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.

Elder Vernon Chappel, noted songwriter & worship leader, succumbs

GMF joins the gospel community in mourning the unexpected passing of musician, songwriter, and worship leader Elder Vernon Chappel, who transitioned this morning, January 27.  He was 56 years old.

Chappel was known throughout the United States and abroad for his music ministry and has been described as “a contemporary gospel vocalist with the soul of Thomas Whitfield and the energetic flair of Milton Biggham and Timothy Wright.”  His compositions have been recorded by a host of artists who include Dorothy Norwood, Joe Pace and Colorado Mass, and Beverly Crawford (who made his “Jehovah, We Praise You” a hugely popular worship song).

Though a native of California, for the past several years Chappel resided in NC and served as Music Pastor at The River Church, Inc. in Durham.  Upon learning of his passing, Sheryl Brady, founding pastor of The River, commented via Twitter, “One of the GREATEST men in my life went home to be with the Lord. Elder Vernon Chappel was my hero. Help us Jesus!”

GMF extends its sincerest sympathy to Chappel’s family, to his many friends, and to all whom he mentored during his 35-plus years in ministry.

As relayed by Mylum Nicholson, celebration services are planned for both the West and East Coast.

West Coast
Musical
Friday, February 8, 2013
6 PM

Homegoing Service
Saturday, February 9, 2013
11 AM

Both the musical and homegoing service will take place at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 1401 E. Brundage Lane, Bakersfield, CA  93307. 

Interment
Wasco Cemetery
300 Leonard Ave.
Wasco, CA  93280

East Coast
Raleigh-Durham Memorial Service
Friday, February 15, 2013
7 PM
Wake Chapel Church
3805 Tarheel Road
Raleigh, NC 27604

Ethel Shannon, grandmother of John P. Kee, goes home

 
Mother Ethel Shannon
 
Ethel Shannon, the beloved grandmother of Pastor John P. Kee passed tonight, January 25.  She was 100 years old.
 
Mother Shannon can be heard on Kee’s various V.I.P. recordings including Lily In The Valley, and most recently on The Legacy Project.
 
GMF sends its heartfelt sympathy to the Shannon and Kee families during this time of transition.
 
Arrangements are as follows:
 
Public Viewing
Thursday, January 31, 2013
10 AM – 7 PM
Fisher Funeral Parlor
3137 Fayetteville St.
Durham, NC  27707 

Service of Remembrance
Friday, February 1, 2013 
7 PM
New Life Fellowship Center
1337 Samuel St.
Charlotte, NC  28206
 
Final Service of Remembrance
Saturday, February 2, 2013
12 noon  (viewing two hours prior)
Union Baptist Church
904 N. Roxboro St.
Durham, NC  27701

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Mt. Calvary United Church of Christ Sunday School, 1715 Athens Street, Durham, NC  27707.

Malaco announces first Malaco Artists Retreat & Showcase (M.A.R.S.)

(Jackson, MS) – The Malaco Music Group is proud to announce the inaugural Malaco Artists Retreat & Showcase (M.A.R.S.).

The Malaco Artists Retreat & Showcase (M.A.R.S.)  is a national singing and performance competition developed to give unsigned artists an opportunity to showcase their talents, win prize money, receive a recording contract with one of the Malaco Music Group family of labels and appear on a national television show on The Word Network. The Word network is available in over 200 countries and reaches nearly 60 million homes in the U.S. alone.

In addition, there will be panel discussions conducted with veteran industry professionals in the areas of Gospel Radio, Marketing, Radio Promotions, Public Relations, Distribution, Booking & Management, Concert Promotion, Studio Production, Songwriting, Publishing, Copyrights, and How To Succeed in Today’s Gospel Music Industry.

The Malaco Artists Retreat & Showcase (M.A.R.S.) will take place on February 16, 2013 at Stronger Hope Baptist Church located at 223 Beasley Road in Jackson, MS 39206.

Visit www.malacoshowcase.com for more information.

Winners at the 28th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards

‘Twas a big night for Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago and Mary Mary

