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.

Johnny Otis (1921-2012) – "The Godfather of Rhythm and Blues"

Johnny Otis, singer, musician, bandleader, and former pastor, died Tuesday.  He was 90 years old.  Otis, who was the son of Greek immigrants but identified himself as a member of the black community, was the father of singer-songwriter and musician, Shuggie Otis.

According to his bio, the multi-talented artist discovered, among others, Etta James, who was once a featured vocalist in his band.  (James passed today at the age of 73.)

In a career that spanned seven decades, Otis, sometimes referred to as “The Godfather of Rhythm and Blues,” enjoyed one success after another in the music industry.  He was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 

In later years, Otis reportedly founded and pastored the now defunct Landmark Community Gospel Church in California.

You can read more about his extensive career in the Chicago-Sun Times and The New York Times.

GMF offers sympathy to the relatives, friends, and fans of Johnny Otis.

Etta James succumbs

Etta James, famed singer whose best known hit is perhaps “At Last,” has died just a few days shy of her 74th birthday.

James, like countless other blues, R&B, and soul singers, got her start in the church. Gospel historian Bob Marovich conducted an interview with her several years ago that he will re-air on his radio program “Gospel Memories” next week. See his piece for more information: Etta James dies at 73.

GMF extends condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Etta James.  Her music will not soon be forgotten.

VaShawn Mitchell wins big at Stellars (Complete List of 2012 Winners)

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Photo Credit: Rick Diamond
For VaShawn Mitchell, it was a weekend to remember at the 27th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.  Mitchell had his hands full, leaving with six trophies for his CD Triumphant, which features Billboard’s number one gospel song of 2011, “Nobody Greater.”
A special moment in the evening came when Kirk Franklin, after having won Song of the Year for “I Smile,” shared his award with fellow category nominee Darius Paulk, the writer of “Nobody Greater.”
Other honorees of the evening were Vy Higginsen, who was presented the Thomas Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award, and John P. Kee, who received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award.  Higginsen is perhaps most recognized as the founder of Gospel For Teens and as the first black female writer, producer, and director of the longest running Off-Broadway musical in the history of American theatre, Mama, I Want to Sing.

Photo Credit: Rick Diamond
The James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Kee for his remarkable music career that spans over three decades and encompasses a myriad of gospel music accolades.  In the late 1980’s, he was crowned the Prince of Gospel.
During the pre-show (see related story), the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award was given to Dorothy Norwood.
Daughters of “The Royal Lady of Gospel” Delois Barrett Campbell (who passed in August 2011, at age 85) were also recipients of a special Stellar Award at the pre-show. The trophies will now bear Campbell’s name among the inscriptions.  Additionally, fans of the Barrett Sisters were thrilled to learn that a film documentary chronicling the life and extensive career of Campbell and her siblings is scheduled for release in March.  It will feature vintage music footage and lively candid interviews with the internationally acclaimed trio.
The Stellar Awards will air nationally on the Gospel Music Channel, Saturday, February 11.  Visit www.thestellarawards.com and click Local Airdates for the broadcast dates and times in your area.

Below is this year’s complete list of winners.

Artist Of The Year
VaShawn Mitchell 

Song of the Year
“I Smile” – Kirk Franklin

Male Vocalist Of The Year
VaShawn Mitchell

Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year
Kim Burrell

Group/Duo of the Year
Mary Mary 

New Artist of the Year
Y’Anna Crawley

CD of the Year
Hello Fear – Kirk Franklin

Choir of the Year
Ricky Dillard & New G

Producer of the Year
Kirk Franklin

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
Mary Mary

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
The Rance Allen Group

Contemporary Male of the Year 
VaShawn Mitchell

Traditional Male of the Year
Smokie Norful

Contemporary Female of the Year
Kim Burrell 

Traditional Female of the Year
Beverly Crawford 

Contemporary CD of the Year
Hello Fear – Kirk Franklin

Traditional CD of the Year
How I Got Over – Smokie Norful

Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance Of The Year
VaShawn Mitchell 

Music Video of the Year – Short Format
“Nobody Greater” – VaShawn Mitchell 

Music Video of the Year – Long Format
Church on the Moon – Deitrick Haddon

Traditional Choir of the Year
Mississippi Mass Choir 

Contemporary Choir of the Year
Shekinah Glory Ministry 

Instrumental Gospel CD of the Year
Music Remastered and Sacred Organ – Moses Tyson, Jr. 

