Category: News

It’s Official: Earnest Pugh signs Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis

Gospel sensation Earnest Pugh has officially signed Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis to EPM Music Group.  The dynamic gospel ensemble will release its new CD Live in Memphis on October 30, 2012.  The single “Thank You, Lord” is already heating up the airwaves.

Pugh was inspired to sign the rising group after they performed Pugh’s hit “I Need Your Glory” at a TV taping for the Gospel Superfest.

“They did what they do and `brought it’ in a major way and I wanted to give them this opportunity to `bring it’ on a national level,” remarks Pugh on his decision.  “I’m very optimistic about their ministry because they manage to attract young adults but they are also seasoned enough to capture the attention of the mature church crowd as well”.

For more information on Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis and other EPM Music Group acts, visit www.epmmusicgroup.com.

Above, left to right: Keith Williams, President of EPM Music Group; Vincent Tharpe (new artist); and Earnest Pugh, Founder & CEO of EPM Music Group.

Marvin Sapp’s New Reality Show (Sneak Peek – Pt. 1)

“Make Me New” – Mali Music and Together We Stand Community Choir

“Make Me New”
Mali Music and Together We Stand Community Choir (2011)

By Shaundria Williams
Special Contributor

Check it!  My “baby cousin” Mali Music is the business.  He ministers to my inner head banger especially in the intense worship single “Make Me New.”  He is featured on The Alaskan Project 2010 which was recorded live in Fairbanks, Alaska with the Together We Stand Community Choir. 
“Make Me New,” written by Jamaal “Mali Music” Pollard, takes you through the humble conversation of renewal between the creation and the creator.  It then bursts into the bold fight through the pain and turmoil of feeling unworthy and disconnected from the Savior before ushering you into a fresh and new beginning in Christ.  The vamp mellows back to the peace you remembered before.  Awesome worship!  
According to its bio, Together We Stand is a Christian non-profit corporation and charitable outreach ministry under the covering of True Victory Baptist Church.  The organization was founded by Minister Anthony and Louis Buie.

Rev. Dr. Luke Powery to serve as Duke Chapel’s first Black dean

Duke University recently announced the new dean of its historic Duke Chapel.  Rev. Dr. Luke Powery, scholar, preacher, and singer, has been named the chapel’s dean and is the first Black to fill this position in the chapel’s history.  Newsobserver.com has the feature here.

“I Still Have A Praise Inside of Me” – Georgia Mass Choir

“I Still Have A Praise Inside of Me”
Georgia Mass Choir (2012)
Savoy Records
Available on iTunes

Rev. Milton Biggham and the Georgia Mass Choir are mainstays in traditional choir music.  Whether shooting movie scenes (The Preacher’s Wife), appearing at athletic events (the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta) or being featured on their own recorded DVDs and CDs, their sound appeals to both church and mainstream.  In fact, the opening lines of Georgia Mass Choir’s slow and introspective current single “I Still Have A Praise Inside of Me,” lyrically channel Kirk Franklin and God’s Property’s “More Than I Can Bear.”  After having reflected on the hardest of life’s trials–fires, floods, brokenness, and the like–the choir’s resounding refrain, led by Rev. Biggham and Victor Broughton, is the triumphant “but I still have a praise inside of me!”

Georgia Mass Choir’s single is a timely message of resilience in the midst of trying times.

Regina Belle talks about health, new project

NPR.org recently published an inspiring interview with singing sensation Regina Belle during which she details her health struggles and discusses her latest gospel music project.  You can hear it or read the transcript here: Gospel Singer Regina Belle Reaches ‘Higher’.

“Destiny” – Desirée

“Destiny”
Desirée (2012)
http://www.desireelive.com/

“Everything you go through in life is meant to bring you to your destiny.”

Desirée Ogali delivers this line as if taught from experience.  Indeed, the inspirational gospel artist’s bio explains that her current single “Destiny” is the story of her life.  A simple keyboard and drum track support her soprano vocal.

Music has been a major part of Desirée’s life for as long as she can remember.  Her mother is a singer and her father is a singer/band leader in their home country of Nigeria.  By the time she was nine, Desirée was writing and tapping out tunes on the keyboard herself.  She is presently a music director and worship leader in Miami, FL.

“How Glorious and Excellent is Our God” – Freda Battle & The Temple Worshippers f. Rodney Posey

“How Glorious and Excellent is Our God”
Freda Battle & The Temple Worshippers feat. Rodney Posey
From the upcoming CD, How Glorious and Excellent is Our God (Available July 17, 2012)
Peace-O-Mind Music

Just right for a hot summer day of driving along the freeway with the radio up and windows down is “How Glorious and Excellent is Our God,” the feel-good, worship-filled, bumpin’ single from Freda Battle & The Temple Worshippers’ new CD by the same name.  The forthcoming album is their first in six years.

Produced by brothers Gerald and David Langford, “How Glorious and Excellent is Our God” goes hard with big horns, big bass, and big voices–all declaring the greatness of the Lord.  Interposing the hymns your grandma churched on, Battle and the choir insert a stanza of “It Is Well With My Soul” before handing the song over to guest vocalist Rodney Posey and taking it back for their next interjection, “I Will Trust in the Lord,” between the song’s choruses.  Battle then returns the lead chores to Posey for the remainder of the declaration of God’s glory and excellence.

The full-length project drops Tuesday, July 17.

“Giving God the Glory!”

Calhoun

Jacqueline Calhoun of Anderson (TX) and Stephanie Jackson of St. Louis (below) usher in the presence of God through their solo offerings at the GMWA Quartet Division’s Tuesday night program.

Jackson
Editor’s Note: On Thursday, July 12, Stephanie Jackson was named the winner in the solo category of the GMWA Quartet Division’s “Quartet Quest.”  The group G5, consisting of preteens and teens, earned top honors in the quartet/group category.  Winners received a cash prize and will be given a chance to record with quartet producer and CEO of MILestONe Enterprises, Milon Fenner.

Africa's Glorious Lamps make their first GMWA appearance

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Twenty-two years ago, they were all incarcerated for refusing to serve in a force engaged in killing their fellowmen.  Today, they are shouting “hallelujah” and giving God praise for their spiritual and physical freedom.

The Glorious Lamps (left) brought the GMWA crowd to its feet at the Monday night musical, as much for their testimony as for their energy and uptempo song.  Sometime after being incarcerated, the men were overheard singing together, and the rest is simply divine intervention.

“You guys don’t belong in here,” they were told by the official who overheard them.

“And he backed up the truck,” recalls a group member, “and put us on this truck, and [carried] us to the next liberated country, the Ivory Coast.”
Other house-wrecking performances during the Monday night musical were Atlanta’s Chosen Aggregation (“God Specializes”), Timiney and Anasia Figueroa (“I Decided to Make Jesus My Choice”), and the Cincinnati chapter of GMWA with a sweltering medley (“Two Wings/I’ll Fly Away”).  The Dallas chapter’s charging number about the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus was so contagious that the audience spontaneously reprised the vamp as the choir exited the stage.  One spontaneity led to another as a mic toss ensued and “Mama” Sue Roseberry (BET’s Sunday Best 4 finalist) was pulled from her seat in the audience to add fuel to the Holy Ghost fire. 
Last night was a clear indicator that the old songs of the church have not been abandoned for the new.