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R.I.P. Edward "Eddie" Huffman, formerly of the Soul Stirrers

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

GMF is sad to learn of the recent passing of Edward “Eddie” Huffman, Sr., former frontman for the Soul Stirrers. Huffman died May 13, at age 71.

Huffman joined the Soul Stirrers in 1973 and led some of the group’s popular numbers, including “Lord, Remember Me.” In 2000, he co-organized a quartet called the Soul Savers. A later reorganization of the group led to the release of the traditional gospel quartet album, Testimony, in 2004.

A homegoing service was held May 28, at Divine Mortuary in Lithonia, GA.  Our condolences are extended to the Huffman family during this difficult time.

Photo Credit | Facebook Profile of Edward Huffman, Sr.

"On My Journey" – Clarice Hall

“On My Journey”
Clarice Hall (2015)
www.msreecie.com

Clarice Hall - On My Journey - art work

Clarice Hall’s vocals are soulful and crisp—a lovely complement to the contemporary gospel styling of her mid-tempo single, “On My Journey.”

And just when her skillful yet unforced riffs get your head bobbing, she pays tribute to the old school with a turn of phrase (“Church folks sing it like this, y’all…”) that segues into a 20-second a cappella interlude.

Clarice’s vocal flair reaches across the genres of gospel, jazz, and R&B, and her music résumé includes performances with heavyweights in each genre.

Clarice is a native of Raleigh and a member of Word Empowerment Church in Durham.  She concurrently serves as minister of music at Durham’s Mt. Olive AME Zion Church.

"Breakthrough" – Half Mile Home

Half Mile Home - Breakthough art work“Breakthrough”
Half Mile Home (2015)
www.halfmilehome.com
Church Boy Muzik

Half Mile Home’s inspirational hard handclap track, “Breakthrough,” drives home an important message: keep the faith.  The contemporary tune is the lead single from the Akron trio’s album, Don’t Judge Me (set for release this summer).

Check out the official video and you’ll see three gentlemen with soulful chops letting you know it’s “time for your breakthrough!”


DeWayne Woods features Mint Condition on single, “They Said”

From Bill Carpenter


The award-winning vocalist DeWayne Woods teams up with Lawrence Waddell and Stokley Williams of the legendary R&B band Mint Condition for the third radio single from his best-selling album Life Lessons (Soul Therapy).  The smooth track combines intimate urban balladry with a powerfully revelatory message of God’s love and self-affirmation. “When everybody had given up on me He knew I was redeemable and made me whole,” Woods sings of God’s intervention during his lowest moments.  In the second verse, he hits naysayers with, “Used to be so hung up on what others said about me; so busy casting stones they overlooked their own wrong.”

“I’ve made many mistakes and bad decisions in my life and most of us at one point or another have allowed what others said about us to affect us in a negative way, but God has the final word and gives us a second chance,” says Woods, who is currently performing alongside Yolanda Adams and Donald Lawrence on The McDonald’s Celebration Inspiration Gospel Tour running through October. “It’s mind blowing to be afforded this amazing opportunity to be a part of such widely respected national tour and to sing this empowering song to the thousands who have been attending the shows.”

“Working with DeWayne on ‘They Said’ was amazing,” Waddell and Williams said in a joint statement about the song they tailor-wrote and produced for Woods. “He sings with a genuineness and musical sensibility that is at once moving and awe-inspiring. Beyond a vocalist, he is an instrumentalist with words.”

DeWayne Woods led a late `90s incarnation of the R&B group Atlantic Starr before making a leap into faith music with John P. Kee.  His debut album, Introducing DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet, won four of five Stellar Award nominations–including New Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year.  His sophomore set, My Life’s Lyric, hit  #3 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart.  Woods’ latest project, Life Lessons, debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and features “Never Be The Same” (#23 Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart) and the Anthony Hamilton & Dave Hollister collaboration “Friend of Mine” (#13 Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart).