Winners are listed in red.  Click here for dates and airtimes in your market.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Andraé Crouch, The
Journey, Riverphlo Entertainment
Charles Jenkins &
Fellowship Chicago, The Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
Donald Lawrence &
Company, YRM (Your Righteous Mind), Quiet Water Entertainment/Verity
Gospel
Music Group/ Sony
Marvin Sapp, IWin,
Verity Gospel Music Group
SONG OF THE YEAR
Andraé Crouch,
“Let The Church Say Amen” – The Journey, Riverphlo
Entertainment
Charles Jenkins,
“Awesome” – The Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
Marvin Sapp &
Aaron Lindsey, “My Testimony” – IWin, Verity Gospel Music
Group
Tina Campbell, Erica
Campbell & Warryn Campbell, “Go Get It” – Go Get It, My
Block/Columbia Records
MALE VOCALIST OF THE
YEAR
Deitrick Haddon, A
Beautiful Soul, Tyscot Music & Entertainment
Fred Hammond, God,
Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Jason Nelson, Shifting
The Atmosphere, Verity Gospel Music Group
Marvin Sapp, IWin,
Verity Gospel Music Group
ALBERTINA WALKER
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dorinda Clark Cole, I
Survived, Light Records/eOne Music
Kierra Sheard, Free,
Karew Records
Le’Andria Johnson, The
Awakening Of Le’Andria Johnson, Music World Gospel
Maurette Brown Clark,
The Sound Of Victory, Air International Records
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
Donald Lawrence &
Company, YRM (Your Righteous Mind), Quiet Water Entertainment/Verity
Gospel Music Group/Sony
Forever Jones, Musical
Revival, EMI Gospel
James Fortune &
FIYA, Identity, Light Records/eOne Music
Mary Mary, Go Get
It, My Block/Columbia Records
NEW ARTIST OF THE
YEAR
Charles Jenkins &
Fellowship Chicago, The Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
Cheneta Jones, Transformed,
Real Talent Media Group
Isaac Carree, Uncommon
Me, Sovereign Agency/Door 6 Entertainment
Le’Andria Johnson, The
Awakening Of Le’Andria Johnson, Music World Gospel
CD OF THE YEAR
Andraé Crouch, The
Journey, Riverphlo Entertainment
Charles Jenkins &
Fellowship Chicago, The Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
Fred Hammond, God,
Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Marvin Sapp, IWin,
Verity Gospel Music Group
CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Charles Jenkins &
Fellowship Chicago, The Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
James Hall Worship
& Praise, Trip Down Memory Lane, Music Blend, Inc.
Jj Hairston &
Youthful Praise, After This, Light Records/eOne Music
Richard Smallwood
With Vision, Promises, Verity Gospel Music Group
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Donald Lawrence, YRM
(Your Righteous Mind), Quiet Water Entertainment/Verity Gospel Music
Group/Sony
Fred Hammond, God,
Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Isaac Carree, Eric
Dawkins, Warryn Campbell, Gerald Haddon, & Rick Robinson, Uncommon Me,
Sovereign Agency/Door 6 Entertainment
Warryn Campbell, Go
Get It, My Block/Columbia Records
CONTEMPORARY
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
Donald Lawrence &
Company, YRM (Your Righteous Mind), Quiet Water Entertainment/Verity
Gospel Music Group/ Sony
Forever Jones, Musical
Revival, EMI Gospel
James Fortune &
FIYA, Identity, Light Records/eOne Music
Mary Mary, Go Get
It, My Block/Columbia Records
TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO
OF THE YEAR
Angela Spivey &
Greater Blessings Praise Team, He Keeps His Promise, Innovative Records
Luther Barnes &
The Sunset Jubilaires, Another Level, Air International Records
The Williams
Brothers, Live At The Hard Rock – Part 1, Blackberry Records
Tim Rogers & The
Fellas, Real, Blackberry Records
CONTEMPORARY MALE OF
THE YEAR
Fred Hammond, God,
Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Isaac Carree, Uncommon
Me, Sovereign Agency/Door 6 Entertainment
Smokie Norful, Once
In A Lifetime, EMI Gospel
Zacardi Cortez, Zacardi
Cortez: The Introduction, Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
TRADITIONAL MALE OF
THE YEAR
Andraé Crouch, The
Journey, Riverphlo Entertainment
Jason Nelson, Shifting
The Atmosphere, Verity Gospel Music Group
Marvin Sapp, IWin,
Verity Gospel Music Group
William McDowell, Arise,
Light Records/eOne Music
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE
OF THE YEAR
Anita Wilson, Worship
Soul, EMI Gospel
Dorinda Clark Cole, I
Survived, Light Records/eOne Music
Kierra Sheard, Free,
Karew Records
Le’Andria Johnson, The
Awakening Of Le’Andria Johnson, Music World Gospel
TRADITIONAL FEMALE OF
THE YEAR
Angela Spivey, He
Keeps His Promise, Innovative Records
Dorothy Norwood, God’s
Been Just That Good, Malaco Records
Shirley Murdock, Live:
The Journey, Tyscot Music & Entertainment
Vanessa Bell
Armstrong, Timeless, Music World Gospel
CONTEMPORARY CD OF
THE YEAR
Donald Lawrence &
Company, YRM (Your Righteous Mind), Quiet Water Entertainment/Verity
Gospel Music Group/ Sony
Dorinda Clark Cole, I
Survived, Light Records/eOne Music
Fred Hammond, God,
Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Mary Mary, Go Get
It, My Block/Columbia Records
TRADITIONAL CD OF THE
YEAR
Andraé Crouch, The
Journey, Riverphlo Entertainment
Byron Cage, Memoirs
Of A Worshipper, Verity Gospel Music Group
Charles Jenkins &
Fellowship Chicago, The Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
Marvin Sapp, IWin,
Verity Gospel Music Group
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL
SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Anita Wilson,
“Speechless” – Worship Soul, EMI Gospel
Fred Hammond, “I
Feel Good” – God, Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Isaac Carree,
“In The Middle” – Uncommon Me, Sovereign Agency/Door 6
Entertainment
Mary Mary, “Go
Get It” – Go Get It, My Block/Columbia Records
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE
YEAR – SHORT FORMAT
Darren Grant, Go Get
It – Go Get It, My Block/Columbia Records
Daven Baptiste,
“In The Middle” – Uncommon Me, Sovereign Agency/Door 6
Entertainment
Jamaal Banks,
“Lead Us To Truth” – The Next Dimension, Bga Music Group
Steve Huffman,
“I’m At Peace” – I’m At Peace, Shanachie Entertainment Corp.
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF
THE YEAR
Bill Winston &
LivingWord, Bill Winston Presents LivingWord “Released”, Source Media
Charles Jenkins &
Fellowship Chicago, The Best of Both Worlds, Inspired People
James Hall Worship
& Praise, Trip Down Memory Lane, Music Blend, Inc.
Richard Smallwood
With Vision, Promises, Verity Gospel Music Group
SPECIAL EVENT CD OF
THE YEAR
Deitrick Haddon, Anthology:
The Writer & His Music, Tyscot Music & Entertainment
James Fortune &
FIYA, The James Fortune & FIYA, Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Mary Mary, Go Get
It, My Block/Columbia Records
Smokie Norful, Once
In A Lifetime, EMI Gospel
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD
OF THE YEAR
Da T.R.U.T.H., The
Whole Truth, XIST Music/Black Fuel Entertainment
Flame, The 6th,
Clear Sight Music
Json, Growing
Pains, Lamp Mode Recordings
Trip Lee, The Good
Life, Reach Records
CHILDRENS PROJECT OF
THE YEAR
Anointed By God, Anointed
By God, One Voice Media
Kingdom Kids
Worldwide, Kingdom Kids Worldwide – After School Party, Headstrate
Entertainment
Nyasia, Take Off,
Independent
Pure-N-Heart Kids, Pure-N-Heart
Kids: Live Praise And Worship Experience, Music2changeu Records
QUARTET OF THE YEAR
Luther Barnes &
The Sunset Jubilaires, Another Level, Air International Records
The Clark Brothers, It’s
In Your Hands, CE Records
The Williams
Brothers, Live At The Hard Rock – Part 1, Blackberry Records
Tim Rogers & The
Fellas, Real, Blackberry Records
RECORDED MUSIC
PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
Charles Jenkins, The
Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
Daniel Joel Ortiz, The
Journey, Riverphlo Entertainment
Denise Trotman, God,
Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Fusako Chubachi, Go
Get It, My Block/Columbia Records
PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD
OF THE YEAR
Anita Wilson, Worship
Soul, EMI Gospel
Byron Cage, Memoirs
Of A Worshipper, Verity Gospel Music Group
Jason Nelson, Shifting
The Atmosphere, Verity Gospel Music Group
William
McDowell, Arise, Light Records/eOne Music
OTHER HONOREES OF THE EVENING
Bishop T.D. Jakes
Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award
Inez Andrews (Posthumous)
Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award
Kurt Carr 
James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award

