Category: News

Maggie Ingram & the Ingramettes’ Final “Live” CD Recording – Nov. 5

 
 
 Click flyer to enlarge
 
An appreciation celebration and final “live” CD recording for Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes is set for November 5th.  Evangelist Ingram is hailed as Virginia’s “Queen of Gospel.”  Earlier this month, she was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Music degree from a Richmond theological seminary.
 
Admission to the live recording is free.

Editor’s Note:  According to a bio provided to us by Evangelist Ingram’s daughter Almeta in May 2014, the Honorary Doctorate of Musical Arts degree was conferred by Virginia Triumphant College & Seminary.

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The Sounds of Blackness releases 10th CD on 40th anniversary

Press Release from Malaco Records

Malaco Music Group recording artists The Sounds of Blackness featuring The Next Generation and Jamecia Bennett releases its CD, The Sounds of Blackness today, October 18. The Twin City natives will celebrate the CD release with a free 30 minute concert at the Mall of America’s Best Buy Rotunda, 365 North Garden, Bloomington, MN 55425 at 6:00 P.M. CST this evening.

The songs on this three-time Grammy-winning group’s latest set focus on the themes of reconciliation and healing.

“Music can be our primary method, mode and means of avoiding annihilation and achieving peace,” explains group’s founder, Gary Hines.  “Music is God’s perfect form of communication, because what comes from the heart reaches the heart, what comes from the soul reaches the soul and what comes from the spirit reaches the spirit.”

As Sounds of Blackness celebrates 40 years of music and inspiration, the group offers a superb self-titled fifteen-track CD that is a dazzling showcase for its all-encompassing musicality.

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The Nightingales celebrate 65th anniversary with musical on Nov. 6

 Click flyer to enlarge for ticket information

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AP Interview with Le’Andria Johnson

Jonathan Landrum, Jr. from the Associated Press conducted an insightful interview with gospel artist and Sunday Best 3 winner, Le’Andria Johnson, on her struggles and successes since winning the competition.  You can read the story here.

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GMF editor spotlights the Clark Sisters in Sister 2 Sister magazine

GMF founder and editor Libra Boyd is a contributing writer to the November 2011 installment of Sister 2 Sister magazine.  The issue features gospel’s dynamic Clark Sisters and the continuing legacy begun by their matriarch, phenomenal musician, writer, and choir director Dr. Mattie Moss Clark.
Sister 2 Sister is a black entertainment and lifestyle magazine covering today’s hottest stars, in addition to tips on home, health, beauty and self improvement.
A preview of the November issue is currently online at: http://www.s2smagazine.com/magazine. 

GMF Sightings – Reuben "Bill" Cooper of NC's legendary Cooper Four

Reuben “Bill” Cooper of the golden era’s Cooper Four was eyed after the CD release musical of New Creation, of which he and his wife Ella’s only daughter, RuBena Cooper-Woods, is a lead singer.

The Cooper Four’s brand of traditional gospel made the sibling foursome a regional favorite at the peak of their popularity.  The group has been a mainstay, singing live weekly on the radio since 1952.  They can still be heard live on Durham’s WRJD-AM each Sunday morning.  In addition to Cooper, the group currently consists of its original members Walter and Ruth Cooper (who was also in attendance at the musical), as well as Stephanie and Cheryal Lipscomb, granddaughters of deceased original member, guitarist Maria Cooper-Whitted.

Editor’s Note: RuBena Cooper-Woods relayed the background information shared with GMF in this piece, including the year the group began singing on the radio.  An interview with the group, which appeared in The Herald Sun in 2006, notes the group began singing at WSRC in 1954, the same year the station launched.

Pastor Shirley Caesar to be honored with birthday, anniversary celebrations

This week, Mt. Calvary Word of Faith Church is hosting services to celebrate the birthday and pastoral anniversary of its shepherdess, Pastor Shirley Caesar.  Pastor Caesar’s birthday is October 13.

Services take place Tuesday, October 11 through Thursday, October 13 at 7:30 PM nightly.  Featured speakers are Pastor Aaron McNair, Associate Pastor Wess Morgan, and Elder Kervy Brown.

Mt. Calvary Word of Faith Church is located at 3100 Sanderford Road in Raleigh, NC.
I personally wish Pastor Caesar a huge happy birthday and pastoral anniversary!  She looks and sounds as heavenly as ever.

John P. Kee and Lisa Knowles team up on Youthful Praise release

J.J. Hairston and Youthful Praise is working on new music for 2012, and from what I hear, we should be on the lookout for a great pairing of John P. Kee and the Brown Singers’ Lisa Knowles on the forthcoming project.  This choir featuring these powerhouses is certainly enough to whet any appetite!

YP’s current CD is Resting on His Promise, released in 2009.

Carolyn Pettiford-Ryals – “It’s You And Me” Women’s Retreat on Oct. 22-23

Carolyn Pettiford-Ryals invites women to join her at her upcoming “It’s You and Me” Women’s Retreat.

Ryals, Sunday morning radio host on WNCU-90.7FM, talked with GMF in May about the blessing these retreats have been to women from all walks of life (see “Raleigh-Durham radio personality uses voice to inspire on, off air”).

The next weekend event is October 22-23.  Visit http://cprministries.info for more details.

 

Marvin Sapp’s live CD/DVD to be recorded Oct. 7, released March 2012

Pastor Marvin Sapp announced via Twitter yesterday that the release date for his upcoming CD/DVD is March 13, 2012.  This will be the singer’s first album since his wife’s passing in 2010. 
Discussing the project, Sapp told Billboard.com, “The focus of this record is how you can come through situations and still remain on top. It’s about how the enemy has a way of hitting you with stuff to cause you to fold and buckle, but I’m still standing.”
The live recording is scheduled for Friday, October 7, at Evangel Cathedral Temple in Upper Marlboro, MD.