Category: News

58th Annual Grammy nominees announced

Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever 

Congratulations to gospel’s nominees for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.  Israel & New Breed received two nods.

Pioneering gospel greats, The Fairfield Four, also earned a nomination.  Travis Greene, Jonathan McReynolds, Tasha Cobbs, sisters Dorinda Clark-Cole and Karen Clark Sheard and others are among this year’s nominees as well.

To see the complete list in the gospel categories, visit: 58th Annual Grammy Awards Nominees [Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Award Genre]

The awards show will air February 15, 2016, at 8 PM ET on CBS.

‘Holiday Praise: The Thankful Tour’ features Charles Jenkins, Michelle Williams, Byron Cage

(Chicago, IL)  Multi-award winning songwriter and Inspired People
recording artist Pastor Charles Jenkins (right) and his electrifying
choir Fellowship Chicago are hitting the road this month for Inspired
People’s “Holiday Praise: The Thankful Tour.”  Pastor Jenkins will be
joined on the tour with fellow GRAMMY® winner Michelle Williams and Byron Cage.
 
Pastor
Jenkins is coming off of a huge summer hit with his radio smash “War,” which spent five weeks at #1 on Billboard Magazine’s Gospel Airplay chart
and 55 weeks on the overall survey.  His new radio single and latest
worship anthem “Just To Know Him” features Byron Cage and is
quickly making its way up gospel radio playlists everywhere.  Both tracks
hail from the album “Any Given Sunday” (Inspired People/Motown Gospel)
that debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums sales chart this past
spring.

“It’s been an amazing year for us and we’re all so thankful,”
says Jenkins.  “We all have so much to be thankful for and to celebrate
God’s goodness.  The tour is going to be an amazing, uplifting and fun
experience for the entire family.”
 
Here are the dates:
 
11/22 @ 7 PM New Jerusalem Church, Jackson, MS (Hallelujah 95.5 FM)
11/23 @ 7 PM New Rising Star Church, Birmingham, AL (WAGG 102.1/610 AM)
11/24 @ 7 PM Restoration Ministries Int. Christian, Augusta, GA (Shout 94.7 FM)
11/26 @ 8 PM Elizabeth Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA (Praise 102.5 FM)
12/07 @ 7 PM Fellowship Chicago, Chicago, IL (1390 AM)
 
General Admission seating is $20 and VIP seats are $35.  Tickets are available at www.holidaypraise.com.


From Bill Carpenter (press release)

Tribbett to host ‘iHope’ concert in memory of murdered cousin Corey Jones

Tye Tribbett’s cousin Corey Jones, a drummer, was on his way home from a concert gig when he experienced SUV trouble in the early morning of October 18th. While he was awaiting roadside assistance on Interstate 95 in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, an undercover officer approached Jones’ stranded vehicle. While there are differing accounts of what happened next, less than an hour later Jones was dead, felled by at least three bullets after he began to run away from the policeman.

The death of Tribbett’s cousin has moved him once again to speak out and advocate for change in the way humans deal with each other and how law enforcement deals with us all.

The Grammy winner is hosting a free admission “iHOPE” concert to call for social change with Tasha Cobbs, Mali Music, Le’Andria Johnson and Tim Rogers. The free concert takes place Thursday, November 12 at 7:30 PM at The Faith Center located at 5555 NW 95th Avenue, Sunrise, FL. For concert info, contact (973) 351-1569 or visit www.tyetribbettworldwide.com.

Earlier this year Tribbett was moved to speak out after the June 2015 Charleston church massacre. Consequently, he launched a packed “Hate Won’t Win” concert in Columbia, SC to benefit the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund that retired burial debt and other expenses related to the nine people who were shot to death in that tragic incident.



From Bill Carpenter (press release)

GMF nominated for 2016 Rhythm of Gospel Award

Vote now through March 1, 2016.

Congratulations are in order again for Gospel Music Fever (GMF), which has been nominated for the 2016 Rhythm of Gospel (ROG) Award in the category of Gospel Internet Promotion & Marketing Group of the Year.  


This
is GMF’s second nomination.  In 2013, GMF emerged from a category of
nine nominees to win the ROG Award for Internet Media Group of the Year.


“It’s gratifying to be nominated,” says GMF’s founder and editor, Libra Boyd. “GMF uplifts and advances gospel music, and it’s an honor for that to be recognized.”

According to the Rhythm of Gospel Awards website,
the awards show is presented by the National and Independent Gospel Music
Association (N.I.G.M.A.) and “recognizes
outstanding churches/pastors, choirs and independent gospel music
artists of all genres, for their outstanding contributions toward the
betterment and advancement of their communities.”
 
Voting is now open for you, our GMF readers, to vote at http://www.therhythmofgospelawards.com/VOTING.html# an UNLIMITED number of times through March 1, 2016.  Please note:

  1. GMF is in category #49
  2. The site requires that you vote for each category
  3. You must click the black and white VOTE box near the bottom of the page to submit your votes.

JSUP to hold S.O.S. (Select Our Single) Listening Party – Nov. 14

Inasmuch as SOS is the international Morse code distress signal, it can be said that Juan Santiago and Uninhibited Praise (JSUP) need your help.

JSUP has been working hard in the studio and is ready for you to hear what they’ve been cooking up.  The choir invites fam, fans, friends, and media to join them November 14 at 3 PM, for their S.O.S. (Select Our Single) Listening Party.  That’s right, the award-winning aggregation wants you to select the new single from their forthcoming album, Fresh Fire.

