“I Can” – Adaora ft. Papa San

“I Can”
Adaora feat. Papa San (2018)
Available at iTunes

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor
 
Encourage yourself with “I Can” from Adaora Nwokoye’, popularly called Adaora. Pop it into your ears when you head off to work, school, or play. When you listen to this song, you’ll not only want to find the lyrics so you can quickly learn and sing along, but you’ll want to share it to lift up somebody else.


I Can,” with its Reggae style and Caribbean feel, reminds us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, according to the scriptures. We can start our day positively, and remain positive no matter what the enemy throws our way. Keep singing it: “I can do all things through Christ my Saviour / Nothing can hold me back or take my place!”


Adaora’s uptempo inspirational single features world renown Reggae maestro Papa San and is produced by US-based Nigerian music maker Lexisuger.

______________________





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.

R.I.P. Luther Jennings of the Jackson Southernaires

Luther Jennings
Source | Malaco Records

GMF recently learned of the passing of Luther Jennings, original member of the Jackson Southernaires.  We extend our sympathy and prayers to Jennings’ family and friends.

Read more from Malaco Music Group here.

'Spiritual Awakening' TV host Terence Jenkins to return with 'Gospel Awakening'

Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Fans of the defunct Sunday morning gospel music television program Spiritual Awakening will be delighted to know that Bishop Terence Jenkins, the show’s host since 1993, has plans to kick off January 2020 with a new show called Gospel Awakening.  

The new TV program is set to air Sunday mornings at 8 AM ET on 11 ABC’s Disney (D-2) and WITN-2 and will spotlight a featured artist during the half-hour broadcast.  With twice the viewing area of its predecessor, Gospel Awakening can be watched from Guilford County to North Carolina’s Atlantic coast.

Bishop Jenkins hopes to continue the legacy of the show’s forerunner, The Sister Gary Show, which premiered in 1942 and later became Spiritual Awakening.  Believed to be among the longest-running gospel music TV shows on the East Coast, Spiritual Awakening aired its final broadcast March 31, 2019, ending a historic 77-year run.

Gospel Awakening is viewer supported and currently booking talent to appear on the show.  To make a contribution or to sign up to perform, visit www.gospelawakeningnc.org.

Official Video – “Listen” – Seun Ayeni

Seun Ayeni Listen art
Enjoy the official music video from Seun Ayeni called “Listen.”  Ayeni describes his self-written tune as one of his most animated pieces.  The video is directed by Tope Valentine of Genesis Paparazzi Studios. 


“Oh How I Love You” – Zacardi Cortez

“Oh How I Love You”
Zacardi Cortez (2018)
Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
www.zacardicortez.com

Zacardi Cortez cover artBy Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Some of the best songs I’ve heard sound new and old at the same time.  New and catchy, yet nostalgic.  Enter Zacardi Cortez with “Oh How I Love You,” written by Lucius B. Hoskins, Fred Sanders Jr., Izk Jenkins, and Nicholas
Humes.


“Oh How I Love You” is a ballad with music that’s an instant throwback to 70s R&B and
soul.
  Add Zacardi’s passionately soulful vocals and you have an intimate vertical song of devotion for both old school and new school music heads.

Lauren Daigle earns multiple wins at Billboard Music Awards

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Lauren Daigle collected a trio of trophies for Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album, and Top Christian Song at this year’s Billboard Music Awards.  The CCM singer and songwriter continues to enjoy success from her third studio album Look Up Child and performed her crossover hit “You Say” during the awards show, which took place at MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 1.

Lauren Daigle
Lauren Daigle

The winners in each of the CCM and gospel categories are highlighted below.

Top Christian Artist
Cory Asbury
Lauren Daigle
For King & Country
Hillsong Worship
MercyMe


Top Gospel Artist
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tori Kelly
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Marvin Sapp

Top Christian Album
Cory Asbury, Reckless Love
Lauren Daigle, Look Up Child
For King & Country, Burn The Ships
Hillsong Worship, There Is More
Zach Williams, Chain Breaker

Top Gospel Album
Snoop Dogg & Various Artists, Snoop Dogg Presents Bible of Love
Aretha Franklin, Gospel Greats
Koryn Hawthorne, Unstoppable
Tori Kelly, Hiding Place
Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room

Top Christian Song
Cory Asbury, “Reckless Love”
Lauren Daigle, “You Say”
For King & Country, “joy.”
Hillsong Worship, “Who You Say I Am”
Tauren Wells, “Known”

Top Gospel Song
Todd Dulaney, “Your Great Name”
Koryn Hawthorne, “Won’t He Do It”
Tori Kelly ft. Kirk Franklin, “Never Alone”
Jason Nelson, “Forever”
Brian Courtney Wilson, “A Great Work”


See the complete list of BBMA winners here

“Hosanna” – Godlives Don

“Hosanna”
Godlives Don (2019)
www.facebook.com/pg/godlivesdon

Godlives Don Hosanna cover artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor
 
“Hosanna,” the first single from Godlives Don’s recently released album, is a refreshing, inspiring and anointed spiritual song of praise and worship.  Godlives displays his unwavering passion to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through song: “With all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength. I will worship you….Hosanna be glorified…”


Godlives is the president and founder of Faith Land Praise Assembly International, also known as Rhema City, in his hometown of Ughelli in Delta State, Nigeria.

