Category: Interviews

Aaron Cole on music, ministry & fatherhood

Aaron Cole (Photo by Cedrick Jones)

At just 25 years old, Aaron Cole has already carved out a path for himself in Christian hip-hop. From his beginnings in Bristol, VA, where he got his musical start at age four, to being signed by TobyMac as a teenager, Cole’s résumé includes scoring three #1 singles and making history as the first Christian hip-hop artist to win the Dove Award for New Artist of the Year. Now based in Nashville and with two Dove Awards under his belt and a Stellar Award nomination, Cole has entered a profoundly personal chapter of his artistic journey.

The release of his third album, Sorry, I Changed, and its deluxe edition showcased Cole’s ability to bridge generations through collaborations with industry greats Kirk Franklin and Kierra Sheard. Now, his three-song bundle OMARI—featuring Tauren Wells on “One Reason”—marks more than just another musical milestone. It represents a season of deep personal transformation. Becoming a first-time father to his son Omari in late October has infused his music with new depth and vulnerability. In this candid Q&A with GMF Editor-in-Chief Libra Boyd, he opens up about fatherhood, faith, and the beautiful, unexpected ways life continues to reshape his artistry.

Libra: Congratulations to you and your wife on the birth of your son, Omari!

It is apparent to me that becoming a father to Omari has profoundly influenced your recent music. How has preparing for and welcoming your son transformed your songwriting as well as your perspective on faith, creativity, and purpose?

Aaron: I feel like I’ve changed so much in the past few months. However, having Omari has made music honestly even more fun. It’s made me think about my legacy more and consider the things I’m saying even more because one day, when I’m long gone, he’s going to have my discography to listen to and learn things about me that he might not have even known. So I like to share more stories, and I like to think about how my music is impacting the listener even more now—whether it’s joy, relatability, praise, worship, or whatever it may be. It feels like a fresh wind.

Libra: Reflecting on your journey from a 4 year-old to a present-day 25 year-old Dove Award winner with three #1 singles, talk about how your understanding of music as a form of personal expression and ministry has evolved from then to now.

Aaron: When I was just starting, I feel like all I cared about was reaching people’s hearts for God. As you start to grow and become successful, something I learned is that it gets hard to keep going because of all the pressure that comes with success. Sales, elevation, and growth become factors, when at first all you cared about was reaching people and making great music. What I try to do is get back to the younger me every time I make a new project. It gets hard, but you’ve got to remember why you do what you do, and that’s what keeps the joy and the love for the art and the people in it.

Libra: Your collaboration with artists like Kirk Franklin and Kierra Sheard suggests a deep respect for musical legacy. Who are the artists—within and outside of Christian hip-hop—that have most notably shaped your artistic voice and spiritual path?

Aaron: For sure. Those were dreams that came true for me. I grew up listening to both of their music. I feel like they, along with Mali Music, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Tye Tribbett, and I’m sure a few others, have shaped me on this journey. Tye is probably the only one I grew up listening to that I haven’t worked with yet, so I’m looking forward to that happening one day. It’s a blessing to work with people you’ve admired throughout your life journey.

I think the most exciting thing is being able to present God to my generation and others in a new way. – Aaron Cole, Christian Hip-Hop Artist & Dove Award Winner Click to Tweet

Libra: The title of your third album, Sorry, I Changed, feels like a powerful statement about personal growth. We’d love to hear about the specific experiences or moments that inspired you to create it.

Aaron: The whole concept is that real life changes you, God changes you, life changes you. A lot of the songs talk about the struggles of life and the things we go through, and some of the songs reflect the hopeful side of things—how we have faith because of God that we’re going to make it through the challenges we face in our everyday lives. When you change and the people around you feel that change, you sometimes actually feel remorse. The Bible talks about change all the time—fishermen becoming fishers of men, being transformed by the renewing of your mind—and if God wasn’t changing us and taking us somewhere, we wouldn’t need a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.

Ultimately, it’s also the gospel, because when you meet God, your life changes completely. And last but not least, when I made Sorry, I Changed, there were just so many changes in my life. It was my first year married, my first year on a new label—a lot of things had actually changed in my life. So I just feel like the title is so fitting for the season I’m in right now.

Libra: Christian hip-hop often navigates complex spaces between artistic authenticity and spiritual messaging. How do you approach creating music that feels genuine to both your artistic vision and your faith?

Aaron: I think, for me, it’s just about being honest. I’m honest about my struggles, I’m honest about my wins, and I’m also honest about my relationship with God. I think being honest about my journey with God helps me navigate the complex things I have to handle when making music.

Libra: Your music seems to bridge generational and genre gaps—working with established artists while bringing a fresh perspective to Christian hip-hop. What do you see as the most exciting opportunities and challenges for your generation of artists?

Aaron: I think the most exciting thing is being able to present God to my generation and others in a new way. I feel like it’s amazing that being honest about my struggles and my relationship with God can inspire someone else on their journey. The challenges, I feel, definitely come from the industry and the standards of what it actually means to make music for God. It feels like I’m breaking barriers every day in this genre. So I’m looking forward to seeing how the sacrifices affect the genre and impact the culture.

OMARI cover art
OMARI Cover Art

Libra: OMARI is your new, deeply personal three-song project—it’s named after your son. Beyond the music, what are the life lessons you hope to eventually share with Omari about faith and finding one’s path?

Aaron: I’m honestly just super excited to walk with him on his journey through life, whatever it may be. It’s going to be exciting to see what he gravitates toward and becomes passionate about. I just want to share with him that anything is possible with God and hard work and that being patient and operating in God’s peace in any circumstance will go a long way.

