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Desmond Pringle’s ‘Get Us Through’ single honors victims of Charleston church shootings

Desmond Pringle has a personal connection to Charleston, SC and the historic “Mother Emanuel” AME Church. The gospel singer and songwriter grew up less than a mile from the church where nine people were murdered during Bible study on June 17, 2015. Three attendees survived, including the pastor’s wife and daughter who hid.


Pringle remembers that horrific day and the national dialogue that followed concerning racism, hate crimes, and the symbolism of the Confederate flag. Exactly one year since the tragedy, he is releasing a new single, “Get Us Through,” to pay tribute to the victims and to send a message of hope and uplift to others who have been impacted by devastating events.



In a press release, Pringle shared his reaction to what has become known as the Charleston Church Massacre. He recalled, 

It
was very personal. As I watched the news, I am seeing places that
are very familiar to me–every street sign and every landmark. One of the
ladies who was killed was the wife of the pastor at the church I grew up in. I
sang at Emanuel AME just a few months prior and had been in talks with Rev. Senator
Clementa Pinckney (Emanuel AME’s pastor who was also killed) to come back and
do a concert there. It was crazy.


As
I watched the reports, I just sang to myself, ‘Get us through, Lord, Oh get us
through.’ And there the song was. It came very organically.

On June 25, Pringle will headline a gospel concert at Mother Emanuel. The concert starts at 6 PM, and will culminate a week and a half of events taking place in the city to mark the anniversary of the shootings.
“Get Us Through” will be released June 17 and will be available on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, and other digital platforms.

PJ Morton presents urban inspirational artist JoJo Martin on Morton Records

New Orleans (LA)  Maroon 5’s PJ Morton is excited to present JoJo as the latest signing to his newly formed record label, Morton Records. JoJo’s debut radio single “Run On” will soon hit multiple radio formats.

“’Run On’ is a very personal single release for me,” says Morton. “JoJo has sung background for me and toured with me for ten plus years. His support over the years not only to me but the likes of Fred Hammond has been amazing. I’m excited for the masses to hear what I’ve been fortunate to hear for years. JoJo’s voice is truly special.”

“‘Run On’ is a song that speaks to every part of you and whatever situation you may face,” JoJo says. “It helps you to know that nothing is too big or too devastating that you can’t just pick up and press forward–‘Run On!’ I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a modern day, God ordained movement called Morton Records! I believe this was all a part of God not only connecting me to PJ and his family, but giving me the discipline to stay and fully support another man’s dream for so many years! It’s only because I was faithful to his dream, that God gave him to idea to turn around to make my dreams come true.”

JoJo was born Josiah Martin on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.  The son of a church pastor, he is the youngest of five boys. He began to sing at the age of four and by the age of seven, he was traveling around California singing at musicals and performing sermonic selections before his father preached. Later on, he and his siblings traveled and performed together as The Martin Boys. With some direction from his mother, a trained vocal instructor, JoJo began to develop as a soloist and ended up as a finalist for the NAACP ACT-SO Competition in Houston. He eventually sang lead on “Just Praise Him” and “So Good” with Joe Pace and The Colorado Mass Choir. It was during this time that JoJo discovered he wanted to make music his primary focus.

JoJo traveled the country with a musical stage play called, “The Rock and The Rabbi,” and has also had the opportunity to share the stage with Tyrese, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Maroon 5, PJ Morton, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr., Mary Mary, Frank McComb, Tweet, Dave Hollister and others.


– From Bill Carpenter

2016 BET Award nominees announced; Gospel category renamed to honor Dr. Bobby Jones

Clockwise from top left: Campbell, Lecrae, Brown, Franklin, Mann, and Cobbs

Congratulations to this year’s BET Awards gospel nominees. 

Finalists for the newly named Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award (formerly called the Best Gospel Artist Award) are Erica Campbell, Lecrae, Anthony Brown and group therAPy, Kirk Franklin, Tamela Mann, and Tasha Cobbs.

You can view the complete list here.

The show will take place at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on June 26, 2016, at 8 PM ET and will be broadcast live on BET.

Franklin sweeps gospel categories at Billboard Music Awards

By Libra Boyd 
Gospel Music Fever

Kirk Franklin walked with not one, but all three of the awards for which he was nominated at this year’s Billboard Music Awards.  The ceremony took place Sunday evening (May 22) in Las Vegas and aired live on ABC.  Kirk won in the categories of Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Album (Losing My Religion), and Top Gospel Song (“Wanna Be Happy?”).

The gospel luminary is currently enjoying the success of his “Twenty Years in One Night” World Tour–which commemorates his tenure in the music industry with songs he recorded across the span of his two decade career.

The complete list of Billboard Music Award winners is available here.

