Category: News

Tye Tribbett named host of new BET Sunday morning inspirational show

(New York, NY)   BET Networks has announced the new programming that’s heading to its
network of stations which includes BET and Centric. The announcement
came at its annual Upfront presentation last week, with a commitment to
offer more original programming than ever before. It was announced that two-time GRAMMY®, Soul Train, Dove, and Stellar Award winning
recording artist Tye Tribbett has been tapped to host the network’s new Sunday morning inspirational series Joyful Noise.

Tribbett states, “I
have not stopped smiling and dancing since I received the news! I am
beyond honored to be continuing such a monumental legacy as new host of
BET’s Sunday
morning inspirational show Joyful Noise. Dr. Bobby Jones has laid an
INCREDIBLE foundation and I’m so ready to continue to BUILD. All I have
to say is LET’S GOOOOOO!”

The
hour-long show will feature a blend of performances from today’s gospel
super stars, rising new artists, powerful personal testimonies, and
insightful man-on-the-street interviews. In addition to a variety of
musical performances, each show will also feature a power-filled
sermonette by one of the nation’s leading pastors. Finally, Joyful Noise will showcase amazing local churches from around the nation, giving
viewers the opportunity to get their hometown church featured on the
show.

In
addition to Tribbett’s new hosting job, the radical singer, songwriter,
and preacher who’s known for his edgy and energetic live performances is
also preparing for his next live recording. The session, titled A Bloody Win, will take place on Friday May 6, at The Redemption Center in Greenville, SC beginning at 7 PM ET. The recording is free and open to the public.
 From the J. Hardy Agency

Barnes, Jenkins, Stampley, et al. to appear in concert for historic college-prep school – April 30

Barnes

The Piney Woods School, one of only four remaining African-American
college-preparatory boarding schools in the country, is hosting its
second annual “Give From Your Heart” scholarship fundraising concert on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 5 PM at Word and Worship Church, 6286 Hanging Moss Road, Jackson, MS 39206. Tickets ($20 in advance/$25 door) are available at www.pineywoods.org or www.eventbrite.com.

The concert line-up includes Luther Barnes and his band, Pastor
Charles Jenkins, Micah Stampley, hip-hop artist Uncle
Reese, Jermaine Dolly and Lady Erica Donalson. The Piney Woods School
Choir (aka The Cotton Blossoms Singers) will open the program. The event
will be hosted by Willie Moore, Jr., the host of the syndicated radio
program “The Willie Moore Jr. Show” that is heard in 21 markets.

“We’re
very excited,” says radio executive Jerry Smith, one of the event
organizers. “So many artists have offered their support via either a PSA
or donating time to perform at the concert.”

A public service
announcement campaign featuring Jussie Smollett and James T. Alfred from
FOX TV’s drama series Empire and gospel artists ranging from Kirk
Franklin to Candi Staton is in force at radio stations nationwide.

The
Piney Woods School is not an ordinary institution. It is a boarding
school that provides an oasis for students thirsty to escape their rough
environment–over 75% of them hail from lower income neighborhoods
where peer pressure and failing school systems often discourage
learning–to pursue higher education. The Piney Woods School’s rigorous
educational, spiritual and vocational curriculums surround students with
positive peer pressure and 99% of the graduating seniors are admitted
to colleges and universities. The school has been chronicled on 60 Minutes, and U.S. News & World Report profiled it as one of the top
10 boarding schools in the nation. 

From Bill Carpenter

Tye Tribbett gears up for live recording, The Bloody Win, May 6

(Nashville, TN)  Two-time GRAMMY®, Soul Train, Dove and Stellar Award winner Tye Tribbett preps for his next live recording, The Bloody Win.  A powerful and highly in demand artist, Tye’s music ministry is a gift to all who experience it–and on Friday, May 6,
he will unleash a new body of work for his upcoming album release. The
recording will take place at The Redemption Center in Greenville, SC. It’s a free concert, open to the public and is destined to be
life-changing. Doors open at 6 PM, the recording begins at 7 PM.

