Category: News

Members of the gospel community support justice for Trayvon Martin

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Utterly tragic is the February 26th murder of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin.  Utterly outrageous is that Sanford, FL police state they don’t have sufficient evidence to refute the gunman’s claim of self defense, and therefore can’t arrest him.
 
Are you kidding me?  Martin was unarmed, carrying a bag of Skittles and a bottle of iced tea.  George Zimmerman, the gunman, pursued him, despite being told by a 911 dispatcher not to.  Details of the case are too many to recall here; you can refer to ABC News for the overview.
 
This matter reeks of the racism that remains alive and pervasive in this society.  Martin is Black; Zimmerman is White and Hispanic.  I posit, however, that even if one removes the notion of race as a factor, the matter is equally egregious: an adult followed and murdered an unarmed child holding some candy and a drink.
 
Numerous congregations wore hoodies yesterday, symbolic of their stand against senseless violence and injustice.  I wore mine also–along with a badge of Trayvon Martin and me pictured in hoodies, side by side.  Underneath was a scripture from 1 Samuel 17:29: “And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”
 
And like Mahalia Jackson, Sallie Martin, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other gospel singers and clerics who were vocal about the issues of injustice in their day (especially during the 1960’s civil rights movement), people from the gospel community are speaking out in their own way regarding this injustice.
 
 
Fortune’s Twitter Avatar
“Where’s the justice?” asked James Fortune on Twitter.  He also changed his avatar in protest.
 
Brian Courtney Wilson tweeted, “Still expecting justice for #TrayvonMartin.” 
 
“So Zimmerman says he’s sorry for shooting #Trayvon Martin?” producer Kevin Bond posted on Twitter just this morning.  “Yet you were standing your ground? #FOOLISHNESS and #RACIST!”
 
 
Perhaps with reconciliation at the heart of his tweet, Pastor John P. Kee posted, “Wish I could grab 3 of my nephews! We’d roll into Florida and find Zimmerman and pray with him!”  He, too, donned a hoodie in his avatar.  (See more photos of other gospel artists who are showing support for Trayvon Martin at  NuthinButGospel blog.)
 
Today, Pastor Jamal Bryant and others will lead a National March of Justice at Centennial Park in Sanford, FL.  Accordingly, the prominent pastor tweeted this morning, “Dear Lord 2day get justice 4 TRAYVON, redeem those who’ve been done wrong, protect kids from harm & don’t let us wait long!”
 
I am glad to see the gospel community join this fight, and I hope the momentum continues.  In his work, Privilege, Power, and Difference, sociologist Allan G. Johnson asserts, “There is no such thing as doing nothing. There is no such thing as being neutral or uninvolved. At every moment, social life involves all of us.”

Video – 2012 NCGAG Prestige Award Nominees Announced

Pastor Arvetra Jones, Jr., president of the NC Gospel Announcers’ Guild has announced this year’s Prestige Award nominees.  The awards banquet will be Friday, May 18, at 7 PM, at Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham.  Visit www.ncgag.org for more info.

Zacardi Cortez teases fans with five-track digital EP

Ever since his vocal contributions to James Fortune & FIYA’s “The Blood” and “I Believe,” it seems folks just can’t get enough of Zacardi Cortez. 

The buzz about the 26 year-old’s debut CD, Zacardi Cortez: The Introduction, is so strong that a five-song digital EP has been released to tide fans over until the full-length project drops later this spring.

The self-titled EP is now live and available for streaming and downloading on iTunes, Amazon.com, Google Play, eMusic.com, Rhapsody, Spotify.com, and Zune.

From GMF on Attribution

To GMF Readers:

Since GMF first reported “Shirley Caesar to be crowned ‘Queen of Gospel,'” it has been brought to our attention that portions of GMF’s piece have been published verbatim on other websites without proper credit.

We welcome you to share the information you read here, but please credit Gospel Music Fever™ and/or post a link to the original GMF post.  Thank you.

Message of Stephen Hurd’s new CD: Worship is for men, too

Press Release from Bill Carpenter

Over the last decade, Stephen Hurd has distinguished himself as one of the leading voices in urban praise and worship music and his songs “Undignified” and “Lead Me To The Rock” are sung at faith gatherings around the globe. Now, he’s preparing to release his most ambitious project yet, O That Men Would Worship, his sixth CD and the first on his own Hurd The Word recording label.  He has designed the new CD as a tool to inspire men to take on a greater leadership role in church worship services.

Recorded live at The First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro, MD, where Hurd is the Minister of Music, the collection is scheduled to hit retail stores on March 20, via a distribution deal with Central South Distribution, Inc.

“My goal is to get men and especially men of color to realize that worship is not a feminine sport,” Hurd says. “In this season, I feel we should come together and lift up a sound that has the power to change families and strengthen communities and help brothers to get a glimpse of what real worship is. I think when men see other men worship it gives them freedom to worship without feeling emasculated.”

Joining Hurd for this manly worship experience are Verity Records artist Jason Nelson, Christian pop artist Anthony Evans and Minister Deonte Gray who is a member of the 7 Sons of Soul vocal group. Hurd created an all male sextet of singers to back certain songs and a coed group called Extol to back the CD as a whole. Aside from co-writing most of the songs, Hurd produced the fifteen track set alongside up-and-coming producers Kenny Shelton and Anthony Brown. Celebrated producer Steve Ford, who’s worked with acts ranging from Phyllis Hyman to Richard Smallwood, created the lush string arrangements while the in-demand Phil Lassiter (John P. Kee, Marvin Sapp) delivered the hearty horn arrangements.

