Blog

Al "The Bishop" Hobbs, National GAG Chair of GMWA, dies [Arrangements]

Al “The Bishop” Hobbs, Chairman of the National Gospel Announcers Guild of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc., died today.  He battled cancer in recent years, and just this week, he was saluted during a tribute program at the 47th annual GMWA convention festivities.

Having seen and heard Al from a distance down through the years, I finally met him two years ago at GMWA.  Talking with him was like chatting with a longtime friend.  He will be sorely missed across the gospel music industry.

Read more by Bob Marovich of The Journal of Gospel Music here: Gospel Community Mourns Loss of Al “The Bishop” Hobbs

Condolences can be sent to the Hobbs Residence, 9009 Shetland Court, Indianapolis, IN 46278.  Arrangements are as follows:

Friday, August 15, 2014
Viewing
3 – 6 PM
Prelude
6 – 7 PM
Musical 
7 – 11 PM

Saturday, August 16, 2014
Viewing
8 – 10 AM
Service
10 AM

All services will take place at Christ Church Apostolic, 6601 Grandview Drive, Indianapolis, IN, and will also be streamed live here.

Gospel Music Fever gets a new look

Finally.  


WELCOME! Welcome to the redesigned Gospel Music Fever site. We hope the improvements we’ve made are obvious at first glance: easier access to all of the site’s content and more prominence for the artists that we feature.  You’ll also notice a new GMF feature we’ve devoted to the NC scene (since that’s my home state and hotbed of great gospel music).  


Here are a couple of caveats as you engage with the new layout.  First, major site changes are heavy-duty work and glitches are inevitable; thanks in advance for your patience as we figure them out and get them fixed. Secondly, if searching via Google, Yahoo, etc. or if following a link from social media, you may find that a few of our links have moved. No worries!  If this happens, you can simply go to the GMF homepage–www.gospelmusicfever.com–and find it there via the search box in the orange bar.  


GMF is still all about the business of uplifting and advancing gospel music and its artists, and we are excited to continue to do so.


Enjoy the new Gospel Music Fever experience.  Let us know what you think.


Libra Boyd
Founder & Editor

R.I.P. Phyllis Brown of the Brown Sisters [Arrangements]

From Facebook

GMF is sorry to learn of the passing of Phyllis Brown (far left) of the Brown Sisters from Chicago.  


Latrea Morrow of examiner.com reports more here: Chicago gospel community mourns the loss of The Brown Sisters’ beloved Phyllis

Arrangements are as follows, according to the The Brown Sisters’ Facebook page (8/5/14):

Friday, August 8, 2014
Wake
4 – 8 PM
Gatling’s Funeral Home
10130 S. Halsted
Chicago, IL 60628

Saturday, August 9, 2014
Wake/Musical
10 -11AM
Funeral 
11 – 1 PM
Rock of Ages Missionary Baptist Church
1309 Madison St.
Maywood, IL

Please send condolences to Pastor Ben and Alberta Brown, 32 N. Kostner Avenue, Chicago, IL 60624.

"Witness" – Christian Gill

“Witness”
Christian Gill (2014)
www.christiangillmusic.com

Christian Gill Witness art work

He’s been singing since he was three. Now Christian Gill is in high school, and his aspirations are clearer: he wants people to be “inspired to bless and worship God through his music.” Thankfully, we have the opportunity to do so as we listen to Christian’s current single, “Witness,” downloadable via iTunes.

With his generation in mind, Christian makes full use of synths and percussion for a head-bobbing, speaker-thumping effect as he recites John 10:10. He then jolts into multi-layered lead and self-backing vocals proclaiming, “There’s nobody that can love me like You can / Can’t nobody do the things that You can…”

Christian has racked up several honors in his young career, including Best Soloist at Disney’s Annual GospelFest and winner of Amateur Night at the Apollo “Stars of Tomorrow.”  Presently, the talented New Yorker is a praise and worship leader at his church, Greater Blessed Hope.

"The King" – Drew Chambers ft. Armar'rae Hill & True Foundation

“The King”
Drew Chambers ft. Armar’rae Hill & True Foundation (2014)
Available at iTunes

Drew Chambers "The King" art work

Nearly as fast as BET Sunday Best 7 axed him (July 20) after a pristine performance of Smokie Norful’s “I Need You Now,” Drew Chambers released a single for his already huge following (peep his Facebook page), and his newly acquired fans.

“The King,” which features Armar’rae Hill and True Foundation, is equally friendly to radio and worship team playlists.  Drew’s eclectic blend of worship and soul intensifies the reverent tune and is an impeccable complement to the vocals of Hill and his team of talented singers.

Drew is a native of Hickory, NC (of which I’m familiar, because I’m also a North Carolinian), and is definitely one to watch.  You can do just that at drewchambersonline.com.

