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.

After 70 years, Pearly Gates still spread the good news with aptly named CD

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

For more than 70 years, they’ve ventured into many a highway and hedge, singing God’s praises.  Initially called the Mighty Pearly Gates, their notable songs have included “Help Somebody Else” and “Holding On.”  In 2003, they altered their moniker to the New Pearly Gates while continuing to spread the same “mighty” good news.

On the heels of the New Pearly Gates’ present release, Through It All, GMF’s Libra Boyd asked manager/musician James Bell to talk more about the VA group that has shared stages with the likes of the Sensational Nightingales, the Canton Spirituals, and Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC’s.

Libra:  Who are the members of the New Pearly Gates?

Bell:  You have Pastor James Harden (lead singer); Deacon Raymond Perry (lead singer/background vocalist), Montell Hill (2nd lead/background vocalist), Javon Johnson (background vocalist/bass player), Rodrick Jennings (background vocalist/drummer), David Bullock (lead guitar player), and yours truly, James Bell (keyboard player).

Libra:  Your group originated more than 70 years ago as the Mighty Pearly Gates.  Are the group’s current members the offspring of the originals?

Bell:  No. No offsprings, but Pastor James Harden used to be the drummer for the group at that time.  Then God gave him a vision to restart the group which is now called the New Pearly Gates.

 

 
Libra:  Your new CD is Through It All.  What is the theme or focus of this project?

Bell:  Well, our focus for this project is to let the people know that no matter what problem you may face or what trial you may encounter, when God allows you to open your eyes to see another day, that should be a sign to let you know that “through it all, I made it.” I made it through the storm, and I’m here to still tell the world that it’s going to be alright ’cause as long as you continue to trust God, everything is going to be alright.

Libra:  The song “I’m Still Here” is autobiographical.  Tell us more about the lead vocalist and the inspiration for this song.

Bell:  Well the lead vocalist, which is Deacon Raymond Perry…he used to be able to walk like you and me… put his pants on, put his shirt on, take a bath.  All the little things that we take for granted, he can’t do anymore.  He was struck with a disease that caused him to be this way, and the song is a true testimony of his life and the journey that he is going to continue to walk on. 

Libra:  The New Pearly Gates have performed with some of gospel’s heavy hitters.  What else is on the horizon for the group?

Bell:  Well, we have our anniversary coming up August the 18th….It’s going to be a very big event and we’re looking for a sold out affair. Also, we will be heading to South Bend, Indiana for a nomination that we received for the Black Essence Grammy Award, and that will be October 6th.

Libra:  Congratulations on both!  It has been a pleasure to learn more about the New Pearly Gates.  How can GMF’s readers get Through It All?

Bell:  They can get our CD on www.cdbaby.com or contact us through our official website at www.wix.com/jkeyz03/thenewpearlygates.

 

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Ernest James, formerly of the Nightingales and Hummingbirds, has died

James (bottom left) with ‘Gales

Death has visited the quartet community again this week.

The Black Gospel Blog’s Bob Marovich informed us of the passing of quartet veteran Ernest James, formerly of the Sensational Nightingales and the Dixie Hummingbirds.

GMF offers condolences to family and friends.

Earlier this week (June 25), GMF reported the passing of Ben Chandler, longtime member of the legendary Pilgrim Jubilees.

Lonnie Riggins was called a gospel music icon

GMF recently learned of the passing of Lonnie Riggins, well-known gospel singer in North and South Carolina.  His life will be celebrated Thursday, June 28, at Freemont Missionary Baptist Church in Longs, SC.

More on Riggins is shared by Todd Garvin at www.myrtlebeachonline.com.

GMF extends its deepest sympathy to the gospel veteran’s children and other family and friends.

Breaking News: Ben Chandler of the Pilgrim Jubilees dies

Originally posted June 25, 2012 at 12:28PM 
Last updated June 29, 2012 at 3:53PM

Ben Chandler has diedBen Chandler, a longtime member of the Pilgrim Jubilees, died today.  He joined the group in 1970.  The Jubes commented on their Facebook page, “We will miss him dearly and there will never be another!” 

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “services for Deacon Benjamin Chandler “Uncle Ben” of the Pilgrim Jubilees will be held, Saturday, June 30, 2012, at 10:00 AM at Mt. Patmos Baptist Church, Rev. Raleigh Rucker, Senior Pastor officiating. Interment Resthaven Gardens of Memory.  Survivors are wife, Gloria Chandler “GiGi”; ten children, three sisters, a host of grandchildren and other relatives and friends. A viewing will be held today from 10:00 AM until 8:30 PM.  A celebration will be held TONIGHT at the church at 7:00 PM. Please assemble at the church at 9:30 AM for the homegoing service.”

