Category: News

Agnostic subway posters prompt “God Belongs In My City” movement, anthem (video)

(Brooklyn, NY)  Youth pastor Daniel Sanabria, a co-founder of the “God
Belongs In My City” prayer movement, and other Big Apple youth
evangelists have pooled their diverse resources to create a new
recording label, In My City Records.

The company slogan is, “Sounds that
connect people to God and invoke change.” Those vibrant sounds are
youthful rhythms that span the gamut of faith-fueled hip-hop songs to
rock-edged praise and worship anthems. Various artists affiliated with
the movement or the label are hitting the concert trail in August and
the first recorded offering will be the October 15th digital release
of Korean-born female rapper HeeSun Lee’s debut CD, Stereotypes.

The
God Belongs in My City movement began in October 2009, when
members of a Christian youth group saw a billboard in the New York City
subway system that asked the question, “A Million New Yorkers Are Good
Without God. Are You?” They were so angered by the ad that they
complained about it to their youth pastor who in turn started to ask
area church leaders, “What are we, as the body of Christ going to do
about this?” Those leaders galvanized young adults from all five New
York boroughs to hold a prayer walk where participants wore T-shirts
simply declaring, “God Belongs in My City.”

On November 14,
2009, over 1,500 youth trekked down from Harlem and up from Battery Park
and met in the middle–Times Square–to make their voices heard
through public prayers and music. “It’s like the civil rights movement
but from a spiritual perspective,” says In My City Records CEO
Jeremy Castro. At that assembly, a rapper named Andy Mineo, free styled
the song “In My City” that’s become the movement’s anthem. A YouTube
video has nearly 700,000 hits to date. (Watch the video below.)  The walk
was duplicated in other cities and has now mushroomed into a
national movement for the millennial generation to evangelize a society
that is increasingly losing its religion.

“Diversity
is the heartbeat for us,” Castro adds. “This has become a global
movement. We have people from Brooklyn to Botswana. A lot of young
people are trying to find out who they are and where they fit in the
world. HeeSun Lee was born in Korea and was in the foster care system.
Then, she was adopted by Chinese parents on Staten Island so those are a
lot of different cultural clashes but she found an identity in
Christ where all believers become one family following Him.  For more news on the movement activities, log on: http://www.godbelongsinmycity.com

The Wardlaw Brothers release song to support cancer patients and families (video)

(Lyons, GA) Cancer is a group of diseases that in one form or another has affected loved ones, friends or even oneself.  Cancer does not respect age, ethnicity or gender.  Millions all over the world have suffered, but, millions are surviving!  The popular gospel group The Wardlaw Brothers (TWB) are among those who have experienced this painful disease within their own family and are on a mission to spread hope and assist those who are suffering, as well as to celebrate those who have survived. 

To honor all persons who have been touched in some way by cancer, The Wardlaw Brothers have written and released a special song, “We Will Survive.” The single is available only on iTunes with portions of the proceeds from the sale of the single to benefit two Georgia-based foundations.  TWB has partnered with The Nick Eason Foundation and The Pretty in Pank Foundation who are on the same mission, to offer support to those affected by this disease.
TWB is requesting that everyone partner with them in support of this effort by not only downloading the single, but by watching and sharing the companion video.  “We Will Survive” has a poignant and inspiring video that features friends, family and those TWB admire who are cancer survivors, currently fighting cancer and those who have succumbed in their fight.


TWB are five biological brothers (Tony, Luther, Jamie, Carl and Rodney) from Georgia who have recently garnered success with their Top 20 Billboard Gospel Radio Chart hit “Right Now Lord” from their God’s Been There CD.  The brothers have also had key appearances on national TV shows–BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel, The Word Network and TCT TV Network.  TWB will be featured as musical performers at the Bill Pickett Rodeo in Atlanta, GA, on  August 3-4 and have a special performance appearance in the forthcoming film Angel’s Wings, featuring noted actor Reginald VelJohnson (Family Matters TV show) and actress Robin Givens.

Founded in January of 2012, The Nick Eason Foundation has a mission to assist families with loved ones fighting cancer.  The foundation helps families financially as well as spiritually and emotionally to try and relieve some of the immense pressure that comes with managing such a critical family time. 

The inspiration for The Nick Eason Foundation comes from Nick’s own experience losing his mother to breast cancer in 2012.  He also lost his uncle to cancer, and has lost other friends to the illness over the past few years.  Through his experiences, he realized that many families cannot manage the struggle alone, whether from the financial or emotional stresses the consistently arise. 

Nick Eason is a native of Lyons, GA and played football for Clemson University before going on to play in the NFL for the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Arizona Cardinals.

The Pretty in Pank Foundation was begun in Georgia in 2007 by three friends–Ann Owens, Jill Murphy, and Pete Frost–whose families had each been greatly affected by breast cancer. Although Jill’s mother had lost her battle, Ann’s niece and Pete’s mother had recently been diagnosed.

And so it began, three friends enlisted local talent and other volunteers to plan a variety show FUNdraiser to “raise a little money” for the ladies affected in their small town. Ann, the owner of the local theater, afforded the use of the perfect venue. The first Pretty in Pank variety show was held, selling out and making $3,000, and thus launching future events to support the foundation’s goal: to bring help, hope, and humor to those battling breast cancer.


Artists, media group, designer rep NC with Rhythm of Gospel Award wins

Lamanuel Boykin & Company accept their award

Congratulations to all nominees and winners for the 5th Annual Rhythm of Gospel Awards.  Winners were announced this weekend at the pre-show, media awards, and main show in Jacksonville, Florida.

