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Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.
Happy Good Friday!
In the spirit of it being more blessed to give than to receive, GMF is celebrating its first anniversary with a giveaway every Friday, through the month of April.
Here is today’s question:
4/10/12 12:01 PM EST – Congratulations to Cameron Lewis who was the first to email us with the correct answer: Andraé Crouch. You can read GMF’s recent interview with Pastor Caesar here: Shirley Caesar on Today’s ‘Singingest’ Women, Whitney, and the Big Screen.
Be the first to email us the correct answer at gmfgiveaway@libranicole.com, and receive a complimentary pair of tickets to McDonald’s GospelFest 2012, to be held Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday, May 12, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.
In case you never noticed, Vickie Winans is very funny, and this month, “The Comedianna” (her trademarked definition of a hilarious story-telling Queen), is taking her side-splitting sense of humor on the road to promote two new comedy DVDs entitled “Hilarious And Unplugged” Volume 1 and “Hilarious And Unplugged” Volume 2. The tour kicks off Easter Sunday, April 8, at Chicago’s House of Hope/Salem Baptist Church Worship Center, where Rev. James Meeks is the Pastor, and continues throughout the summer.
Recorded in December at Detroit’s Upper Room Complex, Winans’ DVD stand-up routine consists of uproarious stories as well as a live performance of her hits “Shake Yourself Loose” and “How I Got Over” with her nephew, Tim Bowman, Jr. She also shot a music video of her son Mario Winans’ “Overcomer” remix.
According to a press release, a unique element to the comedy tour is that Winans has purchased a luxury Sprinter van to transport the homeless in each city to be her special guests at each show. The singer is currently in pre-production for the starring role as “Grace Avery” in the feature film Amazing Grace, a movie centered around the issue of homelessness. It is an issue that has heightened her sensitivity so much so that she has established a foundation to help decrease homelessness in America.
“My ultimate goal is to build homes and more shelters for the homeless,” says an enthusiastic Winans, “but until then, as many as the bus will hold will be my special guest VIPs for a night of laughter, food and a gift bag!”
The stand-up comedy DVDs will be available in stores, on www.vickiewinans.com, and at every stop along the projected 40-city tour.
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.
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| Click flyer to enlarge |
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.
Castro Coleman, also known as Cat Cole, released his “live” mixtape online today for absolutely free. Cole says Strait From Da Soul of Cat Cole is the first of several mixtapes to be released every 90 days while he preps for the release of his forthcoming album, The Favor Factor (4Winds/Malaco Music Group), slated to drop later this year.
The free download is available at http://myxer.com/CATCOLE.
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.
In the spirit of it being more blessed to give than to receive, GMF will celebrate with a giveaway every Friday, through the month of April. Be on the lookout for your chance to win.
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.
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| Freda Battle |
Battle is currently readying for the spring release of her fourth album, How Glorious & Excellent is Our God, which will feature appearances from Stephen Hurd, Bobby Perry, Rodney Posey, and others.
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.
William McDowell, John P. Kee, LaCrae, and Kim Burrell are just a few fan favorites who are nominated for Dove Awards this year. The complete list is available here.
Performances will be by Donnie McClurkin, Ruben Studdard, Mandisa, nominees LaCrae and Kim Burrell and more.
David Mann, famously known as “Leroy S. Brown” from Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns, and comedian Chonda Pierce are the co-hosts.
The awards will be taped April 19, at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre.
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.
If you enjoy the worship music Israel Houghton has delivered to the masses for more than ten years, you can now hear some of his best-loved songs on one CD.
The Houston-based worship leader recently released a double-disc collection, Decade, that features twenty-six songs including “Friend of God,” “Not Forgotten,” and “Again, I Say Rejoice.” The project also contains a new mid-tempo tune, “Jesus At The Center,” which will be the title track of Houghton’s forthcoming project, due to drop this fall.
“After a decade worth of projects, hundreds of songs, thousands of nights of worship, and hundreds of thousands of people who have allowed us to usher them to Jesus, whether by way of recording or live events, I am so grateful that you gave us an opportunity to worship with you,” said the four-time Grammy Award winner to his fans in a statement.
He added, “There’s one decade down and generations more to come. We feel like we’re just getting started and we’re already putting finishing touches on the first project of the next decade.”
Decade is available in retail stores and all major online portals.
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.
Dear NAACP Image Awards:
I am extremely disturbed that two giants in gospel music, Delois Barrett Campbell and Rev. Jessy Dixon, were omitted from the 2012 program’s memorial segment. Certainly, gospel music has been the foundation of the African-American experience and should be revered as such.
President Barack Obama posits that “the potent words of gospel gave strength to a generation that rose above the din of hatred to move our country toward justice and equality for all.” Delois Barrett Campbell was one such voice. She is hailed as “The Royal Lady of Gospel” and recognized internationally for her pioneering contributions to the art form. Media coverage of her passing was massive, and her three-day funeral services brought tributes from President Obama, Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson, Rev. Jesse Jackson and others. The New York Times published a well-written article chronicling her seven-decade career.
Singer/songwriter/musician Rev. Jessy Dixon’s discography includes collaborations with Paul Simon, Diana Ross, Earth, Wind & Fire, Billy Preston, and James Cleveland–and this is the short list. The Chicago Sun-Times published a piece detailing his impact on the music industry. The 54th Grammy Awards mentioned him in its memorial segment; unfortunately, the NAACP Image Awards did not.
I submit this inquiry: If we do not esteem our own, who will? If we do not honor our own in death as we have celebrated our own in life, who will? If we fail to recognize those who blazed trails for Jennifer Hudson, Aretha Franklin, Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence, and Kirk Franklin, who will?
I am kindly requesting a reply and explanation of these omissions. Thank you in advance for taking time to address my concern about these exclusions. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Libra N. Boyd, Founder & Editor
Gospel Music Fever™
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.