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“Better” – Faith Thompson

Faith Thompson_Better_cover art

“Better”
Faith Thompson (August 12, 2022)
faiththompsonsings.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

“Better” is a bop from the start. Written and performed by Faith Thompson and produced by Sam Williams, the entire four-minute feel-good groove is packed with declarations that underscore the pronouncement, “What’s coming is better than what’s been!” Faith does not spend time attempting to impress with vocal cartwheels and somersaults. Rather, she moves in lockstep with the melody, supported by her cast of background vocalists. The result is a singable uptempo song that worship teams and their congregations can enjoy together on Sunday morning.

Faith hails from Ottawa, Canada, and has been singing since the age of 12. She currently serves as the worship director at Ekklesia Kingdom Ministry Toronto.

“You Are God” – Loni Crawford

Loni Crawford_You Are God_cover art

“You Are God”
Loni Crawford (August 5, 2022)
www.iamsimplyloni.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Loni Crawford joins producer Glenn “GK” Jones and the songwriter known as Key of “E” for the single, “You Are God.”

With lyrics that emphasize the manifold attributes of God, Loni sings passionately, “My healer, protector, deliverer, provider, life-giver, comforter, creator…” as the worship song marches forward percussively. One can rarely go wrong marrying the old to the new, and Loni gets it right by incorporating a stanza of the 19th-century Judson Van DeVenter hymn “I Surrender All” into the song’s bridge.

Loni is a Detroit native who presently resides in Birmingham, AL. GMF gave its review of her single titled “Foot of the Cross,” in 2020.

37th Stellar Awards winners announced; Pastor Mike Jr. earns six

Pastor Mike Jr. won six trophies at the 37th Stellar Awards

(CHICAGO) July 19, 2022 — The Stellar Gospel Music Awards celebrated its 37th year honoring excellence in Gospel music during an uplifting weekend of events, concluding with the live-taped ceremony on Saturday, July 16, at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosted by Stellar Award-winning artists Jekalyn Carr and Kierra Sheard, this year’s celebration will premiere Sunday, August 7, at 8 PM ET/PT on BET, BET Her, and BET International and will be syndicated in various local markets across the country between August 13 and September 11, 2022.

Pastor Mike, Jr. leads the list of winners with a total of six Stellar Awards, including Artist of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Contemporary Male Artist of the Year, Contemporary Album of the Year, and Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year, as well as Album of the Year for I Got It: Single’s Ministry Vol. 1. CeCe Winans won three Stellar Awards, including Producer of the Year, Praise and Worship Album of the Year, and Praise and Worship Song of the Year, all tied to the album Believe For It. Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music received three awards for their collaboration, Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. EP, including Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, and Special Event Album of the Year.

Other notable winners during the 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards include Tamela Mann and Ricky Dillard, both of whom received two Stellar Awards, with Dillard also receiving the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award Presented by Toyota in recognition of his contributions to Gospel music as a renowned choir leader and recording artist. In addition, four-time nominee E. Dewey Smith was named Best New Artist for his 2021 album, God Period.

The 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards features showstopping performances by Kirk Franklin, Erica Campbell, Maverick City Music, Marvin Sapp, Tye Tribbett, Le’Andria Johnson, Koryn Hawthorne, Brian Courtney Wilson, Jor’Dan Armstrong, Doe, Rudy Currence, Chrisette Michele, Darrel Walls, James Fortune and more.

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards also bestows special honors to industry titans who continue creating a legacy of excellence that reaches and influences the masses, both within and outside of the Gospel genre. Six-time GRAMMY® Award-winning hitmaker and producer Aaron Lindsey received the Aretha Franklin Icon Award Presented by Aflac. Candi Staton also received the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award, an honor that reflects her career of nearly seven decades as a music pioneer and a captivating Gospel music artist.

Top nominees for this year’s ceremony included CeCe Winans, who led the field with nine nominations, followed by Pastor Mike, Jr., who received eight nominations. Tamela Mann, Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music, and Todd Dulaney all received six nominations. Kelontae Gavin received five nominations. Maverick City Music, Israel Houghton, Ricky Dillard, E. Dewey Smith, and Jason Clayborn received four nominations each.

