“Put It On the Altar”
Jessica Reedy
From the upcoming CD, From the Heart (Available Sept. 27, 2011)
http://www.lightrecords.com
I learned two things about Jessica Reedy while watching Sunday Best. First and foremost, the girl can sing; after all, she snagged the runner-up spot amid hefty competition. Secondly, the sister can arrange; surely, you remember her version of the Williams Brothers’ “I’m Still Here” and her infusion of neo-soul into both the lead and harmony vocals.
Hark! Reedy has revealed another fact to her fans: she is a pretty good songwriter. Along with Tony and Nakeia Homer, Reedy has penned “Put It On the Altar,” the second single from her forthcoming debut project, From the Heart.
“Put It On the Altar” is uplifting with a feel-good vibe that we haven’t heard a lot in Reedy’s musical selections so far. The music itself is both fun and nostalgic; crisp horns, a warm electric guitar, block piano chords, and the 2-5-1 turnaround channel Motown circa 1970.
Reedy’s syncopated delivery and signature low register, which magnetized thousands of Sunday Best viewers in season two, are sure to have “Put It On the Altar” heating up radio throughout the summer.
“Like A Ship”
Maggie Ingram & The Ingramettes
From the vinyl LP, The Miami Riot (1987)
AIR Records
I grew up listening to and enjoying Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes. So, I guess it sounds just a little bit odd to say that I attended my first Maggie Ingram concert by accident; but I did.
Yep, it was one summer about nine years ago, and our men’s choir had been invited to a musical at Rogers Grove Church International in Durham. That afternoon, the choir and I arrived to find that we were among many groups and choirs also scheduled to perform. I must confess that I was not at all interested in spending my entire Sunday evening at church, and after our choir sang, I was ready to leave. Because I felt badly about wanting to bounce immediately afterward though, I stayed a little longer in support of the other singers and musicians.
After an eternity, which was really only a few groups later, I decided it was time to go. (There’s only so much “Did’ya, did’ya, did’ya get that power?!” I can take at these quartet-styled musicals.) With one hand on my gig bag and the other on my head, I scurried down the aisle. Just as I got to the exit, I heard, “Maggie Ingram and the I-i-i-i-ngra-a-a-m-ettes” roar from the emcee’s mouth. I stopped in my tracks, spun around and said, “Wha-?! Maggie Ingram is here?! Not ‘Richmond, Virginia Flood’ Maggie Ingram?!”
Yes, “Richmond, Virginia Flood” Maggie Ingram. I couldn’t get back to my original seat, up front, fast enough; I scurried back up the aisle as quickly as I had scurried down seconds earlier. This was a lady whose songs–“Like A Ship,” and her older cuts “When Jesus Comes,” and “Got A Mind to Serve the Lord”–blared nearly every Sunday morning on my Smurf novelty transistor radio.
Well let me tell you, despite disobedient mics and a half-filled sanctuary, the statuesque COGIC evangelist and her family wrecked the house–even treating the congregation to a portion of “Richmond, Virginia Flood,” climaxed by the hard-driving “Nobody’s Fault But Mine.”
Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes are still going strong after more than five decades (even longer for the GMWA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient herself). My pick this week is “Like A Ship” from the group’s most successful album, The Miami Riot, which reached #33 on the Billboard gospel music chart in 1988.
Tre Cosmos
SuperNova
The word “Cosmos” may sound like a space term, but according to the bio of Tre Cosmos, “in its original Greek form, the word meant divine order, purpose, and all creation. The people in those times who believed that there was an all-powerful being who created the Heavens and the Earth in its divine order believed in the Cosmos.” Tre Cosmos believes that everything and everyone has a purpose and that God created it to be exactly what it is now.
In late 2009, the multi-talented singer, writer, rapper, and producer rededicated his life (and gift) to Christ and decided to only make music that glorifies Him. At that time Tre Cosmos fully emerged, not just musically, but as a whole new way of living.