Damion Murrill and Siloam 'give God the glory'

Damion Murrill and Siloam
Photo | Brittney White
Damion Murrill (foreground, left) and Siloam
minister to a capacity congregation at the Yancey Family Ministries “Giving God the Glory” Gospel Explosion at Cornerstone Christian Community Church in Oxford, NC Saturday evening.  Their forthcoming CD is scheduled to drop this summer and features the group’s current single, “Kingdom Come.”

"God's Been Good" – Carol Maraj

“God’s Been Good”
Carol Maraj (2014)
Fame Star Records/MDM Music Group
Available at iTunes

Carol Maraj has no qualms about letting the world know that God has sustained her through experiences that some others didn’t survive (see her interview with GMF here).  She is alive and has overcome because “God’s Been Good.”

Maraj’s single, “God’s Been Good,” cites healing from cancer and protection from a shooting in its verses, as testimonies of the perpetual goodness of God. The contemporary pop synth gospel tune has been creating a buzz since early this year.

Maraj currently resides in New York and heads the Carol Maraj Foundation, an advocacy organization for victims of domestic violence.

Carol Maraj, mother of Nicki Minaj, talks about her music, mission, and message

Carol Maraj
Photo | Paul Stephens

By Libra Boyd

Gospel Music Fever

Carol Maraj is making a name for herself, and it’s not necessarily through her famed rapper daughter Onika Maraj–better known as Nicki Minaj.  As a matter of fact, mother and daughter are on separate musical journeys, and Carol’s includes gospel music and humanitarianism.

Last week, GMF’s Libra Boyd had the opportunity to learn more about the minister’s music, mission, and message.  

Libra:  Thanks so much for talking with Gospel Music Fever Blog about your life, your music, and how your experiences have brought you into a greater sense of purpose.  For starters, you are a domestic violence survivor.  Tell us about this ordeal in particular as well as how it relates to the message you now share through your music and through the Carol Maraj Foundation.

Carol: Living with an addict became overwhelming for me.  He was constantly threatening and menacing.  It escalated one night in December when he pulled me out of a car, punching me all over my face and head. This was my turning point.  Being a survivor affords me the ability to relate to others who are going through and who have been through.  My music reminds them that they were created for better.  My foundation’s mission is to build self esteem and empower so that the abused, misused and battered, may see their goals attainable.

Libra:  Not only are you musical, but so is your family.  One of your children is R&B/hip-hop superstar Nicki Minaj.  Some people immediately suppose that you have connections in the secular industry, which would provide you with a larger platform compared to gospel when it comes to advocating for domestic violence victims.  Why, then, is gospel music your choice for sharing your message with the world?

Carol: It is not a choice for me but a calling.  It all boils down to my passion and drives.  As an Evangelist, singing is just another channel to help others come to know the Lord, build faith, and overcome their trials.

Libra:  What has been Nicki’s response to your advocacy work and music? 

Carol: Nicki is very protective, and does not want me in the media. However, I am on a mission from God; this is the season He has assigned for me.

Libra:  Your current single is “God’s Been Good.”  Tell us about it!

Carol: “God’s Been Good” allows us to reflect on moments when we did not expect to make it, but we did. It is about understanding that God is real and that even at unawares, He is bringing us through life’s challenges.

Libra:  Will the full-length project be entirely gospel?  Can we expect to hear some collaborations?  

Carol: No. My songs are both inspiring and motivating.  There [will] be collaborations in the future.  This album will benefit all listeners. Believers and non-believers.  It is well balanced musically.

Carol’s current single, “God’s Been Good,” is available on iTunes. For more about the Carol Maraj Foundation, you can visit www.carolmaraj.com. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram @CarolMarajOrg.

"Heartbeat" – Ethan Kent

“Heartbeat”
Ethan Kent (2014)
Tonic Blueprint LLC
Available at iTunes

Ethan Kent "Heartbeat" art work

It’s both a unique and unforgettable way to announce and celebrate the expectancy of one’s firstborn.  Ethan Kent and his wife Audrey have done so by releasing a lullaby entitled “Heartbeat.”

Penned by Ethan along with Jamall Houston, the lullaby is a passionate aural love letter from parent to child (“…before you learn to crawl or walk your own first step / I ain’t perfect, but I vow to do my very best / Know that I’ll give life more just for your heartbeat…”) with the baby’s actual heartbeat synced to the lullaby at the end.

According to Ethan’s blog, he learned of his and his wife’s pregnancy on Father’s Day, following a musical engagement in Chicago.  The mother-to-be requested that he compose a song for “the big announcement.”

“Heartbeat” is available on iTunes, and a portion of the download proceeds will go to prebornfriends.org.

Congratulations to the parents to be!