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.

Bishop Donnie Graves to be remembered, celebrated this weekend

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF was saddened to learn of the passing of Bishop Donnie Graves, who died December 29, 2019.  He was 65 years old. 

Formally trained in organ and sacred music, Bishop Ralph Donnell Graves is widely recognized as a masterful musician, composer, arranger, and choir director whose albums include I’m Saved, Count Your Blessings, I Am Determined, So Far I Have Weathered the Storm, Back With A Vengeance, and Sounds from Heaven.  Among his notable compositions are “Count Your Blessings” and “When All God’s Children Get Together.”

Bishop Graves was the presiding prelate of Deliverance Temple Restoration Ministries, Inc. and pastor of The Gathering Place in Raleigh, NC.  He also established and pastored Refreshing Springs Restoration Center and Greater Metropolitan Restoration Center in Rocky Mount and Greensboro, respectively.

GMF offers heartfelt condolences to Bishop’s daughters, grandchildren, and the entire Graves family as well as his church family, friends, colleagues, and protégés. 

Homegoing information has been published as follows:

Wake
Friday, January 3, 2020
7 PM
The Gathering Place
3500 Woodmeadow Pkwy
Raleigh, NC  

Visitation
Saturday, January 4, 2020
9-10 AM
Mount Calvary Word of Faith Holy Church
3100 Sanderford Rd
Raleigh, NC

Homegoing Service
10 AM
Mount Calvary Word of Faith Holy Church

“Unpredictable God” – Zak Williams & 1/AKORD

“Unpredictable God”
Zak Williams & 1/AKORD ft. David Wilford and Thomas Clay
From the album, The Next Chapter (2019)
www.zakwillmuzik.com

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

With upbeat contemporary instrumentals, Zak Williams and 1/AKORD are united together to uplift the word of God through “Unpredictable God.”  This is one melody that will get you into the praise and worship mood.  Founder and front-man Zak Williams has created and cultivated a spirited vocal choir with original and unhindered delivery of the lyrics that resound, “You’re the awesome One / A sovereign God / A holy King of Kings / Unpredictable God!”

You will tap your toes, lift your hands, and sing along while the expressive lead guitar interlude ushers you to unpredictable lyrics: “Oh! Oh! Oh! You are!  Come let us adore Him!”  It turns out to be a surprising yet pleasant aural demonstration of how unpredictable God is.  Keep on tapping your toes and worshiping Him.


______________________
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.

Official Video – “Christmas Day” – Willard Yancey

 
Enjoy the official music video from Willard Yancey called “Christmas Day.”  The holiday single is produced and directed by Jeshua Yancey for JYM Productions. 

Glynn Chisholm, husband of Jacky Clark Chisholm, succumbs

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Evangelist Jacky Clark Chisholm of The Clark Sisters solicits prayers after announcing on Instagram this afternoon (Nov. 28) that her husband of 46 years, Glynn T. Chisholm, has passed on.  He was 70 years old.  

Chisholm was a published author whose books include The Revival and Why Did God Make Us Creatures of the Flesh?

GMF offers its deepest condolences to Evangelist Chisholm, their children Mike, Aaron, and Angel, and the entire Chisholm and Clark family. 

Visitation
Sunday, December 8, 2019
3-8 PM (EST)
Clora Funeral Home – Detroit West
18957 W. Warren Ave
Detroit, MI  48228

Family Hour
Monday, December 9, 2019
10 AM (EST)
Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC
19190 Schaefer Hwy
Detroit, MI  48235

Homegoing Service
11 AM (EST)
Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC

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