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.

"I Hear Music in the Air" Conference returns to Cincinatti May 15-17, 2015

From Jason Hardy
(Cincinnati,
OH)  Assembling some of the industry’s best
and brightest singers, ministers, songwriters, praise & worship
leaders, pastors, music industry professionals and more, “I Hear Music in the Air” ministry and music conference makes its highly anticipated return to Cincinnati, Ohio, May 15-17, 2015.

Boasting
international acclaim as one of the gospel music industry’s premier
events for 14 years, the conference was designed to specifically
highlight the needs of gospel music and provide a forum where industry
professionals can equip each other with insight on creating successful
music ministries. Courting attention from industry veterans, newcomers,
and aspiring leaders alike, the “I Hear Music in the Air”
conference has become a haven for professionals for its wealth of
workshops, concerts, seminars, forums, and networking opportunities –
with this year aiming to raise bar higher than ever.

The
conference weekend is set to kick off with the explosive “I Hear Music
in the Air Concert” at Cincinnati’s renowned Inspirational Baptist
Church on May 15, at 7:00 PM. Hosted by Stellar® Award-winning singer Isaac Carree and The City of Love Church’s beloved Bishop Lester Love
(of New Orleans). The dynamic lineup of performers for the pre-show
includes L. Spencer Smith, Daniel and Andrea McClurkin Mellini, and
Jonathan Dunn. The main show’s line-up includes award winning artists Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Israel Houghton, William Murphy,William McDowell, Jonathan McReynolds, and Rodney Posey. Billboard’s #1 Gospel new artist Casey J. (known for her #1 single “Fill Me Up”) has been added to the main show.

On
Saturday, May 16, attendees will have access to a host of “must see”
events. From 4-7pm, aspiring artists are urged to display their talents
in front of a panel of industry executives at the “I Hear Music in the Air New Artist Showcase”
which will be held at Inspirational Baptist Church located at 11450
Sebring Drive, Cincinnati, OH. The event offers free admission and
requests interested artists visit http://www.ihearmusicintheair.com/i-hear-music-conference/ to register.

At 2:00 PM eOne Music’s Vice President and General Manager, Urban Inspirational Phil Thornton will give insight on the business of music and television and Bishop
Hezekiah Walker will discuss ministry in a “Mastery Class” session at
3:00 PM. The mastery class–hosted at Inspirational Baptist Church–comes just a few hours before Bishop Walker hosts his annual “Choir
Fest” at the same location, which kicks off at 6:00 PM and will feature
20 choirs in front of a live audience and panel of industry
professionals. Choirs interested in participating are urged to visit www.HWChoirfest.com to sign up when registration opens.

The close of the conference will come aboard its annual “Legends Ball,” honoring the achievements of leaders in the industry, community, and world. Grammy® and Stellar® Award winner Pastor Charles Jenkins will serve as keynote speaker and Gospel crooner Brian Courtney Wilson
as the guest psalmist. The event will culminate the ‘I Hear Music in
the Air’ conference weekend at the Sharonville Convention Center on May
17, at 5:30pm.

For more information visit www.ihearmusicintheair.com.

"Pressure" by Jonathan McReynolds (Video)

Enjoy the official music video “Pressure” from eOne’s Jonathan McReynolds.
The single is available at iTunes.

Queens Caesar and Franklin, Mann, other industry greats to perform at the White House

Tamela Mann

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Gospel music returns to the White House this week.

Pastor Shirley Caesar, Bishop Rance Allen, Aretha Franklin, Tamela Mann, and others will perform as part of the “In Performance at the White House” series.  The ode to gospel music will take place Tuesday, April 14, and will stream live at whitehouse.gov/live at 7pm ET.

According to a press release from the Office of the First Lady, “The event will pay tribute to the fundamental role gospel music has
played in the American musical tradition and the important artists and
repertoire that have marked its vibrant history.”

If you miss Tuesday’s live stream, the concert, called “The Gospel Tradition: In Performance at the White House,” will be aired June 26, at 9pm ET, on PBS and be simulcast on TV One.
You can read the press release in its entirety here.

LIVRE’ unveils new CD cover, announces release date

Here it is: the cover art for LIVRE’s forthcoming debut CD, Jericho: Tribe of Joshua.  The project is set to drop July 7, 2015, and will feature Mali Music, Jason Nelson, and others.  

GMF asks, ‘What’s your favorite song of the Easter season?’

