Category: Reviews

“Oh How I Love You” – Zacardi Cortez

“Oh How I Love You”
Zacardi Cortez (2018)
Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
www.zacardicortez.com

Zacardi Cortez cover artBy Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Some of the best songs I’ve heard sound new and old at the same time.  New and catchy, yet nostalgic.  Enter Zacardi Cortez with “Oh How I Love You,” written by Lucius B. Hoskins, Fred Sanders Jr., Izk Jenkins, and Nicholas
Humes.

“Oh How I Love You” is a ballad with music that’s an instant throwback to 70s R&B and
soul.  Add Zacardi’s passionately soulful vocals and you have an intimate vertical song of devotion for both old school and new school music heads.

“Hosanna” – Godlives Don

“Hosanna”
Godlives Don (2019)
www.facebook.com/pg/godlivesdon

Godlives Don Hosanna cover artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor
 
“Hosanna,” the first single from Godlives Don’s recently released album, is a refreshing, inspiring and anointed spiritual song of praise and worship.  Godlives displays his unwavering passion to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through song: “With all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength. I will worship you….Hosanna be glorified…”


Godlives is the president and founder of Faith Land Praise Assembly International, also known as Rhema City, in his hometown of Ughelli in Delta State, Nigeria.

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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

"Not Yet" – Donnie McClurkin

“Not Yet”
Donnie McClurkin (2019)
RCA Inspiration/Camdon Music
www.donniemcclurkin.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Donnie McClurkin‘s life could‘ve ended in the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 12, 2018. Many of us learned what happened hours later.  The miracle is that the survivor told us himself.

“Lost consciousness driving…but two human angels followed my swerving car with their emergency blinkers onto [sic] stop traffic ….drove behind me until my car crashed into the middle concrete island. I remember none of it except those two angels pulling me out of the passengers [sic] side of the crumbled TOTALED car..airbags deployed…crushed metal and Fiberglas [sic]!!”
 
“I AM ALIVE!!!!” (via Facebook @DonnieMcClurkin)
 
Not surprisingly, the Grammy-winning singer went on to pen the reflective single, “Not Yet.“
 
Thought it was the end this time
God said, “Not yet”
I thought that I would lose my mind
God said, “Not yet”
Thinkin’ ’bout my yesterday
Wondering how I got away
But death heard Jesus say
He said, “Not yet”

“Not Yet“ is a lyrical sentiment of God‘s grace and intent toward McClurkin. The beauty of the single from his forthcoming solo project is that like many a good song, the message is widely applicable to all who can testify of their own “not yet“ encounters with the Almighty. 

“Your Love” – Enin Perryman

“Your Love”
Enin Perryman (2018)
www.eninperryman.com

Enin Perryman Your Love art

By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

Listening to “Your Love” is like being in a movie theater with surround sound.  Just like surround sound, Enin Perryman’s single creates a sensation of empowering love coming from any horizontal direction–360° around the listener–and brings you along with him to have you tapping your toes and ready to tell the world of your victories too. Prepare yourself to allow his rich sound–which occasionally ascends into his falsetto register–and captivating lyrics to take you back to a moment when you felt the overwhelming presence of the Almighty‘s love.  Through “Your Love,” the Atlanta-based singer, songwriter, and pastor assures you that Jesus is with you through any challenge that you face.  

Perryman, whose talents have afforded him performances and collabs with Usher, Quincy Jones, Prince, and others, is preparing to release a full-length project in 2019.


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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and lifelong educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

"Open Your Mouth and Say Something" – Brent Jones

“Open Your Mouth and Say Something” 
Brent Jones (2018)
JDI Records

Brent Jones Open Your Mouth and Say Something artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

All right now!  Get ready to tap those toes, clap those hands, get your body in motion, and definitely “Open Your Mouth and Say Something.”  

Grammy and Stellar Award winner Brent Jones should’ve added an advisory label to this uptempo traditional choir jam because if you are driving, you will positively need to pull over to get out of the car and take a praise break–like back in the day when you heard “your song” on the cassette and stopped the car and–

Oh yeah, I did go there. 

Driven by the vocal hype of Waco Community Choir and a brass-punctuated music line, “Open Your Mouth and Say Something” will not only make you do just that, but it may very well become “your song” of the day.  So turn up the volume, get your shout on, and holler, “Hallelujah!”

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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and lifelong educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

"You Are" – Tomisena

“You Are”
Tomisena (2018)
Available at iTunes

"You Are" Tomisena artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

“You Are” is the current single from North Carolina-based singer, songwriter, and speaker, Tomisena Hatchett.