The event takes place at SkyLofts Gallery & Studios, 3701 Bank Street, in Baltimore, MD.  General admission is $12.  Admission is free for media, but you must RSVP to admin@jsuplive.com by November 12.

In other celebratory news this year, JSUP is nominated for four Rhythm of Gospel Awards, including Traditional Choir of the Year and Traditional Song of the Year for “Take Your Burdens.” (Read GMF’s review of “Take Your Burdens” here.)

Lecrae celebrates multiple wins at 46th Annual GMA Dove Awards

Lecrae

One wonders if Lecrae is running out of space for all his music hardware.  The rapper toted three trophies–including one for Artist of the Year–from the 46th annual GMA Dove Awards.  The sold-out show was held October 13, at Allen Arena on the campus of Lipscomb University.  Tasha Cobbs and Erica Campbell also won awards for Gospel Artist of the Year and Contemporary Gospel/Urban Song of the Year, respectively.  

Also among the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Bobby Jones Gospel, which is currently airing its final season of shows to crown a 35-year run. 

The Dove Awards will air this Sunday, October 19, at 9 PM CT (10 PM ET) on TBN. 

Read more and see the complete list of winners here: 46th Annual GMA Dove Awards Honored Top Christian and Gospel Artists

Tiff Joy’s self-titled debut project charts on Billboard

Chicago native Tiff Joy has had a very good two years.

It was almost two
years ago when she hit the national stage as the songwriter and soloist
on Ricky Dillard & New G’s Grammy Award nominated gospel radio
smash “Amazing.” Three weeks ago, her soul-stirring radio single “The
Promise” made its Top 30 debut on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart, and
this past week her inaugural album Tiff Joy (Walkway Music Group/Tyscot
Records) made its Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart entrance at
#5.

“Wow…. this is crazy,” the ecstatic singer says. “I am CONSTANTLY
in awe of how GOD moves. This is HIM and I’m forever Grateful.“

From Bill Carpenter

'Wilson Idol' 2015: "And the winner is…

Photo | PVICK Studio

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

…Patrice Farmer!”


Congratulations to Patrice Farmer (pictured with Dr. Mildred Summerville), grand prize winner of the third annual “Wilson Idol” talent competition, held Saturday, September 19, at Wilson, NC’s Fike High School auditorium.  Patrice wowed the judges and captivated the audience with her vocal performance of Tamela Mann’s “I Can Only Imagine” to capture the first place honor.  The win came with a $1,000 prize and trophy, along with a part in the onstage production of the award-winning Mildred Summerville play “Spare the Rod,
Spoil the Child,” and an opportunity to perform for gospel music’s leading lady, Pastor Shirley Caesar.


As has become standard for the annual competition, participants took to the stage and delivered an evening of impressive performances that left judges splitting hairs over who would earn the grand prize as well as top spots in the youth and adult divisions.


Runners-up in the youth division were:

James Thomas Daniels (1st runner-up)
Precious Finch (2nd runner-up)
William Featherston (3rd runner-up)


In the adult division, runners-up were:

Shannon Baker (1st runner-up)
Kelsey Joyner (2nd runner-up)
Ashley Ongaro (3rd runner-up)


Each runner-up was presented a trophy for his or her exceptional performance, and each contestant received a certificate of recognition. 

“Wilson Idol“ talent competition is sponsored by Summerville Promotion
and Production Company and Tall One Outreach Ministries to give residents of Wilson, NC (ages 10 and up)
an opportunity to showcase their talents in the areas of music, dance/step, and acting.

This year, for the first time, “Wilson Idol” recognized three honorees as Tall One Outreach Ministries’
Champions.  During a pre-show, Bishop Eloise Sessoms,
Sharetta Blackwell, and Minister Michael Boone were celebrated for
standing tall in the Wilson community through excellence in leadership,
integrity, and inspiration. 

GMF congratulates Patrice, the runners-up, the Tall One Outreach Ministries’ Champions, and the show’s producer Dr. Mildred Summerville for jobs well done!

Earl Bynum announces self-titled solo project, releases single


(Chesapeake, VA)  He is a prolific songwriter, a master vocal arranger and has
demonstrated musical creativity and gospel music artistry that has
elevated him as one of the most recognized leaders in music and
ministry.  Multi-award winning vocalist and producer Earl Bynum is the Executive Minster of Music at Mount Lebanon Baptist Church “The Mount” which has four locations–Chesapeake, VA, Elizabeth City, NC, Peninsula, VA and Charlotte, NC.  He is also the International Minister of Music for the Gospel Heritage Foundation.
 With a vast catalog of songs and projects in his repertoire, Bynum is
now preparing to release his long awaited self-titled solo project EARL BYNUM in 2016 and leads off with a soulfully expressive single, “Call Him.”  Click here to watch it.
From The Bellamy Group

Lisa Page Brooks preps for first live recording

Songstress Lisa Page Brooks is set to record her first live album Friday, October 23, 2015, at The Christian Tabernacle Church in Detroit.  Bishop Michael Brooks, founding member of Commissioned, will serve as the evening’s producer.  Attendees can also look forward to a reunion of Witness, the eclectic contemporary group of which Brooks is a former member.  


The live session starts at 7 PM ET.  General admission tickets are $25 and VIP seats are $40.