The self-proclaimed Christian Indie-Alternative Hip-Hop artist rightfully entitled his debut album SuperNova, released under his indie label CosMuzik. All songs were written, performed, composed, and produced by Tre Cosmos. Recorded at Spotlight Music Studios by Aaron Walker, SuperNova features elements such as acoustic pop, electro hip hop and techno, urban crossover and R&B, neo-soul, virtual orchestra, spoken word, alternative rock, and, well, genres not yet known to man.
One standout on the 12-track project is the melodic, fast moving “Dancing in Heaven” and its contrastingly slow string-laced musical postlude that turns the song into something beautifully angelic. Other notables include the acoustic guitar driven “Hello World” and “It’s Crazy,” which showcases Tre Cosmos’ talent as both a singer and a rapper.
Tre Cosmos doesn’t want to be put in a box. I don’t think he has that to worry about; what on earth, or in heaven, can contain a supernova?
Favorite
“Hello World”
Fever Meter
SIMMERIN’ (3 of 5 Stars)
“He Did It For Me”
Castro Coleman and Highly Favored
From the CD, Time Out!!! (2009)
http://catcolenation.com/
Castro Coleman is busy these days. He and his group, Castro Coleman and Highly Favored, have a packed summer schedule; he is on the road (or more fittingly, in the air) with The Melvin Williams Group as a US music ambassador through The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad; and the man owns his own label, Baby Boy Records.
He definitely has the means to release his creative energy, and that’s exactly what he’s done with “He Did It For Me” from his Time Out!!! project.
“He Did It For Me,” which he labels “New Motown,” resembles cuts by guy groups from the mid to late 1960’s and is rich with a horn section (sax and trombone) and Funk Brothers-like percussion (triangle, hand claps, and a tight crisp snare–where’s the tambourine?). More noticeably, “He Did It For Me” is a mid-tempo feel-good ode of gratitude: “I can’t take the credit for what I have/Said my blessings keep coming through/And I realize that everything in my life–oh–is because You did it for me.”
Joseph Middleton of The Golden Era Gospel Blog reports the passing of Viola Crowley of the famed Clara Ward Singers. Crowley sang lead on several of the group’s songs including “Traveling Shoes” and “We’re Marching to Zion,” in addition to serving as the group’s pianist for a time. Read The Golden Era Gospel Blog’s announcement here: R.I.P., Viola Crowley of the Clara Ward Singers.
GMF sends its condolences to the family of Viola Crowley.
When GMF spoke with Pastor Donnie McClurkin recently, we asked him to talk to us about his father or father figure as well as the impact his/their presence has made on the ministry.
“Well, there are two,” he concedes. “There’s a father and a father figure. My bald-headed, pot-bellied daddy…he is my hero and my friend.” Donnie’s playfulness makes apparent the close bond that now exists between he and his dad, Donald McClurkin, Sr. “He is my roommate. He lives in my house with me–and I emphasize my house. No matter what he says, it’s not his!”
Pensively, McClurkin, father of two himself, continues, “I didn’t understand him growing up. He wasn’t the best of fathers, but none of us are [and] I’m finding out as a father. He made many mistakes, but all of us fathers do, and I’m finding that out as a father too.” It is quite clear, however, that he holds the elder McClurkin in high regard.
“Now in my older age, my 77 year-old daddy lives in my house and we–in 10 years–have never had an argument…because I respect my dad, and I would never speak ill to him,” McClurkin asserts. “I would never raise my voice to him….My dad is my heart,” he confesses, on the verge of tears.
“Now my father figure was a man by the name of David Winans.” The Winans to whom he refers was the patriarch of the Winans gospel music dynasty, fondly known to most as Pop.
“Now everything spiritual that I needed to know? I got that from him. Pop Winans was my example of a holy man who loved his family: loved his wife more than his children, loved his children more than life, and loved God more than all of them.”
