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.

Music industry remembers song stylist Daryl Coley [Arrangements Added]

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Originally posted March 16, 2016 at 5:45 PM
Last updated March 22, 2016 at 10:01 PM



The music industry mourns the passing of gospel vocalist extraordinaire, Daryl Coley, who made his earthly transition Tuesday night, March 15, after several years of health challenges.  He was 60 years old.  You can read more about Coley’s career and passing from the DC Gospel Music Examiner’s Sarah Hearn here.


Many considered Coley’s vocal artistry to be unparalleled.  Erica Campbell, Micah Stampley, Ted Winn, DeWayne Woods, and Anita Wilson are just a handful who name him among their influences.

Homegoing information as released by the family is as follows:

 
Once the news of Coley’s passing was confirmed last week, after the earlier circulation of false reports, industry contemporaries and protégés flooded social media with remembrances.


Please join GMF in continuing to pray for the family of one of the great voices of our time.

An Amazing Artist and Phenomenal Vocalist. You will truly be missed. Love you Darryl Coley! R.I.P.
Posted by Dorinda Clark-Cole on Wednesday, March 16, 2016

I was 24 years old and got a call from Daryl Coley. I knew him very well because Daryl was the one who gave my demo to…
Posted by Kirk Franklin on Wednesday, March 16, 2016

A photo posted by Richard Smallwood (@smallrich) on

R.I.P. Terrell "Midge" Gatlin, formerly of the Williams Brothers

“Midge” (C) with (L to R) Melvin & Doug Williams. | From YouTube

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF extends its sympathy in the passing of musician/writer/producer, Terrell “Midge” Gatlin, formerly of the Williams Brothers and the Christianaires.  Gatlin died in an apparent drowning in Mississippi.  As of Wednesday morning, March 16, Pike County authorities were uncertain whether the incident occurred Monday night or Tuesday morning.

In addition to his tenures with the Williams Brothers and Christianaires, Gatlin’s work is featured on projects by the Truthettes, Doug Williams, Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes, the Jackson Southernaires, the Angelic Gospel Singers, and others.

Please join us in prayer for the family and friends during this difficult time.

Edward "Ed" William Hall, Jr., Raleigh area singer and former radio personality, has died

From Lea Funeral Home Website

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever 

NC’s gospel music community mourns the passing of Edward “Ed” William Hall, Jr., veteran gospel singer and former radio announcer for Raleigh’s WSHA radio station.  Hall died Monday, March 14, at the age of 86.

I first experienced Hall’s traditional gospel style and engaging personality in the 1980s, during his weekly television appearances with the Wesleyan TV Choir on WRAL’s Spiritual Awakening gospel music program.  Hall was a frequent featured soloist with the choir, led by Sandra Byrd, who also served as the show’s host.  In addition, Hall sang with the Sensational Evening Five for a number of years.

GMF extends sincerest condolences to Brother Hall’s family and friends.

Arrangements are as follows:

Visitation
Saturday, March 19, 2016
11AM – 12PM
Upper Room COGIC
3300 Idlewood Village Drive
Raleigh, NC

Funeral
12 PM, immediately following visitation


Interment
Montlawn Cemetery
Raleigh, NC

Indiana U’s Archives of African American Music and Culture houses Jacquie Gales Webb Collection

(Bloomington, IN)  Jacquie Gales Webb, an award-winning radio/television producer and gospel music announcer, has selected Indiana University’s Archives of African American Music and Culture (AAAMC) as the repository for her collected papers and an array of production materials related to her career. The collection will provide an invaluable resource for scholarly research and course development on Black-oriented radio, radio documentary production, media history, African American music—including gospel and jazz—as well as broader issues on music, mass communication and culture.

On March 9, Gales Webb will visit the IU campus to present a free public lecture in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center’s Grand Hall at 4 PM. The lecture will be followed by a reception honoring her distinguished career and celebrating the establishment of the Jacquie Gales Webb Collection.

An exhibit currently on display through March 11, in the Neal-Marshall’s Bridgwaters Lounge provides an overview of Gales Webb’s career as well as the history of Black radio. As producer of the groundbreaking 1996 Smithsonian radio series, “Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was,” Webb was among the first to explore the history and development of Black-oriented radio through interviews with pioneering disc jockeys, producers, radio station executives and recording artists.

On March 7, a publicly accessible online multi-media exhibit celebrating Gales Webb’s career was added to the AAAMC’s website (aaamc.indiana.edu). Drawing upon materials in the Jacquie Gales Webb Collection, the exhibit includes many images of her work within radio, the gospel music industry, and the Washington, D.C. community.

