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.

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.

John P. Kee throws grandmother a “rockin'”centennial birthday concert – June 9

John P. Kee is celebrating the 100th birthday of his grandmother Ethel Shannon today, June 9, with a free concert at Durham’s Union Baptist Church on 904 North Roxboro Street.  The musical starts at 3:00 PM.
 
Mother Shannon, whose birthday is Monday, June 11, was featured on Kee’s V.I.P. Mass Choir project Lily In The Valley.
 
Earlier this week, Kee invited fans to send birthday cards and well wishes to 118 Leacroft Way, Durham, NC 27703.

Historian Anthony Heilbut’s new book confronts sexuality in black gospel

Anthony Heilbut is an authority on gospel music and a respected author, producer, and historian.  Amid the swirl of debate about homosexuality, same-sex marriages, and Christian perspectives, he has devoted an entire chapter of his upcoming book, The Fan Who Knew Too Much, to sexuality in gospel.

Because I know Heilbut is a scholar who has spent more than 50 years studying gospel music, I am confident his text will be more than just a page-turner.  It will be an eye-opening and provocative look into the intersections of race, religion, and sexuality in gospel music.

The New York Times recently published an article about Heilbut and his book, which is set for release Tuesday, June 19: Using Gospel Music’s Secrets to Confront Black Homophobia.

More information on Heilbut is available at his website, anthonyheilbut.com.

Habakkuk Music and BlackGospelPromo.com release CD featuring some of gospel’s top acts

Habakkuk Music and BlackGospelPromo.com have teamed up and released Got Gospel? The Best Indie Tracks, Yesterday, Today & Forever. This is the first of a series of compilation CDs to come.

According to BlackGospelPromo.com’s Veda Brown, creating a compilation CD has been a longtime interest.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for years.  So many of my friends in the industry have stepped up and allowed us to use their songs for this project and I’m grateful. Indie labels and artists have become a major force in music so we’ve selected some of the best indie tracks to create a must-have CD compilation.”

Got Gospel? The Best Indie Tracks, Yesterday, Today & Forever consists of 14 tracks by popular artists Vickie Winans, Lisa Page Brooks, Youthful Praise, Marvin Winans, Canton Jones, Bryan Wilson, Rance Allen and others.


Additional information about Habakkuk Music and BlackGospelPromo is available at www.habakkukmusic.com and www.blackgospelpromo.com, respectively.

Video – “And the Winner Is” – D. Sowells & NEM

New Edifying Music’s new gospel recording artist, D. Sowells & NEM, has released the official music video for their debut single “And the Winner Is,” now available on iTunes, Amazon, and other online stores.

D. Sowells & NEM is committed to glorifying Christ, edifying His church, and evangelizing civilizations through music ministry.  Derrick, the group’s lead vocalist, feels God blessed him to pen this song as encouragement for himself and others during these hard and challenging economic times.  For more information about D. Sowells & NEM, you can visit www.dsowellsnem.com.

Video – “God Is Faithful” – Jennifer Holliday

Jennifer Holliday has released her first gospel music video for the single “God Is Faithful.”  The song was written by Keith A.Williams and is the featured song on her current digital-only EP, available at CD Baby.  
Holliday was presented to another generation of music enthusiasts recently, after her appearance on this season’s American Idol with finalist Jessica Sanchez.  The two brought down the house with the tune that made Holliday a household name, “And I Am Telling You,” from the Broadway musical, Dream Girls.

Video – “Down in the Valley to Pray” – Doc Watson (1923-2012)

Bluegrass singer/songwriter/guitarist and North Carolina native Doc Watson has died.  He was 89.

Watson enjoyed a successful career as a bluegrass, country, and folk artist.  The seven-time Grammy winner and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient also recorded gospel, including the Grammy-winning album On Praying Ground.

Greensboro’s WFMY News 2 highlights Watson’s influence: Doc Watson Bluegrass Legend Dies At 89 In Winston-Salem.  Meanwhile, GMF shares a beautiful a capella tune it located on YouTube.  The Watson family, friends, and music community have GMF’s sincerest condolences.

Broadway singer Carrie Smith (1925-2012) started in gospel

The New York Times details the career of jazz and blues singer Carrie Smith, who passed away Sunday, May 20.  Smith began, as many do, in the gospel genre before becoming a recording artist, achieving acclaim on Broadway, and gaining notoriety abroad.

GMF sends condolences to her family, friends, and fans.