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"I Love to Praise Him" – Mississippi Mass Choir

“I Love to Praise Him”
Mississippi Mass Choir
From the CD, Then Sings My Soul (2011)
http://www.mississippimass.com

By Libra Boyd, Editor in Chief

Mississippi Mass Choir and Mosie “Mama” Burks don’t believe in messing up a good thing.  The choir’s popular silver-haired lead vocalist has become known for putting her spin on hit songs of yesteryear written by the likes of Dorothy Love Coates (“Holding On” and “They Got the Word [City Built Foursquare]”), Inez Andrews (“I’m Not Tired Yet”), and others.  Rev. Milton Biggham’s arrangement of the late Rev. Jessy Dixon’s “I Love to Praise His Name” is about as appropriate as any to continue the trend.

This hand-clapper adheres to the pattern of Mama Burks’ other high-speed classics: a big brass section, a rocking choir, and a spirited frontwoman with vigor and vibrato.

GMF editor spotlights the Clark Sisters in Sister 2 Sister magazine

GMF founder and editor Libra Boyd is a contributing writer to the November 2011 installment of Sister 2 Sister magazine.  The issue features gospel’s dynamic Clark Sisters and the continuing legacy begun by their matriarch, phenomenal musician, writer, and choir director Dr. Mattie Moss Clark.
Sister 2 Sister is a black entertainment and lifestyle magazine covering today’s hottest stars, in addition to tips on home, health, beauty and self improvement.
A preview of the November issue is currently online at: http://www.s2smagazine.com/magazine. 

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.

"Dr. Maggie Ingram is in the building!"

 
 
Today has been a memorable one for Evangelist Maggie Ingram.  This morning, a Richmond, VA seminary conferred upon the 81 year-old down-home singer the Honorary Doctorate of Music degree.  Tonight, the silver-haired fireball and her blazing group, the Ingramettes, added Holy Ghost fuel to the fire that was burning at White Rock Baptist Church’s homecoming kickoff service in Oxford, NC.
 
The high-energy quartet showstoppers were not only in the house, but right at home, keeping the capacity crowd and host pastor Steven Hargrove on their feet with a mix of old and new numbers, including “When Jesus Comes,” “Like A Ship,” “Family Prayer,” and “Standing on the Promises.”

 

Related Story
Sizzlin’ This Week (6/27/11) – “Like A Ship”

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.