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.

28th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Nominees Announced

CHICAGO, Oct. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Two of Gospel music’s biggest acts will share the microphone when Kirk Franklin and Tina and Ericka Campbell of Mary Mary co-host the 28th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. The annual salute to gospel’s best and brightest performers returns to Nashville‘s iconic Grand Ole Opry House Theater Saturday, January 19, 2013.
The Stellar Awards will air in broadcast syndication on 150 stations in
over 125 markets around the country and on the GMC TV network from January 19 to March 3, 2013. Today the nominees in twenty-eight categories of excellence were announced via webcast (www.thestellarawards.com) and social media. 
With
more than 30,000 fans logging online to cast their votes for their
favorite projects of the year, show co-hosts and WEtv reality stars Mary Mary
lead the list of nominees with nine total nominations based on their
latest disc Go Get It.  Nominations include “Song of the Year,”
“Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year,” and “Contemporary CD of the Year,”
in addition to recognition for the project in the “Producer of the
Year,” “Music Video of the Year” and “Recorded Music Packaging of the
Year” categories. 
Newcomer Charles Jenkins
who, in addition to earning a “Best New Artist” nomination for his
debut CD The Best of Both Worlds, garnered recognition in seven
additional categories including “Artist of The Year” and “Song of The
Year.” Other multiple nominees include superstars Marvin Sapp and Fred Hammond
with six nominations each, both nominated in the hotly-contested “Male
Vocalist of the Year” and “CD of the Year” categories; legendary Andraé Crouch
with five nominations, including “Artist of the Year” and “Song of the
Year” for his disc The Journey; and “Best New Artist” contender Isaac Carree with five nods for his solo debut Uncommon Me.
“We’ve participated in the Stellar Awards for years and always look forward to it,” said Tina Campbell of Mary Mary.  Erica Campbell added, “Serving as hosts this year with our friend and colleague Kirk Franklin is an added bonus–we’re looking forward to having an amazing time!”
Hailed as “gospel music’s biggest night,” this year’s Stellar Gospel Music Awards features live performances by Tamela Mann, Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago, Israel Houghton, Marvin Sapp, Tye Tribbett and Le’Andria Johnson, among others.
This
year, the Stellar Awards will also present five special categories
highlighting the top radio stations serving urban gospel music
audiences. Via an online fan voting campaign that runs November 1 through November 25, the award for “Radio Station of the Year” will let viewers decide who should receive the highest honor among terrestrial radio, internet, syndicated and satellite programs that broadcast gospel music. 
In
addition to recognizing the year’s most outstanding contributions in
the genre, The Stellar Awards also bestows special honors upon
individuals whose names are synonymous with greatness through
distinguished careers in the gospel arena. This year, global inspirational leader Bishop T.D. Jakes will receive the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award; the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to gospel music great Kurt Carr; and the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award will be bestowed upon Inez Andrews for her contributions to the industry. 
“It
is always humbling to be recognized for the work you do in service of
others,” said Jakes, who will be acknowledged for his work as a
faith-leader, author and producer. “To receive the Most Notable
Achievement Award from The Stellar Gospel Music Awards is a true honor.” 
The live taping at the Grand Ole Opry House Theater in Nashville, TN is open to the public and tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Ticket prices range from $55 to $200. Balcony seats are available for students for $35.
In addition to the awards ceremony, there are a number of ancillary
activities that celebrate and recognize outstanding achievement in the
genre which are open to the public, including the Stellar Awards
Pre-Show on Friday, January 18 and the Stellar Gospel Radio Awards and Showcase on Saturday, January 19.
For additional details, visit the Stellar Awards website.

Official Video – “Burn It All Down” – Lexi

Malaco Records recently announced the VEVO World Premiere of “Burn It All Down,” the debut video/single from Lexi.

In the video, Lexi showcases her acting skills while illustrating the importance of remaining grounded and connected to family as her star rises.

Related Story 
“Burn It All Down” – Lexi

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

For over 40 years, the Rance Allen Group has crossed
many boundaries, influenced countless artists and made musical history
with their lives and music.
In celebration of their life and career,
Tyscot Music & Entertainment presents Amazing Grace,
an audio and visual collection that showcases their music from the past four decades.  This project features brand new music and a few cover tunes
including an unforgettable rendition of the world-renowned hymn,
“Amazing Grace.”
The visual collection includes the never-before-seen
Rance Allen Group documentary Music Majors, featuring rare interviews with Kirk Franklin, James Fortune, Isaac Caree, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Keith ”Wonderboy” Johnson, Paul Porter
and more. These phenomenal artists came together to express their love
for The Rance Allen Group and how they influenced their lives and music.

