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B.T. Green of the Christian Harmonettes (1938-2014)

It’s hard to imagine that any quartet gospel music lover in North Carolina–or anywhere along the East Coast–would not recognize the name or homespun traditional music of B.T. Green and Christian Harmonettes.  June 1st marked the 44th anniversary of the group, celebrated in Durham. It was a spiritually uplifting occasion, but one person was conspicuously absent: Mr. B.T. Green.  Just a few miles away, Green lay in the hospital, drawing strength from the prayer avalanche of beloved family, friends, and supporters.

Gospel singer and promoter Burmas T. Green completed this life’s journey (June 21), after recent months of health challenges.  He was 75 years old.

Some of his enduring numbers from the Christian Harmonettes’ recordings include “It Takes A Little Rain,” “Love Lifted Me,” “Reap What You Sow,” and “Old Rugged Cross.”

GMF continues to lift the Green family, the Christian Harmonettes, and Green’s host of friends in prayer. 


Update (6/24/14 at 8:59pm) – The following announcement has been shared via B.T. Green and the Christian Harmonettes’ Facebook page: 
Thank you all for your patience in waiting for the final arrangements of B.T.’s homegoing. The service will be held on Friday, June 27, 2014, at Union Baptist Church of Durham, NC. There will be a viewing from 12:00-1:00 pm. The service will begin promptly at 1:00 pm. The church address is 904 N. Roxboro St. Durham, NC 27701.
The service is scheduled to stream live at: http://new.livestream.com/MyUBCtv/events/2789071 

Sandra Crouch and family request prayer for Andraé Crouch

Pastor Sandra Crouch and the Crouch family are requesting prayers and messages of encouragement for Pastor Andraé Crouch.  A note from the Crouch family, shared at www.thelightnc.com, discloses that the 71 year-old beloved singer, songwriter, pianist, and gospel music legend “is facing some health challenges” and recently spent time in the hospital.  The note asks those who have been blessed by his life and ministry to cover him in prayer and to send him your encouraging messages and testimonies at [email protected] over the next 48 hours.

GMF will certainly be sending prayers up for Pastor Crouch, twin sister Sandra and the entire Crouch family, as well as the New Christ Memorial Church family, where they pastor. 

Melvin Crispell has died

Melvin Crispell died.

Composer and musician Melvin Crispell passed today (May 29). This wave of heaviness is being felt throughout the gospel community as the news continues to circulate.

Melvin is noted for his work with Hezekiah Walker, James Hall and Worship & Praise, Tye Tribbett, and his own group, Testimony.  His popular compositions include “Jesus is My Help,” “Wonderful is Your Name,” “No Joy, No Strength,” and “Caught Up In The Rapture.”

Our prayers of comfort are with Melvin’s family and friends.

Update (6/4/14):  Over the last two days, there have been multiple updates issued regarding the time for the celebration of life services in South Carolina and New York.  GMF suggests confirming the information you have obtained by contacting Christopher King’s Funeral Home, to whom arrangements have been entrusted.

GMF, Bobby Jones remember Maya Angelou

By Libra Boyd, Founder & Editor
Gospel Music Fever

As a writer, educator, musician, and Black woman, I have been and will continue to be inspired by the life and work of Dr. Maya Angelou. Angelou passed this morning (May 28) in her Winston-Salem, NC home, at age 86.
Her breadth of artistic contributions (to dance, music, stage, film, TV, and literature) includes her collaboration with Dr. Bobby Jones and Vanessa Bell Armstrong on “Just A Closer Walk With Thee.”  The hymn is a highlight on Jones’ 1998 CD, Just Churchin’.
Dr. Jones’ comments on the passing of Dr. Angelou were shared today in his emotional Facebook post below.
May an American treasure and truly phenomenal woman rest on peacefully.

Click to enlarge

"Kingdom Come" – Damion Murrill and Siloam

“Kingdom Come”
Damion Murrill and Siloam
From the upcoming CD, Take A Stand (Available Summer 2014)
www.damionmurrill.com

Damion Murrill and Siloam art work

By Libra Boyd, Founder & Editor
Gospel Music Fever

Damion Murrill wants us to be mindful that “because we are seeds of Abraham, we are heirs to the Kingdom,” and the single “Kingdom Come” from Damion Murrill and Siloam’s forthcoming debut CD, Take A Stand, helps to facilitate the communication of this truth in radio- and choir-friendly fashion.

Damion knows good singing when he hears it.  He’s been around it all his life. The singer/songwriter/producer’s musical mentor Donald Lawrence knows good singing too; so when his path crossed with Damion’s family group, The Murrills, the result was an affiliation with Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers and the eventual release of The Murrill’s own project, Family Prayer, which earned Grammy and Stellar nominations.

