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.

Official Video – "I Ain't Preaching to the Choir" – Miz Tiffany


Enjoy Miz Tiffany’s official music video, “I Ain’t Preaching to the Choir.” The single is from her forthcoming EP by the same name. Miz Tiffany, aka Tiffany Coleman-McGee, is a Christian rapper, songwriter, model, and aspiring author from Mississippi.



“I Believe (Gospel Remix)” – Michael Stosic feat. Gordon Chambers

“I Believe (Gospel Remix)”
Michael Stosic feat. Gordon Chambers (2016)
Available at iTunes

"I Believe (Gospel Remix)" - Michael Stosic feat. Gordon Chambers art workBy Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Singer/songwriter Michael Stosic has released a gospel-tinged remix of the Christian adult contemporary single, “I Believe.”

In his self-penned tune, Stosic – whose voice has been compared to Barry Manilow – steadily and melodically makes his way through a lyrical list of affirmations, both positive and poignant: “I believe in God…I believe He is love… / I believe we live in a world filled with darkness / I believe we can shine love’s light…”  His message is accentuated in the chorus, where Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Gordon Chambers (Yolanda Adams, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Usher) chimes in on the lead vocals.  Background singers Rasul A-Salaam, Cassondra James Kellam, Helen White, and Monet Ulerio celestially echo Stosic and Chambers’ sentiments: “I believe in love.”

Fortune thankful for prayers following four-car wreck involving drunk driver

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

James Fortune says he is sore but blessed to be alive after a four-car accident involving a drunk driver.

Just last week, a photo was posted to Fortune’s Instagram account along with an urgent request for prayer.  According to the caption, he was en route to church when struck by the drunk driver.  In the photo, Fortune appeared to be on a gurney but was responsive.

The next day, he took to Instagram from his home to thank his supporters for their prayers, adding, “If the enemy’s trying to kill me this early in the year, he gave me a notification that God’s getting ready to do something great in 2017!”

Prayers and well wishes continue to pour in for Cory "CoCo Brother" Condrey

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


Prayers have been lifted for media personality/pastor, Cory “CoCo Brother” Condrey, ever since the news broke of his involvement in a horrific head-on collision last month.  In the Periscope update that soon followed, his wife, Joann Rosario-Condrey, disclosed that he sustained several breaks and injuries.


Media sources initially reported the head-on collision was near fatal. Yesterday, Cory, who is recovering, tweeted the tragic news that the man who hit him has now passed on.  Prayers and well wishes continue to flood social media as Cory shares his journey to recovery with his supporters. 


If his face or name is familiar, then you probably recognize Cory as the former host of BET’s Lift Every Voice or as the voice of radio shows “The Spirit” and “CoCo Brother Live: The Weekend.”  He and Joann are pastors of RainFire Church Maranatha in Douglasville, GA.

Caesar to be honored with Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Photo Courtesy of eOne Music

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


The Recording Academy announced today (Dec. 19) that Shirley Caesar is the recipient of one of the seven 2017 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards bestowed by the Academy.  Other Lifetime Achievement Awardees are jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, country singers Charley Pride and Jimmie Rodgers, vocalist Nina Simone, musician/songwriter Sly Stone, and rock band The Velvet Underground. 


According to a press release from The Recording Academy, “The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates performers who have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording, while the Trustees Award honors contributions in areas other than performance. The recipients are determined by vote of The Recording Academy’s National Board of Trustees. Technical GRAMMY Award recipients are voted on by The Academy’s Producers & Engineers Wing® Advisory Council and Chapter Committees, and are ratified by The Academy’s Trustees. The award is presented to individuals and/or companies who have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording industry.”
Of Pastor Shirley Caesar, The Recording Academy writes, 

A deeply spiritual and affecting gospel singer, Shirley Caesar’s emotive vocal talents were discovered in a church choir when she was 10 years old. She is arguably best known for her eight-year tenure with the Chicago-based gospel group the Caravans, whom she joined after appealing to Albertina Walker to sing a solo with the group. Electing to pursue a solo career in 1966 alongside her own choir, the Caesar Singers, she subsequently carved out a profile that earned her the title of First Lady of Gospel Music. Caesar’s roll call of achievements includes 11 GRAMMY Awards®, 14 Stellar awards, 15 Dove awards, a NAACP Image Award, a Soul Train Music Award, and two current 59th GRAMMY nominations.

Caesar, 78, has enjoyed a highly successful 2016 that, in addition to the GRAMMY nominations for her Billboard chart-topping album Fill This House, has included a number one spot on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart for “Hold My Mule” (as result of the viral Internet success of the “U Name It” Challenge featuring a portion of the sermonette), and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"This Christmas" – Joshua Rogers

“This Christmas”
Joshua Rogers (2016)
Mixed Bag Entertainment
http://www.thejoshuarogers.us

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Certain Christmas songs put you in the holiday spirit from the opening note.  Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” is one of them. Forty-six years following its original release, Joshua Rogers delivers a cover of the R&B/soul classic.

Rogers, who became the youngest person and first male to win BET’s Sunday Best, chooses an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to “This Christmas.”  The gospel sensation‘s sage decision underscores his facility for traversing music genres and pays tribute to Hathaway’s creative genius.