The 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards is proud to be presented this year by AT&T Dream in Black. This year’s sponsors also include Procter & Gamble (P&G), Walmart, State Farm, Toyota, McDonald’s – Black & Positively Golden, and Aflac. The 37th Stellar Gospel Music Awards is also proud to partner with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

For additional updates, follow The Stellar Awards on social media — @thestellars on Instagram and Twitter, and Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Facebook — and check out the Stellar Awards website. The hashtag for the show is #StellarAwards.

GMF congratulates all winners and honorees, including the Triangle’s own Melissa Wade of The Light 103.9 FM, who won the Stellar Award for Gospel Announcer of the Year. You can see the entire list of this year’s winners here.

Pastor Nancy Wilson passes away

Pastor Nancy Carree Wilson

Pastor and singer Nancy Wilson has died, her family announced today. Pastor Wilson was 73 years old.

“It is with deep and profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved wife and mother, Pastor Nancy Wilson,” her husband and children announced on social media. “We are thankful to God for the impact she has made on all of our lives through her ministry of singing, preaching and intercession. We are grateful for your prayers, love and encouragement.”

Pastor Wilson, a Greensboro native, was a renowned presence in North Carolina and beyond. Her musical résumé includes recordings with Bishop Larry Trotter & Sweet Holy Spirit, Pastor Debra Morton & the Women of Excellence Choir, Men of Standard (of which her son Isaac Carree is a founding member), and others. In 2004, she released her own project, recorded live at Chicago’s Sweet Holy Spirit Church, entitled, Nancy Wilson – Designed for Worship. Additionally, Pastor Wilson was a host of the long-running weekly television program, “Gospel Expo,” which aired locally on ABC and FOX8 WGHP. In 1994, the songstress and media personality became pastor of Greensboro’s New Beginnings Community Outreach Church.

GMF extends condolences to and prayers for husband Pastor J. Teddy Wilson, children Angela, Kimberly and Isaac, and the entire family.

Pastor Nancy Wilson official death announcement

Radio execs unite to form National Association of Gospel Radio

National Association of Gospel Radio Board

(Shreveport, LA) – A group of the most influential executives in the urban inspirational and gospel music radio industry has come together to create the National Association of Gospel Radio (NAGR) with a mission to empower stations as they preserve, protect, and advance the format. The national organization’s first president, Charles Johnson aka Pastor CeJay, was elected by the board to serve as its first lead officer. Johnson is a transformative community leader and an executive with Alpha Media, which owns the historical KOKA Radio Station (72 years of existence) in Shreveport and two other gospel stations within the country. The organization is operating in a limited capacity with plans to launch fully on January 1, 2023.

“We are America’s only trade association for radio professionals working in the gospel/inspirational format,” Johnson explains. “Separately, we reach thousands of ears every day, but together we reach millions of listeners. Our membership comprises radio station programmers, management, engineers, announcers, and salespeople. We believe our existence will uphold the legacy of gospel radio and help it grow for generations to come. Our vision is to become a trusted ally and to provide a hub of resources to stations to help them expand their listening base, increase advertising, and to support music artists within the format.”

Kyle Glover, with the Reach Gospel Radio network that reaches 20 American cities and Canada, will serve as Executive Vice President of the National Association of Gospel Radio. Ju Joyner, from Virginia Beach’s Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting concern, will be Vice President of Finance. Fred Harris, of Salem Media Group which reaches nearly 40 USA media markets, will be Vice President of Marketing & Promotions. The leadership is rounded out by board members: Dr. Sctonda Kelly Gordon, Program Director with Eternity Media Group in Augusta, GA; Chris Squire, Senior Vice President of Sales with iHeart Media, the largest radio corporation in America; and Ron Thompson, Program Director with Radio One (the largest urban radio corporation in America) in Washington, D.C.