Special Event CD of the Year
Bishop Morton Celebrates 25 Years of Music – Bishop Paul S. Morton

Rap Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
Rehab: The Overdose – Lacrae

Children’s Project of the Year
Teen Pure In Heart Live – Pure-N-Heart 

Quartet of the Year
The Rance Allen Group

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Make It Loud! – Martha Munizzi

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Triumphant – VaShawn Mitchell

Spoken Word CD Recording of the Year 
Look at You Loving Me – Selah

Radio Station of the Year – Major Market
KJLH 102.3FM – Los Angeles, CA 

Radio Station of the Year – Large Market
WHAL 95.7FM/1460AM – Memphis, TN 

Radio Station of the Year – Medium Market
WLOU 1350AM – Louisville, KY 

Radio Station of the Year – Small Market
KOKA 980AM – Shreveport, LA

Stellar Award winners of non-televised categories announced at pre-show

Dorothy Norwood and family of Delois Barrett Campbell receive special awards

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Gospel music’s version of the Grammys is taking place this weekend in Nashville.  The first winners of the 27th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards were announced last evening at the 2012 pre-show, held before a capacity crowd at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.  Hosts of the non-televised event were Byron Cage and Maurette Brown Clark.
 
“Gospel’s Greatest Storyteller” Dorothy Norwood received the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award.  The Caravan alumna’s career spans more than half a century. 
 
Left: Dorothy Norwood accepts the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award, recalling her years of traveling during the era of racial injustice and discrimination.
 
In addition to the awards presentations, a special award was given to the daughters of pioneering gospel great Delois Barrett Campbell, who passed away August 2011.  Because of her internationally renowned contributions to gospel music with the Roberta Martin Singers, the Barrett Sisters, and as a solo artist, her name will be inscribed on the Stellar Award.

Right: Mary Campbell, daughter of Delois Barrett Campbell, speaks as other daughter Sue Campbell-Ladd (far right), presenter Erma Davis, and cousin Skip Barrett look on.
 

Categories and winners announced at the pre-show are as follows:

Contemporary Male of the Year
VaShawn Mitchell

Traditional Female of the Year
Beverly Crawford

Contemporary Female of the Year
Kim Burrell

Contemporary Choir of the Year
Shekinah Glory Ministry

Choir of the Year
Ricky Dillard & New G

Traditional Choir of the Year
Mississippi Mass Choir

Traditional CD of the Year
How I Got Over – Smokie Norful

Contemporary CD of the Year
Hello Fear – Kirk Franklin

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Triumphant – VaShawn Mitchell

Instrumental Gospel CD of the Year
Music Remastered and Sacred Organ – Moses Tyson, Jr.

Children’s Project of the Year
Teen Pure In Heart Live – Pure-N-Heart

Music Video of the Year – Long Format
Church on the Moon – Deitrick Haddon

Urban Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year
“Nobody Greater” – VaShawn Mitchell

Quartet of the Year
The Rance Allen Group

Producer of the Year
Kirk Franklin

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Make It Loud! – Martha Munizzi

Special Event CD of the Year
Bishop Morton Celebrates 25 Years of Music – Bishop Paul S. Morton

The Stellar Awards continues tonight at the Grand Ole Opry with hosts Dorinda Clark-Cole and Marvin Sapp.  Stay close to GMF for the complete list of this year’s winners. 

Photo Credit: Stellar Gospel Music Awards

 

Lexi signs with Malaco

The Malaco Music Group recently announced the signing of Alexis Allen, professionally known as “Lexi.”

Lexi has amassed an impressive following through both music and television.  Before realizing her destiny to have a musical ministry of her own, she was a background vocalist for Gerald LeVert, Fred Hammond, and Vanessa Bell Armstrong.  Her most critically acclaimed project, A Praise in The Valley, garnered her a Stellar Award nomination.

In early 2006, Lexi became the “face” of the The Word Network. The birth of the The Lexi Show, a one-on-one style talk show, became Lexi’s new endeavor and proved to be a groundbreaking success for the network.  The fifth season of The Lexi Show currently airs every Saturday at noon (EST) on The Word Network.  In addition, Lexi can be heard weekly on “The Yolanda Adams Morning Show,” bringing listeners the latest gospel news.

