Earnest Pugh is ending his tenure as pastor of worship at Lighthouse Church in Houston.
“Pastor Keion Henderson and I mutually agreed that seasons have changed,” Pugh stated in a press release. “I am moving on to pursue some dreams that have laid dormant in my heart for years. Our joint efforts of laboring in the vineyard at Lighthouse have been fruitful and we believe God’s best is yet to come for all involved parties. To God be the glory for the wonderful things He has done, is doing and will do to advance the Kingdom through our lives and ministries.”
In upcoming months, Pugh will launch Vets Rock, a non-profit organization to assist women combat veterans. A vet himself, the singer is retired from 15 years of active-duty in the Army. The organization’s official launch on November 21 in Washington, DC will include an “Oh Give Thanks” concert, a Thanksgiving dinner voucher giveaway to 250 vets and their families, and a birthday gala for Pugh.
In addition to establishing Vets Rock, Pugh is reportedly beginning a 50-city tour to commemorate his journey to 50 years of life and more than 20 years in the gospel music industry.
“Let Him Work on You”
Arthur Roland
From the CD, Stepping Out of Myself (2015)
Nosmoke Records
By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever
In his self-written and self-produced toe-tapper, Arthur Roland recounts a list of frustrations common to mankind—hard times, failed plans, and bad news. Then, he urges, “Turn ya life over to Jesus; let Him work on you!”
“Let Him Work on You” is from Roland’s CD Stepping Out of Myself, inspired by the Michael Brown incident.
In 2014, Roland, a 30-year industry veteran, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as a member of Lucille Pope and the Pearly Gates.
“Author”
Latice Crawford
From the upcoming project, Diary of a Church Girl (Available 2016)
Available at iTunes
By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever
Hearing Latice Crawford intertwine the lyrics and melody of her current single “Author” is like reading, or listening to, an aural diary.
“Author, please write me better / Potter, mold me better,” she sings.
The fact is, intimately and steadily, Latice delivers the same impressive, impassioned vocal that landed her in the top three on BET Sunday Best 2.
“Author” is the second single from Latice’s forthcoming project, Diary of a Church Girl.
By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever
The music industry mourns the passing of gospel vocalist extraordinaire, Daryl Coley, who made his earthly transition Tuesday night, March 15, after several years of health challenges. He was 60 years old. You can read more about Coley’s career and passing from the DC Gospel Music Examiner’s Sarah Hearn here.
Many considered Coley’s vocal artistry to be unparalleled. Erica Campbell, Micah Stampley, Ted Winn, DeWayne Woods, and Anita Wilson are just a handful who name him among their influences.
Homegoing information as released by the family is as follows:
Once the news of Coley’s passing was confirmed last week, after the earlier circulation of false reports, industry contemporaries and protégés flooded social media with remembrances.
Please join GMF in continuing to pray for the family of one of the great voices of our time.
— Ruben Studdard (@RubenStuddard) March 16, 2016
One of the greatest vocalists ever! He will be missed. Praying for his family. #DarylColeyhttps://t.co/5QSGkq7vvp— Smokie Norful (@smokienorful) March 16, 2016
We’ve lost one of the greatest men to ever sing #Gospel Music: #DarylColey! Please keep his family in your prayers! https://t.co/7sVmalKNve— Kurt Carr (@TheKurtCarr) March 16, 2016
An Amazing Artist and Phenomenal Vocalist. You will truly be missed. Love you Darryl Coley! R.I.P.
Posted by Dorinda Clark-Cole on Wednesday, March 16, 2016
I was 24 years old and got a call from Daryl Coley. I knew him very well because Daryl was the one who gave my demo to…
Posted by Kirk Franklin on Wednesday, March 16, 2016
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| “Midge” (C) with (L to R) Melvin & Doug Williams. | From YouTube |
By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever
GMF extends its sympathy in the passing of musician/writer/producer, Terrell “Midge” Gatlin, formerly of the Williams Brothers and the Christianaires. Gatlin died in an apparent drowning in Mississippi. As of Wednesday morning, March 16, Pike County authorities were uncertain whether the incident occurred Monday night or Tuesday morning.
In addition to his tenures with the Williams Brothers and Christianaires, Gatlin’s work is featured on projects by the Truthettes, Doug Williams, Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes, the Jackson Southernaires, the Angelic Gospel Singers, and others.
Please join us in prayer for the family and friends during this difficult time.
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| From Lea Funeral Home Website |
By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever
NC’s gospel music community mourns the passing of Edward “Ed” William Hall, Jr., veteran gospel singer and former radio announcer for Raleigh’s WSHA radio station. Hall died Monday, March 14, at the age of 86.
I first experienced Hall’s traditional gospel style and engaging personality in the 1980s, during his weekly television appearances with the Wesleyan TV Choir on WRAL’s Spiritual Awakening gospel music program. Hall was a frequent featured soloist with the choir, led by Sandra Byrd, who also served as the show’s host. In addition, Hall sang with the Sensational Evening Five for a number of years.
GMF extends sincerest condolences to Brother Hall’s family and friends.
Arrangements are as follows:
Visitation
Saturday, March 19, 2016
11AM – 12PM
Upper Room COGIC
3300 Idlewood Village Drive
Raleigh, NC
Funeral
12 PM, immediately following visitation
Interment
Montlawn Cemetery
Raleigh, NC
(Bloomington, IN) Jacquie Gales Webb, an award-winning radio/television producer and gospel music announcer, has selected Indiana University’s Archives of African American Music and Culture (AAAMC) as the repository for her collected papers and an array of production materials related to her career. The collection will provide an invaluable resource for scholarly research and course development on Black-oriented radio, radio documentary production, media history, African American music—including gospel and jazz—as well as broader issues on music, mass communication and culture.
On March 9, Gales Webb will visit the IU campus to present a free public lecture in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center’s Grand Hall at 4 PM. The lecture will be followed by a reception honoring her distinguished career and celebrating the establishment of the Jacquie Gales Webb Collection.
An exhibit currently on display through March 11, in the Neal-Marshall’s Bridgwaters Lounge provides an overview of Gales Webb’s career as well as the history of Black radio. As producer of the groundbreaking 1996 Smithsonian radio series, “Black Radio: Telling It Like It Was,” Webb was among the first to explore the history and development of Black-oriented radio through interviews with pioneering disc jockeys, producers, radio station executives and recording artists.
On March 7, a publicly accessible online multi-media exhibit celebrating Gales Webb’s career was added to the AAAMC’s website (aaamc.indiana.edu). Drawing upon materials in the Jacquie Gales Webb Collection, the exhibit includes many images of her work within radio, the gospel music industry, and the Washington, D.C. community.
The Jacquie Gales Webb Collection was also the source of many items used in the AAAMC’s online multi-media exhibit, “The Golden Age of Black Radio,” which debuted February 1 on the Google Cultural Institute website. Included are audio clips of interviews conducted by Gales Webb with Black radio pioneers, many available to the public for the first time. Following the format of Gales Webb’s Black Radio series, the four-part exhibit traces the birth of Black-oriented radio in Chicago, the role of radio during the Civil Rights Movement, women in radio, and the role of personality deejays in “breaking the hits” and promoting Black music and artists. The AAAMC was one of 50 institutions invited to partner with Google to celebrate Black History Month by curating new online exhibits. Gales Webb has hosted the number one “Sunday Afternoon Gospel” music program in Washington, D.C. since 1990 on 96.3 WHUR.
From Bill Carpenter