The Church and B.B. King

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Over his nearly 70-year professional career, blues legend B.B. King (1925-2015) returned to his gospel roots once, in 1959, to record a vinyl album entitled B.B. King Sings Spirituals. The Crown Records release captures 30-something year-old King wailing, at times both vocally and on his guitar, tunes that we now know have withstood the test of time in traditional gospel.  Among them is “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” composed by a former blues pianist who is now recognized as the Father of Gospel Music, Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey. 

King passed May 14, at the age of 89.

In his essay for The Washington Post, “How the church gave B.B. King the blues,” Daniel Silliman explores King’s church upbringing. Read it to gain insight into the King of the Blues’ relationship to the church and gospel music in his own words. 

B.B. King’s official website reports that there will a public viewing Friday, May 22, from 3 PM to 7 PM at the Palm South Jones Mortuary, 1600 South Jones Blvd, Las Vegas.  For complete information about the memorials and funeral, visit www.bbking.com.

"Jesus Over Everything" – Thomas E. Bell

“Jesus Over Everything”
Thomas E. Bell (2015)
Available at iTunes

Thomas E. Bell - Jesus Over Everything art work

Thomas E. Bell honed his songwriting craft during his high school days, penning tunes for his R&B group.  At the age of 21, he decided it was time to dedicate his talent wholly to the Lord.  “Jesus Over Everything” is Bell’s current single.  In the hip-hop laced single, he makes clear that the name of Jesus is above all others, and “ain’t nobody takin’ His place.”

“Jesus Over Everything” is heavy on percussion as well as keyboard and vocal effects; but just like a good cobbler crust, Bell’s creatively expressed lyrical message rises to the top.

‘Bobby Jones Gospel’ enters its final season, announces BET

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

BET has reported that the upcoming 35th season of Bobby Jones Gospel will be its last. 

The flagship gospel program is the longest running original show in cable TV history and is hosted by its namesake, Dr. Bobby Jones.

It is said that all good things must come to an end, but Bobby Jones Gospel has been embedded in the routine of our Sunday mornings for three and a half decades.  Not seeing the legendary Dr. Jones, his “super choir cast,” and his suits will be a major adjustment–not to mention the famous as well as not-yet-famous gospel talents who leave smoke on the studio stage year after year.

GMF will follow the final season closely. Stay tuned in the coming months for my commentary on a series that has done what no other has been able to do for gospel music.

Earnest Pugh to receive Alumni Award for the Arts from Howard U. School of Divinity

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever
 
Congratulations to Earnest Pugh (“I Need Your Glory” and “Rain on Us”) who will be presented with the Alumni Award for the Arts this weekend by the alumni association of his alma mater, Howard University School of Divinity. Pugh earned the M.Div. degree there while balancing his successful recording career and serving in the music department at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, MD. (He is also the recipient of the honorary Doctorate of Divinity in Christian Counseling from The Institute for Teaching God’s Word in Rockdale, TX.)

In a press release, Pugh comments,

I view
this as one of the greatest accomplishments in my life to be honored by
my alma mater. My tenure at HUSD was instrumental in
shaping, molding, and developing me into the man, preacher and artist
that I am today.


The weekend begins with Howard University School of Divinity’s third annual Alumni Association Awards Banquet and concert, featuring Pugh, on Saturday, April 25.  On Sunday morning, April 26, he will perform at Ebenezer’s 7:45am worship service, before attending Howard University’s main campus to receive the alumni award.

Here’s the weekend at a glance:

Saturday, April 25, 2015
Concert featuring Earnest Pugh at 5:30 PM
Howard University School of Divinity’s 3rd Annual Alumni Association Awards Banquet
Armour J. Blackburn University Center
2397 Sixth Street NW
Washington, DC 20059
(Red carpet arrival and reception at 3 PM; dinner at 4 PM)
 
Concert featuring Earnest Pugh at 7 PM
In celebration of Howard Univ. School of Divinity Professor Robert G. Childs’ 30th pastoral anniversary

Berean Baptist Church
924 Madison St. NW
Washington, DC 20011
(Concert proceeds go to the alumni association’s scholarship fund)


Sunday, April 26, 2015
Special performance by Earnest Pugh at 7:45 AM worship
Ebenezer A.ME. Church
7707 Allentown Road
Fort Washington, MD 20744