Libra: If your musical journey to date could tell a story to listeners, what narrative would you want them to hear—and how does the OMARI project represent the next chapter of that unfolding story?

Aaron: I say this all the time, but I want people to be inspired in every way when they listen to my music. I make music for everyone with a dream like me—sitting in class, sitting at work, wishing your dream would come true. People said you’d never be anything because of your circumstances, where you’re from, etc. But God says something different about us, and God has a plan for all His children.

A Conversation with Melvin Crispell, III: ‘There is no failure in God’

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Image of Melvin Crispell, III. Photo credit by Chris Cavanaugh.

Melvin Crispell, III has emerged in gospel music as a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer with fervor that resonates with the soul. 

Since winning the ninth season of BET’s Sunday Best in 2019, the 26 year-old’s musical journey has been one in which faith, resilience, and the joy of ministry intertwine. His late parents, Melvin Crispell, Jr. and Tunesha Crispell, were celebrated in the gospel industry as a composer and singer, respectively. His father worked with James Hall & Worship and Praise and wrote for Bishop Hezekiah Walker, among others. His mother was a lead vocalist with James Hall and a solo artist. Their only child was just a teenager when they passed less than two years apart. Crispell’s Sunday Best win became an instant springboard, launching him into a music career his beloved parents didn’t live to see, but are very much a part of. We delve into that later.

June marked the release of Crispell’s sophomore full-length project, No Failure, recorded live at Springhill Church in Garland, TX. The album’s first single, “Alright,” was nominated for a GMA Dove Award and the second single from the project, “God Is,” is up for a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance/Song. No Failure also gives the singer-songwriter his first executive producer credit alongside a team that includes producer D. Jamel Kimbrough, music director Elijah Goodwin, and contributions from KJ Scriven, Trinity Anderson, and Maverick City Music’s Chandler Moore.

GMF talked with Crispell by phone about No Failure as well as the passion and unwavering faith that define his gospel journey.

Let me start by congratulating you on your current Grammy nomination for “God Is.” This is your second Grammy nod. How does it feel to be recognized among your peers at that level?

It’s an unexplainable feeling to be able to be recognized on that level amongst so many other legends that are in the gospel music industry and in the secular world. Just to be recognized amongst everyone means the world to me and I still can’t believe it sometimes. 

“God Is” is from your project, No Failure, which is your second full-length album. 

Yes. My second album and my first live album. 

Melvin Crispell, III No Failure art work

Tell us about it and the growth you’ve seen in your musical journey between your first album (I’ve Got A Testimony) and this one. 

Yeah, so I really got to put my heart and soul into this one. And I got the opportunity to be an executive producer for this album. With that came a lot of hard work. I really got to see what all goes into when these artists would do live recordings. There are so many different moving parts to putting something together, and I really got to put my hands into the fire with this. I really spent a lot of long nights trying to figure things out, making sure things were right. Not striving for perfection, but for excellence. It was an amazing experience. And though it was a lot of hard work, it’s something that I definitely want to do again because I want to see how I can challenge myself to even do even more than what I’m doing now.

So No Failure is especially meaningful for you. (Smile)

This album is so special to me! Even the more being able to just be vulnerable with people and to create from my heart, and I can’t wait for the opportunity to do another album. Of course, I said that I did not want to do a live album at first. Now that I’ve done this one, I said, yeah, we need to do another one. I feel that we need to do another one. So it’s definitely an amazing experience and one that I won’t forget.

And the theme of No Failure revolves around the idea that there’s no failure in God, yes?

Absolutely.

What inspired you to bring this forward as the theme?

The inspiration behind that is while we were coming up with songs—we were trying to find two, and of course, we didn’t have the album title yet—God literally dropped two songs into my remembrance: “Here,” which is the first song on the album, and the title track, “No Failure.” And both of those songs were written in a writing session that was done by my church, Life Center Fellowship (in Charlotte) mere days before we had to be locked down for the pandemic. And so of course those songs were going to be recorded by my church; but due to the pandemic, we never got to record them and they were just sitting. And so God brought them back to my remembrance, and when we reviewed them and talked them over with the team, it all started flooding in like crazy like, this is the message that you want to relay to people on the Source of this whole album. 

And if you look at every song on this album, you can trace all of the stories back to the fact that there is no failure in God. We have to continue to trust in His plan because He hasn’t failed us yet. Things are not always the way that we want them to be, and we don’t have everything that we want, but God has given us everything that we need and he’s always taken care of us. 

We have to continue to trust in God's plan because He hasn't failed us yet. Click to Tweet

Such an important message, especially coming out of the COVID pandemic. And to think that the songs were written just before the pandemic lockdown. 

Yes. Days prior.  

You know, it was just four years ago that you won Sunday Best. You’ve accomplished a lot in these few years. That experience had to have impacted you in ways you still reflect on.

That experience was unforgettable for me. It shaped my career in a way that’s given me confidence because I didn’t think I was qualified or even good enough to even make it past an audition for that show. That was just a mindset that I was in. It couldn’t be me to win something that big. And then when I got the call to be a part, I couldn’t believe it. And then from the moment I left my hometown, God had literally lined everything up in place.

Wait. You were not confident you would make the cut? That’s mind-boggling to me. How did you wind up auditioning? 

Sunday Best had been on hiatus. I had seen on social media that it was coming back for the ninth season, and I just kind of kept scrolling past it because, well, I used to want to [be a contestant on Sunday Best] when I was younger, but my parents would shun the very thought of it. (Laughs) I guess it’s because they were a part of the industry and they knew all it entailed, so they didn’t really want me to get thrown into it; so I kind of stopped watching it. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, as any kid would. But the show finally came [off hiatus] and a family member called me three times within a span of two weeks and said, “Hey, you need to audition for this show.” And then another family member came to me and said, “What have you got to lose? Just try.”  