Chicago Gospel Festival 2012 continues through weekend

explorechicago.org

For the first time ever, the Chicago Gospel Festival will not be downtown.  Instead it will be on the South Side, in the Bronzeville neighborhood, not too far from historic Pilgrim Baptist Church–home of “The Father of Gospel Music” Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey.  The weekend will be filled with concerts by Mary Mary, Fred Hammond and others, workshops, and a film screening of the acclaimed documentary Say Amen, Somebody.

More information and the complete schedule is at www.explorechicago.org.

Eunice Wright puts music career on hold to save son

Giving Life to a Life for the Second Time Around
(Dover, Delaware) – June 20, 2012 – For the last four years, national recording artist Eunice Wright has ministered in song to deliver a message of faith, hope, and love to people across the county.  This Friday, June 22, her message takes on new definition as she takes a break from her busy music and secular careers to donate a kidney to her eldest son, Tony.
 
Tony, now 19, was diagnosed over two and a half years ago with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), a condition where both of his kidneys have completely shut down.  The cause of this failure is unknown, according to medical professionals.  Treatment options for ESRD are limited–either undergo dialysis and extend life span for five to ten years or opt for a transplant with the hopes of extending lifespan to 15 to 20 years.  In June 2011, Wright made the decision to donate one of her kidneys to her son, and for the last twelve months has been preparing for this Friday’s procedure.
“The process to prepare for the transplant has taken about a year for the doctors to determine that I was a good donor choice for my son,” says Wright.  “There were some health changes I had to make which lead to me losing 40 pounds.  I’m not mad about that part at all!” she jokes.  “I feel confidence that everything will be okay.  I’ve put this whole matter in God’s hands from the very beginning.  He has sustained us and will continue to do so through this journey in our lives.  I trust God and I’m at peace with whatever the outcome may be. God knows the plan He has for me and Tony and His plan is working in us right now.  I also look at it as giving life to my son a second time.  I brought him into this world with God’s help, and now, I’m fighting to keep him here as long as I can with God’s help.”
 
Wright is expected to be back in full force in approximately four to six weeks.  Tony’s recovery, according to doctors, is estimated to be a year.  We are soliciting your prayers for the healing and speedy recovery of Tony and Eunice, as well as your prayers for the Wright, Purnell, and Joyful Noyze families, as they support the two throughout this procedure.
Label executive Carlos Cannon, Sr. states, “It is a very delicate surgery that even afterwards, he (Tony) will have a lot [of] restrictions because of the nature of this procedure.  Surgical procedures are never easy and to have two immediate family members in an operating room at the same time can be overwhelming.  We appreciate your sincere prayers as God carries us all through this ordeal.”
 
Wright recently released her sophomore project Worth It All in April 2012.  Her new project features the hit single “Hello God” that is still making its way to radio waves around the country.  “Hello God” is available for download free on the official Eunice Wright website, www.eunicewright.com.  Worth It All and her debut project, Wait On Me, are also available for purchase on the official website, as well as on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby.  For more information contact Joyful Noyze Entertainment or visit www.eunicewright.com.

Gabriel Hardeman, R&B/Gospel singer-songwriter, succumbs

From Bill Carpenter
Originally posted June 18, 2012 at 6:00PM
Last Updated June 21, 2012 at 9:08AM
Singer-songwriter, Gabriel S. Hardeman, best-known for co-writing R&B star Stephanie Mills’ 1987 #1 hit “I Feel Good All Over” and Teddy Pendergrass’ “Truly Blessed”, died Saturday, June 16, in the Philadelphia area from complications of interstitial fibrosis. He was 68 years old.
He was diagnosed with the illness in May 2000, but with medication functioned well until 2005, when he started intermittently using a portable oxygen tank. His condition improved after a 2009 single lung transplant at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, but he recently began contacting friends to say that his prognosis was grim and to say goodbye.

Born December 13, 1943 in College Park, GA, where his father was an African Methodist Episcopal pastor, Hardeman kicked off his music career by singing and playing piano at his dad’s church. His parents moved the family up north for better financial opportunities when he was still a youth. They settled in Harrisburg, PA, before finally moving to Philadelphia, where Hardeman graduated from William Penn High School.