From beginning to end, Tomisena’s expressive voice and well-placed vibrato engage you to worship, sing along, rewind, and do it again while reminiscing about the times in your life that you knew without a shadow of a doubt that the Almighty was, lyrically speaking, “a mighty strong tower” who carried, kept, and guided you. 

Tomisena’s contemporary worship song is a must-listen.


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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and lifelong educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

"Necessary" – Juan Santiago & Integrity

“Necessary (Radio Edit)”
Juan Santiago & Integrity (2018)
Milagro Records

Necessary Juan Santiago cover artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

Independent gospel artist Juan Santiago, owner and founder of Milagro Records, a record company with a mission of promoting gospel music nationwide, found it “necessary” to debut his newest group, Juan Santiago & Integrity, in June of this year. Along with the debut of the new ensemble was the release of the contemporary Christian single, “Necessary.”

DeLaVanta “D-Hydrate” Tabor’s tasteful piano accompaniment is the sole instrumental anchor to the passionately intense testimony of both the ensemble and the single’s lead vocalists Jana Jackson, B.J. Brown, and Joel Darwin. While the radio edit is just under five minutes, the extended CD version is nearly twice as long, adding Jonathan Parker-Ashley’s oration to the message that God works all things in our lives–good and bad–together for good. Life’s experiences have their necessary place in who we are becoming in Him.

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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and lifelong educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

"Still Alive (I Survived)" – Lucinda Moore

“Still Alive (I Survived)”
Lucinda Moore (2018)
Nalah Music Group
www.facebook.com/LucindaMooreOne

Still Alive Lucinda Moore cover artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

Lucinda Moore’s message to encourage oneself, never give up, and acknowledge the need for help beyond one’s own strength is evident in her current single, “Still Alive (I Survived).”  The Stellar Award-winning songstress co-wrote her testimony with Grammy-winning producer Cedric Thompson after learning that her heart stopped during spinal surgery in 2015.

Lucinda’s dynamic vocals punctuate the song’s overarching message to the hearers that they too can get through the everyday challenges of life, rising from their valley experiences to the mountaintop: “You’re the only One who heard my silent cry / I’m still alive–I survived!”  By the culmination of the song, I can see myself getting my praise on at the top of the hill–Rocky Balboa style!

“Still Alive (I Survived)” brightens the path to listeners’ purpose and destiny.  When the struggles of day-to-day duties seem to get to you, pull out the electronic device of choice, put in your earbuds, and let Lucinda enlighten you on how to be a survivor.


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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and lifelong educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

"H.O.L.Y." – Keion D. Henderson

“H.O.L.Y.”
Keion D. Henderson (2018)
 
Holy Keion Henderson cover artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor
 
Keion D. Henderson’s cover of “H.O.L.Y.” (originally performed by country duo Florida Georgia Line) will have your hands raised and singing along with tears of joy streaming down your cheek. Hallelujah!  “H.O.L.Y.” is an acronym for “high on loving you.”
 
The country-styled vertical worship song opens with layers of musical accompaniment and just enough organ to give you that “churchy” feeling that suggests, “Oh yeah, we are getting ready to worship.”  Then, oh my!  Keion—also known as Pastor Henderson to his 6,500-member Lighthouse Church of Houston congregation—capably leads you from a cold winter morning of loneliness and despair to feeling the warmth of the Son on your face. He guides the tune dramatically upwards into the crescendo of worship and praise and then gently downward, back into the flow of personal worship.

“H.O.L.Y.” is written by Busbee, Nate Cyphert, and William Larsen. 

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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and lifelong educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.
 

“Young & Strong” – Sidney Buckner and Youth In Unity

“Young & Strong”
Sidney Buckner & Youth In Unity (2018)
Available at iTunes

Young and Strong Sidney BucknerBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

Can anything “good” come out of Chicago?  Absolutely, especially if it’s gospel; after all, the city gave birth to it.  Another resounding “yes” nods to Sidney Buckner, who has mentored and trained a group of young people who are on fire for the Lord and willing to minister and encourage the youth in spiritual songs.  We can hear Sidney Buckner and Youth In Unity (YIU) encouraging other young people through their moderately paced urban contemporary single to serve God while they are “Young & Strong.”  The song’s lyrics, primarily sung in unison, tell of the choir’s determination to be victorious in life through acknowledging and serving Jesus: “So I’ll pray a little harder, get acquainted with the Father, learn to be a little smarter, while I’m young and I am strong.” 

YIU lets us know that there will be mistakes along the way, but if we listen to the words that we have been taught, pray, and seek Jesus for guidance and understanding, we will defeat the enemy of our soul.  Relax, listen, and be refreshed by the Scripture which tells us to “remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1, King James Version).

Sidney Buckner and YIU have ministered throughout the Chicago area and have recorded two live CD projects.

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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and lifelong educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.