The
radical singer, songwriter, and preacher who’s known for his edgy and
energetic live performances continues to shatter the mold of what is
traditionally known as gospel music. A true innovator, with one of the
most relevant voices of this generation, Tribbett is set to create a
dynamic new caliber of music.
The recording is the follow-up to Tribbett’s best-selling album Greater Than (Live)
(Motown Gospel) which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums
Chart (four consecutive weeks), #4 on Billboard’s Digital Albums chart,
and #9 on Billboard’s Top 200 (all genres). The success of the album led
to Tribbett earning two GRAMMY® Awards for Best Gospel Album and Best Gospel Song, a Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel/Inspirational Performance, a GMA Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album of the Year and a Stellar Award win for Male Vocalist of the Year.
From the J. Hardy Agency

Pugh leaves Houston’s Lighthouse Church, launches non-profit

Earnest Pugh

Earnest Pugh is ending his tenure as pastor of worship at Lighthouse Church in Houston.

“Pastor Keion Henderson and I mutually agreed that seasons have changed,” Pugh stated in a press release.  “I am moving on to pursue some dreams that have laid dormant in my heart for years.  Our joint efforts of laboring in the vineyard at Lighthouse have been fruitful and we believe God’s best is yet to come for all involved parties.  To God be the glory for the wonderful things He has done, is doing and will do to advance the Kingdom through our lives and ministries.”

In upcoming months, Pugh will launch Vets Rock, a non-profit organization to assist women combat veterans.  A vet himself, the singer is retired from 15 years of active-duty in the Army.  The organization’s official launch on November 21 in Washington, DC will include an “Oh Give Thanks” concert, a Thanksgiving dinner voucher giveaway to 250 vets and their families, and a birthday gala for Pugh.

In addition to establishing Vets Rock, Pugh is reportedly beginning a 50-city tour to commemorate his journey to 50 years of life and more than 20 years in the gospel music industry.

Indiana U’s Archives of African American Music and Culture houses Jacquie Gales Webb Collection

(Bloomington, IN)  Jacquie Gales Webb, an award-winning radio/television producer and gospel music announcer, has selected Indiana University’s Archives of African American Music and Culture (AAAMC) as the repository for her collected papers and an array of production materials related to her career. The collection will provide an invaluable resource for scholarly research and course development on Black-oriented radio, radio documentary production, media history, African American music—including gospel and jazz—as well as broader issues on music, mass communication and culture.

On March 9, Gales Webb will visit the IU campus to present a free public lecture in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center’s Grand Hall at 4 PM. The lecture will be followed by a reception honoring her distinguished career and celebrating the establishment of the Jacquie Gales Webb Collection.

An exhibit currently on display through March 11, in the Neal-Marshall’s Bridgwaters Lounge provides an overview of Gales Webb’s career as well as the history of Black radio. As producer of the groundbreaking 1996 Smithsonian radio series, “Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was,” Webb was among the first to explore the history and development of Black-oriented radio through interviews with pioneering disc jockeys, producers, radio station executives and recording artists.

On March 7, a publicly accessible online multi-media exhibit celebrating Gales Webb’s career was added to the AAAMC’s website (aaamc.indiana.edu). Drawing upon materials in the Jacquie Gales Webb Collection, the exhibit includes many images of her work within radio, the gospel music industry, and the Washington, D.C. community.

The Jacquie Gales Webb Collection was also the source of many items used in the AAAMC’s online multi-media exhibit, “The Golden Age of Black Radio,” which debuted February 1 on the Google Cultural Institute website. Included are audio clips of interviews conducted by Gales Webb with Black radio pioneers, many available to the public for the first time. Following the format of Gales Webb’s Black Radio series, the four-part exhibit traces the birth of Black-oriented radio in Chicago, the role of radio during the Civil Rights Movement, women in radio, and the role of personality deejays in “breaking the hits” and promoting Black music and artists. The AAAMC was one of 50 institutions invited to partner with Google to celebrate Black History Month by curating new online exhibits.  Gales Webb has hosted the number one “Sunday Afternoon Gospel” music program in Washington, D.C. since 1990 on 96.3 WHUR. 


From Bill Carpenter

Bryan Andrew Wilson and Bri Briana Babineaux shine both on red carpet and gospel chart

Publicist Bill Carpenter shared this photo of recording artists Bryan Andrew Wilson and Bri Briana Babineaux on the red carpet at the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards last weekend in Las Vegas.