After graduation, he briefly joined the R&B band, the El Dantes, before going off to West Virginia State College as a physical education major. Upon graduation, he worked as a physical education teacher and it’s during that period that The Gabriel Hardeman Delegation was born.

“There was a talent show, and I wanted to get some kids together and do some gospel music,” he told Rashod Ollison at Philadelphia Inquirer in 2001. “’Oh Happy Day’ was hot then. I had about 40 kids and the next thing you know, word got around and we had like, 80 kids in the choir.”

They started performing throughout the year but he’d lose his best singers as they graduated from high school, so he decided to create an independent group and named it The Delegation in 1973.

“We were doing then what folks like Kirk Franklin are doing now,” he told the Inquirer. “We would go into these conservative churches, and they would tell us we were doing the devil’s music.” The group signed to Savoy Records, where they recorded hit albums such as the self-titled LP that featured the radio hit “Feels Like Fire,” and earned a Grammy Award nomination. 
Hardeman became disenchanted with the politics of the gospel world and retired from recording for a while. However, he and his wife, Annette Hardeman (from the disco era trio, First Choice, best known for “Dr. Love”) began to write songs together. They wrote Stephanie Mills’ #1 R&B hit “I Feel Good All Over,” Mikki Howard’s #2 R&B smash “Love Under New Management,” and “This is the Last Time” and “Truly Blessed” for Teddy Pendergrass. They also did backing vocal sessions for R&B acts such as Patti Labelle, Phil Perry and Phyllis Hyman. 
Eventually, the industry demand for them to write more salacious R&B music conflicted with their faith and they devoted themselves to writing and producing gospel music. Aside from writing for gospel acts such as Edwin Hawkins and the Wilmington-Chester Mass Choir, Hardeman recorded his own albums for the Messiah and Birthright labels before making a comeback with the Stellar Award nominated To the Chief Musician CD in 2001. Hardeman returned to Atlanta in 2003 to take care of his elderly parents and he became a pastor in the Belleview Circuit AME Churches in the city. He returned to Philadelphia in 2008 to take advantage of the better medical facilities in the city.

The viewing takes place Saturday, June 23 at 10AM, at the Hickman Temple A.M.E. Church, 5001 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143. The actual service starts promptly at 11AM.  One of his last requests was that friend and colleague, Bryant Pugh, play Richard Smallwood’s “I’ve Come Too Far” at his funeral.

Hardeman is survived by his wife, Annette Hardeman, and their son, Michael. 
GMF extends condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Gabriel Hardeman.

BeBe Winans writes book about Whitney Houston

Acclaimed gospel singer BeBe Winans has penned a book about his longtime friend, superstar Whitney Houston.  The Whitney I Knew is set for release on July 31.

Winans and his family offered emotional spoken-word and musical tributes during Houston’s February homegoing celebration.  His brother, Pastor Marvin Winans, Sr. delivered the eulogy.

CeCe, Winans’ sister, is Bobbi Kristina’s godmother.

The Associated Press reports: BeBe Winans writing book on Whitney Houston

“Daddy’s Angel” – Carl Brister

“Daddy’s Angel”
Carl Brister
From the CD, Undefeated (2011)
www.carlbrister.com

While there is an abundance of music honoring moms, only a handful of songs highlight the loving bond between fathers and their children like Carl Brister’s “Daddy’s Angel.” 
On his site, Brister shares how the ballad was birthed.
“I wrote the song ‘Daddy’s Angel’ a week before my second son, Jordan, was born,” he explains.  “My wife kept having false labor, and I was stressing out!!!  So to relax, I started playing the keyboard and God gave me the song.  I was reflecting on the experience of fatherhood I had with my first son, Justin, while anticipating Jordan’s arrival.  So the song is about both. By the time Jordan came home from the hospital I had put together a rough draft of the song so it would be the first thing he heard in the car.”
Another unique characteristic is that of a parent paying tribute to child, the opposite of which is often the case with Mother’s and Father’s Day repertoire.
The introduction to “Daddy’s Angel” captures the endearing relationship between daddy and child before Brister begins his beautifully tender ode, “The day you were born, somehow I knew that you were my angel.”

Video – “Perseverance” – Jordan Daniel (Live Recording)

Lady Dianne Richardson suggested that I take a listen to the music of Jordan Daniel.  I did, and his is definitely a name to remember.  Enjoy the live recording of “Perseverance,” written, arranged, and performed by Daniel.