Frances McClurkin, mother of Donnie McClurkin, passes on

GMF extends condolences to Pastor Donnie McClurkin and the McClurkin family in the passing of their matriarch, Frances McClurkin.  Mother McClurkin transitioned January 18, from complications of a massive coronary heart attack she suffered Sunday, January 13, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bethpage, NY.
Mother McClurkin’s survivors include seven children: Marlene, Donnie, Cheryl, Andrea, Tony, Tanya, Rafael, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Preceding Frances in her journey are children Olivia and Thomas.
The homegoing service will be held Friday, January 25, at:
Greater Allen AME Cathedral of New York
11031 Merrick Blvd
Jamaica, NY 11433
Doors open at 6:30 PM and the service starts at 7 PM. The service will also stream live at www.perfectingfaith.org.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Frances McClurkin Memorial Fund to help feed, care for, and empower the Harlem community through the Perfecting Faith Church’s mission activity.  Donations can be made online at www.perfectingfaith.org, by calling the church office at 516-223-8300, or by mailing your donation to 311 N. Main St., Freeport, NY 11520.

For the first time, Stellar Awards to air “live” on GMC-TV

For the first time on GMC, the 28th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will air live on January 19, 2013, at 7 PM EST.
Additional broadcast dates and times will be made available at www.thestellarawards.com in case you miss it the first time.