R.I.P. David ‘Ready Writa’ Felder of Half Mile Home

David "Ready Writa" Felder of the popular gospel group Half Mile Home unexpectedly passed away on July 3rd at the age of 42.

David “Ready Writa” Felder of the popular gospel group Half Mile Home unexpectedly passed away on July 3rd at the age of 42. David was a loyal member of the Billboard chart-topping group. He was also a dedicated father of four and known throughout the industry for his talents as a writer, producer, and singer.

With their 2022 return, Half Mile Home’s latest single “Closet” has been trending in the Top 40s for several weeks on the Billboard chart. The message of “Closet” will resonate personally with the remaining group members, Todd Burton and Darryl Brownlee. The song references the prayer closet, where people of faith go into a secret place to pray and cast all their cares over situations that are bigger than them. Once they emerge from the closet they watch their faith work on the issue that was prayed about. The group members will need their closet in the coming days to stay strong and continue their work without David.

Half Mile Home and the family of David Felder request prayers as they go through this difficult time. Services will be announced in the forthcoming days. GMF extends its deepest condolences.

– From a media release

“Your Will Your Way” – Jewelstone

Jewelstone Your Will Your Way art

“Your Will Your Way”
Jewelstone
Quickening Spirit Gospel Records LLC (2021)
Available here

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

After having tried to single-handedly navigate life’s hills and valleys, Jewelstone expresses their surrender to the Almighty through the contemporary ballad, “Your Will Your Way.” 

Most likely an intentional effort to keep the focus squarely on the song’s introspective lyrics, the music to “Your Will Your Way” is largely unremarkable, save for lush string orchestrations over a repetitive minor scale progression. 

The trio of Cunningham sisters, collectively known as Jewelstone, hail from Detroit and are presently based in Pensacola, FL. The singer-songwriters debuted their first album, How Awesome, in 2012.

Earnest Pugh recovers from COVID-19, releases new music

Earnest Pugh Records “America the Beautiful” to Celebrate 4th of July and remakes
Evelyn Turrentine-Agee’s “God Did It” to Thank God for His Recovery from COVID-19

(Houston, TX) – Renowned gospel singer, Earnest Pugh, best-known for Billboard No. 1 hits such as “Rain on Us” and “I Need Your Glory,” has returned from the brink of death.

Last summer, Pugh was in a Houston area veteran’s hospital battling a severe case of COVID-19. He was on a ventilator for ten days. His oxygen level dropped to 70. His temperature crested to 102 for over a week as he developed double pneumonia. Pugh’s condition became so acute that the medical staff contemplated inducing a coma so that they could better address his issues. “My physicians said they hadn’t seen anyone with a case as bad as mine make a turnaround,” Pugh confesses. “They also feared the ventilator would harm my singing ability if, by some miracle, I did survive.”

At that juncture, Pugh’s daughter, Kira, reached out to Pastor Ralph Douglas West and the Church Without Walls church family to pray. ”I believe that made the turnaround,” Pugh adds. “After the church started praying for me, my oxygen jumped from 72 to 85 within hours. Millions didn’t make it, but I was one of the ones who did make it.”

Pugh’s recovery inspired him to remake Evelyn Turrentine-Agee’s up-tempo gospel classic, “God Did It” (P Man Music / Estabrookroad Records), as his new single. He transformed it from a quartet track to a quartet meets New Orleans brass band vamp. “Those are the three words I said when I was out of the woods,” Pugh adds. “God did it!”

The Memphis native is also expressing his appreciation to America through a soul-stirring rendition of “America the Beautiful” that releases July 1st, in time to commemorate the 4th of July holiday. The retired Army sergeant spent 15 years in the armed services.

“I’ve always had a sense of pride about America,” Pugh says. “I joined the military at the age of 18. It was simply my part to help make the world a better place. Is America perfect? Absolutely not, but I seek to magnify her best qualities. She’s my choice and my home. She’s beautiful to me.”

