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.

Paul Porter – The Healing Testimony [Video]

Motown Gospel artist Paul Porter, formerly of the Christianaires, shares a powerful testimony of God’s miracle-working power.

Watch as he recalls the long road to recovery from blindness, an aneurysm, and subsequent paralysis.


"Stand Up" – LaJaye Britt

“Stand Up”
LaJaye Britt (2013)
Rebel Hill Music LLC/My Q Music Group
Available on iTunes

LaJaye Britt art work stand up

LaJaye Britt hit the music scene in the 90’s with an R&B single, which partly explains the vibe of his current gospel offering, “Stand Up,” and its occasional Ronald Isley nuances.

For the entire three and a half minutes, the Goldsboro, NC native empowers one to emerge from setbacks and “stand up, stand up…stop lettin’ the devil hold you down.”  Suffice it to say that “Stand Up” runs on a full tank of motivation.

In addition to being a singer/songwriter, producer, and musician, LaJaye is the chief apostle of Kingdom Love Fellowship, Inc., based in LaGrange, NC.

“Noel Noel” – Quebec Celebration Gospel Choir (Video)

"What A Holiday" – Maurice Griffin

“What A Holiday”
Maurice Griffin
From CD, My Holiday (2013)
MGM Chicago Music Group
http://mauricegriffinonline.com

There’s nothing like a feel-good song to get you in the spirit of Christmas, and Maurice Griffin taps into the Memphis soul sound (think Al Green) to do just that.

Griffin’s melismas in “What A Holiday” meet up with a slapping bass and brilliant horns to bring you the same infectious energy that he transmitted to BET Sunday Best 2 viewers when he was a finalist.

The full-length Christmas project, My Holiday, is available at iTunes.

Armstrong Williams says Nelson Mandela was inspired by the music of Shirley Caesar

Peter Cooper On the Gospel Legacy of Nashboro Records

A new disc compiles more than three decades of gospel music released from the Nashboro label.


Read more here.

List of the 56th Grammy Awards Gospel Nominees

From the NARAS 56th Grammy Final Nominations Press List:

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
For new vocal gospel/CCM recordings. All sub-genres of gospel/CCM music are eligible.

  1. BREAK EVERY CHAIN [LIVE] Tasha Cobbs
    Track from: Grace [Live] [EMI Gospel/ Motown Gospel]     
  2. HURRICANE Natalie Grant [Curb Records]
  3. LORD, I NEED YOU Matt Maher
    Track from: All The People Said Amen (Live) [Essential Records]
  4. OVERCOMER Mandisa
    Track from: Overcomer [Sparrow Records]
  5. IF HE DID IT BEFORE… SAME GOD [LIVE] Tye Tribbett
    Track from: Greater Than [Live] [Motown Gospel]

Best Gospel Song
A Songwriter(s) Award.  (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  1. HAVE YOUR WAY
    Calvin Frazier & Deitrick Haddon, songwriters (Deitrick Haddon)
    [RCA Inspiration; Publishers: Deitrick Vaughn Haddon Publishing/Calvin Frazier Publishing]
  2. IF HE DID IT BEFORE… SAME GOD [LIVE] Tye Tribbett, songwriter (Tye Tribbett)
    Track from: Greater Than [Live]
    [Motown Gospel; Publisher: Everything Fresh Entertainment LLC]
  3. IF I BELIEVE
    Wirlie Morris, Michael Paran, Charlie Wilson & Mahin Wilson, songwriters (Charlie Wilson)
    Track from: Love, Charlie
    [RCA Records / P Music Group Inc.; Publishers: Nephew Wirlie Music/EMI Music Publishing/Pacific Coast Pirate Publishing/Mamas Pebbly Publishing]
  4. A LITTLE MORE JESUS
    Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Erica Campbell)
    [My Block Inc / Eone Music; Publishers: That’s Plum Song-EMI April/It’s Tea Tyme-EMI April/Campbell Kids
  5. STILL Percy Bady, songwriter (Percy Bady Featuring Lowell Pye)
    Track from: Kingdom Inspirations
    [Maranatha! Music/K-Bizz Ent.; Publisher: Kingdom Bizz Songs BMI]