According to Carpenter, both Bri’s radio single “I’ll Be the One” and Bryan’s self-penned single “Overflow (Let Your Spirit)” are perched on Billboard Magazine’s Gospel Airplay chart. 
The Stellar Awards airs March 6, on TV One.

Anthony Brown wins huge at 31st Stellar Awards

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Ask Anthony Brown about his weekend, and you may well hear just how stellar it was.  The singer/songwriter/producer and his aggregation, group therAPy, won every category in which they were nominated, including Song of the Year for “Worth” (from the CD, Everyday Jesus).

That’s ten Stellar Awards.

Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago also had a great weekend, taking home four awards, including one for Choir of the Year.

Check out the list of winners and honorees at uGospel.com.  The awards show will be televised March 6, 2016, on TVOne.

Gospel winners announced at the 58th Grammy Awards

Congratulations
to the gospel winners at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, announced last
evening (February 15, 2016) in Los Angeles. 

Best Gospel Performance/Song 
“Wanna Be Happy?” – Kirk Franklin
Written by Kirk Franklin

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“Holy Spirit” – Francesca Battistelli
From the album, If We’re Honest (Deluxe Edition)

Best Gospel Album
Covered Alive in Asia [Live] – Israel & New Breed

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
This is Not a Test – Tobymac

Best Roots Gospel Album
Still Rockin’ My Soul – The Fairfield Four

Nominees for the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards

Congratulations to this year’s nominees for the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.  You can view the complete list here.

The show takes place February 20, 2016, at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.  Rickey Smiley and Sherri Shepherd will share hosting duties.

‘Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child’ is back; stars Shirley Caesar [Updated]

Originally posted Jan. 2, 2016 at 7:30 AM

Last updated Jan. 9, 2016 at 5:45 PM

The information originally shared here has been updated as a result of cast updates provided to GMF by the play’s writer and producer, Dr. Mildred Summerville on Friday, January 8.  

Dr. Mildred Summerville, award-winning playwright, presents the stage play “Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child” Saturday, January 23, 2016, at Columbus, GA’s River Center.  The play, directed by James A. House, features a talented cast, including 11-time Grammy winner Pastor Shirley Caesar.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.sparetherodstageplay.com. Showtime is 8 PM. 

Read the play synopsis below.
 
SYNOPSIS
Genre: Drama/Comedy/Musical/Christian
Time/Place: The time is present day. The place is the James’ family home, workplace and a church.

Using
spirit-filled music and memorable characters like Mark, the doting son; Tammy, the insensitive daughter-in-law; Hope, the promiscuous teenager; and Sister Cantaloupe, Grandma’s feisty sister, “Spare the Rod, Spoil the
Child” touches on issues within the community such as family dysfunction,
peer pressure, substance abuse, and other pertinent matters that are
too often inadequately addressed or considered altogether taboo. 

In
this gripping and engaging dramatic piece, a woman simply known as
“Grandma” serves as the pillar of her surroundings. Her son’s family is
in crisis, and those within her neighborhood are drowning in chronic
troubles of their own. Through it all, Grandma seeks God on behalf of
those who are not spiritually inclined enough to seek Him for
themselves. Even those who resent her, such as her son’s sometimes-rigid
wife, Tammy, ultimately end up on Grandma’s prayer list. And when the
walls of the lives of those around Grandma seem to come tumbling down,
they know who to turn to for guidance and sound counsel. It’s not always
advice that they want to hear, but it is consistently the precise word
needed to steer them in the right direction.

Other
characters in the cast bring even more drama to the script. In her
God-given wisdom, Grandma confronts Hope’s suppressed anger and
bitterness, convincing her to open up about a rape kept secret for
years. In addition, she prays her grandson, Timothy, out of choosing a
life of gang involvement.

Though
the ending takes a toll on Grandma, the audience will rejoice in
knowing that this elderly woman’s life was full of purpose and not at
all lived in vain.

High
drama, bad karma, and a praying grandma, all come together to make “Spare
the Rod, Spoil the Child” a must-see theatrical production. Infused with
foot-stomping gospel music, this is soul-stirring entertainment that
will warm the hearts, tickle the funny bones and uplift the spirits of
all those who experience it.