Quartet Music Award Winners (2022)

Quartet Music Awards logo (from Facebook)
From Facebook @theQMAs

Black quartet gospel music was celebrated in all its glory last weekend at the Quartet Music Awards (The QMAs). The inaugural event took place Saturday, June 18, at Atlanta’s Center Stage Theater with Dr. Bobby Jones and Justin Rufus as hosts.

Throughout the evening, awards were presented in 16 categories for excellence in quartet music. QMA Honors were also presented to pay homage to the legacy and contributions of the late Lee Williams (Lee Williams and The Spiritual QC’s), Tiffanie Tutu Agee (The Truthettes), George Dean (The Gospel 4), Evelyn Turrentine-Agee, Harvey Watkins, Jr. (The Canton Spirituals), Cleve Graham (The Pilgrim Jubilees), Spencer Taylor (The Highway QC’s), and the late Percy Griffin (The Swanee Quintet). 

The Quartet Music Awards was birthed from the vision of D. Chubbs Morton and Connie Birth. Morton is a songwriter, musician, and frontman for the quartet group D. Morton and Gifted. Birth is a gospel radio personality and music executive.

GMF congratulates all the inaugural QMA recipients.

Male Vocalist Of The Year
Darrel Petties

Female Vocalist Of The Year
Lisa Knowles-Smith

Mixed Quartet Of The Year
Blest By Four

Graphic Designer Of The Year
Johnathan Johnson (Merge Media)

Producer Of The Year
Ray Braswell

Radio Announcer Of The Year
James “G-Man” Guy

New Artist Of The Year
The Robinson Bunch

Label Of The Year
Malaco Records

Song Of The Year
“I Still Got Joy”
(Roy & Revelation)

Album Of The Year
Quartagious
(The Williams Singers)

Male Quartet Of The Year
Darrel Petties & Take 2

Female Quartet Of The Year
Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers

Emcee/Host Of The Year
Justin Rufus

Promoter Of The Year
Cheryl Snell

National Artist Of The Year
The Gospel Legends

2022 QMA Artist Of The Year
Men Of Prayze

CeCe Winans announces first national tour in over a decade

CeCe Winans announces concert tour for Believe For It
Photo | Kris Rae

(Los Angeles, CA) – Good things come to those who wait. It’s a timeless, unquestioned truth that’s never been more accurate than when considering the legendary CeCe Winans’ first full-length live recording, Believe For It (Pure Springs Gospel / Fair Trade Services). After almost 40 years of patiently waiting, Winans’ millions of fans around the world were blessed last year with an uplifting live worship experience that listeners have said is hard to top.

But Winans’ true fans know that exceeding expectations while surprising her audiences has been a hallmark of her incomparable career. So leave it to the 15-time Grammy winner to conceive and launch the only project that could follow the recorded album. She’s taking Believe For It on the road! 

Winans has just announced her first national tour in over a decade. Sponsored by Compassion International, the tour is stopping in 21 cities beginning in Indianapolis on September 21, and CeCe promises to bring together church, community, and friends for an amazing, highly anticipated night of worship.

“This tour is going to be amazing,” says the 15-time Grammy award-winning Winans. “I can’t wait to share this experience LIVE with everyone across the country who has supported my career for all of these years, and those who will be hearing the new album for the first time.”

During the tour, Winans will be sharing classics like “Alabaster Box,” “More Than What I Wanted,” and many other hits that have made her the best-selling and most awarded female gospel artist of all time.

And If you’ve not yet heard Winans’ new Believe For It, you should give it a listen before Winans comes to your hometown this fall. In addition to the title track, the album features fan favorites “Never Lost,” “No Greater,” and “Fire.” 

Speaking of fire, the album’s incendiary third single, “Goodness Of God,” is burning up the charts with 205+ million US streams, 148+ million video views, 110+ million TikTok views, and #1 on CCLI’s Top 100 chart (measured from over 250,000 churches’ worship services).

Transparent Productions, one of the largest producers of Christian concerts, tours, and festivals across the U.S. provides the marketing and promotion wheels behind the Believe For It Tour, partnering with Winans to ensure she connects with fans in key cities.  For ticket information and more tour details, go to www.cecewinans.com.