Category: News

Singer/Musician Kent Brooks to be honored with appreciation musical

First Calvary Baptist Church in Durham is honoring its Director of Music Ministries, Kent Brooks, on Sunday, May 29th.  The appreciation celebration will also be a farewell service; Brooks is leaving to pursue aspirations in higher education.

Brooks is a well known singer, musician, and workshop clinician who has served as music director for gospel greats Albertina Walker and Richard Smallwood.  He is also the founder, composer/arranger, conductor and accompanist for the Kent Brooks Ensemble.

Brooks spawned thought-provoking insights on the role of gay men in gospel music and the church in 2006, when he offered his perspective to Chicago Tribune in a feature story called “Letting Their Voices Be Heard.”
The musical will feature a mass choir of musicians, choirs and praise teams.  Fredrick A. Davis is the host pastor.
Location:  First Calvary Baptist Church, 1311 Morehead Avenue
Date:  May 29, 2011
Time:  4pm

Nightingales' Joseph "JoJo" Wallace to be honored with musical celebration

The Sensational Nightingales were one of the fiercest quartet-styled groups of gospel’s golden age, and he’s been singing and playing professionally with them since 1946, just as that era in gospel music history was budding.  On Saturday, June 11th, quartet legend Brother Joseph “JoJo” Wallace, who is still a lead singer and guitarist for the internationally known quartet will be celebrated for his 65 years of ministry with the group.
“An Evening with Brother Joseph Wallace and Friends” takes place at Durham, NC’s Union Baptist Church on 904 N. Roxboro Street and starts at 3:00 PM.  Tributes by The Sensational Nightingales, Darrell and Ricky Luster, John K. Thorpe, New Hope Person Baptist Church Male Chorus under the direction of Libra Nicole Boyd, The Hillian Sisters,  Billy Warden, Evangelist Carolyn Satterfield and others are planned.  A couple of surprise musical guests are also expected to pay tribute.
The event is free and everyone is invited; a freewill offering will be received.  Proceeds go to The Joseph Wallace Scholarship Fund.

Top: Pictured in the circa 1954-55 photo are, clockwise from top:  Willie “Bill” Woodruff, Carl Coates, Joseph “JoJo” Wallace, Ernest James, and Julius “June” Cheeks.   GMF thanks Opal Nations for verifying this caption.

Bottom:  Brother Joseph “JoJo” Wallace ministers in concert with The Sensational Nightingales.

Gospel music documentary features legends, hits theaters June 3

Rejoice and Shout gospel music documentary

Rejoice and Shout is a new gospel music documentary that opens in theaters June 3rd.  The San Francisco International Film Festival calls it “the most thoroughly researched and exhaustive film about African-American gospel music ever committed to film.”

The documentary features interviews from Smokey Robinson, Ira Tucker, Anthony Heilbut and Mavis Staples among others, and a lot of footage from pioneers and legends including Rosetta Tharpe, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Mahalia Jackson, Rev. James Cleveland, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Staples Singers, and Andrae Crouch.

If you are a gospel music enthusiast, the Rejoice and Shout trailer is sure to whet your appetite.

Recordings by C.L. Franklin, Blind Willie Johnson to be preserved by Library of Congress

I recently posted that Rev. Al Green’s 1970’s R&B hit, “Let’s Stay Together” was chosen this year to be included in the National Recording Registry for preservation in the Library of Congress (see “Happy birthday, Rev. Al Green!”).

Well, I am thrilled to learn that Blind Willie Johnson’s “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground” (1927) and Rev. C.L. Franklin’s sermon, “The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest” (1953) are among gospel recordings selected for the National Recording Registry.  These recordings–which meet registry requirements of being at least 10 years old and culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant–will be digitized in formats that are conducive to long-term preservation.
A complete list of the latest additions to the registry can be viewed here: 2010 Registry.
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In news related to Blind Willie Johnson, I learned from The Black Gospel Blog that efforts are under way to fund a documentary called The Search for “Blind” Willie Johnson and the Texas Gospel.  According to the Kickstarter campaign site, the film will also examine the musical contributions of Washington Phillips, Arizona Dranes and The Soul Stirrers.  More information about the documentary and fundraising campaign is available at this site: The Search for “Blind” Willie Johnson and the Texas Gospel.
(Photos: top left, Rev. C.L. Franklin; bottom right, Blind Willie Johnson)

Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson fans can expect to ‘LOL’ at his next live recording

GMF learned today that Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson is gearing up for a live recording on Thursday, April 28, 2011, and it’s going to leave you in stitches.  Yep, you may have a hand-clapping, foot-stomping good time with the award-winning quartet sensation, but this go-round it will be because of his punchlines.

