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Deon Kipping announces cancer diagnosis, requests prayers

Gospel singer Deon Kipping took to social media Tuesday (Jan. 17) to announce that he has been diagnosed with stage three cancer and to ask for prayer.


In a video message, he told supporters, “The good news is God is my healer, and I know He has it all under control.”  Deon said he plans to share progress updates via his social media pages.


The singer/songwriter’s announcement comes on the heels of his newly released album, Something to Talk About (RCA Inspiration).


GMF joins a host of well wishers in praying for Deon and his family.

Musician Ivan Powell, Sr. passes on [Arrangements Added]

Arrangements graphic



By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Singer/songwriter/producer/musician Ivan Powell, Sr. passed away today (January 18), at the age of 50. Remembrances flooded social media as the news circulated this afternoon.

 
A chance meeting with John P. Kee at the Stellar Awards in the early 90s resulted in Powell accepting the position of music director with the New Life Community Choir a few years later. He is the featured singer with Kee on “Stand.”  Powell is also noted for his work with Karen Clark Sheard, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Ron Winans, nephew Doobie Powell, and many more. 


Our prayers of comfort are with the Powell family, friends, colleagues, and protégés.

2017 Stellar Award nominees announced; Greene, Mann lead with nine each

CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ – Central City Productions has announced the nominees in 26 categories for the 2017 Stellar Awards.  Hailed as an “epic night in gospel music,” this year’s Stellar Awards will return to the Las Vegas Orleans Arena on Saturday, March 25, 2017.  The telecast will premiere on TV One Sunday, April 9 at 7 PM ET with encores at 9 PM and 11 PM ET.  In addition, the Stellar Awards will air in national broadcast syndication on 170 stations in over 150 markets around the country April 14 – May 7, 2017.


Praise and worship breakthrough artist Travis Greene and chart-topping soloist Tamela Mann lead the nominations with nine each.  Greene is having an amazing year, in the running for both Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year, for his work on The Hill (RCA Inspiration). This inspirational psalmist is also nominated for CD of the Year, Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary CD of the Year, and Praise and Worship CD of the Year.


Gospel superstar Tamela Mann joins Greene on the Stellar Awards nominee leader board, nominated this year for Artist of the Year, Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year, and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year.  She is also competing for CD of the Year, Producer of the Year, Song of the Year, and Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year.


With seven and six nominations respectively, veterans Hezekiah Walker and Kirk Franklin demonstrate their staying power in gospel music, recognized for Male Vocalist of the Year, Choir of the Year, Contemporary Choir of the Year, and Contemporary Male of the Year for their projects Azusa The Next Generation 2: Better (Walker/EOne Music) and Losing My Religion (Franklin/RCA Records).  Franklin also receives a nod for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, CD of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Contemporary CD of the Year.   


Jekalyn Carr, nominated for Artist of the Year, and Todd Dulaney, nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, CD of the Year, and Contemporary CD of the Year, are in contention for Praise and Worship CD of the Year. Other artists earning multiple nominations include newcomers Bri (Brianna Babineaux), Livre’, and Enon Tabernacle, and living legend Shirley Caesar.  For more information visit www.thestellarawards.com and to view the complete list of nominees click here. 


Multiple Stellar Award- and Grammy Award-winning solo artist, nationally-syndicated radio host and television personality Erica Campbell joins multiple Stellar Award winner, songwriter and arranger Anthony Brown to co-host the 32nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.


Don Jackson, Founder of the Stellar Awards and Chairman of Central City Productions, Inc. commented, “Our 2017 nominees represent the strongest group of gospel artists and songs in our 32-year history of the Stellar Awards.  This year’s large number of artists who are first-time nominees is a positive testament to the new and upcoming artists in gospel music, as well as a reflection of the tremendous growth of the gospel music genre.”


Mr. Jackson further stated, “The announcement of the 2017 nominees corresponds with the launch of www.stellartv.com, the first phase of the Stellar TV Cable Television Network, which will be officially introduced during the taping at the 32nd Annual Stellar Awards on March 25, 2017.”


The Stellar Gospel Music Awards Pre-Show is scheduled for Friday, March 24, to showcase non-televised award winners.  Also, the Stellar Gospel Radio Awards & Showcase will be held on Saturday, March 25, honoring top radio stations and announcers serving urban gospel music audiences.  The Stellar Awards show taping is open to the public, with ticket prices ranging from $50 -$200 and tickets for each event can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com. 

"We Praise You" – Northern Delaware Chapter GMWA Recording Choir

“We Praise You”
Northern Delaware Chapter GMWA Recording Choir
From the CD, God Be Glorified (2016)
 
Northern Delaware Chapter GMWA Recording Choir cover artBy Libra Boyd
 

“We Praise You” is the lively single from the Northern Delaware Chapter GMWA Recording Choir’s project, God Be Glorified.

It doesn’t take long to hear the choir handing out a lot of what we’ve been missing as a result of choir music’s diminishing radio presence: robust, bold, dynamic section harmonies; crisp hand-clapping; prominent organ and piano riffs; and the overall “Sunday morning” vibe.