______________________





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.

"Not Yet" – Donnie McClurkin

“Not Yet”
Donnie McClurkin (2019)
RCA Inspiration/Camdon Music
www.donniemcclurkin.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Donnie McClurkins life couldve ended in the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 12, 2018. Many of us learned what happened hours later.  The miracle is that the survivor told us himself.

“Lost consciousness driving…but two human angels followed my swerving car with their emergency blinkers onto [sic] stop traffic ….drove behind me until my car crashed into the middle concrete island. I remember none of it except those two angels pulling me out of the passengers [sic] side of the crumbled TOTALED car..airbags deployed…crushed metal and Fiberglas [sic]!!”
 
“I AM ALIVE!!!!” (via Facebook @DonnieMcClurkin)
 
Not surprisingly, the Grammy-winning singer went on to pen the reflective single, Not Yet.
 
Thought it was the end this time
God said, “Not yet”
I thought that I would lose my mind
God said, “Not yet”
Thinkin’ ’bout my yesterday
Wondering how I got away
But death heard Jesus say
He said, “Not yet”

Not Yet is a lyrical sentiment of Gods grace and intent toward McClurkin. The beauty of the single from his forthcoming solo project is that like many a good song, the message is widely applicable to all who can testify of their own not yet encounters with the Almighty. 

“Your Love” – Enin Perryman

“Your Love”
Enin Perryman (2018)
www.eninperryman.com

Enin Perryman Your Love art

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

Listening to “Your Love” is like being in a movie theater with surround sound.  Just like surround sound, Enin Perryman’s single creates a sensation of empowering love coming from any horizontal direction–360° around the listener–and brings you along with him to have you tapping your toes and ready to tell the world of your victories too. Prepare yourself to allow his rich sound–which occasionally ascends into his falsetto register–and captivating lyrics to take you back to a moment when you felt the overwhelming presence of the Almighty‘s love.  Through “Your Love,” the Atlanta-based singer, songwriter, and pastor assures you that Jesus is with you through any challenge that you face.  

Perryman, whose talents have afforded him performances and collabs with Usher, Quincy Jones, Prince, and others, is preparing to release a full-length project in 2019.


______________________


Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and lifelong 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.

Billboard nominees for 2019 announced

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Koryn Hawthorne
Koryn Hawthorne

Congratulations to this year’s finalists for the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.

Koryn Hawthorne and Tori Kelly earned nominations in each gospel categoryTop Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Album, and Top Gospel Song. 

Cory Asbury, Lauren Daigle, For King & Country, and Hillsong Worship all picked up nominations in each of the Christian categoriesTop Christian Artist, Top Christian Album, and Top Christian Song.

Aretha Franklin received a posthumous nod for the album, Gospel Greats. 

The Billboard Awards will take place at MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 1, 2019, at 8 PM ET and will be broadcast live on NBC.  

Below are the nominees for both the gospel and Christian music categories.  You can view Billboard’s entire list here.

Top Christian Artist
Cory Asbury
Lauren Daigle
For King & Country
Hillsong Worship
MercyMe

Tori Kelly
Tori Kelly

Top Gospel Artist
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tori Kelly
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Marvin Sapp

Top Christian Album
Cory Asbury, Reckless Love
Lauren Daigle, Look Up Child
For King & Country, Burn The Ships
Hillsong Worship, There Is More
Zach Williams, Chain Breaker

Top Gospel Album
Snoop Dogg & Various Artists, Snoop Dogg Presents Bible of Love
Aretha Franklin, Gospel Greats
Koryn Hawthorne, Unstoppable
Tori Kelly, Hiding Place
Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room

Top Christian Song
Cory Asbury, “Reckless Love”
Lauren Daigle, “You Say”
For King & Country, “joy.”
Hillsong Worship, “Who You Say I Am”
Tauren Wells, “Known”

Top Gospel Song
Todd Dulaney, “Your Great Name”
Koryn Hawthorne, “Won’t He Do It”
Tori Kelly ft. Kirk Franklin, “Never Alone”
Jason Nelson, “Forever”
Brian Courtney Wilson, “A Great Work”