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

This week, I took to social media to ask for your favorite songs of the Easter season. Your responses encompassed old school and new school gospel across several subgenres. Here’s what you said:

“Alive”
Vanessa Bell Armstrong cover artNatalie Grant

“For God So Loved the World”
Vanessa Bell Armstrong

“He Was Hung Up for My Hangups”
Twinkie Clark

“In His Name”
John Thorpe and Family

“Jesus”
Shekinah Glory Ministries

“Jesus is Alive”
Ron Kenoly

“Jesus Paid It All”
Mississippi Mass Choir ft. Rev. James Moore

“Jesus Rose with All Power in His Hands”
The New Gospel Keynotes

“Nobody Greater”
VaShawn Mitchell

“Rise Again”
The Gospel Keynotes

“So Glad (He Did Not Leave Me Like He Found Me)”
The Yanceys

“The Blood Still Works”
Malcolm Williams and Great Faith

“Were You There”
Juan Santiago & Uninhibited Praise

Compare your picks to mine by checking out Editor’s Picks of the (Easter) Season and More of the Editor’s Picks of the (Easter) Season.  Then, keep adding your favorites in the comment box below!

Evelyn Starks Hardy, founding member of the Original Gospel Harmonettes, has died

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

One by one, our gospel veterans are exchanging labor for rest.

Bob
Marovich of the Journal of Gospel Music informed GMF this morning that Evelyn Starks Hardy, singer,
arranger, and accompanist for the Original Gospel Harmonettes, passed
today (April 2). We extend our condolences to her family and friends.

Hardy was born in 1922 in Birmingham, AL, and grew up in the church. She began playing for her church when she was nine and later cited Roberta Martin as one of her musical influences.

Marovich highlights Hardy’s career in music as well as education here: Evelyn Starks Hardy Dies; Member of the Original Gospel Harmonettes 

Photo Credit | Professor Nathaniel Frederick, II

An Evening with Evangelist Dorothy Norwood and Pastor Shirley Caesar – April 19

Maurette Brown Clark signs exclusive recording deal with SRT Entertainment

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Just weeks following SRT Entertainment’s announcement that it has signed Luther Barnes to an exclusive recording agreement, the entertainment company now announces the signing of two-time Stellar winner, Maurette Brown Clark, affectionately known to many as the “Princess of Praise and Worship.”

Maurette is not a newcomer to the gospel music industry.  Whether she is performing with Richard Smallwood and Vision or on her own,
the singer, songwriter, musician, producer, wife, and mother is
committed to spreading a message of faith and uplift.

In a press release, Maurette commented, “I am very excited and
optimistic about this next move in my musical journey. To be working
with D.A. Johnson again is a joy and I look forward to what God has for
SRT Entertainment and my ministry. #forward”

Maurette’s hits include “Breaking of Day” and “Just Wanna Praise
You,” and in recent years, she has enjoyed chart success with her
singles “I Hear the Sound (of Victory),” “One God,” and “It Ain’t Over
(Until God Says It’s Over).”

Campbell, Dillard collect multiple Stellars during Gospel’s big weekend

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

It was a big weekend in Las Vegas at the 30th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards for Erica Campbell and Ricky Dillard. Campbell and her CD Help hauled a total of eight awards, including Artist of the Year, CD of the Year, Producer of the Year (Warryn Campbell), and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year. Dillard took home four trophies, two of which for Song of the Year (“Amazing”) and Choir of the Year.


The Walls Group also left Gospel’s big night with a pair of Stellars; along with Deitrick Haddon’s League of Xtraordinary Worshippers; and Lisa Knowles and The Brown Singers, who captured wins for Traditional Group/Duo of the Year and Quartet of the Year.

Check out the full list of winners at uGospel.com. The awards show will be televised April 5, 2015, on TVOne.

Bishop F.C. Barnes named as 2015 inductee into NC Music Hall of Fame

Bishop F.C. Barnes is one of eight artists to be inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame for 2015.

Bishop Barnes is recognized nationally for his homespun style of gospel music and particularly for his 1983 chart-topping hit with Rev. Janice Brown, “Rough Side of the Mountain.” The song boosted the duo’s album sales past 500,000 units.

The singer, songwriter, and preacher was also the founder Red Budd Holy Church, which he pastored for 52 years until his demise in 2011 (see “Bishop, singer, and patriarch Barnes has passed”).

The induction ceremony is set for October 15, 2015, at Gem Theater in Kannapolis, NC.  Tickets will go on sale this summer at the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Museum.  Others in the 2015 class of inductees are Gerald Alston, Nappy Brown, Eric Church, The Fantastic Shakers, Warren Haynes, Chuck Jackson, and Jay Spell.

Update (10/14/15 at 8:17 PM) – As of the date and time noted, there are still a few tickets available for the induction ceremony.  Click here to purchase them online.