Minister Wayne E. Carter, Sr. leads the Northern Delaware GMWA chapter and choir and is the project’s executive producer. 

“I Believe (Gospel Remix)” – Michael Stosic feat. Gordon Chambers

“I Believe (Gospel Remix)”
Michael Stosic feat. Gordon Chambers (2016)
Available at iTunes

"I Believe (Gospel Remix)" - Michael Stosic feat. Gordon Chambers art workBy Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Singer/songwriter Michael Stosic has released a gospel-tinged remix of the Christian adult contemporary single, “I Believe.”

In his self-penned tune, Stosic – whose voice has been compared to Barry Manilow – steadily and melodically makes his way through a lyrical list of affirmations, both positive and poignant: “I believe in God…I believe He is love… / I believe we live in a world filled with darkness / I believe we can shine love’s light…”  His message is accentuated in the chorus, where Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Gordon Chambers (Yolanda Adams, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Usher) chimes in on the lead vocals.  Background singers Rasul A-Salaam, Cassondra James Kellam, Helen White, and Monet Ulerio celestially echo Stosic and Chambers’ sentiments: “I believe in love.”

Fortune thankful for prayers following four-car wreck involving drunk driver

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

James Fortune says he is sore but blessed to be alive after a four-car accident involving a drunk driver.

Just last week, a photo was posted to Fortune’s Instagram account along with an urgent request for prayer.  According to the caption, he was en route to church when struck by the drunk driver.  In the photo, Fortune appeared to be on a gurney but was responsive.

The next day, he took to Instagram from his home to thank his supporters for their prayers, adding, “If the enemy’s trying to kill me this early in the year, he gave me a notification that God’s getting ready to do something great in 2017!”

Prayers and well wishes continue to pour in for Cory "CoCo Brother" Condrey

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


Prayers have been lifted for media personality/pastor, Cory “CoCo Brother” Condrey, ever since the news broke of his involvement in a horrific head-on collision last month.  In the Periscope update that soon followed, his wife, Joann Rosario-Condrey, disclosed that he sustained several breaks and injuries.


Media sources initially reported the head-on collision was near fatal. Yesterday, Cory, who is recovering, tweeted the tragic news that the man who hit him has now passed on.  Prayers and well wishes continue to flood social media as Cory shares his journey to recovery with his supporters. 


If his face or name is familiar, then you probably recognize Cory as the former host of BET’s Lift Every Voice or as the voice of radio shows “The Spirit” and “CoCo Brother Live: The Weekend.”  He and Joann are pastors of RainFire Church Maranatha in Douglasville, GA.

Caesar to be honored with Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Photo Courtesy of eOne Music

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


The Recording Academy announced today (Dec. 19) that Shirley Caesar is the recipient of one of the seven 2017 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards bestowed by the Academy.  Other Lifetime Achievement Awardees are jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, country singers Charley Pride and Jimmie Rodgers, vocalist Nina Simone, musician/songwriter Sly Stone, and rock band The Velvet Underground. 


According to a press release from The Recording Academy, “The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates performers who have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording, while the Trustees Award honors contributions in areas other than performance. The recipients are determined by vote of The Recording Academy’s National Board of Trustees. Technical GRAMMY Award recipients are voted on by The Academy’s Producers & Engineers Wing® Advisory Council and Chapter Committees, and are ratified by The Academy’s Trustees. The award is presented to individuals and/or companies who have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording industry.”
Of Pastor Shirley Caesar, The Recording Academy writes, 

A deeply spiritual and affecting gospel singer, Shirley Caesar’s emotive vocal talents were discovered in a church choir when she was 10 years old. She is arguably best known for her eight-year tenure with the Chicago-based gospel group the Caravans, whom she joined after appealing to Albertina Walker to sing a solo with the group. Electing to pursue a solo career in 1966 alongside her own choir, the Caesar Singers, she subsequently carved out a profile that earned her the title of First Lady of Gospel Music. Caesar’s roll call of achievements includes 11 GRAMMY Awards®, 14 Stellar awards, 15 Dove awards, a NAACP Image Award, a Soul Train Music Award, and two current 59th GRAMMY nominations.

Caesar, 78, has enjoyed a highly successful 2016 that, in addition to the GRAMMY nominations for her Billboard chart-topping album Fill This House, has included a number one spot on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart for “Hold My Mule” (as result of the viral Internet success of the “U Name It” Challenge featuring a portion of the sermonette), and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"This Christmas" – Joshua Rogers

“This Christmas”
Joshua Rogers (2016)
Mixed Bag Entertainment
http://www.thejoshuarogers.us

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Certain Christmas songs put you in the holiday spirit from the opening note.  Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” is one of them. Forty-six years following its original release, Joshua Rogers delivers a cover of the R&B/soul classic.

Rogers, who became the youngest person and first male to win BET’s Sunday Best, chooses an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to “This Christmas.”  The gospel sensation‘s sage decision underscores his facility for traversing music genres and pays tribute to Hathaway’s creative genius.

Rogers is gearing up to drop a new album in summer 2017.