R.I.P. Wilbert Williams, former member of the Clouds, manager for the Mighty Sanfordaires

Mighty Clouds of Joy

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

The gospel quartet music community mourns the passing of Wilbert Lee Williams (pictured far left), who died May 14, 2016.  He was 57.  

Williams was a former member of the Mighty Clouds of Joy.  He is featured on the group’s albums Power, Live in Charleston, Together as One, and Gospel Legacy.  

Williams was also a lead singer for the Mighty Sanfordaires, whose projects include Fire and Pick Me Up. The Sanfordaires celebrated their 49th singing anniversary this past Sunday, just one day after Williams made his transition.  The event easily turned into a bittersweet tribute to the group’s longtime frontman and manager.

The funeral service is scheduled for Thursday, May 19, at 3 PM, at Works for Christ Christian Center, 1395 Fire Tower Road, in Sanford, NC.

GMF remembers Rufus Poole; benefit musical still set for May 22

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever 

Homegoing services were held in Durham on Thursday, May 5, 2016, for Rufus Poole, lead singer of the New Stars of Faith.  Poole transitioned April 30.  He was 80 years old.  

Rufus Poole pictured with the New Stars of Faith

I recall one particular occasion almost exactly one year ago when Poole and the New Stars of Faith ministered at New Hope Person Baptist Church in Timberlake.  That evening, I sat on the front pew, no more than four feet from him, as he himself sat in a metal folding chair with his group of singers standing beside him.  With the assistance of oxygen, he sat in that chair tapping his knee and occasionally leaning forward—all while singing under the power of God.  I watched, listened, clapped, and swayed, realizing in that moment that I was witnessing something very special.  Poole did not use vocal acrobatics or any other techniques common to quartet music showmanship.  Simply put, his straightforward, unhurried approach to a gospel song and his manner of delivery were both unique and inimitable.

This Sunday, May 22, Teresa Caviness and Fula Wilds will host the New Stars of Faith benefit musical program at W.A.I.T.T. Outreach Ministries, Inc., 2206 Harvard Avenue in Durham.  Scheduled to sing are The Dowdy Boys of Pittsboro, The Inspirations of Oxford, Shirley McCaden and Company of Henderson, and others.  Poole personally invited many of the groups slated to appear there.  The program starts at 3 PM.

Sensational Nightingales to give free live concert in Burlington – May 19

Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 19, 2016.  The Sensational Nightingales will appear live in concert at the Allred New Mission Baptist Church.  The service begins at 7:30 PM, and the church is located at 244 Kerr Chapel Road in Burlington, NC.

Admission is free, and a love offering will be received.

The service, hosted by James Dixon and Pastor Jimmy Richmond, also features gospel singer Evangelist Barbara Dixon.

Brown, Franklin earn triple Billboard Award nominations

Brown

Congratulations to this year’s finalists for the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.  

Stellar Award history-maker Anthony Brown and group therAPy and Kirk Franklin earned noms in each gospel category–Top Gospel Artist, Top Gospel Album, and Top Gospel Song. 

Tasha Cobbs, Travis Greene, and Marvin Sapp each earned two noms.  Johnathan McReynolds, Erica Campbell, and Brian Courtney Wilson also landed one nomination each.


You can view the complete list here.

The show will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 22, 2016, at 8 PM ET and will be broadcast live on ABC.

Tye Tribbett named host of new BET Sunday morning inspirational show

(New York, NY)   BET Networks has announced the new programming that’s heading to its
network of stations which includes BET and Centric. The announcement
came at its annual Upfront presentation last week, with a commitment to
offer more original programming than ever before. It was announced that two-time GRAMMY®, Soul Train, Dove, and Stellar Award winning
recording artist Tye Tribbett has been tapped to host the network’s new Sunday morning inspirational series Joyful Noise.

Tribbett states, “I
have not stopped smiling and dancing since I received the news! I am
beyond honored to be continuing such a monumental legacy as new host of
BET’s Sunday
morning inspirational show Joyful Noise. Dr. Bobby Jones has laid an
INCREDIBLE foundation and I’m so ready to continue to BUILD. All I have
to say is LET’S GOOOOOO!”

The
hour-long show will feature a blend of performances from today’s gospel
super stars, rising new artists, powerful personal testimonies, and
insightful man-on-the-street interviews. In addition to a variety of
musical performances, each show will also feature a power-filled
sermonette by one of the nation’s leading pastors. Finally, Joyful Noise will showcase amazing local churches from around the nation, giving
viewers the opportunity to get their hometown church featured on the
show.

In
addition to Tribbett’s new hosting job, the radical singer, songwriter,
and preacher who’s known for his edgy and energetic live performances is
also preparing for his next live recording. The session, titled A Bloody Win, will take place on Friday May 6, at The Redemption Center in Greenville, SC beginning at 7 PM ET. The recording is free and open to the public.
 From the J. Hardy Agency