Category: News

Tribbett launches benefit concert for families of Charleston massacre victims – July 23

From Bill Carpenter

Emanuel 9

The Charleston Church Massacre (June 17) has prompted Grammy Award
winning recording artist Tye Tribbett to launch a “Hate Won’t
Win” concert to benefit the families of the nine people who were shot to
death in that tragic incident. The concert features some of the biggest
names in Christian music such as gold-selling artist Israel Houghton, Tasha Cobbs, Mali
Music, and Columbia, SC native Travis Greene. The concert takes place
Thursday, July 23 at 7 PM at The Medallion Conference Center in Columbia,
SC and caps the first day of Tribbett’s second annual “The Chosen
Music Mentorship” conference for church worship leaders.
 
“Gospel
is the good news,” Tribbett says of his use of music as a healing tool
to create racial harmony in the Carolinas. “By spreading the music we
induce hope, and we train new worship leaders so they are equipped with
the same intent to go fearlessly where some have lost hope and to boldly
declare through this gospel that there is yet hope.”
 
The
Chosen Music Mentorship Program runs July 23-25 and boasts some of the
country’s top gospel

Tribbett

practitioners such as producer Donald Lawrence and
rising star Jonathan McReynolds to provide spiritual and practical
workshops that will improve the lives and ministries of
the participants. It all takes place at The Medallion Conference Center,
7309 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209.  The general public can
call (973) 351-1569 or email [email protected] for more information and detail.

Sign up for exclusive content from 'Jubilee Showcase'

Before BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel, Jubilee Showcase was celebrated as the longest running gospel music program on television.  From 1963 to 1984, gospel greats of the day appeared on the weekly 30-minute show, produced and hosted by Sid Ordower. 

A documentary about Jubilee Showcase is presently in the works, and Ordower’s son, Steve–who is entrusted with the archive of content–invites you to visit jubileeshowcase.launchrock.com.  Once there, sign up with your email to get free and exclusive access to rare footage of gospel performances.

Shirley Caesar to receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


Congratulations are in order for Pastor Shirley Caesar, who is named among the honorees to receive a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame.  The Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2016 was announced Monday (June 22) via live stream.  

The 11-time Grammy Award-winning singer, whose recording career spans well over a half century, will join only a handful of her fellow legendary Black gospel music luminaries (James Cleveland, Andraé Crouch, Mahalia Jackson, and BeBe & CeCe Winans) with the distinction of having a star cemented into the world-famous stretch that now extends along both sides of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles.

Tamela Mann makes history


Congratulations to Tamela Mann on an unprecedented achievement in gospel music.  Read about it here:
 

DMV veteran announcer Cheryl Jackson to be honored with anniversary concert – June 20

From Bill Carpenter


A who’s who of the gospel music world is coming together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of veteran radio personality and broadcast executive Cheryl Jackson (the midday hostess at Praise 104.1 in Washington, D.C. and Praise 106.1 in Baltimore, MD) for “Cheryl Jackson’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Concert” on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 6 PM at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, 7707 Allentown Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744.


Grammy Award winning gospel music icon Karen Clark Sheard will headline the big show. Grammy Award nominated artist Vashawn Mitchell will host the program that features performances from luminaries such as J.J. Hairston of Youthful Praise, Anthony Brown & Group therAPy, Dottie Jones, Bruce Parham, Phillip Carter & Sounds of Victory, Darius Brooks, Eddie Ballard, Joshua Copeland, Tonisha Harris and Charles Butler & Trinity. Tickets are $30 and available from eventbrite.com.


Jackson’s been a popular voice in the DMV gospel music community since she launched her career in June 1990, at WDIH 90.3 FM in Salisbury, MD. Her pastor, the late Elder Ricky McCrimmons, got Jackson’s radio demo tape into the hands of Radio One founder Cathy Hughes who ended up hiring Jackson for Radio One’s WWIN gospel station in Baltimore. Later, Jackson moved to the 50,000 watt Heaven 1580 AM station in Lanham, MD, first as an announcer but eventually worked her way up to program director where she was instrumental in breaking Christian Hip Hop artists. She was also one of the first program directors to introduce an urban inspirational format that featured inspiring songs by the likes of R. Kelly and Whitney Houston alongside the popular gospel acts of the day. Since 2010, Jackson has fluctuated between afternoon drive and midday host on Radio One’s Praise 104.1 station, where she is a consistent ratings winner. In May, Jackson became the new voice for sister station Praise 106.1 FM in Baltimore, MD–the Charm City’s first FM gospel station.  