Rogers is gearing up to drop a new album in summer 2017.

From Labor to Reward: Joe Ligon of the Mighty Clouds of Joy [Arrangements Added]

Joe Ligon
Photo from Joe Ligon Facebook profile

GMF joins thousands of others in mourning the passing of quartet legend Joe Ligon today (December 11). Jamaal Moore, a friend of GMF, first informed us of the news. We extend our condolences and prayers to Ligon’s family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT REGARDING THE DEATH OF WILLIE JOE LIGON
 
We are heartbroken to share the news that the World’s Greatest Male Gospel Singer – Willie Joe Ligon, Founder and Lead Singer of the three-time Grammy Award-winning group – The Mighty Clouds of Joy of Los Angeles, California passed away today, Sunday, December 11, 2016.
 
Joe was a loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Cousin, Uncle, Mentor, and Friend to so many who loved him dearly. Joe will always be remembered as one of the top-selling and most awarded Gospel Artist of All Time because of his recordings and music that continues to bless millions all around the World.
 
As much as Joe cherished his privacy, he always appreciated the expressions of goodwill from people around the world and from all walks of life.
 
While we mourn the loss of a very good and amazingly humble man, we also celebrate his remarkable life as one of the most successful artists in Gospel Music History and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits as he did with The Mighty Clouds of Joy, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves.
 
For those who may ask what they can do to honor Joe, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service to mankind, accomplishment by being your best and doing your best and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a stormy day think of Joe and get comfort in knowing that he is no longer in the storm that was too long.
 
Additional information about the final arrangements will be released to the General Public pending Mr. Ligon’s Family’s approval.
 
We kindly ask everyone to please respect the Family’s privacy during this time of bereavement.
 
Thank you!
 
Best regards,
 
Pastor Isaac Lindsey
Manager 
Joe Ligon & The Mighty Clouds of Joy 
www.JoeLigon.org or www.TheMightyCloudsofJoy.org


Update (12/16/16 at 10:30 PM ET) – Arrangements regarding the Celebration of Life services for Joe Ligon have been issued in the official statement below.  Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. will deliver the eulogy.

 

2017 Grammy nominees announced

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


Originally posted Dec. 6, 2016 at 5:30 PM 

Last updated Dec. 6, 2016 at 11:42 PM



Congratulations to gospel’s nominees for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.  Given her extraordinarily successful year, it isn’t surprising that Shirley Caesar earned two noms for Best Gospel Performance/Song (“It’s Alright, It’s OK”) and Best Gospel Album (Fill This House).


Gospel trendsetters Kirk Franklin and Hezekiah Walker also earned nominations, along with Jekalyn Carr, Travis Greene, Tamela Mann, Tim Bowman, Jr., Todd Dulaney, and William Murphy.  In addition, God Don’t Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson received a nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album. The Blind Boys of Alabama picked up a nomination for their performance (“Mother’s Children Have a Hard Time”) on the album in the Best American Roots Performance category.


To see the complete lists in each of the gospel categories, visit: 59th Annual Grammy Awards Nominees [Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Award Genre]


The awards show will air February 12, 2017, at 8 PM ET on CBS.


Pictured left to right from top: Caesar, Greene, Carr, Murphy, Walker, Bowman, Mann, Franklin, and Dulaney.

Prayers up for Tonya Lewis Taylor

The following was provided to GMF in a media release.  Please keep Tonya lifted in prayer for a speedy recovery.

(New York, NY – December 1, 2016) Gospel artist Tonya Lewis Taylor was rushed to the emergency room and has been in the hospital since Tuesday.  On Monday night, she started to complain of severe head pains. Tonya, who insists that she doesn’t get headaches, mentioned in a Facebook post that she felt like “her head was about to explode.”  Tonya has a family history of aneurysms and strokes, and she is currently undergoing tests to determine the source of the issue. Please keep her in your prayers!


Tonya Lewis Taylor’s single “I’m A Winner” from her latest project/EP I’ve Got To Win debuted in the top 30 on the Billboard Gospel Charts.  With the highly anticipated release of her national debut album Delayed But Not Denied in 2014 (on which she wrote and co-produced all of the songs), Tonya’s music has seen incredible momentum, blazing radio airwaves.

Lewis-Taylor is not only a singer/songwriter and producer but a teacher, award winning philanthropist and an author.  Wherever she goes, she engages, encourages, and empowers people to reach their full potential in their personal, entrepreneurial and spiritual lives.

"I Found a Friend" – John Joyner

“I Found a Friend”
John Joyner (2016)
Available at CD Baby

John Joyner "I Found A Friend"

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

“I Found a Friend” is the newly released single from NC minister and musician, John Joyner.  Joyner’s silvery tenor lends itself to ballads, which he demonstrates in a pair of verses describing discouragement, dismay, and loneliness.  “When my friends, they turn their backs on me,” he sings, “I can say I have a best friend, and He’s all I need.”

“I Found a Friend” is produced by Brian Foster.  Joyner leads Order My Steps Outreach Ministry in Oxford, NC.