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 – “Joy to the World” – Beverly Crawford

 
Here it is hot off the press: the official video of Beverly Crawford’s “Joy to the World,” which is featured on the holiday CD, Beverly Crawford and JDI Christmas: Churchy Christmas / Joy to the World.
 

Culpepper’s legacy discussed in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Michelle Shaw of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently profiled Maurice Culpepper, who passed Sunday, December 2, 2012, from cancer complications.  Read the piece here:Maurice Culpepper, 60: Held the keys to gospel music in Atlanta.

GMF's Libra Boyd to be in-studio guest on WNCU's "Hallelujah Praise" – Dec. 16

Tune in to WNCU 90.7 FM this Sunday, December 16, at 8:30 AM EST.  GMF’s founder and editor Libra Boyd will be a live in-studio guest on the “Hallelujah Praise” show with co-host Carolyn Pettiford-Ryals.

“Hallelujah Praise” is broadcast every Sunday morning from the campus of North Carolina Central University. The program plays a mix of traditional gospel music, including oldies and new releases by local and national artists.

You can also stream live at www.wncu.org.

Tammy Edwards & The Edwards Sisters on Bobby Jones Gospel – Dec. 9

Tammy Edwards and the Edwards Sisters of Greenville, NC will make their national television debut this Sunday morning on Bobby Jones Gospel.  The show airs at 9 AM EST on BET.
The group’s current release is On the Right Road Now, on the 4 Winds Records/Malaco label.

GMF spotlighted Tammy Edwards and the Edwards Sisters in May 2012 for their hard-driving number “All Go Back.”  You can read our review here: “All Go Back” – Tammy Edwards and the Edwards Sisters.

Gospel Nominees for 55th Grammy Awards

Mary Mary, Tamela Mann, James Fortune, Israel Houghton, Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, and Lecrae are among those who got nods for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards.  The show airs February 10, 2013, on CBS.  The gospel categories are below.  See www.grammy.com for the complete list of nominees.
Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance


“Jesus, Friend Of Sinners”


Casting Crowns
Track from: Come To The Well
[Beach Street/Reunion Records]
 

“Take Me To The King”


Tamela Mann
[Tillymann Music Group]
 

“Go Get It”


Mary Mary
[Columbia Records]
 

“10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)”


Matt Redman
Track from: 10,000 Reasons
[sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records]
 

“My Testimony”


Marvin Sapp
Track from: I Win
[Verity Gospel Music Group]
 
Best Gospel Song



“Go Get It”

Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Mary Mary)
[Columbia; Publishers: EMI April Music, It’s Tea Tyme, That’s Plum Song, Wet Ink Red Music]
 

“Hold On”


Cheryl Fortune, James Fortune & Terence Vaughn, songwriters (James Fortune & FIYA, Monica & Fred Hammond)
Track from: Identity
[Light Records/eOne Music]

 

“I Feel Good”
Phillip Feaster, Fred Hammond, Jonathan Miller & Calvin Rodgers, songwriters (Fred Hammond)
Track from: God, Love & Romance
[Verity Gospel Music Group;
Publishers: fHammond Music/Bridge Bldg Music/CJMS Music/Music Feast
Productions/Jonathan Miller Publishing]

 


“My Testimony”


Aaron Lindsey & Marvin Sapp, songwriters (Marvin Sapp)
Track from: I Win
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publishers: Universal Music-Brentwood Benson Songs/Marvin L. Sapp Music/Ardent Media]

 


“Released”

Donald Lawrence, songwriter (Bill Winston & Living Word Featuring Donald Lawrence)
[Source Media; Publisher: Quiet Water Ent.]
 
Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
“Jesus, Friend Of Sinners”


Mark Hall & Matthew West, songwriters (Casting Crowns)
Track from: Come To The Well
[Beach Street/Reunion Records]
 

“10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)”


Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman, songwriters (Matt Redman)
Track from: 10,000 Reasons
[sixstepsrecords/Sparrow
Records; Publishers: Thankyou Music/sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com
Songs/Said And Done Music/Shout! Publishing]
 

“When Mercy Found Me”


Jeff Pardo & Rhett Walker, songwriters (Rhett Walker Band)
Track from: Come To The River
[Essential Records; Publishers: Sony ATV Music, Ships In A Bottle/Simple Tense Songs]
 

“White Flag”


Jason Ingram, Matt Maher, Matt Redman & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Passion & Chris Tomlin)
Track from: White Flag
[sixstepsrecords/Sparrow
Records; Publishers: sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Vamos
Publishing/Said And Done Music/Valley of the Songs Music/Sony ATV Timber
Publishing/West Main Music/Windsor Hill Music/Thankyou Music]
 

“Your Presence Is Heaven”