DeWayne Woods features Mint Condition on single, “They Said”

From Bill Carpenter


The award-winning vocalist DeWayne Woods teams up with Lawrence Waddell and Stokley Williams of the legendary R&B band Mint Condition for the third radio single from his best-selling album Life Lessons (Soul Therapy).  The smooth track combines intimate urban balladry with a powerfully revelatory message of God’s love and self-affirmation. “When everybody had given up on me He knew I was redeemable and made me whole,” Woods sings of God’s intervention during his lowest moments.  In the second verse, he hits naysayers with, “Used to be so hung up on what others said about me; so busy casting stones they overlooked their own wrong.”

“I’ve made many mistakes and bad decisions in my life and most of us at one point or another have allowed what others said about us to affect us in a negative way, but God has the final word and gives us a second chance,” says Woods, who is currently performing alongside Yolanda Adams and Donald Lawrence on The McDonald’s Celebration Inspiration Gospel Tour running through October. “It’s mind blowing to be afforded this amazing opportunity to be a part of such widely respected national tour and to sing this empowering song to the thousands who have been attending the shows.”

“Working with DeWayne on ‘They Said’ was amazing,” Waddell and Williams said in a joint statement about the song they tailor-wrote and produced for Woods. “He sings with a genuineness and musical sensibility that is at once moving and awe-inspiring. Beyond a vocalist, he is an instrumentalist with words.”

DeWayne Woods led a late `90s incarnation of the R&B group Atlantic Starr before making a leap into faith music with John P. Kee.  His debut album, Introducing DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet, won four of five Stellar Award nominations–including New Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year.  His sophomore set, My Life’s Lyric, hit  #3 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart.  Woods’ latest project, Life Lessons, debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and features “Never Be The Same” (#23 Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart) and the Anthony Hamilton & Dave Hollister collaboration “Friend of Mine” (#13 Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart).

The Church and B.B. King

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Over his nearly 70-year professional career, blues legend B.B. King (1925-2015) returned to his gospel roots once, in 1959, to record a vinyl album entitled B.B. King Sings Spirituals. The Crown Records release captures 30-something year-old King wailing, at times both vocally and on his guitar, tunes that we now know have withstood the test of time in traditional gospel.  Among them is “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” composed by a former blues pianist who is now recognized as the Father of Gospel Music, Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey. 

King passed May 14, at the age of 89.

In his essay for The Washington Post, “How the church gave B.B. King the blues,” Daniel Silliman explores King’s church upbringing. Read it to gain insight into the King of the Blues’ relationship to the church and gospel music in his own words. 

B.B. King’s official website reports that there will a public viewing Friday, May 22, from 3 PM to 7 PM at the Palm South Jones Mortuary, 1600 South Jones Blvd, Las Vegas.  For complete information about the memorials and funeral, visit www.bbking.com.

‘Bobby Jones Gospel’ enters its final season, announces BET

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

BET has reported that the upcoming 35th season of Bobby Jones Gospel will be its last. 

The flagship gospel program is the longest running original show in cable TV history and is hosted by its namesake, Dr. Bobby Jones.

It is said that all good things must come to an end, but Bobby Jones Gospel has been embedded in the routine of our Sunday mornings for three and a half decades.  Not seeing the legendary Dr. Jones, his “super choir cast,” and his suits will be a major adjustment–not to mention the famous as well as not-yet-famous gospel talents who leave smoke on the studio stage year after year.

GMF will follow the final season closely. Stay tuned in the coming months for my commentary on a series that has done what no other has been able to do for gospel music.

Earnest Pugh to receive Alumni Award for the Arts from Howard U. School of Divinity

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever
 
Congratulations to Earnest Pugh (“I Need Your Glory” and “Rain on Us”) who will be presented with the Alumni Award for the Arts this weekend by the alumni association of his alma mater, Howard University School of Divinity. Pugh earned the M.Div. degree there while balancing his successful recording career and serving in the music department at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, MD. (He is also the recipient of the honorary Doctorate of Divinity in Christian Counseling from The Institute for Teaching God’s Word in Rockdale, TX.)

