Category: News

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.

Queens Caesar and Franklin, Mann, other industry greats to perform at the White House

Tamela Mann

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Gospel music returns to the White House this week.

Pastor Shirley Caesar, Bishop Rance Allen, Aretha Franklin, Tamela Mann, and others will perform as part of the “In Performance at the White House” series.  The ode to gospel music will take place Tuesday, April 14, and will stream live at whitehouse.gov/live at 7pm ET.

According to a press release from the Office of the First Lady, “The event will pay tribute to the fundamental role gospel music has
played in the American musical tradition and the important artists and
repertoire that have marked its vibrant history.”

If you miss Tuesday’s live stream, the concert, called “The Gospel Tradition: In Performance at the White House,” will be aired June 26, at 9pm ET, on PBS and be simulcast on TV One.
You can read the press release in its entirety here.

LIVRE’ unveils new CD cover, announces release date

Here it is: the cover art for LIVRE’s forthcoming debut CD, Jericho: Tribe of Joshua.  The project is set to drop July 7, 2015, and will feature Mali Music, Jason Nelson, and others.  

An Evening with Evangelist Dorothy Norwood and Pastor Shirley Caesar – April 19

Maurette Brown Clark signs exclusive recording deal with SRT Entertainment

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Just weeks following SRT Entertainment’s announcement that it has signed Luther Barnes to an exclusive recording agreement, the entertainment company now announces the signing of two-time Stellar winner, Maurette Brown Clark, affectionately known to many as the “Princess of Praise and Worship.”

Maurette is not a newcomer to the gospel music industry.  Whether she is performing with Richard Smallwood and Vision or on her own,
the singer, songwriter, musician, producer, wife, and mother is
committed to spreading a message of faith and uplift.

In a press release, Maurette commented, “I am very excited and
optimistic about this next move in my musical journey. To be working
with D.A. Johnson again is a joy and I look forward to what God has for
SRT Entertainment and my ministry. #forward”

Maurette’s hits include “Breaking of Day” and “Just Wanna Praise
You,” and in recent years, she has enjoyed chart success with her
singles “I Hear the Sound (of Victory),” “One God,” and “It Ain’t Over
(Until God Says It’s Over).”