It’s so interesting to hear that was your mindset because many of us who were sitting at home watching, the minute we saw you at the auditions, we were like, “Oh, he is going to win it.” It was a no-brainer for us.

You mentioned your parents, the late Melvin and Tunesha Crispell, and their industry presence. My gosh, they were celebrated figures in the gospel industry. And what I think is really precious is your intentionality about honoring their legacy in your music. What influence do you feel they continue to have on what you do? 

Yeah, it is definitely an honor to carry their legacy, and their legacy was not just music, but a legacy of love and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to people through music and whatever other means it may have been. And so that’s what I love to keep alive, even though they’re not here any longer. Of course, you have your moments where you feel like you could be living in their shadow, but I just feel like I didn’t have enough time with them to where I could actually say that because they were my world and I was so always inspired. Even as a young child, I was always inspired watching them do what they did, whether it was apart or whether it was together. And saying that, I mean that there were so many different avenues that they took to do what they did. It inspired me to say, there’s not just one way to do this, and you don’t have to do it just one way. There’s so much music they have that hasn’t even been released and I used to be a part of that music. That music was in my blood. I used to hear it going to sleep and waking up in the morning and all that stuff. That stuff was always on my mind and on my heart. 

And so now that they’re gone … why not carry their legacy and carry that piece of me with me because it’s a part of who I am. I keep them close to my heart. 

On your first album, you remade your dad’s composition, “Wonderful Is Your Name.” It shot to the top of the Billboard Gospel chart and got you Grammy and Dove nominations. It was a bop when Bishop Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir recorded it in the late ‘90s, and you elevated it when you recorded it two decades later. Now, on No Failure, you’ve remade “Jesus Is My Help,” another of your dad’s compositions that Bishop Walker and Love Fellowship popularized. 

It was an incredible feeling. I wish they were here to see all that God is doing. Even with my mom, there’s music of hers that hasn’t been heard yet—well, at least from me—which will be coming soon.

Say more about that!

Well, there is new music coming sooner than you think! And I got some other things down the pipeline where I kind of venture out and do more than just music. So I’m excited about that. I don’t want to share too much! But yeah, it’s a lot of things happening for me and I’m just grateful to God for what He’s doing. Life is amazing right now.

I’m grateful for you guys and your love and support. It means the world. I ask that you pray to Jesus for me in the coming years, that He just gives me grace and longevity and strength. And I’ll do my best to create even more for you guys to inspire you and to give you hope, and to give you joy [so] that you feel loved and special. And I just thank you guys so much.

No Failure is available on all major digital platforms.

Director Michael Gentry discusses creating ‘Gospel In Person’ documentary

Michael Gentry, creator, producer, and director of Gospel In Person documentary

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Erin Ganey-Hill, cultural arts program director at Kirby Cultural Arts Complex, had an idea, recounts Michael Gentry.

Over the years, Erin had witnessed how the community celebrated Black gospel music and its singers in their small city of Roxboro (population, roughly 8,100) and throughout Person County. Several quartet-styled groups regularly booked the Kirby to host their singing anniversaries or major programs, and Erin and the Person County Arts Council envisioned a project that would pay homage to the valuable legacy of music and culture in the community.

“Erin’s goal was to talk about the history of gospel [music], but from the standpoint of quartets,” Michael explains. “She wanted to celebrate the history of that [in Person County] and [the impact its] singers had.”

The culminating result is a feature-length documentary titled Gospel In Person. It premieres on Father’s Day at the Kirby Theater. Michael is the film’s creator, producer, and director.

Map of NC with Person County highlighted
Image Credit | Amy Rudersdorf

Gospel In Person chronicles over eight decades of the rich Black gospel music history found in Person County, located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, along Virginia’s border. Much of the history is told by the singers themselves, many of whom still travel the circuit singing God’s praises. In their vivid accounts, they also reminiscence about area legends who are no longer with us, such as Roosevelt Whitfield of the pioneering Silver Moon Quartet and his son, prolific singer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Whitfield; Martha Pettiford of the Joylettes; Leroy Cash of the Spiritual Lights; Victor Hester of another pioneering group, the Traveling Sextet; Willie Carrington of the Mighty Harmonaires; and many more. Additionally, the film features classic performances of the Mighty Gospel Travelers, Original True Lights, Spiritual Lights, Mighty Prophets, Joylettes, and others. And although they may not be household names beyond the region, their impact has created ripple effects throughout the broader gospel music scene, as their stories reveal.

Michael grew up in Person County and in church. Admittedly, he was more interested in playing basketball as a youngster than attending weekend gospel music programs. His parents, on the other hand, “know all about this music scene,” he asserts. “This is what they grew up in. Of course, as I grew in Christ and grew in ministry, as God had told me that my work would be in Person County, I developed an interest in wanting to get to know [some of these singers’ stories]. I just didn’t know that I would be called upon to do this.”

The calling of which he speaks came about after Erin took notice of Just Love In Person, an organization Michael co-founded that is committed to strengthening Person County through acts of service powered by love. One way the organization does this is by sharing first-person narratives of people in the community with webisodes fittingly called “Just Love Stories.” The web series piqued Erin’s interest so much so that she jotted Markeith Gentry’s name down to contact about her idea. Markeith is the head of Gentry Visuals multimedia publishing company, the official publisher of Just Love In Person’s “Just Love Stories” series. He is also Michael’s younger brother. In the meantime, she ran it by fellow arts council board member Kim Hargrove. 

