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 – "Greatest Man I Know" – VaShawn Mitchell f. Israel Houghton

“Greatest Man I Know”
VaShawn Mitchell feat. Israel Houghton
From the CD, Created 4 This (2012)
Motown Gospel

VaShawn Mitchell Created 4 This art work

By Shaundria Williams
Special Contributor

“Nobody greater, nobody greater nooooo, nobody greater than You! Searched all over (insert sound of a screeching record).”  I am sure there are some people who are wondering why VaShawn Mitchell would release another single about the greatness of God.  Really?  Well, how great is your god?

Church folks say, “If I had ten thousand tongues, I couldn’t praise Him enough.” By that theory, Bro. Mitchell could do an entire project entitled He’s Great, each track could be called “He’s Great,” and it still wouldn’t be enough to illustrate the breadth and depth of His Majesty–I digress.

“Greatest Man I Know,” written by Baltimore native Steve McKoy, is a one-song praise and worship session.  Adding the King of Multinational Worship in the body of Israel Houghton heightens the energy and produces a complete worship experience.  This song invokes a child-like worship, as if the saints have all encircled the throne to twirl, skip, hop, dance, and sing before Him in the beauty of Holiness—in Spirit and in Truth.  It’s a sure anthem for the sincere worshipper—sealed with a simple war cry. (I hope you know the power of a war cry.)

It follows the trend of simple “everybody” songs, like “Break Every Chain” (Tasha Cobbs).  You don’t have to be able to read sheet music or become involved with lengthy ostentatious verses to be able to sing along with the song.  Just love God and sincerely express how GREAT He is to you—which speaks to VaShawn’s most prominent gift: worship leader.

According to his bio on vashawnmitchell.com, Mitchell is a six-time Stellar Award-winner and GRAMMY® Award-nominated recording artist.  However, his first love is his church ministry.  He started his music ministry as the assistant music director when he was a young teenager.  He’s grown in ministry under the tutelage of Lonnie Hunter, the covering of Bishop Larry D. Trotter, and he’s worked with artists such as Smokie Norful, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Bishop Paul S. Morton.

You can find “Greatest Man I Know” on VaShawn’s latest project Created 4 This. You can also check out the official video below.

Trayvon Martin's mom releases new single featuring gospel's T-D.O.G.G.

Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, has released an inspirational song entitled “Joy Comes in the Morning.” Her collab with gospel hip-hopper T-D.O.G.G. is receiving positive reviews, especially from the numerous families affected by senseless gun violence.

T-D.O.G.G. wrote the inspirational piece after Fulton reached out, requesting that he compose a song based on her experiences.  Though she does not sing on the track, she uses the power of spoken word to encourage the brokenhearted.

“Joy Comes in the Morning” is available at CD Baby.  Proceeds will be used to make additional copies of the song.

GMA announces 44th Annual Dove Awards nominees

Nominees for the 44th Annual GMA Dove Awards have been announced.  The awards show will be held Tuesday, October 15, at 7:30 PM CT, at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville.  It will air Monday, October 21, at 8 PM EST on the UP! Network.

You can view the list of nominees here.  Second ballot online voting opens September 3, from which the winners will be chosen.

"I Love the Lord" – Femi Jubal

“I Love the Lord”
Femi Jubal ( 2013)
www.facebook.com/femijubal

Femi Jubal

Femi Jubal of Abuja, Nigeria is described as a transformational servant-leader, songwriter, speaker, worship leader, and addicted soul winner.  “I Love the Lord” is his current single.

Co-written by Femi and his friend Adams, an Abuja-based producer, “I Love the Lord” opens with warm layers of piano and strings. Over the course of five and a half minutes and Femi’s passionate (and ever so slightly raspy) vocal, the song blooms into a full-blown contemporary christian worship ballad.

Femi’s life is a story of redemption and restoration that brought him to the life-changing realization that “there is nothing for him outside [of] Jesus.”

Earnest Pugh headlines "The Men of Worship" tour, promotes new CD

Earnest Pugh

It was announced today by Bill Carpenter that Earnest Pugh is headlining “The Men of Worship Tour,” which kicks off with an appearance at Bishop T.D. Jakes’ MegaFest on Friday, August 30, at 8:30am.  Joining Pugh on “The Men of Worship Tour” will be EPM Music Group recording artists Keith Williams and Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis. Williams releases his sophomore urban contemporary CD Tone For Worship on September 10, and Tharpe is pushing his current CD Live in Memphis.

From there, Pugh will weave fifteen listening party concert dates for his forthcoming CD The W.I.N. (Worship in Nassau) Experience into his regularly scheduled touring dates.  The new CD is produced by Grammy winner Cedric Thompson and features appearances by Shirley Caesar, Rance Allen, LeJuene Thompson, and Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis.

You can get news updates on Pugh, book “The Men of Worship Tour” for your church, and or his confirmed tour dates at earnestpugh.com or by calling 301-259-1419.  You can also stream snippets from the new album at https://soundcloud.com/earnest-pugh.

Jonathan, Jason Nelson and family present ’13 Full Nelson Worship and Word Summit

The Nelson Family
Stellar Award winning recording artist, Jonathan Nelson, who recently
topped Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart with his latest CD Strong
Finish, and his twin brother, Bishop Jason Nelson (currently rising on
the charts with “Nothing Without You”), are partnering once again with
their siblings to present the second annual Full Nelson Worship and Word
Summit taking place September 19-21, 2013, at the CFSMM Worship Center in the Baltimore, MD area.
 