Israel Houghton & Micah Massey, songwriters (Israel & New Breed)
Track from: Jesus At The Center Live
[Integrity Music; Publishers: Integrity’s Praise! Music/Sound of the New Breed, Regenerate Music]

Best Gospel Album



Identity


James Fortune & FIYA
[Light Records/eOne Music]

 


Jesus At The Center Live

Israel & New Breed
[Integrity Music]

 


Gravity


Lecrae
[Reach Records]

 


I Win


Marvin Sapp
[Verity Gospel Music Group]

 


Worship Soul

Anita Wilson
[EMI Gospel]

 

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album


Come To The Well


Casting Crowns
[Beach Street/Reunion Records]

 


Where I Find You

Kari Jobe
[Sparrow Records]
 

Gold


Britt Nicole
[Sparrow Records]
 

Eye On It


TobyMac
[ForeFront Records]
 

Into The Light


Matthew West

[Sparrow Records]

Maurice Culpepper, noted choir director, has passed

GMF is sad to report that Minister Maurice Culpepper, founder and director of the Showers of Blessings Choir, passed away Sunday morning.

Culpepper was a well-known and respected minister of music, having shared his gifts with several choirs and churches, including the Praise Power Fellowship Choir, Citadel of Hope Evangelistic Church Of God In Christ, and Decatur’s New Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church.  Additionally, he and his singing aggregation, the Maurice Culpepper Singers, provided background vocals for Juanita Bynum’s 2006 gold-selling album, A Piece of My Passion.

GMF extends condolences to his wife Tina and to the entire Culpepper family, as well as to his many friends.

Homegoing arrangements will be announced by Gus Thornhill’s Funeral Home, Inc. of East Point, GA. 

GMF Sightings – Thomas "Butch" Cobbs, Founding Member of the Gospel Persuaders

GMF’s Libra Boyd and Thomas Cobbs
I had the privilege to worship with the God’s Temple Holiness Church family in celebration of Pastor Mary Cobbs’ anniversary Saturday night. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that her husband is Deacon Thomas “Butch” Cobbs, founding member of the Gospel Persuaders. He appeared equally surprised to learn that I own one of the group’s popular 1980’s 45 singles, “God Will Take Care of You.”

The Gospel Persuaders were a traditional quartet group from the Danville, VA area that traveled nationally during the zenith of their music career. In addition to being the founder and guitarist, Cobbs was the group’s chief songwriter. Among the Persuaders’ most popular tunes was their gospelized cover of “You’ve Got A Friend.”

“Children Go Where I Send Thee” – Yolanda Rabun

“Children Go Where I Send Thee”
Yolanda Rabun
From the CD, Christmastime (2012) 
Yolanda Rabun could turn a jazz club into a makeshift sanctuary with her rendition of “Children Go Where I Send Thee.”  In fact, Rabun would do that. The tune is from the contralto smooth/soul jazz vocalist’s sophomore CD Christmastime, which features soul, R&B, gospel, folk, and smooth and traditional jazz holiday music; but in actuality, “Children Go Where I Send Thee” sounds as if it’s being enjoyed on scratched vinyl.
 
As the pianist and bassist comp, Rabun briskly recounts the “fo’ for the fo’ that was knockin’ at my do’ / Three for the three wise men….”  Her diction reflects the vernacular of the peoples who likely first sang the negro spiritual.  With the percussionist keeping time with brushes, she trots on: “One for the little bitty baby / Wrapped in swaddlin’ clothin’ / Lying in a manger / B-o-o-o-r-n, Born oh, born in Bethlehem.” 
 
Rabun has worked with Isaac Hayes, Jennifer Holliday, and is opening later this month for the Isley Brothers at the Durham (NC) Performing Arts Center.

Rance Allen interviewed about his gospel roots

Rod Lockwood of toledoblade.com recently interviewed gospel’s main man, Bishop Rance Allen.  Check it out here: Rance Allen Group’s gospel roots run deep in Monroe, Toledo.

Related Story
Rance Allen Group to release new music and documentary on Nov. 27

“A Saint’s Christmas” – Various Artists

“A Saint’s Christmas”
Various Artists
From the CD, Ronnie R. Riles Sr. Presents Family and Friends Praising God (2012)
www.upthapraise.com

Incorporating elements of R&B and hip-hop, “A Saint’s Christmas” offers a lyrical explanation for the meaning of the sacred holiday from a believer’s perspective.  The birth of the Savior and God’s everlasting love are what make the holiday a “M-E-R-R-Y  C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S!”

The slow R&B flavored groove features Riles, Sr. and Jesse Wortham and is part of the 15-track CD entitled, Ronnie R. Riles Sr. Presents Family and Friends Praising God.