“So it just so happens that Erin asked Kim one day, ‘Hey, do you know Markeith Gentry? I need to find a way to get in touch with him,’” Michael recalls. What Erin did not know, he says, is Kim “is like my brother’s second mother.” 

It turns out Markeith’s schedule was full, but he had already been showing his big brother the ropes when it came to videography. Erin and Michael finally met in March 2022 and began developing the project.

The first Sunday in June, Michael visited New Hope Person Missionary Baptist Church in south-central Person County to invite its pastor to appear on “Just Love Stories.” “I went to the church—this is after I had met with Erin—and of course, who do I see? Dr. Libra Boyd. And that’s when I told you about this idea that the Kirby had. And you got on your phone, pulled up several pictures, and said, ‘Here are the people you have to contact. Here are some of the older groups.’”

One of the first people Michael contacted was David Ramsey, a renowned singer and bass guitarist who has been a member of several of the groups discussed in the Gospel In Person film. He is also a longtime radio personality and host of the David Ramsey Gospel Show on WRXO 1430 AM / WKRX 96.7 FM. “I started with David Ramsey, and he’s just a gold mine of knowledge.”

You’re going to
see a lot of things
that were not in
the stories we’ve
already [released]. . . .
We have not released
any information on
Facebook or in
these concerts about
maybe the most
talented gospel
singer in Person
County history.

Ambitiously, he went on to conduct interviews with more than 60 people for Gospel In Person and estimates working on the project an average of eight hours every day for just over one year. “But my soul was getting fed. My knowledge was being increased. So it was a labor of love—emphasis on love, not labor.” Still, the most demanding task may have been condensing nearly 100 hours of accumulated interview and archival footage into a suitable documentary length for one sitting. Gospel In Person runs approximately three hours and is divided into three parts. “From a quartet standpoint, you’re talking about probably 85 years of history.” 

And even though the film focuses on singers of the quartet style, both choirs and churches are acknowledged in this body of work because “all the quartets, for the most part, come directly from a church choir,” he points out. “They were in the choirs, even though they were singing full-time, you know, every weekend, all evening long. They were always in their churches on Sunday morning.”

Another eye-opener, one that blew him away as he collected stories and listened to audio and video recordings, was, “I believe all of these groups could have been professional. Traveling the country. Famous. And I think had these groups been in a larger city, they would have been. . . . You know, they weren’t just ‘Roxboro’ good. They weren’t just ‘North Carolina’ good. They were awesome. But not only that; they had relationships with professional groups. . . . ‘I’m coming through North Carolina. Can I come stay at your house?’ (laughs) The professionals knew them. Some of these singers were singing alongside professionals before they were professionals.” 

The Gospel In Person documentary rounds out the “Gospel In Person” series, which since the fall of 2022 has featured live concert performances of MG Music Group, the Torain Family, Just Us Guys, the Spiritual Lights, the Mighty Harmonaires, and John Thorpe and Truth. Concertgoers were treated to short documentaries spotlighting the headliners, but Michael is quick to emphasize that the full-length documentary is a new release and not a stringing together of the previously released short docs. “You’re going to see a lot of things that were not in the stories we’ve already [released]. . . . We have not released any information on Facebook or in these concerts about maybe the most talented gospel singer in Person County history.”

“Historic and monumental” is how the talented producer and director describes the significance of Gospel In Person; and yet, his prayers and hopes for it are profoundly humble.

“My prayer for [Gospel In Person] has been that it moves people spiritually because that’s [Just Love In Person’s] assignment; our assignment is to make a spiritual impact. I pray that it gets folks saved, revitalizes people, strengthens the spiritual work of quartets in Person County, and continues to strengthen the church community. I hope it encourages the active quartets to continue the work they’re doing and realize they’ve made an impact. And then my prayer is that people can know, understand, and appreciate what exists in our community. We have greatness all throughout. I hope people understand what is in these roots and see it as their responsibility to continue to feed these roots by producing more greatness. My main prayer is that God is glorified and the people are encouraged.

“I’m grateful that God called me to the work because it is, to me, it’s been the most important thing that I’ve really ever worked on.”

Flyer for Gospel In Person documentary film

Gospel In Person premieres Sunday, June 18, at Kirby Theater on 213 N. Main Street in Roxboro. Showtimes are 1 pm and 5:30 pm. Admission is FREE. GMF’s Libra Boyd appears in the film.

Editor’s Note: The group pictured on the graphic is The Mighty Gospel Travelers. Seated from left to right are the late Michael Whitfield, David Ramsey, and Stacey Pettiford. Standing from left to right are the late James Lunsford, Rev. McArthur Pettiford, the late Victor Hester, the late Burley Pettiford, and the late Freddie McGhee.

Kelontae Gavin talks new music, sharing his platform, and ‘the necessity of being alone’

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Kelontae Gavin

Kelontae Gavin was only a high school freshman in 2014 when a cafeteria worker captured him on video singing Rev. Paul Jones’ popularized version of “I Won’t Complain.” The South Carolina native was already such a force that when the video was posted on social media, it spread with virality.

Just nine years later, Kelontae has Billboard charting music—including the single “No Ordinary Worship”—over 55 million audio streams, two full-length albums (The N.O.W. Experience and The Higher Experience), and a Stellar Award. He is set to release his third album, Testify, this summer. The first two singles from it, “Live Again” and “Good Love” have already dropped. It might appear that his music career is progressing at lightning speed. 

When I caught up with Kelontae, he had just performed at the 8th Annual Black Music Honors, a star-studded celebration of music legends including this year’s gospel honorees, The Hawkins Family. He took some time to talk with GMF about music, mentoring, and maturing.

First off, I love the new single “Live Again”! It represents a fresh start and the joy of being able to walk into a new beginning. That being said, what fresh start(s) are you celebrating?