“It
is our vision to come together to impact God’s people with key tools
for successful ministry as well as empowering a new generation to
establish Kingdom principles and best practices in the 21st century,”
the Nelson family says in a unified mission statement. The family
is bringing together an astounding array of today’s top psalmists,
intercessors, facilitators and speakers for this unique gathering.
 
Last
year’s summit was a rousing success and this year’s event promises to
be just as memorable and life changing.  The opening night speaker is
Bishop Marvin L. Winans. Each morning begins with a prayer session
facilitated by Pastor T. Renea Glenn of the Life Center in Greenville,
SC. There are daytime sessions with Dr. Carolyn Showell, musician Mike
Clemons (Israel Houghton & New Breed) and Pastor Hart

Click to enlarge

Ramsey. The
night services open with praise and worship led by Sha Simpson. There’s
special music by Grammy Award nominee Vashawn Mitchell, Kierra Sheard
and Kirk Franklin protégées The Walls Group. Bishop John Francis is also
an evening speaker.

 
Joining the Nelsons in coordinating this
year’s event are their brothers Bishop James Nelson (Pastor of Destiny
Christian Church in Baltimore) and Pastor Anthony L. Trufant (Emmanuel
Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY); their sister Janice Nelson Briley
(Co-Pastor of New Harvest Ministries in Baltimore, MD); and their cousin
Floyd E. Nelson II (Kingdom Harvest Ministries in Landover, MD).
 
The summit takes place at the CFSMM Worship Center, 701 Cherry Hill Road, Baltimore, MD 21225. Obtain registration information by calling (443) 468-7167 or emailing [email protected].  You can also visit the website at www.fullnelsonsummit.com.

"Ready Aim" – Mali Music

“Ready Aim”

Mali Music (2013)
RCA Records
www.malimusicofficial.com
Mali Music "Ready Aim" art work
By Shaundria Williams
Special Contributor 

SOAP BOX:  My God is so creative, strategic and infinite.  He has a way of ministering to every soul–from sending missionaries to the most desolate corners of third-world countries to impregnating vocalists and lyricists with music directly designed to minister to those who live and breathe HIP HOP.

If you follow Mali Music on Facebook, you’ll notice mixed reviews about his music career. Some folks are praying for him as if he’s hell bound.  Others are head-banging and hailing him a musical genius.  I stand with the Others.  I am often applauded at the naysayers of “Holy Hip Hop,” especially those that believe that Mali Music has backslidden into a secular abyss. I will admit, if “Ready Aim” plays on the secular station between Weezy and Drake, it won’t stick out like a sore thumb as a great gospel hymn.  However, it’s hot enough to lead someone to see what Mali is about.  They’ll run into other tracks like “The Name” or “Walk on Water” which are more “traditional” than the eclectic and reflective track “Ready Aim.”

Ready Aim is truly that FIYAH!  If you listen to it carefully, it is clearly a rebuke for those who question his walk–on either side.  It is biblically grounded; but, you do have to have the Word in your heart to hear it.  This track could easily be the sequel to the hymn “I Have Decided to
Follow Jesus.”  When you decide to follow Jesus, you follow Him at all costs and you’re willing to be attacked on every side: fighting against principalities and powers of the air, internalizing the fact that no weapon formed against you will prosper.  His verse of cadence seems to express his sentiment towards trying to reach the secular audience.  He’s been called to do this, so, if you’re ready, aim and FIRE!

Napper Singers: ‘God is Real!’

Napper Singers
Photo | Libra Boyd

The Napper Singers of Winston-Salem were a crowd favorite at tonight’s Furniture City GospelFest, held at Living Water Baptist Church in High Point.  Included on the roster of selections was their signature arrangement of the hymn “God Is Real.”  One can tell by watching and listening to the Napper Singers that the sisters grew up during a time when singing was singing.  It would not be surprising to learn that gospel trailblazers like the Barrett Sisters and Roberta Martin Singers were a couple of their influences.

"Stand Up!" – Jay McGee

“Stand Up!”
Jay McGee
From the CD, Testimony!! (2012)
Beacon Records
Available at CD Baby

Jay McGee Stand Up art work
Jay McGee’s vibe is reminiscent of Sam Cooke and Johnnie Taylor, a couple of the finest and most recognizable voices in soul. Augmenting the vibe is a call he issues through “Stand Up,” from his fourth full-length project, Testimony!! 
 
Simply put, McGee wants those who believe in Jesus Christ to be bold witnesses. “Stand up and be counted / Everywhere you go, let the people know you love Him—My Jesus.”
 
Originally from Fayetteville, NC, McGee is a singer, songwriter, producer, and arranger whose music extends into various genres.

"He's Very Much Alive" – Sue Roseberry

“He’s Very Much Alive”
Sue Roseberry (2013)
www.sueroseberry.com

Sue Roseberry He's Very Much Alive art work

Sue Roseberry, aka “Mama Sue,” has been making waves on the traditional choir scene for a long time, and ever since her stay on BET’s Sunday Best 4, fans have eagerly awaited the release of new music from the endearing vocalist.  Well, the wait is over and Roseberry is here with a brand new single, “He’s Very Much Alive,” from her forthcoming CD, Magnificent God.

With a shuffle feel, octave-toggling bass, swelling horns, and a cast of soulful background singers, Roseberry communicates the truth of the matter in an inimitable style that her audience readily identifies as praise-provoking: “He’s not on the cross, He’s not in the tomb—He’s alive! Jesus is alive!”

Besides being the vocal powerhouse you came to know and love from the Sunday Best competition, Roseberry is a writer with more than 300 compositions to her credit.  Additionally, she is a favorite at Gospel Music Workshop of America gatherings and an encourager to her industry compatriots.