 
Holy Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Mike Teezy
 
Worship Leader of the Year
Kimberly Michelle
 
Group/Duo of the Year
The Woody Specials
 
Producer of the Year
Brandon Smith
 
Dunamis Song of the Year
Johnathon Parker Ashley and Higher Dimension Praise Chorale
 
Songwriter of the Year
Mike Astyn
 
CCM Artist of the Year
Mike Astyn
 
College Choir of the Year
Neo Black Society Gospel Choir – UNC Greensboro
 
Gospel Comedian of the Year
T-Roy
 
Praise and Worship Team of the Year
Kingdom Covenant Praise Team
 
Media Publication of the Year
Gospel Music Fever
 
Dance Ministry of the Year
Predestined Mime
 
Artist of the Year
Devine Sounds
 
2019 Living Legend Recipient
Dr. Dennis W. Bishop
 
2019 Lifetime
Achievement Recipient
Bishop Michael Penn
 
2019 Trailblazer Recipient
Apostle Dr. Annie Woody
 
2019 Achievement of Excellence Recipient
Pastor H.E. Dixon
 
For more information about the DunAmis Gospel Awards, visit www.dunamisgospelawards.org.

Mary Stampley, 15 year-old daughter of Micah Stampley, dies

The Stampley familyGospel singer Micah Stampley and family have announced the passing of their 15 year-old daughter Mary.  The family’s publicist released the following statement today:
It is with a heavy heart that the Stampley family would like to announce the passing of their 15 year-old daughter, Mary Stampley, from complications with a seizure.  Please keep the family in your prayers and respect their privacy as they deal with this traumatic event. 
 
Funeral arrangements and ways to comfort the family will be shared as soon as details are confirmed.
 
Gospel Music Fever extends heartfelt condolences to the Stampleys during this difficult time.

Lauren Daigle has huge night at 50th Annual Dove Awards

The 50th Annual Dove Awards was a night to remember, especially for Lauren Daigle.  Daigle took home three Doves, including the coveted “Artist of the Year” Award.  

Lauren Daigle (Photo Credit: Jules Wortman/Wortman Works)

Songwriter Jason Ingram was the night’s big winner with four awards.  Composer Wayne Haun and producer Paul Mabury also added three Doves to their trophy cases, while Gospel’s Kirk Franklin, Lecrae, and Tasha Cobbs Leonard added a pair each. 

The 50th Annual Dove Awards was celebrated among a sold-out audience at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville.  It will air exclusively on TBN Sunday, October 20, at 8pm EST. 

Read the complete list of winners here. 

North Carolina Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony to include performance by Shirley Caesar

 

(Kannapolis, NC)  The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame (NCMHOF) will hold its annual induction ceremony on October 17, 2019, at 7:15 PM.  The ceremony is presented by BankOZK and will take place at the historic GEM Theatre in downtown Kannapolis, NC, which was recently placed upon the official National Register of Historic Places.
 
Six are slated to perform live at the event: Kellie Pickler, Shirley Caesar, Mitch Easter, Elizabeth Cotten’s family, David Holt (on behalf of Merle Watson), and the Carolina Panthers PurrCussion drumline.  The event is open to the public and all ages will enjoy the ceremony. VIP and general admission tickets may be purchased online at www.NorthCarolinaMusicHallofFame.org or at the NCMHOF Museum.
 
Induction night will feature a pre-ceremony VIP reception, live performances, and the acceptance of each induction.  Those being inducted this year are Elizabeth Cotten, Mitch Easter, Big Daddy Kane, Merle Watson, and 9th Wonder.
 
For the first time, the NCMHOF will highlight two past inductees by featuring them along with the 2019 class.  Pastor Shirley Caesar and Kellie Pickler have been selected as the 2019 highlights.  Both were unable to attend their inductions in 2010 and 2016 respectively, due to unforeseen circumstances.
 
The NCMHOF partnered with Come Hear North Carolina and the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for Governor Roy Cooper’s proclamation of 2019 as the “Year of Music” in North Carolina.  Earlier this year, the 2019 class was announced in a press conference with NCDCR Secretary, Susi Hamilton. This year’s ceremony will be filmed for live stream by the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
 
– From a press release
 

Celebrated documentary ‘Say Amen Somebody’ restored to 4K; chronicles rich history of gospel music

“SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY”
4K Restored Documentary Celebrates The Father of Gospel Music, Thomas Dorsey, 
Barrett Sisters, O’Neal Twins, Sallie Martin, Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith 
Explores Gospel’s Chicago Roots