One fresh start that I am celebrating is I just launched a worship mentorship for worship leaders and aspiring artists—those who have the big dreams, but they’re from small towns. You know, many of us come from small churches or smaller ministries where we don’t really have the facilitators to help us grow in our gifts. And so I wanted to be the lifeline for worship leaders that have felt like the communities that they’ve served have overlooked them. It is not really the case, it’s just God develops us in the dark. And those who may have felt like you are unseen, you are seen, like, you got all of heaven backing you up! And God has given them gifts that are beyond their last name, that are beyond where they come from. And so the “live again” for me is being the platform for somebody else.

So, yeah, let’s talk about platforms. You have multiple #1s on Billboard and Mediabase Gospel charts, and you’ve earned a Stellar Award so far. How do these achievements fit in with what you envisioned at this stage for your platform of music and ministry?

Yeah, I would have, like, I don’t even know if the little boy in me knew that I would even be answering a question like this. Everything that I have, God gave it to me. Every place that I’ve been, God took me. Everything that I know, God has placed people in my life to help teach me. And the awards are just the consequence, the byproduct of my relationship with God, of trusting God and knowing that the gifts and talents that He has given me are not just to shine my light, but it’s also for people to see his light.

“Live Again” is the first single from your upcoming album. “Good Love” is the second one. What is it that we absolutely must know about the full-length project that drops later this year? What can we expect?

Yeah, Testify is gonna be incredible! And Testify is the name of my upcoming album that is dropping. Testify is an album that is a collaboration of worship songs and life songs that you will hear and you can sing that will not just be a testimony to you, but be a testimony for others as well [of] just how great our God is. I’m so excited that people will get the opportunity to purchase and download and stream and even share with other people. This record is special. It’s another baby of mine that I’m birthing out for the world to hear and just be changed and encouraged.

Kelontae Gavin seated

A final thought as we’ve talked mentoring, music, and testimonies:  If your life were a book, what wisdom would a chapter titled, “The Maturing of Kelontae Gavin” contain?

Man, if my life were a book, I would say that the wisdom in that chapter of “The Maturing of Kelontae Gavin”…I would just talk about the fear of being different. We all want a crew, we want friends. We wanna belong to something, we wanna run with the herd. But as I am growing and maturing as a man, I’m realizing that some of the greatest leaders in the world and leaders in the Word of God were lonely, or felt lonely, or practiced the art of being alone. And many people don’t understand that true leadership is evolved, nurtured, developed—not when everybody’s applauding, but when you’re by yourself looking in the mirror to your core [at] who you are. Do you love who you are when there is no best friend, when there is no marriage, when you’re not dating, when you didn’t get the promotion? So I think a chapter on maturing would definitely entail a lesson called “The Necessity of Being Alone.”

Wow, man! If you were to write it, I would certainly read it. It would be profoundly introspective.

What else would you like to share with GMF?

I would say get the album! I’m so excited about Testify! Subscribe to my YouTube channel: I Am Kelontae Gavin. [I’m] dropping some new heat, some exclusive releases and videos, and I’m just excited. And of course, follow me on Instagram @kelontae_gavin, Facebook @Kelontae Gavin, and stay locked in for all that I have going on in my life, my journey, and on the road.

Pastor Nell Smith Ward talks ministry, new music, and the regimen that keeps her going

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Pastor Nell Smith Ward

Pastor Nell Smith Ward has been preaching since the tender age of three and singing nearly as long. From then til now, “Little Nell,” as she is better known, has graced platforms with numerous notables including Pastor Shirley Caesar, Dr. Bobby Jones, Beverly Crawford, and Dr. Maya Angelou. In 2018, she took social media by storm when Facebook footage of her wedding serenade (Jason Nelson’s “Forever”) to husband Bishop Timothy Ward went viral. As of April 2022, the video is at 733,000 views and counting.

From humble beginnings as the young preaching machine and singer-musician who served at Miracle Center Holiness Church, founded by her mother Overseer Cora Smith, God birthed Living Waters Christian Church (presently based in Zebulon, NC) in 2000. She remains the pastor alongside her husband. In our GMF Q&A, Pastor Ward chats about the early days of her ministry, her new music project, and how she brings balance into her life in the midst of ongoing demands.

Describe Pastor Nell Smith Ward in three words.

Passionate, fair, loving.

You started preaching when you were three and ran your first revival at age six. I’m sure many people were fascinated to hear about you. Do you remember what that first revival experience was like for you and possibly for those who attended? 

Yes, I remember my first revival. It was in Henderson, NC at the Jesus House of Prayer. They had to build a stool for me to stand on top of for the people to see me. People would come from miles around to hear me. My mom, Overseer Cora Smith, was there, as well as Sister Doris Busby, Donald Morgan, and Julia Johnson, my aunt. I was a sweet little girl who wanted to pray for everyone. The people were excited to see a child used by God. The churches were packed from wall to wall. I wasn’t afraid or shy. I knew my calling even back then. 

When and how did you recognize singing to be a part of your ministry?

At the age of eight. I remember when my dad came home from work and he said, “Nell, I leave for work [and] you’re singing. I come home, you’re singing.” I knew I had a gift right then and there.

Tell us all about your latest project, It’s Your Time.

This is a 20-year project in the making. I started this journey over 20 years ago. It wasn’t easy. I kept on preaching and singing and pastoring Living Waters. Yes, I had to wait on the Lord – wait on his timing – and now it’s my time! 

That’s certainly a fitting album title for your journey. What is your favorite track on the new album?

“Holy Ghost”! [And it’s] because I see how the power of God changed my life and it changes the lives of so many people. I love every song on the album. WOW! This is a hard choice.

