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“I Shall Wear A Crown” – YaLonda Lolar-Johnson

“I Shall Wear A Crown”
YaLonda Lolar-Johnson (2015)
Available at iTunes
YaLonda Lolar-Johnson art work

By Libra Boyd 
Gospel Music Fever

She describes herself as a soprano, but YaLonda Lolar-Johnson makes effective use of her alto register with her jazzy arrangement of “I Shall Wear A Crown,” popularized by the late Thomas Whitfield.

YaLonda’s satin vocal performance is complemented by equally polished accompaniment: silken background vocals, expressive horns—which feature a sax solo, and mellow jazz organ voicings.

YaLonda is a native of Saint Paul, MN.  Her EP, Exodus, is scheduled to be released sometime this year. 

Anthony Brown wins huge at 31st Stellar Awards

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Ask Anthony Brown about his weekend, and you may well hear just how stellar it was.  The singer/songwriter/producer and his aggregation, group therAPy, won every category in which they were nominated, including Song of the Year for “Worth” (from the CD, Everyday Jesus).

That’s ten Stellar Awards.

Charles Jenkins and Fellowship Chicago also had a great weekend, taking home four awards, including one for Choir of the Year.

Check out the list of winners and honorees at uGospel.com.  The awards show will be televised March 6, 2016, on TVOne.

Herbert "Pee Wee" Pickard, well-known accompanist, has died

Photo | YouTube

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


Jordan Phillips informed GMF that Herbert “Pee Wee” Pickard of Detroit, noted accompanist for James Cleveland and the Voices of Tabernacle, the Gospel Harmonettes, and others, passed away today (February 19). 


Pickard was a musical prodigy who grew up in a religious and musical household.  His father was a COGIC pastor and his mother and older sister were pianists.  According to gospel music historian Opal Nations, as a teen Pickard toured with Professor Alex Bradford and Brother Joe May.  During his tenure with May, he grabbed the attention of Evelyn Hardy, pianist for the Gospel Harmonettes.  In the early 1950s, when Hardy decided to leave the group to resume her career as a public school educator, Pickard became the group’s pianist (and later, the organist).

In 1968, the Savoy label released Soul Piano, an album of instrumental solos by Pickard.  In the late 1970s, he recorded again on the Savoy label; this time with his group, the Pickard Singers.

Several musicians, including gospel artist Richard Smallwood, have acknowledged Pickard’s influence on them.  About a year ago, Smallwood took to social media to share his appreciation and admiration publicly.  He wrote,

I remember as a young teen trying to emulate everything I heard on
record as he played for James Cleveland, The Angelic Choir, The Voices
of Tabernacle of Detroit and so many others.  Much love and respect to
you Pee Wee for being my inspiration.  Listening to you and studying you
pushed me to do things out of the box as a young kid.  I stand on your
shoulders.  You will never know how much I appreciate and admire you!  I
am because of you.

A funeral will not be held, as Pickard did not want one, according to his family.  Plans for a memorial musical tribute in March, the month of his 82nd birthday, are underway.  The date will be announced later.

Please join GMF in prayer for the family, friends, and fans of another soldier who has gone home. 

Gospel winners announced at the 58th Grammy Awards

Congratulations
to the gospel winners at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, announced last
evening (February 15, 2016) in Los Angeles. 

Best Gospel Performance/Song 
“Wanna Be Happy?” – Kirk Franklin
Written by Kirk Franklin

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“Holy Spirit” – Francesca Battistelli
From the album, If We’re Honest (Deluxe Edition)

Best Gospel Album
Covered Alive in Asia [Live] – Israel & New Breed

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
This is Not a Test – Tobymac

Best Roots Gospel Album
Still Rockin’ My Soul – The Fairfield Four

Arrangements for LaTonya Williams Pittman, Daughter of Melvin Williams

(McComb, MS)  The Williams family regrets to announce the passing of LaTonya Williams Pittman, daughter of Melvin Williams (The Williams Brothers) of Smithdale, MS.  She passed away unexpectedly at their home on Friday, January 29, at the young age of 35 years old.  Ms. Pittman was a licensed cosmetologist, an advocate for the Sickle Cell disease, and she loved to sing as well as write music.
 

LaTonya leaves to cherish her memory her husband of nine years, Robert Pittman; two daughters, Jaleona and Ariana Pittman; parents, Melvin Williams and Donnice Jenkins; dear friend, Bridget Fleury; and a host of uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, extended family, and friends.



LaTonya Williams Pittman’s homegoing service is as follows:
 

Thursday, February 4,  2016

Visitation
 at 11 AM
Service at Noon

East Fernwood Baptist Church

3176 Fernwood Road

McComb, MS 39648


Services are entrusted to Craft Funeral Home, located at 210 Martin Luther King Drive
, McComb, MS 39648. 
 Please send all flowers, cards, and expressions of condolence to Craft Funeral Home
.

GMF extends heartfelt sympathy to LaTonya’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Dottie Peoples and family mourn passing of matriarch, Althea Milton

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF offers sincere condolences to Dottie Peoples and family in the passing of her mother, Althea Milton, who transitioned January 21, 2016.  She was 85 years old.

Many remember Mother Milton’s appearance on her daughter’s album, God Can & God Will. She was featured with Dottie on “Oh What A Time.”

Arrangements are entrusted to Willie A. Watkins Riverdale Chapel and Wright and Young Funeral Home of Miami.

Reuben (Bill) Cooper, original member of the Cooper Four, makes transition

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Reuben (Bill) Cooper, original member of the Cooper Four, passed yesterday (January 12), after an extended period of declining health.  He was 87 years old.


The Cooper Four’s brand of folksy traditional gospel, minimal musical accompaniment (often only guitar), and notably deep voices made the sibling foursome–Bill along with Walter, Maria (d. 1996), and Bill’s twin sister Ruth–a regional favorite at the peak of their popularity. 


The group began singing in their rural Hillsborough, NC home in 1935.  In 1954, they began singing live weekly on Durham’s first all-Black radio station, WSRC.  As of 2011, the group could still be heard live each week on WRJD radio in Durham.


The Cooper Four’s early 1960s vinyl single, featuring “This May Be My Last Time” and “Stay in the Field Until the War is Ended” still receives occasional airplay.


GMF extends condolences to Bill’s wife Ella, daughter Rubena, grandchildren, siblings, and host of family members and friends.  He will be remembered fondly.

Rest in peace, Otis Clay

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF extends heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Otis Clay.  Remembrances flooded social media in the hours following the soulful multi-genre singer’s unexpected passing on Friday evening, January 8.

His cover of Thomas Dorsey’s “When the Gates Swing Open” became the definitive version for me as well as many traditional gospel music lovers.


Read Howard Reich’s article on Clay’s career and legacy here: Chicago Tribune | Chicago soul legend Otis Clay dead at 73