The Jacquie Gales Webb Collection was also the source of many items used in the AAAMC’s online multi-media exhibit, “The Golden Age of Black Radio,” which debuted February 1 on the Google Cultural Institute website. Included are audio clips of interviews conducted by Gales Webb with Black radio pioneers, many available to the public for the first time. Following the format of Gales Webb’s Black Radio series, the four-part exhibit traces the birth of Black-oriented radio in Chicago, the role of radio during the Civil Rights Movement, women in radio, and the role of personality deejays in “breaking the hits” and promoting Black music and artists. The AAAMC was one of 50 institutions invited to partner with Google to celebrate Black History Month by curating new online exhibits.  Gales Webb has hosted the number one “Sunday Afternoon Gospel” music program in Washington, D.C. since 1990 on 96.3 WHUR. 


From Bill Carpenter

Official Video – "The Fight" – Clifford feat. Adedoyin

Enjoy Clifford’s official music video, “The Fight,” featuring Adedoyin. The video was directed by Damhadji and shot at several locations in Ibadan, located in Nigeria. 


Bryan Andrew Wilson and Bri Briana Babineaux shine both on red carpet and gospel chart

Publicist Bill Carpenter shared this photo of recording artists Bryan Andrew Wilson and Bri Briana Babineaux on the red carpet at the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards last weekend in Las Vegas.

According to Carpenter, both Bri’s radio single “I’ll Be the One” and Bryan’s self-penned single “Overflow (Let Your Spirit)” are perched on Billboard Magazine’s Gospel Airplay chart. 
The Stellar Awards airs March 6, on TV One.

“I Shall Wear A Crown” – YaLonda Lolar-Johnson

“I Shall Wear A Crown”
YaLonda Lolar-Johnson (2015)
Available at iTunes
YaLonda Lolar-Johnson art work

By Libra Boyd 
Gospel Music Fever

She describes herself as a soprano, but YaLonda Lolar-Johnson makes effective use of her alto register with her jazzy arrangement of “I Shall Wear A Crown,” popularized by the late Thomas Whitfield.

YaLonda’s satin vocal performance is complemented by equally polished accompaniment: silken background vocals, expressive horns—which feature a sax solo, and mellow jazz organ voicings.

YaLonda is a native of Saint Paul, MN.  Her EP, Exodus, is scheduled to be released sometime this year. 

Anthony Brown wins huge at 31st Stellar Awards

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Ask Anthony Brown about his weekend, and you may well hear just how stellar it was.  The singer/songwriter/producer and his aggregation, group therAPy, won every category in which they were nominated, including Song of the Year for “Worth” (from the CD, Everyday Jesus).

That’s ten Stellar Awards.

Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago also had a great weekend, taking home four awards, including one for Choir of the Year.

Check out the list of winners and honorees at uGospel.com.  The awards show will be televised March 6, 2016, on TVOne.

Herbert "Pee Wee" Pickard, well-known accompanist, has died

Photo | YouTube

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


Jordan Phillips informed GMF that Herbert “Pee Wee” Pickard of Detroit, noted accompanist for James Cleveland and the Voices of Tabernacle, the Gospel Harmonettes, and others, passed away today (February 19). 


Pickard was a musical prodigy who grew up in a religious and musical household.  His father was a COGIC pastor and his mother and older sister were pianists.  According to gospel music historian Opal Nations, as a teen Pickard toured with Professor Alex Bradford and Brother Joe May.  During his tenure with May, he grabbed the attention of Evelyn Hardy, pianist for the Gospel Harmonettes.  In the early 1950s, when Hardy decided to leave the group to resume her career as a public school educator, Pickard became the group’s pianist (and later, the organist).

In 1968, the Savoy label released Soul Piano, an album of instrumental solos by Pickard.  In the late 1970s, he recorded again on the Savoy label; this time with his group, the Pickard Singers.

Several musicians, including gospel artist Richard Smallwood, have acknowledged Pickard’s influence on them.  About a year ago, Smallwood took to social media to share his appreciation and admiration publicly.  He wrote,

I remember as a young teen trying to emulate everything I heard on
record as he played for James Cleveland, The Angelic Choir, The Voices
of Tabernacle of Detroit and so many others.  Much love and respect to
you Pee Wee for being my inspiration.  Listening to you and studying you
pushed me to do things out of the box as a young kid.  I stand on your
shoulders.  You will never know how much I appreciate and admire you!  I
am because of you.

A funeral will not be held, as Pickard did not want one, according to his family.  Plans for a memorial musical tribute in March, the month of his 82nd birthday, are underway.  The date will be announced later.

Please join GMF in prayer for the family, friends, and fans of another soldier who has gone home. 

Gospel winners announced at the 58th Grammy Awards

Congratulations
to the gospel winners at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, announced last
evening (February 15, 2016) in Los Angeles. 

Best Gospel Performance/Song 
“Wanna Be Happy?” – Kirk Franklin
Written by Kirk Franklin

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“Holy Spirit” – Francesca Battistelli
From the album, If We’re Honest (Deluxe Edition)

Best Gospel Album
Covered Alive in Asia [Live] – Israel & New Breed

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
This is Not a Test – Tobymac

Best Roots Gospel Album
Still Rockin’ My Soul – The Fairfield Four