Speaking of “Holy Ghost,” you reached back and got that classic from Rev. Milton Brunson and The Thompson Community Singers’ There Is Hope album. Why did you decide to make it part of yours?

When I was praying about the songs for the album, I started thinking about a place and time in my life. Childhood times came back to my memory. Hanging out with my cousin Darrell Johnson, he would play Rev. Milton Brunson’s music. We would listen to the album over and over again. It was a happy place in my life, so that’s why I chose that song. 

Don’t say it’s an unfair question (smile), but between singing and preaching, which is your favorite to do?

Preaching is, but singing is too. I can’t choose. They go hand-in-hand with my type of ministry.

You’ve been doing both practically all your life. In a time when we see pastors, preachers, and others in ministry experiencing burnout, what, in addition to your relationship with God, keeps you going?

Prayer keeps me going; having faith and trust in God. I’ve learned to live my life being dependent on Jesus! Staying focused on my assignment and saying “no” to some things is one way to keep your sanity as well. You can’t be everything to all people. Let God be God, and you’ll get through it.

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Pastor Ward wants you to know the single “Holy Ghost” is available on all major digital platforms.

James Dixon to host annual birthday musical – April 3

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

James Dixon

This is the time of year James Dixon looks forward to, and it’s not just because of college basketball’s March Madness and the fact that he’s a diehard Duke fan. James, a lover and loyal supporter of gospel music, has a special day coming up. The radio announcer and former drummer for The Sensational Nightingales uses his birthday to bring family, friends, and great gospel singers together.

Libra: Who is James Dixon?

James: A child of the most High God, a servant of God!

Libra: Let’s go back some years. When did you realize your love for gospel music?

James: You can’t help but love gospel music when you’re born into a gospel music family. My mom and my aunts had a group; and my brothers, my two cousins, my uncle and myself had a group. If we weren’t singing anywhere, me and my mom were going to a quartet program.

Libra: How did you get started with the Sensational Nightingales and what was that experience like? Is there a concert moment or conversation etched in your mind from the time spent with The Gales?

James: I got started with The Sensational Nightingales in 1997. The Sensational Nightingales performed a charity concert with Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers in Charlotte. That’s a concert moment I won’t ever forget.

Libra: You’re a radio host as well. Tell us about Church Time Radio Show and the kind of gospel music that grabs your attention.

James: Yes, I’m a radio host. Well, I got started with Church Time Radio Show in 2020, [and] quartet music, well, good gospel music [is what grabs my attention].

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James’ birthday musical has become an annual tradition. This year, it is set for Sunday, April 3, at 3 PM. The celebration takes place at the Mebane Arts Community Center in Mebane, NC. Admission is $10 for persons 13 and above.

James Dixon 46th birthday musical flyer

Tevis Harris on his full circle experience, his ‘sound,’ and the courage to ‘begin again’

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Gospel artist Tevis Harris could be called a hope dealer. Just take a look at his song and album titles. In 2019, he released his first single, “Fight,” which features a group of friends and family that go by the name faVor. The independent release was followed in 2021 by his album Keep Winning, a compilation of praise and worship, contemporary, and urban gospel music for multiple generations of listeners. Then, in late 2021, the Rocky Mount, NC-based singer-songwriter released the Christmas single, “Hope is Alive.” 

Singer-Songwriter Tevis Harris

But Harris is not only a singer-songwriter and conveyor of messages of hope. He’s also a worship leader, director, and producer whose musical giftedness became apparent as a young boy in the church choir. Through the years, Harris has provided backing vocals in musical productions and for other artists; even so, you can still find him in his hometown, singing and serving in ministry. You can also find him collaborating with hometown friends Luther Barnes (“Victory”) and Wanda Barnes (“Begin Again”) of gospel’s legendary Barnes family. 

In our GMF Q&A, Harris talks about his experiences working alongside the Barnes family, the crafting of his signature sound, and, of course, he gives us a dose of hope from his songwriting catalog.

You are from Rocky Mount, NC, which is also the home of gospel’s renowned Barnes Family. How has your music ministry intertwined with theirs?

I was 13 years old when I first began singing with the Barnes Family. I was 18 when I started singing with F.C. Barnes & Company. For years I developed my gift through the mentorship of both Bishop F.C. Barnes and Pastor Luther Barnes. I also sang background for Deborah Barnes. I currently still sing background for Pastor Luther Barnes and the Restoration Gospel Choir. My sound, style, and musicianship have a foundation that was built from my time singing and being with the Barnes Family. And now, they sing with me. Wanda Barnes is featured on a song, Pastor Luther is featured on a song, and Pastor Luther’s daughter, Bonita, is also featured on a song on my album. Everything has come full circle.

You started singing in the choir as a young boy and realized you were musically gifted. What was the moment that affirmed this for you?

Yes, I started singing at a very early age and it was affirmed at a very early age that I was musically gifted at Mount Olive Baptist Church. I started directing the choir and leading songs. I learned to play the piano and when the church pianist was absent, I was called upon to play. I was just a young boy when my musical giftedness was affirmed.

Tell GMF about your latest music.

My single “Hope Is Alive” recently debuted in November 2021. It is an amazing song that opens with Handel’s “For unto us a child is born.” It ends with an intense musical proclamation for a life full of hope, joy, peace, and bliss because of Jesus. In the spring of 2022, I will release my newest single, “It Will Work Out.”

You write, produce, direct, and sing. How would you describe the Tevis Harris sound?

The Tevis Harris sound is inspired by Luther Barnes, Anthony Brown, Kirk Franklin, and James Fortune. I absolutely love and appreciate their giftedness and approach to music. Anthony Brown is definitely my favorite. The classical touch that he adds to his music production is incredible.

