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.

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

Helen Graham Spears, mother of Kim Burrell, passes on

GMF extends condolences to Pastor Kim Burrell and family in the homegoing of their matriarch, Helen Graham Spears. Mother Spears passed early this morning, December 1, at the age of 70.
Kim’s brother, Julius Burrell, died this past July (see GMF announcement).

Oretha Winston of elev8.com has posted arrangements for Mother Spears.

TBN founder Paul Crouch has died

GMF is saddened to learn of the passing of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) co-founder, Paul Crouch. He was 79 years-old and had been battling chronic heart problems. Read more of his passing here.

The following update was shared via TBN’s Facebook page on Sunday, December 1:

To our precious partners… We are all overwhelmed with your prayers and expressions of love. It is sustaining us through this very emotional time. Following Dr. Crouch’s personal wishes, there will be no public memorial service.  Rather, we will celebrate his life with an edited Television Special airing: Sunday, December 8th at 7:00 pm PST, again at 11:00 pm PST and also Monday, December 9th at 2:00 pm PST on all TBN NETWORKS.

Along with millions of Christians around the world, GMF extends condolences to his wife Jan, sons Paul and Matt, grandchildren, and host of family and friends.

Dorinda Clark-Cole lands TV show on The Word Network, re-brands current radio show

Today, The Word Network announced the addition of Gospel According to Dorinda to its lineup.  The extremely brief blog post on www.thewordnetwork.org did not provide additional details about the show at GMF press time.  From Dorinda’s Facebook page, however, we know she is stoked, and she urges her fans to “stay tuned for updates!”


In a press release from Bill Carpenter, it was also announced that Dorinda’s syndicated radio program “Serving Up Soul” is being renamed “The Dorinda Clark-Cole Show,” beginning January 2014.  


“Re-branding the name is a result of responding to our fans,” Clark-Cole explained.  “Our listeners called the show ‘The Dorinda Clark-Cole Show’ anyway. When they did web searches, they used that name. We are all about our radio family so it only makes sense to call the show what the fans have been calling it all along. I am grateful for all the stations that carry the show because we seek to give them a great product while nourishing our listeners’ minds, bodies and souls through information and entertainment.”


According to the press release, the two-hour weekly broadcast will continue to feature gospel hits, unique weekly features, and interviews with gospel personalities.
 

Kudos to the songstress, evangelist, and media personality!

"Noel" – Daphney Hilton

“Noel”
Daphney Hilton (2013)
Available at http://daphneyhilton.bandcamp.com

Daphney Hilton creates holiday nostalgia with her rendition of “Noel,” fashioned from the traditional carol, “The First Noel.”

Hilton’s “Noel” is a cozy jazz/soul remake of the Christmas hymn, textured with her sultry alto and melodic background repetitions of “Noel, Noel, He is the king of Israel.”

The single is also featured on the project, Silverwood Holiday Music, Vol. 1.

WNCU 90.7 FM’s Ryals invites you to Saturday Morning Jubilee – Nov. 30

This time around, Carolyn Pettiford-Ryals’ Sunday morning jubilee will be on Saturday.  That’s right, this Saturday, November 30, WNCU’s queen of gospel radio will host her popular morning sing-along—this time called “Saturday Morning Jubilee featuring the ‘Fancy Hats’ Parade”—at Young’s Chapel Baptist Church.  The church is located at 284 Young’s Chapel Church Road in Roxboro, NC, and the musical begins at 11am.

The Spiritual Lights of Rougemont, WNCU on-air personality Minister Carolyn Satterfield, Minister Brenda
Hunt-Moore, Val Hannah, Touch N Spirit, and the New Joylette Singers are scheduled to appear.

Carolyn is looking forward to seeing you there!

DeWayne Woods loses ‘best friend,’ temporarily

Gospel singer DeWayne Woods is thankful for a happy ending to what he called “a nightmare” when speaking to KCTV 5 News recently.  Read more here.

Woods’ name soared in popularity during the success of the hit “Let Go” from his 2006 CD, Introducing DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet.  Besides being a Grammy nominated artist, he is an advocate for animals and a spokesman for PETA.

Donald A. McClurkin, Sr., father of Donnie McClurkin, has died

Donnie McClurkin

Bob Marovich of The Black Gospel Blog shared the sad news of the passing of Donald A. McClurkin, Sr., father of gospel singers Donnie McClurkin and Andrea McClurkin-Mellini.  The patriarch died this morning, November 13.  The matriarch of the family, Frances McClurkin, passed in January.

Last week, Donnie petitioned his friends and fans for prayers on Social Cam, after disclosing that his father had undergone emergency surgery in South Carolina.  In the days following, he excitedly shared that his father was “full of faith” about his health situation.  


A couple of years ago, we at GMF talked with Donnie, and he had some very candid things to say about his dad (see Donnie McClurkin opens up about his father).


GMF extends condolences to and prayers for the McClurkin family during this time of transition.  

As they become available, you will find additional details at The Black Gospel Blog.