Category: Passings

Another of Chicago’s gospel greats has joined the ever-growing heavenly choir.  Rev. Maceo Woods passed away today.  Homegoing service details are on the photo.

Read more about Rev. Woods–organist, recording artist, and founder and pastor of Christian Tabernacle Church–from our friend Bob Marovich at the Journal of Gospel Music: RIP: Rev. Maceo Woods, Pastor, Organist, Founder of “Gospel Supreme” Musical.

Gospel Music Fever offers condolences and prayers to the Woods immediate and extended family and Christian Tabernacle Church during this emotional time.

Libra Boyd

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.

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF was saddened to learn of the passing of Bishop Donnie Graves, who died December 29, 2019.  He was 65 years old. 

Formally trained in organ and sacred music, Bishop Ralph Donnell Graves is widely recognized as a masterful musician, composer, arranger, and choir director whose albums include I’m Saved, Count Your Blessings, I Am Determined, So Far I Have Weathered the Storm, Back With A Vengeance, and Sounds from Heaven.  Among his notable compositions are “Count Your Blessings” and “When All God’s Children Get Together.”

Bishop Graves was the presiding prelate of Deliverance Temple Restoration Ministries, Inc. and pastor of The Gathering Place in Raleigh, NC.  He also established and pastored Refreshing Springs Restoration Center and Greater Metropolitan Restoration Center in Rocky Mount and Greensboro, respectively.

GMF offers heartfelt condolences to Bishop’s daughters, grandchildren, and the entire Graves family as well as his church family, friends, colleagues, and protégés. 

Homegoing information has been published as follows:

Wake
Friday, January 3, 2020
7 PM
The Gathering Place
3500 Woodmeadow Pkwy
Raleigh, NC  

Visitation
Saturday, January 4, 2020
9-10 AM
Mount Calvary Word of Faith Holy Church
3100 Sanderford Rd
Raleigh, NC

Homegoing Service
10 AM
Mount Calvary Word of Faith Holy Church

Libra Boyd

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.

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Evangelist Jacky Clark Chisholm of The Clark Sisters solicits prayers after announcing on Instagram this afternoon (Nov. 28) that her husband of 46 years, Glynn T. Chisholm, has passed on.  He was 70 years old.  

Chisholm was a published author whose books include The Revival and Why Did God Make Us Creatures of the Flesh?

GMF offers its deepest condolences to Evangelist Chisholm, their children Mike, Aaron, and Angel, and the entire Chisholm and Clark family. 

Visitation
Sunday, December 8, 2019
3-8 PM (EST)
Clora Funeral Home – Detroit West
18957 W. Warren Ave
Detroit, MI  48228

Family Hour
Monday, December 9, 2019
10 AM (EST)
Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC
19190 Schaefer Hwy
Detroit, MI  48235

Homegoing Service
11 AM (EST)
Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC

Libra Boyd

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.

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Rev. Ricky McDuffie, lead singer of Ricky McDuffie and The Family, passed Sunday, August 18, 2019, finishing a courageous battle with cancer.  He was 31. 

Unfortunately, news of McDuffie’s death began circulating on social media Sunday before his immediate family made an official announcement.  (Please read this article about thinking before you post R.I.P. on social media.)  Condolences have continued to pour in from fans, friends, and contemporaries in the hours since the family’s official post. 

Ricky McDuffie became the lead singer of the family group consisting of his siblings and cousins, then called The Mighty Golden Stars, at the age of 10.  Shortly after their grandfather Melvin Teal allowed the group to record two songs for his own quartet group’s CD in the late 90s, the grands began traveling as Lil’ Ricky and the Mighty Golden Stars and eventually released their debut CD in 2005, titled, I’m On My Way to Heaven.  In 2013, the group underwent another name change to Ricky McDuffie and The Family.  Their most recent release is He Changed Me Live (2017). 

Despite declining health, McDuffie pressed on to perform with his family as recently as three weeks ago in late July.  In addition to being a singer, McDuffie was scheduled to celebrate nine years of preaching this past Sunday.

Update (8/23/19):  A Celebration of Life service has been announced for Sunday, August 25, 2019, at 3 PM at Berea Baptist Convention Center in Bennettsville, SC.  A musical tribute will take place Saturday, August 24, at 5 PM at Marlboro Civic Center, 106 Clyde Street in Bennettsville.  (Please note the venue for the musical has been changed from Spears Church to Marlboro Civic Center due to the expected attendance.)

GMF extends deepest condolences to McDuffie’s wife Valarie, his children, and the entire family throughout this most difficult time of adjustment.

Libra Boyd

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.

Family, friends, and the gospel community are preparing to bid Tessie Hill farewell this week. The gospel great died Sunday night, July 28, 2019.

“What could I say about the late great Tessie Hill, better known to many others as ‘Mama Tessie’? Well, I can tell you that I met her many years ago when I was singing with the Caravans. [She was] one of the ‘singingest’ women that you’d ever want to hear. Late last year, 2018, she came to our church in Raleigh, NC…and when that woman started singing in our morning worship, I had to sit my little self down. That woman had such a powerful and an anointed voice! And I want you to know that we will forever be thankful and grateful that God blessed her to come and to be such a wonderful blessing to all mankind. Those that knew her, those that sat under her singing ministry, we will forever remember Tessie Hill.”  

Arrangements for Tessie Hill are as follows:

Libra Boyd

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.

GMF is sad to report the passing of Bishop Andrew J. Ford, II.  Ford died Friday, July 19, in New Jersey.

Bishop Ford was the presiding prelate of Next Generation Fellowship Ministries, Inc. and pastor of Philadelphia’s Ford Memorial Temple Baptist Church, the latter founded (as Highway Christian Church of Christ) and pastored by his father Bishop Andrew J. Ford, Sr. until his death in 1993.  Bishop Ford was also a gospel music industry notable who is credited with propelling several artists’ careers.  His social media bio reads in part:

[Bishop Ford] is also the founder and executive producer of Sweet Rain Record Company, where he discovered, launched the careers of, and produced some of America’s gospel notable artists such as Pastor Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir, The Reverend Ernest Davis, Jr. and Wilmington Chester Mass Choir featuring Rev. Daryl Coley, Southeast Inspirational Choir of Houston, introducing Yolanda Adams, and many others. During his tenure in the recording industry, he was considered ‘The Renaissance Man’ of gospel music, because of his unique ability in recording live choir recordings. His production company was affectionately known as ‘The Choir Boys.’ He has also trained and produced his ‘How Sweet the Sound’ and ‘TV One / Sony Choir Competition’ award-winning church choir, The Anointed Voices of Ford Memorial Temple.

GMF extends condolences and prayers to Bishop Ford’s immediate and extended family, church family, and host of friends.

Libra Boyd

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.

Source | Malaco Records

GMF recently learned of the passing of Luther Jennings, original member of the Jackson Southernaires.  We extend our sympathy and prayers to Jennings’ family and friends.

Read more from Malaco Music Group here.

Libra Boyd

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.