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir to perform at 57th Presidential Inauguration

Long before the recent presidential election
was decided, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (Democrat-NY and Chairman of the
2013 Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies) selected The
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir to perform its new rendition of “The Battle Hymn of
the Republic” at the official ceremony of the 57th Presidential
Inauguration scheduled to take place on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on
January 21, 2013.
“I’m pleased to invite The Brooklyn
Tabernacle Choir to perform at the 57th Inauguration in
January,” Schumer said this past June when he announced the choir’s addition to
the program. “As a frequent visitor to their wonderful congregation I know from
first-ear experience how amazing this choir is, and I know they will wow the
whole nation, too.”
The novel rendition of “The Battle Hymn of the
Republic” was arranged by the choir’s founder, Carol Cymbala, and its music
director, Jason Michael Webb, with majestic
orchestral accompaniment that’s punctuated with innovative new harmonies while
maintaining the classic feel of one of America’s most beloved anthems. Alicia Olatuja, a
mezzo-soprano who has performed at Carnegie Hall, leads the song.  It will be bundled with the rousing new
anthem “Let Your Kingdom Come” (led by Brandon Camphor), as an iTunes (and other online music retailers)
digital download and made available to the public on January 15th. Both tunes
are featured on the choir’s forthcoming spring CD release Love Lead The Way
– its 28th recorded album.
The 300-voice choir is a blend of ethnic and
economic backgrounds, with members ranging from lawyers and doctors to former
drug addicts.  Over the years, the
choir has performed at major venues such as Radio City Music Hall and Madison
Square Garden.  Visit http://www.brooklyntabernacle.org
for more information on the choir.  Meanwhile, you can also take a listen to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” below.



 

Help the Barrett Sisters release their long-awaited documentary film

For more than 60 years, Delois Barrett Campbell and The Barrett Sisters have performed gospel music throughout the United States and overseas.  They have made media appearances with Johnny Carson, Patti LaBelle, and Oprah Winfrey and are counted among pioneers in gospel music alongside Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, Roberta Martin, Theodore Frye, and Sallie Martin.  Still, perhaps you know them best from their performance in the critically acclaimed movie Say Amen, Somebody. 
 
One remaining dream for the renowned 80-something year-olds is the release of The Sweet Sisters of Zion: Delois Barrett Campbell and the Barrett Sisters, the long-anticipated documentary film tracing their extensive careers and contributions to gospel music through rare performance footage and interviews with sisters Delois, Billie, Rodessa and others.
 
But the Barrett Sisters need the help of their family, friends, fans, and well-wishers around the world.
 
The film is finished; however, expenses for its release are mounting and your financial support is much needed.  Your contributions will pay for the costs of filming, packaging, promoting, and distributing the independently produced movie, as well as hosting a premiere screening in Chicago on February 16, 2013.
 
Go to www.indiegogo.com/TheBarrettSisters to make your contribution, claim your thank-you gift(s), watch sneak peeks, and stay updated throughout the campaign.
 

This documentary is sure to be treasured for generations to come as a commemorative piece of gospel music history about one of the genre’s greatest female trios.

 

Charles McLean of the Gospel Keynotes has died

Rev. Charles McLean, formerly of the Gospel Keynotes, died today.  He was 69 years old.

Rev. McLean was born in Greensboro (NC) in 1943. He joined the Keynotes in 1979 and remained with the group through 1984, when he departed to focus on his own ministry.
GMF sends condolences to Rev. McLean’s family and to the quartet community.  He will be remembered as one of the great falsetto singers in quartet music.

Arrangements are as follows:

Musical Tribute
Thursday, January 10th at 7 PM

Homegoing Service
Friday, January 11th at 10 AM

Both services will be at Gospel Temple Church Of God In Christ, 4121 Thurmond Road, Conley, GA 30288.  Meadows Mortuary in Atlanta is in charge of arrangements.

Men of Standard’s Pierce takes helm as senior pastor of Greensboro’s Mt. Zion Baptist

Bryan Pierce, Sr. of the Stellar Award winning group Men of Standard has been named the Senior Pastor and CEO of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC.  The “Passing of the Torch” service took place New Year’s Eve at Mt. Zion.  Bishop George W. Brooks, who has been the church’s senior pastor for more than 31 years, is now Pastor Emeritus.

Pierce started preaching at age six and was licensed at nine.  Since being ordained at the age of 19, he has served in the capacity of Youth Pastor at Greater St. Stephens Full Gospel Baptist Church under Bishop Paul Morton, Sr. and as Senior Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church Ministries in Kannapolis, NC.  In June 2011, he became the Chief Administrative Officer at Mt. Zion Baptist Church where he served until his appointment to senior pastor there.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Pierce is a noted songwriter, arranger and producer.