Johnson recently announced on his Facebook page, “The wait is over! Those that [have] been asking for me 2 do a comedy cd, I’m doin’ a live recording on Thursday, April 28th, at 55 Pleasant Grove Rd, Lynchburg, SC 29080.  Take I-95 to exit 141, [and] go behind da [sic] shell gas station. Join me as we laugh!”

Johnson is not the first gospel artist to showcase comedic talent.  In 1999, Vickie Winans released a comedy CD called Share the Laughter (which peaked at #20 on Billboard Gospel), and more recently she released The Vickie Winans Laugh While You Lose fitness DVD.

The live comedy recording starts at 7pm and admission is free.

Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’s prep for live recording in August 2011

 

MCG Records is calling it “the most powerful gospel music event in Atlanta’s history.”  Lee Williams and The Spiritual QC’s are set to record live at The Greater Traveler’s Rest Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA, on August 20, 2011.  The concert is dedicated to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The group is known for its flat-footed, yet hard-driving approach to traditional gospel quartet music.  This is the approach that propelled them to national acclaim seemingly overnight, and today, keeps them atop gospel music charts and radio station playlists.

Joining Lee Williams and The Spiritual QC’s for the live recording are The Alabama Spirituals and Doug and Melvin Williams of the Williams Brothers.

Additional information is available at www.mcgrecords.com.

Historic Malaco Records structures destroyed in storm

GMF is sad to learn that an historic music landmark is nearly reduced to rubble.

Malaco Records was destroyed yesterday by destructive storms.  Malaco has been the home to numerous blues and gospel performers throughout its 44 year existence.  Its gospel roster has included greats like The Jackson Southernaires, The Soul Stirrers, The Sensational Nightingales, The Williams Brothers, the Angelic Gospel Singers, and the Mississippi Mass Choir, among many others.

The owners, staff, and artists are in our thoughts and prayers.

NBC affiliate WLBT has the report here.

Pop music writer profiles Dorothy Love Coates

It’s always refreshing to read about the artistry and impact of trailblazers from gospel’s Golden Age.  Today, Mary Colurso of The Birmingham News spotlights the inimitable Dorothy Love Coates.

Nowadays, Coates is perhaps best known for the songs she composed.  However, at the height of her stardom, her gravelly voice and theatrical stage presence drew the attention of singers both sacred and, well, “worldly,” as it was called in the 1950’s and 60’s.

Read about her and her lasting contributions to music here:  Year of Alabama Music: Dorothy Love Coates.

Bishop Harold Ivory Williams, Sr., celebrates 90th birthday this weekend

Bishop Harold Ivory Williams, Sr., former Presiding Prelate and Senior Bishop of the Mount Calvary Holy Church of America (MCHCA), Inc., will be honored this weekend at his 90th birthday celebration.

The celebration will be held at Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church on Sunday, April 17, 2011, at 5:00pm.  The guest speaker is Rev. John Flowers, Jr.  Bishop Williams’ wife, Pastor Shirley Caesar-Williams, is the host pastor.

Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church is located at 3100 Sanderford Road in Raleigh, NC.

Bishop Williams led MCHCA for more than 37 years as Senior Bishop before choosing to take emeritus status in 2008. 

Happy birthday and God’s blessings to you, Bishop Williams!

Duke Voice Care Center hosts vocal workshop series, features opera singer Estes

In conjunction with World Voice Day on April 16, 2011, Duke Voice Care Center will host a day of workshops on vocal health and good voice habits for both singers and non-singers.  International operatic bass-baritone and professor, Simon Estes, will be featured.  He will first facilitate a free Master Class on Friday, April 15, before discussing his life and singing career during a Saturday bonus session.  Estes has several CDs to his credit, including Simon Sings His Favorite Gospels and Spirituals.

Event Information

  • Saturday, April 16, 2011
  • 11:30am – 5pm
  • Renaissance Raleigh Hotel at North Hills, 4100 Main at North Hills St., Raleigh, NC
  • Admission is FREE; refreshments provided
  • For more information, contact 888-ASK-DUKE or dukehealth.org/events