Category: News

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.

Yancey Family Ministries presents Harbour House Convention, Sept. 28 – Oct. 1

The Harbour House 2011 Convention, presented by Cornerstone Christian Community Church and Yancey Family Ministries, starts today and continues through Saturday, October 1.  This year’s theme is “Work While It Is Day.”  All convention proceeds go to the Harbour House Ministry, which provides transitional housing for broken, bruised and battered persons in Granville and neighboring NC counties. 


This year’s convention will feature preaching by Pastor James Isaac, III, Dr. M.R. Weaver, and Minister Chad Downey.  Music will be rendered by Vision A Capella Group, SwS Music Group, the Baldwin Family, and others.

The Yancey Family

Saturday’s service will feature the Yancey Family in concert.  Called “the best kept secret in Granville County” by legendary gospel singer Evangelist Dorothy Norwood, all eleven Yancey siblings have sung and/or played an instrument since childhood.  Collectively, they emerged to become one of the most requested groups in the area.  Upon hearing Gloretta Yancey McNeil’s project, Thou Art Worthy, Evangelist Norwood, taken by the family’s talent and anointing, presented the Yancey Family in its first “live” recording.  The project will be released in the coming months on Movonia Records. 

Convention At-A-Glance

All services will be held at Cornerstone Christian Community Church, 3237 Knotts Grove Road, Oxford, NC 27565.  An offering will be received nightly.  

Wednesday, Sept. 28 – 7 PM
Guest speaker: Pastor James Isaac, III (New Hope Granville Baptist Church)

Thursday, Sept. 29 – 7 PM
Guest speaker: Dr. M.R. Weaver (Seed Time & Harvest Fellowship)

Friday, Sept. 30 – 7 PM  Youth Night
Guest speaker: Min. Chad Downey (Raleigh International Church)

Saturday, Oct. 1 – 5 PM
Musical featuring the Yancey Family and the Baldwin Family

Legal Battles in Gospel Music: “Nobody Greater” and Mahalia Jackson

Two gospel music legal battles are in the news this week.  At the core of both are copyright infringement allegations.

Songwriter Travis Malloy has filed a suit against EMI Christian Music Group, Inc., Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. and Darius Paulk, claiming that he was not given co-writing credits for Vashawn Mitchell’s version of “Nobody Greater.”  As a result, it is reported that Malloy seeks one million dollars in damages.

According to www.examiner.com, Paulk, the anthem’s credited writer, insists that he is the sole composer of the work and Malloy’s “claim is baseless.”

Meanwhile in Atlanta, Bishop Frank E. Lott-Johnson was given until today to deliver a copy of the biography Just Halia, Baby to the court, in an effort to prove that playwright Tom Stolz used content from his copyrighted work for the play “Mahalia: A Gospel Musical” without permission.  Lott-Johnson is the copyright claimant of the biography.

Last month, the bishop also claimed ownership of Jackson’s name.  The judge dismissed several of the original allegations as “too vague” and “frivolous.” Lott-Johnson subsequently filed an amendment to his complaint and is expected to provide a copy of the biography and each infringed-upon work that he cited in the amendment.

39th Annual Conference of Shirley Caesar Outreach Ministries set for Aug. 8-12

The 39th Annual “Wilt Thou Be Made Whole” Conference of Shirley Caesar Outreach Ministries kicks off this Monday at Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church in Raleigh, NC.  The services continue through Friday, August 12, which is Founder’s Night in honor of Pastor Shirley Caesar, and will feature an awesome lineup of guest speakers and singers.

Click the flyers for additional details.

Malaco signs Sounds of Blackness

Press Release from Malaco Records
Malaco Music Group has signed Sounds of Blackness, and the group’s debut single “Fly Again” from their self-titled CD, The Sounds of Blackness will be hitting radio the first of August.
Gary Hines, music director/producer of Sounds of Blackness states, “Sounds of Blackness and I are extraordinarily overjoyed to have the honor of signing with Malaco! Sounds of Blackness and Malaco have a lot in common–bringing Black Music to all people, celebrating four decades of existence, and remaining true to our roots!”

Malaco Vice President Tommy Couch Jr, comments, “We are so exited to work with a group of this magnitude. The Sounds Of Blackness are still about the music and the message while maintaining their unique creativity.”

“Much like Bebe & Cece Winans,” adds D.A. Johnson, executive director of Malaco’s gospel division, “the Sounds Of Blackness was extremely instrumental in crossing Gospel/Inspirational music over into the mainstream in the 90’s and It is great to see them return stronger than ever.”

“Happy birthday, Dr. Thomas Dorsey!”

Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey, recognized as the “Father of Gospel Music,” would have turned 102 today.  His most famous gospel composition is “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” though he wrote over 1000 blues and gospel songs during his lifetime.
May we never forget the pioneers on whose shoulders we stand.