The documentary takes fans on a journey through the life of Rance,
Tom and Steve Allen from their early days in Monroe, OH, to becoming
Grammy Award nominees and performing on BET’s Celebration of Gospel. 
The Rance Allen Group’s new two-disc set CD/DVD project, Amazing Grace will be available in stores and online November 27th.

Upcoming ‘Quartet Divas’ project to underscore female talent in quartet music

Milon Fenner, President and CEO of MILestONe Music, professes that he’s “placing a marker at every mile, leaving a trail in music.”  Among the next of his markers is a new project that features rising women talents in quartet music entitled Quartet Divas.

The forthcoming CD is part of the singer/songwriter/producer’s vision to increase the visibility of singin’ sisters who are helping to keep quartet music alive and thumpin’.

“Quartet female artists are often overlooked by the gospel music industry,” comments Fenner regarding the inspiration for Quartet Divas.  “This project seeks to highlight the talents and gifts of female artists who promote the same message as the well-recognized male artists.  Women, just as men, have powerful
ministries and a great deal of anointing that has been stunted because
of the industry’s male domination.” 

Tallie Rogers, RuBena Cooper-Woods, Tuekellia Jones, Karen George, Ruby Glenn, Brenda Northern, Flossie Johnson, Formecia Wallace, Melvette Armond, Shaleah Lewis, Sherice Wilkes, and Annie Whishop are among those set to appear on the project, which is scheduled for release in early 2013.

R.B. Greaves, pop singer and nephew of Sam Cooke, dies

Pop singer R.B. Greaves has died at the age of 68.  His passing in Los Angeles on September 27th was confirmed by his son.
Greaves scored success in 1969 with his self-penned single “Take A Letter Maria.”  The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Greaves was the nephew of gospel and soul singer Sam Cooke.  

You can read more of his career highlights at nytimes.com.

Photo credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

“It’s You and Me” Women’s Retreat – October 12-13

Click to Enlarge

Official Video – “Mighty GOD” – Deacon Authority

“Mighty GOD”
Deacon Authority
From the upcoming CD, Mighty GOD (Available December 2012)

One look at the “Mighty GOD” official video, and you’ll see that Deacon Authority goes hard reppin’ the power of the God and the kingdom dominion He’s given His people.

Deacon Authority, whose real name is Cedric Hester, recorded the official video for the single from his forthcoming album of the same name in his hometown of Roxboro, NC, making use of some of the small town’s well known landmarks.  The video is produced by Cool Cannon Films and Media Lane Photography.

Deacon Authority was ordained a deacon in 2000, at Favoured Ministries. 

Eunice Wright resumes music career after medical hiatus

After a three-month hiatus for medical reasons, Eunice Wright has resumed her music ministry and travel schedule.  In June, GMF reported that Wright was putting her music career on hold to donate a kidney to her 19 year-old son Tony, who had been diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease.  She made her first appearance since the procedure Sunday, September 23, at Crossroad Christian Church in Delaware for its Annual Founder’s Day.
“My son is progressing wonderfully!” says
Wright. “As for me, I’ve made some healthy lifestyle changes, lost more
than 50 pounds, and I’m in the best physical health I’ve experienced in a
very long time!”

She adds, “I am grateful to God for the things that
He’s done, and I’m grateful for all of the love and support we have
received while we were recovering. It means so much to me to know others
truly care, and I thank you all so very much. Your prayers, well
wishes, emails, Facebook posts and messages, and labors of love will
never be forgotten!”

“I Call Him Mine” – Daphney Hilton

“I Call Him Mine”
Daphney Hilton
From the CD, Gracechyld (2012) 
HilChyld Music

Available at CD Baby


From the famous Caravans’ catalog, contemporary gospel singer Daphney Hilton revisits the James Herndon-penned pearl “I Call Him Mine.”


Dedicating the tune to her mother, who sang it to her as a child, the Atlanta-based singer and minister arouses the traditional number with her sultry contralto atop rich, multi-layered background vocals.

Hilton knows just how to finesse “I Call Him Mine,” presenting it as a fine cover of the sweet love song the Caravans introduced nearly 50 years ago.

 

“I Trust In God” – The Frierson Brothers

“I Trust In God”
The Frierson Brothers (2012)
Available on iTunes

The Frierson Brothers retrieve the lyrics of a sacred hymn and, with a contemporary edge, render a heartfelt delivery of “I Trust In God” (also known to many as “My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me”).

The chord progressions delve into complexity at times, but the message remains both simple and reassuring: “…come what may, from day to day, My Heav’nly Father watches over me.”

The Frierson Brothers will soon release the group’s second CD.  The first, Over There, was produced by Derrick Lee and released in 2007.  Just the year prior, in 2006, the brothers were featured in a series of performances at The House of Blues Gospel Brunch in Atlantic City, NJ.