It’s not surprising that “Kingdom Come”—which features Damion at the helm of his own 16-member aggregation, Siloam—is Lawrence-esque, but it’s definitely not disappointing either. Group vocalists Sasha Stackhouse and Pastor Darwin Murrill (Damion’s brother), deliver the ardent vocals that distinguish this moderate ballad as the group’s own.

Damion is presently the minister of music at Word Changing Hearts Ministries in Wilmington, NC, where his brother Darwin is the pastor. 

Clouds’ keyboardist Jason Britt and others die in car crash

GMF extends heartfelt sympathy to and prayers for the families and friends of Jason Britt, Dennis Battle, and Kyol Allen-Gailliard.  The trio was killed Friday (May 16) in an early morning car crash in Rocky Mount, NC.

Britt was a keyboardist with the Mighty Clouds of Joy and at Word Tabernacle Church.  Battle was also a musician, serving at Word Tabernacle.  Allen-Gailliard, whose father is the pastor of Word Tabernacle, was the audio engineer at the church, according to WTVD.

Arrangements are entrusted to H.D. Pope Funeral Home.  Online condolences may be posted there as well.

Maggie Ingram Mother's Day Celebration Recap: Daughter Almeta reflects

By Libra Boyd, Founder & Editor
Gospel Music Fever 

 


Although open to the public, modest was the number who weathered Saturday evening’s messy, rainy conditions to celebrate Evangelist Maggie Ingram, matriarch and lead singer of Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes, at Danville, VA’s Greater United Apostolic Church.  At 84 years of age, Maggie, hailed Virginia’s “Queen of Gospel,” is likely the oldest active female singer on the gospel quartet circuit.   

The pre-Mother’s Day service was presented by Patrick Street for Street Productions, LLC and emceed by Twonda Johnson with performances by David Wilson, the Heavenly Stars, and the Loving Sisters.  GMF’s Libra Boyd gave biographical reflections.

During the celebration, the evangelist was praised for her commitment to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ for over a half century as well as for her ongoing efforts to strengthen struggling families in her community. Notable is the gravity of sacrifices for her own five children–which eldest daughter Evangelist Almeta Ingram-Miller frequently recounts–along with her compassion and advocacy for others, especially the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated.  A third grade education, vigorous work ethic (hewn in part from Maggie’s upbringing on Mulholland’s Plantation in Coffee County, GA), and God-given musical talents of singing, songwriting, and playing the piano with no formal training have worked together in service to God and His people. 

“This is a woman that I’ve seen sacrifice,” Almeta shared candidly Saturday night. “There are five of us [children].  When God gave her a [new] house, we thought it was just for us, [but] women would be released from prison and have little babies and nowhere to go. Mama would make us double up in a room [and then tell the women], ‘Come on Baby, bring your babies; you can stay here til you get on your feet. You can stay here til you find a job.'”  Maggie didn’t just open her home as a “halfway house,” but she worked to initiate legislation permitting inmates at minimum security prisons to interact with their children through “family day” programs. 
 
While Almeta talks, Maggie affirms.  Both look at and cheer on each other adoringly.  When they are onstage, the chemistry between Maggie and each of her Ingramettes is simply beautiful.  Nowadays, Almeta tag teams with her mother on most of the group’s tunes.  Granddaughter Cheryl Beaver and close family friend Valerie Stewart provide supporting fiery vocals while the band blazes in the background.  Sometimes Maggie takes cues from Almeta; other times, she gives them with raised eyebrows, clasped hands and a head nod, or a reassuring smile followed by “I got it” or “Tell it, Baby.”  Between songs, Almeta’s storytelling gives Dot Norwood’s a run for its money.  One anecdotal narrative in particular reveals the heart of the Ingramettes’ music ministry:

We’ve sung to ten thousand [at the Kennedy Center], and we’ve sung to ten.  As a matter of fact, we went down to Raleigh…and the lady forgot she had booked the program…and so we were getting ready to pack up and go home.  Mama said, ‘Oh no! Set up every keyboard, set up every drum, set up the guitars and the bass.  Set up the microphones–because God has been good. And for this one lady, we’re gonna sing to the glory of God.’

Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes’ current CD, Live in Richmond, is available at www.virginiafolklife.org and according to the group’s bio, is set to be archived at the Smithsonian Institution.

Check out GMF’s Facebook page for photo highlights of this weekend’s service.

 

Top photo: ‘To the glory of God’ – Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes, (from left): Valerie Stewart, Almeta Ingram-Miller, Maggie Ingram, and Cheryl Beaver.