Take a title or lyric from your catalog and share a word of inspiration with the GMF audience.

I want to remind each of us that no matter where you find yourself in life, no matter the past mistakes or failures or poor choices, with God, you can begin again. Life is going to throw us curve balls and we will find ourselves in some of the most difficult and dark places and spaces; some from no fault of our own. Yet most will be because we’ve messed up and have fallen short. BUT we can begin again. This song (“Begin Again” from the album Keep Winning) was birthed out of the experience of having to begin again. 

Since I’ve written “Begin Again,” I’ve realized that the Bible is simply a compilation of stories that share begin again moments and experiences. These moments are filled with people living in their humanism, just like you and me, receiving opportunity after opportunity to begin again. God gives grace and pushes hope on us through His son Jesus Christ and in the word of God that encourages us to live in the freedom of new beginnings. He’s not expecting us to be perfect; yet when we fall, get up, dust yourself off, get better, begin again, and do better. New beginnings are just a part of life and a part of how God has instructed and constructed us to live.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is thy faithfulness.” We are going to fall and make mistakes, sin, mess up, fall short of the glory, and make poor choices; but God doesn’t want us to stay there in the mess. He gives us the opportunity and wants us to begin again. He wants us to repent for Him to only pour his forgiveness and love all over us. You can begin again!

Deacon Authority: ‘My Music is About Growth’

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Deacon Authority

Deacon Authority’s mantra is, “Stay salty.” But don’t take that to mean he wants you angry, irritated, or upset. Certainly, that’s not how the Christian hip-hop artist Cedric Hester, known as Deacon Authority or simply “DA,” moves. In contrast, he’s an encourager who simply chooses to remind Jesus’s followers of their Matthew 5:13 call to influence and make a difference: “You are the salt of the earth…”

As founder and CEO of MG (Mighty God) Music Group, Deacon Authority dedicates his time to writing and producing music for a number of artists as well as himself. He also performs with several of the artists at churches, amphitheaters, and a variety of other venues up and down the East Coast. The door was even opened for them to share their hip-hop gospel message in the UK in 2019. 

Deacon Authority gave his life to Christ in 1998. Since then, he has been on a mission to share his faith and spread the gospel message through his gifts and talents. Recently, he chatted with me about his process. 

Libra: Talk about how you knew rap to be the avenue for you. 

DA: I was in church listening to my pastor and words started coming to me during the sermon. 

Libra: Is this how you get much of the inspiration for the music you write?

DA: Currently my inspiration comes from current events and life. I remember how my Pastor broke down the scripture for me to understand, rather than [just giving a] quotation. Now my inspiration comes from wisdom and experiences. I want my music to help people long after I’m gone. To me, my music is about growth and encouraging the listener. 

Libra: Who has been the biggest influence on your music style and how? 

DA: I’m influenced by all genres of music. I hardly listen to hip-hop unless it’s music that I’ve produced. I like to understand how artists come up with their music. I’m a student of music. 

Libra: MG Music Group has been invited into some very traditional worship spaces that aren’t accustomed to God being sung about in this style. What has been your approach to engaging an audience that can’t seem to get with how you minister? 

DA: Honestly, I pray and most of the time I pick songs according to the Holy Spirit. My goal is to minister according to the needs of the people. Sometimes I’m praising for my [own] breakthrough. 

Libra: What’s your favorite song to perform?

DA: “Mighty God.”

Libra: Is that also your most popular?

DA: “You Forgot.”

Libra: MG Music Group is constantly releasing new music and new music videos. First, let’s talk about what goes into the creative process. 

DA: The videos are organic. We hardly prep. We have a great chemistry with our videographer!! We are being ourselves on each video. We believe in “what you see is what you get”!! 

Libra: I want us to also talk about the collaborative process because rarely do we see just one MG Music Group artist featured on a song or video. How do these collabs come about and why do you find them meaningful? 

DA: They stem from fellowships, personal experiences, and conversations. There are certain things or topics that we can relate to that turn into our content. 

Libra: What topic seems to resonate most with your audiences?

DA: Being truthful and honest.

Libra: Outside of MG Music Group artists, who would you most like to collaborate with? 

DA: For me, Richard Smallwood. 

Libra: Wow, I totally would not have guessed that! Please tell me why this would be a dream collab for you and how you envision the different styles coming together.

DA: His music moves me and I enjoy his messages. I truly feel if we got in the studio together, it would be crazy.

Libra: I would definitely look forward to that. On another note, do you feel the industry has changed for the better as it relates to indie artists? 

DA: In some ways, yes, because it’s easier to get your music out. At the same time I’m noticing that music is being more watered down because some people do it for money and attention instead of the art. 

Libra: What positive impact has the pandemic had on your ministry? 

DA: I was able to slow down and focus on my personal life and focus on things that I didn’t have time to address. This allowed me to grow and that growth is always incorporated into the music.

Calvin D. Tucker, Jr. talks grief and ‘mental health song’

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Calvin D. Tucker, Jr. is a professional actor, model, inspirational recording artist, and award-winning songwriter. Recently, the Baltimore-born performing artist returned from a nine-year hiatus in recording to release his self-penned single, “One 800.” Coined “the mental health song,” the uptempo composition raises awareness about grief and suicide prevention. Loss and grief are experiences to which Tucker relates.

Libra: Let’s talk about your single, “One 800.” You wrote this song a few years back in memory of your childhood friend, Ronnie Marvin Collins, Jr., and your cousin, Tamitrea Carter. Now, it serves as a tribute to your father, Calvin Donald Tucker, Sr., who passed in January. Tell us about the song and why it’s titled, “One 800.”

