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.

"Lord, You're the Landlord" – Mississippi Mass Choir

“Lord, You’re the Landlord”
Mississippi Mass Choir
From the CD, Then Sings My Soul (2011)
www.mississippimass.com

It takes an aggregation like Malaco’s tenured Mississippi Mass Choir to pull off lines like, “Lord, You’re the landlord, and there’s a leak in Your building. Fix it, fix it like You said You would.”  Voiced by some other choirs, such words might come off as demanding; to the new school, maybe even a little corny.  Not so with Miss Mass.

Original member and principal vocalist Lillian Lilly capably leads this Frederick Knight composition (previously recorded by labelmate Eddie Ruth Bradford) with the faith-filled fervor that the informal and simplistic lyrics call for, while the multi-award winning choir concurs: “I can’t fix it….You’re my landlord….Fix it like You said You would.”

The metaphor may not necessarily strike a chord with younger listeners, but “Lord, You’re the Landlord” is definitely your grandmother’s kind of hand-clapper.

Pastor Marvin Winans robbed, carjacked

“This kind of nonsense just has to stop,” Pastor Marvin Winans told ABC7 Action News Wednesday afternoon after being assaulted, robbed, and carjacked while pumping gas at a Detroit Citgo.  He spoke further with ABC7 Wednesday night upon leaving the hospital with a fractured finger.

The pastor of Detroit’s Perfecting Church, Winans is also a Grammy-winning singer.  His current musical collaboration, “Let the Church Say Amen,” features him with Andraé Crouch on Crouch’s The Journey project and has become an instant classic.  Winans also appears in a recurring acting role on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, and he recently gained even more prominence as the eulogist for the homegoing of Whitney Houston.

Helen Baylor breaks silence on music industry pitfalls and her recent addiction

Helen Baylor recently sat down with CBN’s Efrem Graham (May 10), and candidly addressed the negative influences that pervade the gospel music industry.

During her interview, Baylor–recognized in gospel for her riveting testimony and thankfulness for having “a praying grandmother” (The Live Experience/Word Records)–also discussed her marriage, which ended after 30 years, and the recurrence of her struggle with drugs.

Aretha Franklin to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame

GMF is excited to learn that Aretha Franklin will be added to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame this August in Tennessee.  It is another well deserved honor for the “Queen of Soul,” whose roots in gospel music run deep.  CBS News is one of several outlets that shared the announcement a few days ago: Aretha Franklin to Join Gospel Hall of Fame.

You can listen to a few of Aretha’s classic gospel pearls on the YouTube channel of GMF’s partner, Gospel Experience.  The channel has an entire playlist (below) devoted to her.

Related Story
Aretha Franklin: Pumping Out Soul and Preaching Up Gospel


Song by Renee Spearman and Prez pays respect to mothers

(Hollywood, CA)  Established in 1908 to honor mothers worldwide, Mother’s Day is now one of the world’s most beloved holidays.  To mark the occasion, award-winning inspirational duo and JDI recording artists Renee Spearman and Prez have released a classic Mother’s Day song entitled “Happy Mother’s Day,” featuring Prez Blackmon.

The song is available on iTunes.

"No Weapon" – Pastor Linwood Dillard and The Voices of Citadel

“No Weapon”
Pastor Linwood Dillard and The Voices of Citadel
From the CD, Pastor Linwood Dillard Presents Churchin’ with The Citadel (2012)
http://citadelofdeliverance.com

Put your dancing shoes on, because you will surely need them for “No Weapon.”  Pastor Linwood Dillard and The Voices of Citadel’s exuberant single is an extended praise break with a layer of lyrics proclaiming the obvious: “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”

The high energy stomper begins with an igneous 13-second homily before the band thrusts the choir into its emphatic declaration.

Superintendent Linwood Dillard, Jr. is the founding pastor of Citadel of Deliverance Church of God in Christ in Germantown, TN, and the International Youth Department President of the Church of God in Christ, Inc.

“Turn It Around” – Tim Rogers & The Fellas f. John P. Kee

“Turn It Around”
Tim Rogers & The Fellas feat. John P. Kee
From the upcoming CD, Real (Available June 19, 2012)
Blackberry Records

Question: What do you get when you put one of the baddest rising quartets and the “Prince of Gospel” in the same studio?
Answer: You get one head-bobbing inspirational tune that’s shaking up radio and uplifting hearts all over the country.
“Turn It Around” is the current single by Arkansas’s Tim Rogers & The Fellas featuring John P. Kee.  The 32 year-old singer/songwriter/pastor and Kee deliver this mid-tempo bounce so earnestly that by the time they finish hurling their doses of encouragement (“Even if your life is still in a mess, believe God for your blessing–it’s comin’ to your address”), your faith in the power of God is unwavering.
“Turn It Around” is from Tim Rogers & The Fellas’ forthcoming CD, Real, scheduled for release in June.

 

“Love No Limit” – Carl Brister

“Love No Limit”
Carl Brister
From the CD, Undefeated (2011)
www.carlbrister.com

It’s the inspirational gospel remake of Mary J. Blige’s hip-hop soul track, but Carl Brister makes “Love No Limit” his own with rewritten lyrics and his smooth and occasionally jazzy vocal.

Describing himself as a fan of Blige, Brister says, “After I accepted my calling to minister, the words ‘Love No Limit’ took on new meaning and reminded me of God’s unconditional love which has ‘No Limit.'”

Brister, who is a classically trained vocalist, serves as an associate minister, worship leader, and vocal instructor at Irvington, NJ’s Christian Love Baptist Church.

Zacardi Cortez wants you to pick his next single

“I want everybody who ever liked anything I’ve done to help me pick my next radio single,” says gospel sensation Zacardi Cortez.
That’s right.  The 25 year-old Houston-based singer’s CD, The Introduction, has 13 tracks, and he’s inviting his fans to help him pick the next single for a chance to win $500.
“I’m so proud of my new CD. It’s got a little bit of everything on it. I’ve got some quartet, some hymns, some praise and worship and I’ve even got some stuff with a little R&B groove. So, I need the help of the gospel music community to help me pick the song that will bless the most people and touch their hearts.”

You can preview the songs and make your pick by clicking here.

"All Go Back" – Tammy Edwards and the Edwards Sisters

“All Go Back”
Tammy Edwards and the Edwards Sisters
From the CD, On the Right Road Now (2012)
www.malaco.com

Tammy Edwards and the Edwards Sisters

Traditional quartet at its core is what Tammy Edwards and the Edwards Sisters bring to “All Go Back,” from their current CD, On the Right Road Now.

The number is a spin on the traditional “Old Landmark” that turns a sharp corner in the vamp with Edwards and the sisters rockin’ out on the line, “Take it back!”

“You can do it….It’s yours for the asking!” Edwards declares.

The Greenville, NC group blazes this track from start to finish with a drive that won’t quit, even after the music stops near the four-minute mark.

Tammy Edwards and the Edwards Sisters have carried their message up and down the east coast and different parts of the country for more than 30 years.