Executive Director of Malaco’s Gospel Division, D.A. Johnson, says, “Fans of [Lexi’s] television show will be pleasantly surprised when they are finally introduced to her music. I’m excited to see what God is going to do in this season of her life.”

Lexi comments, “I am humbled to be a family member of the iconic recording label Malaco Records. I am honored to have the opportunity of continuing in the legacy of great singers, musicians and music.”

Lexi’s debut Malaco CD, entitled Phenomenal, produced by Marcus Cole of Commissioned, will be released in spring/summer 2012.

Andraé Crouch talks about dyslexia and songwriting

Many would be surprised to learn that the legendary composer of numerous treasures like “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power,” “Soon and Very Soon,” and “My Tribute (To God Be The Glory)” has dyslexia.

In a recent AP interview, eight-time Grammy winner Andraé Crouch shared his unique approach to songwriting, despite having a disorder that impairs his reading and comprehension abilities.

Read the interview here: Gospel’s Andraé Crouch calls dyslexia his blessing.

Emily Harris of Bobby Jones & New Life has died

Emily Harris
Emily Harris, longtime member of Bobby Jones and New Life Singers and the Nashville Super Choir, has died.  Harris’s rich vocals are featured on several songs, notably “I’m in His Care,” from Bobby Jones and New Life’s early 1990’s release Bring It To Jesus.
 
Homegoing arrangements are as follows:
 
Musical Celebration
Wednesday, December 28th
7 PM
 
Homegoing Celebration
Thursday, December 29th
11 AM
 
All services will take place at Cathedral of Praise Church of God in Christ, 4300 Clarksville Pike, Nashville, TN.  Read the obituary as posted by Terrell Broady Funeral Home here: Emily Harris.
 
GMF extends sympathy to and prayers for the Harris family and Dr. Bobby Jones, New Life, and the Nashville Super Choir during this most difficult time.
 
 

Noël Divin – Quebec Celebration Gospel Choir

Quebec Celebration Gospel Choir
Noël Divin (2011)
http://www.gospelcelebration.qc.ca

By Libra Boyd

Gospel Music Fever

I close my eyes and feel as though I’ve been transported to a concert hall filled with wonderful Christmas music by a heavenly chorus.  I open my eyes and here I sit, in my car, taking in harmonious French and English holiday songs from Quebec Celebration Gospel Choir’s 12-track CD, Noël Divin.

This offering is bursting with contemporary gospel flavor, thanks to superb arrangements by Michael McElroy and Joseph Joubert.  The heavily orchestrated tracks feature a jubilant version of “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” churchy enough for Sunday morning–Chicago style, and a lovely soft pop rendering of “Minuit, Chrétiens” (“O Holy Night”), both performed by the choir’s founder, soprano Fernande Angers.

Just as exultant is “Joy to the World,” with its majestic horn prelude.  This hand-clapper would’ve fit perfectly on the soundtrack of a Penny Marshall-directed Christmas movie starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington.  Slowing the pace but not the continuity is the moving “Noel Noel.”  The song’s lyrical structure coupled with the choir’s execution are reminiscent of Kirk Franklin and the Family (minus Kirk’s spoken-word lead).

Among the year’s better holiday music projects, Noël Divin invokes the true spirit of the season, resonating delightfully with gospel listeners and choir enthusiasts.  

Favorites
“Minuit, Chrétiens” – “Go Tell It on the Mountain” – “Noel Noel”

Fever Meter
SMOKIN’ (4 of 5 Stars)

Music of several gospel artists banned from Radio One playlists

From Music World Entertainment Website

If you miss hearing Le’Andria Johnson, Trin-i-tee 5:7, and Micah Stampley on your favorite Radio One station, there’s a plausible explanation: their music has been axed as a result of a lawsuit filed by Radio One against Mathew Knowles’ Music World Entertainment.

You can read more about this move’s impact on all the artists associated with the entertainment company here: Radio One has banned music associated with Mathew Knowles.

"I Don't Need Anything But You" – C. Lewis

“I Don’t Need Anything But You”
C. Lewis (2011)
ExCLEWsive Productions

Innovative hip-hopper C. Lewis reminds us that Christmas is about more than presents with his brand new mid-tempo track, just in time for the holiday.  He invites his audience to live, love, and give with sweet rhymes and the melodic R&B-seasoned hook: “I don’t need anything but you!”

This is a singer/rapper on his holiday grind, and he is so intent on getting his message out that he’s making the single available as a free download and ringtone by clicking here.