The Barrett Sisters, L-R: Rodessa Porter, Delois Campbell, Billie GreenBey
One of the most acclaimed music documentaries of all time, Say Amen, Somebody is George Nierenberg’s masterpiece—a joyous, funny, deeply emotional celebration of African American culture, featuring the father of Gospel, Thomas A. Dorsey (“Precious Lord, Take My Hand”); its matron, Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith; and earth-shaking performances by the Barrett Sisters and the O’Neal Twins. When it was first released in the early 1980s, the film received an overwhelming critical response, garnering rave reviews around the world.
“One of the most joyful movies I’ve ever seen.”
— Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
“The film’s mood is never less than marvelously infectious.”
— Richard Schickel, Time 
“The music conquers doubt and unhappiness, and when it ends, you feel healed.”
— David Denby, New York Magazine
Unseen in cinemas for nearly thirty years, Say Amen, Somebody has been gorgeously restored to 4K by Milestone with support from the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Academy Film Archive. The new restoration features brilliantly restored 5.1 soundtrack!


For additional information and screening schedule, visit the website at www.sayamensomebody.com.

– From a press release

Nominees and honorees announced for the 2019 DunAmis Gospel Awards

DunAmis Gospel AwardsCongratulations to nominees for the 2019 DunAmis Gospel Awards.  Voting is now underway and open to the public.

Gospel Music Fever Blog and its founder Libra Boyd received nominations in two categories.  Gospel Music Fever Blog is nominated for Media Publication of the Year and Libra is nominated for Female Musician of the Year.

Devine Sounds, Michael Boykin, Mike Astyn, Mike Teezy, Stephen Williams, and Dion Owens & Renaissance are also among several artists with multiple nominations. 

The DunAmis Gospel Awards was conceptualized by Bishop Terry Young to honor independent gospel artists, pastors, pastor’s wives, churches, and other local and regional talent.  Click here to view the complete list of nominees and to vote multiple times daily.

The sixth annual DunAmis Gospel Awards will also recognize individuals with distinguished contributions to the gospel community.  This year, Dr. Dennis W. Bishop will receive the Living Legend Award; the Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Bishop Michael Penn; and the Trailblazer Award will be given to Apostle Dr. Annie Woody.   

The DunAmis Gospel Awards is a ticketed event that takes place November 2, at Cornerstone Conference IPHC in Browns Summit, NC.  Red carpet arrivals begin at 5 PM and the awards show starts at 6 PM.

“All Glory to the Lamb” – Michael L. McCants and ANSI Worshippers

“All Glory to the Lamb”
Michael L. McCants and ANSI Worshippers
From The Vows EP (2018)
www.facebook.com/mlmccantsministries

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor
 
Get ready to get your praise dance on!  Michael L. McCants and ANSI Worshippers bring an island vibe to worship with “All Glory to The King.”  Bongos, maracas, and a hint of Caribbean flavor punctuate the contemporary praise and worship tune–not to mention vocal harmonies that even non-singers find
singable.
 
McCants is the founder of A New Start International (ANSI) Church of the Nazarene, Impact Church of the Nazarene with locations in Florence and Columbia, SC, WFMI iFaith Radio Network, and Faith on Demand Entertainment & Management Group.  He presently leads East Point Church of the Nazarene in Atlanta. 

______________________



Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

 

From Labor to Reward: Gospel Singer Ricky McDuffie [Updated]

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Ricky McDuffieRev. Ricky McDuffie, lead singer of Ricky McDuffie and The Family, passed Sunday, August 18, 2019, finishing a courageous battle with cancer.  He was 31. 

Unfortunately, news of McDuffie’s death began circulating on social media Sunday before his immediate family made an official announcement.  (Please read this article about thinking before you post R.I.P. on social media.)  Condolences have continued to pour in from fans, friends, and contemporaries in the hours since the family’s official post. 

Ricky McDuffie became the lead singer of the family group consisting of his siblings and cousins, then called The Mighty Golden Stars, at the age of 10.  Shortly after their grandfather Melvin Teal allowed the group to record two songs for his own quartet group’s CD in the late 90s, the grands began traveling as Lil’ Ricky and the Mighty Golden Stars and eventually released their debut CD in 2005, titled, I’m On My Way to Heaven.  In 2013, the group underwent another name change to Ricky McDuffie and The Family.  Their most recent release is He Changed Me Live (2017). 

Despite declining health, McDuffie pressed on to perform with his family as recently as three weeks ago in late July.  In addition to being a singer, McDuffie was scheduled to celebrate nine years of preaching this past Sunday.

Update (8/23/19):  A Celebration of Life service has been announced for Sunday, August 25, 2019, at 3 PM at Berea Baptist Convention Center in Bennettsville, SC.  A musical tribute will take place Saturday, August 24, at 5 PM at Marlboro Civic Center, 106 Clyde Street in Bennettsville.  (Please note the venue for the musical has been changed from Spears Church to Marlboro Civic Center due to the expected attendance.)

GMF extends deepest condolences to McDuffie’s wife Valarie, his children, and the entire family throughout this most difficult time of adjustment.