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  1. HURRICANE
    Matt Bronleewe, Natalie Grant & Cindy Morgan, songwriters (Natalie Grant)[Curb Records; Publisher: Razor & Tie Music Publishing]
  2. LOVE TAKE ME OVER
    Steven Curtis Chapman, songwriter (Steven Curtis Chapman)Track from: The Glorious Unfolding
    [Reunion Records]
  3. OVERCOMER
    David Garcia, Ben Glover & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Mandisa)Track from: Overcomer
    [Sparrow Records; Publishers: Ariose Music/9T One Songs/Meaux Mercy/LarryDavid Music/Capitol CMG Publishing/Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing/D Soul Music]
  4. SPEAK LIFE
    Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore & Ryan Stevenson, songwriters (Tobymac)
    Track from: Eye On It
    [Forefront Records; Publishers: Achtober Songs/EMI CMG Publishing/Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing/Songs Of Emack/Jamnu Music/Hole-Steen Music]
  5. WHOM SHALL I FEAR (GOD OF ANGEL ARMIES) Ed Cash, Scott Cash & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)Track from: Burning Lights
    [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records; Publishers: Sixsteps Songs/Worship Together Music/A Thousand Generations Publishing/EMI CMG Publishing/Alletrop Music/McTyeire Music]

Best Gospel Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal gospel recordings.

  1. GRACE [LIVE]
    Tasha Cobbs
    [EMI Gospel/ Motown Gospel]
  2. BEST FOR LAST: 20 YEAR CELEBRATION VOL. 1 [LIVE]
    Donald Lawrence
    [Quietwater Entertainment/EOne]
  3. BEST DAYS YET
    Bishop Paul S. Morton
    [Tehillah Music Group/EOne]
  4. GOD CHASER [LIVE]
    William Murphy[RCA Inspiration/ Verity Gospel Music Group]
  5. GREATER THAN [LIVE]
    Tye Tribbett
    [Motown Gospel] 

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal contemporary Christian music recordings.

  1. WE WON’T BE SHAKEN Building 429
    [Essential Records]
  2. ALL THE PEOPLE SAID AMEN [LIVE] Matt Maher
    [Essential Records]
  3. OVERCOMER Mandisa
    [Sparrow Records]
  4. YOUR GRACE FINDS ME (LIVE) Matt Redman
    [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records]
  5. BURNING LIGHTS Chris Tomlin
    [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records] 

Homegoing: Doris Lumzy of the Lumzy Sisters

Doris (2nd from right) with the Lumzys.

Condolences flood the Facebook page of Doris Lumzy Bellamy.  Longtime member of the quartet group, The Lumzy Sisters, has passed at the age of 61.  Further information will be added as it becomes available.

Sibling and fellow group member Quita Lumzy passed in 2009.

According their bio on the Malaco website:

When asked what is most important to them in their lives as gospel
artists, Doris answered, “Well, I give all the glory to God. To me,
that’s the key, to help one lost person find their way. Our main focus
is how many souls are being saved. We are not about the glory—how well
we can sing or who sings best, or even awards, but it’s about Jesus and
saving souls.” 

It sounds as if she lived to please the Lord and to hear Him say, “Well done.”

GMF extends heartfelt sympathy to the Bellamy and Lumzy family and friends.


Arrangements
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church
150 Throop Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ  08901

Viewing
8 – 9:30 AM
Homegoing Service
9:30 AM

2014 Stellar Awards nominees announced; Tribbett, Brown lead nominations

(Chicago, IL)  Stand-up comedians turned television hosts, The View’s Sherri Shepherd and syndicated radio personality Rickey Smiley (Dish Nation), will inject new energy as co-hosts of the 29th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. The annual salute to gospel music, The Stellar Awards will be held at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on Saturday, January 18, 2014.
The show will air on the UP television network live on January 18, and
in broadcast syndication on 150 stations in over 125 markets around the
country from January 18 through March 2, 2014. 


Cobbs

Here’s the complete list of this year’s nominees.  Tye Tribbett and Anthony Brown & group therAPy have eight nominations each.  Tamela Mann and Tasha Cobbs each have seven. 

In addition to recognizing the year’s most outstanding contributions in
gospel music, The Stellar Awards will also bestow special honors upon Bishop Hezekiah Walker, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Pastor Maceo Woods. Vicki Winans will present the Lifetime Achievement award to Walker, highlighting his impressive career in gospel music; Kirk Franklin
will present the Most Notable Achievement Award to Congresswoman Lee,
recognizing the leadership role she played in Congress passing the bill
naming the month of September Gospel Music Heritage Month; and Dr. Bobby Jones will present the Legends Award to Pastor Maceo Woods.

Tribbett snags first Soul Train Award win

Congratulations to Tye Tribbett, whose single “If He Did It Before…Same God” won the Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel/Inspirational Performance.  The single is from his current CD, Greater Than. 
The Soul Train Music Awards was recorded in November and aired last night on Centric and BET.  If you missed it, the show will air again Tuesday, December 3, on Centric and BET at 7 PM EST.

Photo Credit: Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Centric/BET Networks