Calvin: “One 800” is still dedicated to my cousin and childhood friend. I just didn’t realize when I started recording the song, how soon it would become dedicated to my dad.

This song began as a recurring dream that I would have of me and my cousin as well as some [dreams] with me and my friend. They were literally visuals of us hanging out and they would be short. This would happen randomly and spread out over years until finally, I was listening to a different Techno/Dance track that my friend Chris Sherman produced and needed lyrics for. As I sat and listened, the track evoked the lyrics to what was then called, “Take The Pain Away.” That was 2014.

In 2019, I said to myself, “I need new music,” and began recording the song before the very first [COVID-19] shutdown. By the time COVID-19 hit and we started losing people in great numbers, I began to feel that this song needed a heavier title that was indicative of the desperation and despair of grief. That [title] became “One 800.” When you hear [phone numbers beginning with 1-800], you think of needing relief, emergencies, help, etc. That’s the heart and soul that this song was birthed from: simply needing help.

Libra: How differently does this song resonate with you now compared to 2014?

Calvin: The song resonates way more personally now because my father passed a few weeks before the song’s debut.  I was already promoting a Feb 1, 2021 release date even though the song was completely finished in November 2020. I decided to go ahead and let my father hear the song on a Saturday in December 2020.  I told him this was the song I wrote, dedicated to Mitrea and Ronnie.  He cried and said, “That’s nice.” Two days later he passed away from his battle with ALS.

Libra: We all handle grief differently and “One 800” is geared toward grief awareness and management as well as suicide awareness and prevention. How personal is this for you? 

Calvin: I am a testament that grief can be very difficult. I was young when my friend and cousin both passed away and it was hard. I drew closer to my family and friends, worship, and my relationship with the Lord. God showed me that the performing arts is a powerful outlet and means of coping and so I definitely continued to put my all into those ventures.

I’ve thought about suicide before once, and it didn’t have to do with someone’s death. It was [because of] personal issues I faced. Although I didn’t put a plan together and attempt to execute it, I still feel for those who struggle with suicidal thoughts, emotions, and scenarios.

Libra: One of the great tragedies of the COVID-19 pandemic is the depth of grief and loss experienced by countless many. How are you coping in the midst of this pandemic?

Calvin: So far I’ve lost an uncle to COVID-19. There are tons of people I know from the church, and family of friends who have passed due to COVID-19 and it’s horrible. I continue to heal through my relationships with God, my family, friends, and therapy through the performing arts. I am considering actually going to standard therapy, I just haven’t felt the pull to go yet.

Libra: What would you say to the families who are grieving, Calvin?

Calvin: I say, this is the time to grow closer together; remember all the fun and goofy times. These things always relieve stress and guilt and other emotions that come with grief management. I say still do things that are fun, play your favorite music and TV shows, go to the park and ride your bike, take a road trip. Don’t become a prisoner to this pandemic; just use every precaution while enjoying life and healing.

“One 800″ features vocals from Carrie Boone and is available on all digital platforms. Tucker invites you to connect with him via www.calvinthespecialist.com and on Instagram @Calvin2ent.

Danielle Brooks explains why Mahalia Jackson role is ‘a big choir robe to fill’

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Award-winning actress Danielle Brooks stars as Mahalia Jackson in the Lifetime biopic Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia. (Photo from Lifetime)

Danielle Brooks is known for her roles as Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black and Sofia in the 2015 Broadway production of The Color Purple – portrayals which won her multiple Screen Actors Guild awards and a Grammy, respectively. She started young, cutting her acting teeth in a church play at the age of six and going on to graduate from the prestigious Juilliard School. Yet, when it came to starring as gospel queen Mahalia Jackson in Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia, the award-winning formally trained actress knew she faced a lofty task.

Born in New Orleans, Mahalia Jackson began singing at an early age and went on to become one of America’s most admired gospel figures. In the late 1940s, her arrangement of W.H. Brewster’s “Move On Up A Little Higher” reportedly sold two million copies. Jackson rose in acclaim, performing to racially diverse audiences at Carnegie Hall, touring internationally, and debuting The Mahalia Jackson Show on the CBS radio network. During the 1950s and 1960s, Jackson’s music was threaded into the country’s civil rights movement. An active supporter, she sang at numerous rallies, including the 1963 March on Washington alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., hoping her music would encourage and inspire racial equality. 

Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson

Mahalia covers 40 years of Jackson’s life and features several of her most recognized musical numbers. Brooks does her own singing in the biopic, showcasing a set of pipes previously unheard by many, if not most, of her followers. “A little tricky” is how she described the situation during a recent Zoom interview.

“The fear comes because most people say ‘big shoes to fill,’” Brooks, 31, explained. “I say that’s a big choir robe to fill – to be the ‘Queen of Gospel Music’ when people have not heard [me] as a vocalist yet.” 

She continued, “As people of color, we have high expectations for our people because we only want the best. We want to present the best. So I just wanted to make everybody proud, make my ancestors proud, make Mahalia proud, make my church family from Bethlehem Baptist Church in Fountain Inn, SC proud.” 

If the film trailer is any indication, Brooks has succeeded. 

Among the lessons to be learned from Mahalia, Brooks said, are the importance of relying on our own faith in challenging times and the significance of using our own gifts to bring hope and effect positive change.

Mahalia is executive produced by Robin Roberts and Linda Berman from Rock’n Robin Productions and Lincoln Square Productions, respectively. Brooks along with Tony Award winner Kenny Leon are co-executive producers. Leon is also the film’s director.

Mahalia premieres April 3rd at 8/7c on Lifetime, one day before both Easter and the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination.