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Livre’ to appear on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta

Update (6/11/13) – From the J. Hardy Agency –

“Due to miscommunication Livre’ will be appearing on the 10th episode (JUNE 24, 2013) of VH1’s Love & Hip Hop Atlanta NOT the 10th Day of June 2013. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and hope that you will tune in on Monday, June 24, 2013! Thanks for your continued support!”

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Atlanta, GA (Tuesday, June 4, 2013) –  Contemporary gospel’s brightest newcomers Livre’ (pronounced LIV-RAY) will make their network television debut aboard next week’s episode of VH1’s hit reality series Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.  Their appearance on the docu-soap, set to air Monday, June 10, at 8 PM EST, marks just one of many reasons the Bronx-bred sextet have to
celebrate as reports also indicate their newest single “I Will Be Alright” has blasted back onto Billboard’s Top Gospel Singles Chart this week at #26. Listen below.

 

Homegoing services announced for Rev. Gerald Thompson

From robinsonmortuary.com
GMF is saddened to learn of the passing of Rev. Gerald Thompson on May 22, at age 52.  The noted singer/songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, and preacher’s popular compositions include “Everybody Ought To Know Who Jesus Is,” “Hallelujah I Found Him (The Barnyard Song),” and “Jesus Is My Rock.”  
Rev. Thompson’s discography includes work with the Arkansas Fellowship Mass Choir, Rev. Timothy Wright, Rev. James Moore, and Bishop Paul Morton and the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Mass Choir.  He also co-produced Dottie Peoples’ albums Live At Salem and On Time God.

Additionally, Rev. Thompson served the Greenwood Missionary Baptist Church in Lamar, MS as its pastor and was the founder and president of Gerald Thompson Ministries, Inc.

He is survived his wife Vikki, stepsons, mother, and a host of other relatives.  GMF extends its sincerest condolences.

Homegoing arrangements are as follows:

Musical Tribute
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
6:30 PM
Covenant of Zion Cathedral
3023 W. 12th St.
Little Rock, AR 

Visitation for Family & Friends

Wednesday, May 29, 2013
12 – 6 PM
Robinson Mortuary Chapel
1201 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Little Rock, AR

Homegoing Celebration
Thursday, May 30, 2013
11 AM
Greater Second Baptist Church
5615 Geyer Springs Rd.
Little Rock, AR

Cards can be mailed to The Family of Gerald Thompson, P.O. Box 165818, Little Rock, AR  72202.  Flowers may be sent to Robinson Mortuary.

"Soldier Cries" – Lonny Bereal f. Tyrese, Foxx, Kee, Hamilton, Omarion & Hollister (Video)

 
Lonny Bereal
Lonny Bereal presents a poignant Memorial Day reminder of the sacrifices armed forces members and their families make on a daily basis with the emotional ballad “Soldier Cries.” Tyrese, Jamie Foxx, John P. Kee, Anthony Hamilton, Omarion, and Dave Hollister join him for the heartfelt tribute.
 
Bereal—whose discography includes performances with Kelly Rowland, David Banner, and Teddy Riley, among others—first recorded “Soldier Cries” as a solo on his debut album The Love Train.
 

Are you a youth with talent? “Wilson Idol” Talent Search 2013 wants you!

Click to enlarge
Summerville Promotion and Production Company (SPPC) has begun its search for talented youth to compete in the first annual “Wilson Idol” contest. Wilson Idol is a local competition sponsored by SPPC and Teaching Academics for Life Learning Outreach Ministries (TALL-1 OM) which will find musical, dance and acting talent from Wilson’s youth, ages 10-18.
The competition will give Wilson’s youth an opportunity to showcase their talent in the areas of solo music, band/group music, dance/step and acting. Cash prizes will be awarded and the top performer will be given an opportunity to perform for Pastor Shirley Caesar, Queen of Gospel and will be given a part in the onstage production of the award winning gospel play, “Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child” written and produced by Dr. Mildred Summerville. All winners will be featured in TPC Magazine and within The City Insight and posted on their websites, www.tcpmagazineusa.com and www.thecityinsight.com. This event will showcase diverse talents throughout the community and give all interested youth an opportunity to reach their full potential while building their confidence, social skills, and communication skills.

The competition is being produced by Dr. Mildred Summerville, Founder/CEO of Teaching Academics for Life Learning 1-Outreach Ministries (TALL1-OM). Dr. Summerville established TALL 1-OM, a community-based nonprofit organization, to strengthen academic achievement and bring about a multicultural awareness within the community on various issues hindering students’ academic success. This awareness serves as a strong force for overcoming barriers such as gangs, crime, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, tobacco use and HIV/AIDS prevention. In addition to its focus on academic achievement, TALL-1 aims to help youth with learning enhanced social and life skills to assist them in becoming healthy functioning members of the community.

As a means to carry out its mission, TALL-1 established the James and Leanther Summerville Academy, named to honor Summerville’s parents. The Academy is a community base school serving suspended students from Wilson County Schools offering them an opportunity to continue their education. Its fundamental purpose is to improve academic performance and reduce negative behavior, leading to a decrease in the number of suspensions and dropouts.

Youth can obtain the Wilson Idol Rules and Application Package by calling Dr. Mildred Summerville at 252-230-2689, Marjie Slagle at 252-265-2688, emailing your request to wilsonidol@gmail.com, or by picking one up at the J&L Summerville Academy, 618 Tarboro St. NE, Wilson, NC 27893. Additional information on Summerville’s Entrepreneur Program can be obtained by calling Dr. Summerville or emailing her at summervilleacademy@gmail.com.

Rev. Arthur T. Jones, co-founder of Florida Mass Choir, has died

Jordan K. Phillips informed GMF that Pastor Arthur T. Jones passed away today after battling cancer since 2010.

Pastor Jones is co-founder of the Florida Mass Choir, with which he recorded and produced several projects.  In 2002, he released his first solo CD, Speak For Me.  He was also the founder and senior pastor of Tampa’s Bible-Based Fellowship Church.

GMF extends condolences to Pastor Jones’ wife, children, other relatives, friends, church family and Florida Mass Choir.

McCollins Thorpe, Sr., of John Thorpe and Family, passes on

Please join GMF in extending condolences to the family and friends of McCollins Thorpe, Sr., who transitioned yesterday, April 30, after a brief illness.  He was 70 years old.
Thorpe was perhaps one of traditional gospel quartet’s best kept secrets with a versatile vibratic tenor that could drive a quartet scorcher, churn out a soul-drenched hymn arrangement, or croon a melodic ballad.  He was a lead singer in his sibling group John Thorpe and Family and can be heard handling lead chores on “I Trust in God” and “I Don’t Mind,” both on the CDs In His Name and John Thorpe and Family “Live” with Dr. Bobby Jones.  Additionally, every Sunday morning listeners could tune in to WKRX 96.7FM to hear Thorpe along with his brothers, called simply The Thorpe Brothers.  He opened every broadcast with the Sam Cooke-popularized version of “Nearer My God to Thee.”
Thorpe was also a dedicated member of several choirs at his home church, New Hope Person Missionary Baptist Church in Timberlake, NC.
In addition to his 13 brothers and sisters, he is survived by three children and a host of other relatives.

Homegoing arrangements, per sister Joyce Bailey, are as follows:

Visitation, Public Viewing & Musical
Saturday, May 4, 2013
6:30 – 8:30 PM
New Hope Person Missionary Baptist Church
1261 Tom Oakley Road
Timberlake, NC 27583

Homegoing Celebration
Sunday, May 5, 2013
2:30 PM
Greater Cleggs Chapel Community Missionary Baptist Church
2601 Surl-Mt. Tirzah Road
Timberlake, NC 27583


Online condolences can be posted at www.whitesmortuary.net.

Damon Little recovering well, personally thanks fans for payers

(Baltimore, MD)  Damon Little announced two weeks ago that he would
have surgery on April 22, but he entered the hospital earlier, on April
15, for emergency open heart surgery, and now he wants everyone to know
his progress in this update letter: 

I just want to take some
time to inform my fans, friends, family, and the gospel music industry
on the progress of my surgery. As momma used to say, “this is from the
horse’s mouth.”  Thanks be to God, my operation went very well.
Although I had a few slight setbacks, I am alive and I want to give God
all the praise.  I was told before surgery that I probably would need
stents, a pacemaker, or animal parts for the bypass surgery, but God
fixed it that when the doctors opened me up they were able to repair my
heart without those things because a supernatural healing had
already begun. I didn’t need a pacemaker, or foreign animal parts to
complete the surgery.

The surgery should have only lasted four
hours but lasted almost eight hours instead. The chief surgeon explained
to me that they fought hard to restart the heart because it was only
working at 18%.  My body was rejecting the heart and would not let the
pulmonary-lung machine go.  The chief surgeon did not want to give up,
and did few other techniques to restart the heart. He believed I was too
young and strong to go out like that.  The doctor told me that he
remembered hearing me say, “yea though I walk through the valley, I will
fear no evil for though art with me” before I received anesthesia.
Saints, God was truly with me because my heart restarted and climbed to
36.5% and has continued to climb. 

After entering ICU, I had
another setback, where mucus began to build up all over my body. My ICU
nurse treated me horribly that night after my surgery. She wasn’t aware
that I was coherent and the more I attempted to communicate with my
hands for help, the more she medicated me for comfort, thinking I was
delirious.  Once again I was at death’s door, but God sent an angel, who
was the morning nurse. He had been off for three days and decided to
come in two hours early for his shift. He found me choking, and started
working on me. Since then I’ve remained stable, and I am now in cardiac
rehab.  I want everyone to know, that I don’t have to assume. I know God
is truly a way maker, so please keep me in your prayers and I will be
speaking to my pastors, radio announcers, promoters, sponsors, and
colleagues in the industry, friends, and family very soon.

On April 27, Damon celebrated “a true birthday of being renewed in spirit
and happy to be alive.”  You can continue to send well wishes to
P.O. Box 29806, Baltimore, MD. 21216, ltlfamcare@aol.com,
or 410-462-5371.   
Damon has one more request: “Everyone eat a slice of sugar-free cake on my
birthday for me. Lol…I look forward to personally making calls in
May—God Bless.”