“It was the easiest thing I’ve ever done,” Hurd says of the recording. “There was no drama. Everybody was excited to be there and came with the attitude of what can I do to make this impact?”

A praise party mini-concert to celebrate the new CD is set for Tuesday, March 20, at 7:30 PM, at First Baptist Church of Glenarden.  There is no admission and CDs will be available for purchase. The church is located at 600 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774. Visit www.hurdthewordmusic.com for more information on Hurd.

Anniversary Concert for Pastor George Crews, III – March 16

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The pastoral anniversary concert also features B.T. Green and the Christian Harmonettes, the Clark Sisters, Chosen Phase 2, and Rufus Poole and the Stars of Faith.  Radio personalities Walter “Country Boy” Hatcher and Carolyn Pettiford-Ryals will be on hand to emcee.  For more information, visit www.lattisvillegrove.com.

Shirley Caesar to be crowned “Queen of Gospel” – CALLING ALL FANS

Originally posted March 10, 2012 at 8:18PM
Last Updated April 26, 2012 at 3:08PM
Albertina Walker and Shirley Caesar

 

GMF has learned from Mildred Summerville that the “First Lady of Gospel” Pastor Shirley Caesar will be feted on April 29, 2012, during which she will be crowned the “Queen of Gospel.”  The metaphorical crown was previously worn by the late Albertina Walker, who passed October 2010.  Pastor Caesar, an alumna of the famous Caravans, considers Walker as a mentor, friend, and legend on whose shoulders she stands.

A multiple Grammy, Stellar and Dove award winner, Pastor Caesar is one of the most recognized and beloved women in gospel music, both here and abroad.  Her recording career stretches across six decades.

The crowning ceremony will take place at Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church (3100 Sanderford Road, Raleigh, NC), at 4 PM, where Caesar pastors.  The service will feature a host of gospel singers and performers including six year-old Symone Spencer, performing as Baby Shirley Caesar, Michael Boone, Leniyus Sullivan, Fayetteville State University Choir United Voices of Praise, Mount Calvary Word of Faith Choir, and the mini-stage play “Hold My Mule” by Lucy Hawkins of the 700 Club. 

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Also performing are: The Caesar Singers, Virginia Beach, Juan Santiago and JSUP, The Maryland Mass Chior, Ruth La’Ontra Jones, Bishop Floyd Knowlin & Lighthouse Choir, Steve Johnson & Singers, New Bethel Baptist Choir, TDK Mime, and Anointed Voices of Praise.

Jerry Smith of The Light 103.9FM and Peggy Tatum of TCP Magazine will host.

The service is open to the public and all seats are free.

Update (3/17/12):  A fan club donation along with congratulatory cards will be presented to Pastor Caesar during the ceremony.  This is your chance to give her flowers while she can enjoy them, by showing her just how much her music has meant to you.

Cards as well as donations of any amount are welcomed.  All checks should be made payable to Pastor Shirley Caesar and mailed to:

Dr. Mildred Summerville
Fan Club Coordinator
P.O. Box 21
Wilson, NC  27894

Related Story
Shirley Caesar on Today’s ‘Singingest’ Women, Whitney, and the Big Screen  

Grand Opening of Greensboro’s Club EnCORE

It’s being called Greensboro’s premier spot for Christian nightlife.  Tonight, you can check it out for yourself at the grand opening of Club EnCORE.
Christian hip-hop crew, The C.O.R.E. will perform along with other guests.
When: March 10, 2012
Where: 2100 E. Wendover Avenue, Greensboro, NC  27405
Time: 7 PM until
Admission: General – $10; College Students – $7

Fred, Le’Andria, Ledisi to perform at BET’s 12th Celebration of Gospel

Fred Hammond
Gospel’s “main man” Fred Hammond, 2012 Grammy winner Le’Andria Johnson, and R&B sensation Ledisi are among this year’s cast of performers at BET’s 12th annual Celebration of Gospel.  The program will air, for the first time in its history, during the Easter season, Palm Sunday, April 1.
Steve Harvey will once again host the two-hour show.  The lineup also includes Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Jessica Reedy, Earnest Pugh, Isaac Carree, Moses Tyson Jr., Ricky Dillard & New G, Zacardi Cortez and Maurette Brown Clark.  Additionally, there will be a special appearance by BET Music Matters artist Mali Music.
Other performers are Jennifer Holliday, Faith Evans, Johnny Gill and Kelly Price.  Dr. Bobby Jones and actress Wendy Raquel Robinson will deliver spoken word selections, and tributes will be paid to Mahalia Jackson and Whitney Houston.
The show will be taped Friday, March 16, at 8PM (PST) at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

Delois Barrett Campbell "Her Legacy Lives On" Musical – March 11

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On what would be the weekend of her 86th birthday, the life and legacy of Delois Barrett Campbell will be celebrated at Chicago’s First Church of Deliverance.  Some of Chicago’s finest–including Shekinah Glory Ministry, Chicago Mass Choir, Kim Stratton, and DeAndre Patterson–will gather in tribute to the internationally renowned soprano vocalist of the famed Roberta Martin Singers and the phenomenal Barrett Sisters.  Admission is free.

Campbell, recognized as “The Royal Lady of Gospel,” exchanged time for eternity on August 2, 2011 (see related story).  This year, she was honored posthumously at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, during which new trophies were unveiled bearing her name among the inscriptions of several other gospel greats. 

Set for release later this year is a documentary chronicling the life and career of Delois Barrett Campbell and the Barrett Sisters.  For the trio, it is a career that spans more than 60 years.