GMF extends its sympathy to the family of Mighty Harmonaires’ original member, manager, singer, and lead guitarist Willie Carrington, who passed away Wednesday, June 15th.
Carrington founded the quartet group more than 40 years ago, which over the years has consisted of family and close friends. Carrington’s son Richard, the group’s current lead guitarist, also served a brief stint with the Brooklyn Allstars as bassist. In addition to their travels along the east coast, the Harmonaires are heard live each Sunday morning on Roxboro, NC’s WRXO (1430AM) and WKRX (96.7FM).
Carrington will be remembered for his love of God, love of people, and love of music. Below is the obituary from the Hester, Whitted & Daye Funeral Service website.
Last weekend, a grinning and grateful Brother Joseph “JoJo” Wallace and his family filled the first rows of Durham’s Union Baptist Church. The occasion was the celebration of his 65 years of ministry with one of the baddest quartets of gospel’s Golden Era, the Sensational Nightingales. The year he joined as tenor and lead guitarist, 1946, predates the birthdates of most of the people who came to pay homage.
The honoree along with the Sensational Nightingales—Horace “Sug” Thompson, Larry Moore, and guest singer and former member Ricky Luster—also treated the audience to two numbers. Hardly able to contain himself, an overwhelmed Brother JoJo began right away: “You all just don’t know how excited I am. God be praised! All honor and all glory belongs to God….My heart is rejoicing. I want to say to the saints of God, keep your hands in God’s hand, and don’t give up. Listen carefully.” Straightway, he strummed opening chords on his guitar, awaiting Luster’s mellow interpretation of “Don’t Give Up.” From there, the audience rose to its feet on the brisk-paced “Rapture,” with Thompson and Brother JoJo taking turns with the lead vocals. The first verse, “some sweet day,” ended with a signature gesture: Brother JoJo swinging his guitar into the heavens.Second photo: Darrell Luster sings “Every Promise in the Book is Mine.”
Third photo: The Gales render “Don’t Give Up” for the audience.
Lucy Inman talks about compiling a press kit for the Nightingales that caught the attention of then-newspaper reporter Billy Warden (right), led to a front page feature on Brother JoJo, and resulted in Inman and Warden’s courtship and marriage.
The Hillian Sisters perform “All of These Years.”
John Thorpe serenades Brother JoJo with Luther Barnes’ “It’s Your Time.”
Seated at the keyboard, Libra Nicole Boyd cues in lead singer Bernard Thorpe and New Hope Person Male Chorus on the Gales’ 1955 hit “Somewhere to Lay My Head.”
Larry Moore, Ricky Luster, and members of Tony & The Magnificent Voices enjoy a musical tribute.
Program participants Dr. Tonya Armstrong, Dr. W.E. Daye, Pastor Thomas Bannister, III, Dr. Johnny Branch, and Rev. David Bell look on as Brother JoJo is feted.
-->Twelve year-old Kaleb Robinson meets Brother JoJo--a dream come true. Kaleb sang "Face to Face" earlier in the evening. This is not just some kid who gets props for being young and cute; the boy can sing. Kaleb brought the house to its feet. I told him afterwards that I refuse to wait: I want his autograph now. Trust me when I tell you that "Kaleb Robinson" is a name you want to keep in mind. All photos by Libra Boyd
“Trouble Will Be Over”
Blest By Four
From the CD, Just Like Fire (2010)
www.mcgrecords.com
They started singing as toddlers. No one is likely to dispute that, especially once hearing Blest By Four’s close harmonies on the punchy, mid-tempo horn-laden quartet track, “Trouble Will Be Over.” It’s pretty obvious they’ve sung together enough to present a seemingly effortless blend in their live performances.
Marry the lyrical theme of Luther Barnes and the Sunset Jubilaires’ “When I Get Home” (from the Oh My Lord album) with the overall musical architecture of Williams Brothers’ tunes and the offspring is “Trouble Will Be Over.”