Entrants from 54 categories hailed from all over the US, Canada, and Bahamas.  Below are the winners from NC, the birthplace of Gospel Music Fever. (A complete list of winners is available on The Black Gospel Blog.) 

Internet Media Group of the Year
Gospel Music Fever Blog

Quartet Group of the Year
Apostle Joseph Green & God’s Glory 

Quartet CD of the Year
Lamanuel Boykin & Company 
Living for the Lord 

Holy Hip Hop Song of the Year
Electionsure 
“Backpacks and Snapbacks” 

Product Packaging of the Year
Kelvin Chappell Designs
Eunice Wright’s CD, Worth It All

GMF wins 2013 Rhythm of Gospel Award for Internet Media Group of the Year

Gospel Music Fever emerged from a category of nine nominees to win Internet Media Group of the Year at this weekend’s 5th Annual Rhythm of Gospel Awards.  The festivities were held in Jacksonville, FL.


“It’s a blessing to be recognized by your readers and industry colleagues for your efforts to advance gospel music and uplift its artists,” comments Libra Boyd, GMF’s founder and editor. “It’s truly a rewarding feeling, and I am thankful.” 

According to the organization, The Rhythm of
Gospel Awards is the “Official & The Largest” Independent Gospel
Show, giving independent gospel artists both a national platform and a
positive collaboration.  The national televised awards show is an annual
event that brings in over 6,500 artists, churches, and media groups throughout
the USA, Canada, and Bahamas.

Gospel Music Fever was founded in spring 2011.  Since its inception, Libra has been the blog’s chief writer and editor, publishing news, articles, interviews, and reviews covering every
style and era of gospel music. 
Accordingly, GMF has grown in popularity and name
recognition among gospel music’s fans and followers.

A complete list of winners is available on The Black Gospel Blog.

__________________________
Editor’s Note: Thanks to the National Independent Gospel Music Association (N.I.G.M.A.) and all persons who took part in the voting process.

I am also grateful to the following organizations and contributors that helped make travel to Florida possible: 

Penn Avenue Baptist Church

Pastor W.S. Darby & Penn Avenue Baptist Church
Mr. James Bailey
Mr. Anthony Moore
Mr. Dwight Thorpe

Tributes to Norwood, Hayes at the Rhythm of Gospel Awards – July 26, 2013

Click to enlarge

Among the many events taking place at the 2013 Rhythm of Gospel Awards are musical tributes to Evangelist Dorothy Norwood and Bishop Charles Hayes.

Norwood’s career spans more than six decades and includes tenures with the famous Caravans and the Dorothy Norwood Singers, along with renown as a solo artist and “Gospel’s Greatest Storyteller.”

Bishop Hayes is the founder and pastor of Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer on Chicago’s South Side.  He is also the founder of the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir (also known as The Warriors), which has recorded more than 30 albums including the choir smash “Jesus Can Work It Out.”

The midnight musical starts at 10:30 PM on Friday, July 26, at Downtown Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk Hotel. Tickets are available either in advance ($15) or at the door ($20).

2013 Rhythm of Gospel Awards gets underway this week – July 24-28

GMF is nominated for Internet Media Group of the Year

Click to enlarge for more info & list of performers

(Jacksonville, FL)  All roads lead to Jacksonville, FL this week for the 5th Annual Rhythm Of Gospel Awards. The televised awards show is an annual event filled with a variety of innovative and exciting showcases and achievement galas–bringing in over 6,500 excited tourists, church, social and civic groups, families and business professionals throughout the entire USA, Canada, and Bahamas.

Gospel Music Fever is honored to be among this year’s nominees for Internet Media Group of the Year.

The Rhythm of Gospel Awards is the “Official & The Largest” Independent Gospel Show, giving independent gospel artists both a national platform and a positive collaboration, which supports artists of all ethnicities in various genres of gospel music. This year’s event will spotlight 54 categories of recognition and will honor 16 distinguished pastors, national & independent gospel artists, and radio personalities–giving them the opportunity to network formally while congratulating trailblazers from various sectors of the community and music industry. 

Click to picture above for more information and a list of performers.

Teen’s song about Trayvon Martin creates buzz on “The James Fortune Show”

Click here to listen to the song from teen singer/songwriter/guitarist Carvena Jones entitled “I Am Trayvon Martin”.

Pastor Shirley Caesar to dedicate Youth Night of her 2013 annual conference to Martin

The 41st annual conference of Shirley Caesar Outreach Ministries will be held August 4-9, at the Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church in Raleigh (see flyer).  This year, she is making a call to all the youth.  Read more here: Pastor Shirley Caesar shows support in memory Trayvon Martin!

Click to enlarge

Rance Allen chats with Tavis Smiley on PBS – July 2

(Indianapolis, IN) Rance Allen continues to make his rounds across the country promoting The Rance Allen Group‘s current project Amazing Grace as well as the accompanying documentary, Music Majors: The Rance Allen Group. His latest stop is in Los Angeles, CA for a chat with renowned journalist and host, Tavis Smiley.
A longtime fan of the group, Smiley invited Allen as a special guest on
his PBS program to discuss the group’s influence on gospel music, the
current project and more.
The interview will air on July 2, on PBS. Check your local listings for times in your area or click here for more information.
The Rance Allen Group’s current project, Amazing Grace,
is currently available in stores and online. This 2-disc CD/DVD special
package features the new songs from the legendary group as well as
their documentary, Music Majors: The Rance Allen Group. For more
information, visit www.tyscot.com.

Mavis Staples talks to NPR about new album

Grammy winner Mavis Staples has a new album.  Hear the story behind it here: Gospel Legend Mavis Staples Comes ‘Full Circle’