In a press release, Pugh comments,

I view
this as one of the greatest accomplishments in my life to be honored by
my alma mater. My tenure at HUSD was instrumental in
shaping, molding, and developing me into the man, preacher and artist
that I am today.


The weekend begins with Howard University School of Divinity’s third annual Alumni Association Awards Banquet and concert, featuring Pugh, on Saturday, April 25.  On Sunday morning, April 26, he will perform at Ebenezer’s 7:45am worship service, before attending Howard University’s main campus to receive the alumni award.

Here’s the weekend at a glance:

Saturday, April 25, 2015
Concert featuring Earnest Pugh at 5:30 PM
Howard University School of Divinity’s 3rd Annual Alumni Association Awards Banquet
Armour J. Blackburn University Center
2397 Sixth Street NW
Washington, DC 20059
(Red carpet arrival and reception at 3 PM; dinner at 4 PM)
 
Concert featuring Earnest Pugh at 7 PM
In celebration of Howard Univ. School of Divinity Professor Robert G. Childs’ 30th pastoral anniversary

Berean Baptist Church
924 Madison St. NW
Washington, DC 20011
(Concert proceeds go to the alumni association’s scholarship fund)


Sunday, April 26, 2015
Special performance by Earnest Pugh at 7:45 AM worship
Ebenezer A.ME. Church
7707 Allentown Road
Fort Washington, MD 20744

"I Hear Music in the Air" Conference returns to Cincinatti May 15-17, 2015

From Jason Hardy
(Cincinnati,
OH)  Assembling some of the industry’s best
and brightest singers, ministers, songwriters, praise & worship
leaders, pastors, music industry professionals and more, “I Hear Music in the Air” ministry and music conference makes its highly anticipated return to Cincinnati, Ohio, May 15-17, 2015.

Boasting
international acclaim as one of the gospel music industry’s premier
events for 14 years, the conference was designed to specifically
highlight the needs of gospel music and provide a forum where industry
professionals can equip each other with insight on creating successful
music ministries. Courting attention from industry veterans, newcomers,
and aspiring leaders alike, the “I Hear Music in the Air”
conference has become a haven for professionals for its wealth of
workshops, concerts, seminars, forums, and networking opportunities –
with this year aiming to raise bar higher than ever.

The
conference weekend is set to kick off with the explosive “I Hear Music
in the Air Concert” at Cincinnati’s renowned Inspirational Baptist
Church on May 15, at 7:00 PM. Hosted by Stellar® Award-winning singer Isaac Carree and The City of Love Church’s beloved Bishop Lester Love
(of New Orleans). The dynamic lineup of performers for the pre-show
includes L. Spencer Smith, Daniel and Andrea McClurkin Mellini, and
Jonathan Dunn. The main show’s line-up includes award winning artists Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Israel Houghton, William Murphy,William McDowell, Jonathan McReynolds, and Rodney Posey. Billboard’s #1 Gospel new artist Casey J. (known for her #1 single “Fill Me Up”) has been added to the main show.

On
Saturday, May 16, attendees will have access to a host of “must see”
events. From 4-7pm, aspiring artists are urged to display their talents
in front of a panel of industry executives at the “I Hear Music in the Air New Artist Showcase”
which will be held at Inspirational Baptist Church located at 11450
Sebring Drive, Cincinnati, OH. The event offers free admission and
requests interested artists visit http://www.ihearmusicintheair.com/i-hear-music-conference/ to register.

At 2:00 PM eOne Music’s Vice President and General Manager, Urban Inspirational Phil Thornton will give insight on the business of music and television and Bishop
Hezekiah Walker will discuss ministry in a “Mastery Class” session at
3:00 PM. The mastery class–hosted at Inspirational Baptist Church–comes just a few hours before Bishop Walker hosts his annual “Choir
Fest” at the same location, which kicks off at 6:00 PM and will feature
20 choirs in front of a live audience and panel of industry
professionals. Choirs interested in participating are urged to visit www.HWChoirfest.com to sign up when registration opens.

The close of the conference will come aboard its annual “Legends Ball,” honoring the achievements of leaders in the industry, community, and world. Grammy® and Stellar® Award winner Pastor Charles Jenkins will serve as keynote speaker and Gospel crooner Brian Courtney Wilson
as the guest psalmist. The event will culminate the ‘I Hear Music in
the Air’ conference weekend at the Sharonville Convention Center on May
17, at 5:30pm.

For more information visit www.ihearmusicintheair.com.