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"Thank God I'm Still Here" – Renee Spearman

“Thank God I’m Still Here”
Renee Spearman
From the CD, Whoa to Wow! (2012)
JDI Records

Bringing up the rear of Renee Spearman’s successful Whoa to Wow! CD is the funky “Thank God I’m Still Here.”

The musically multi-talented Cali native pumps out her self-penned groove of gratitude “for life, health and strength / activity of my limbs,” accompanied by a heavy bass and drum backdrop that would have provoked Godfather of Soul James Brown to get his shout and shimmy on for sure.

Produced by Michael Bereal and Professor James Roberson, “Thank God I’m Still Here” thumps with prominent live horns and a rhythmic downbeat that makes it downright irresistible to dance while giving thanks for the oft mentioned blessings that are also just as often taken for granted.

Songwriter Samuel Archer presents website, music for Black History Month


Songwriter
Samuel Archer launches new website to celebrate Black History Month and
reintroduces Redeem The Dream
Press Release from Pretty Special, Inc.
Samuel Archer (singer/songwriter) has launched a new website and
re-introduced his album Redeem The Dream. The EP project has seven songs
geared to engage conversation on social issues and to promote positivity. The
website lists activities to engage students, teachers, choirs, soloists and
community groups to help spread the positive message of Redeeming The Dream.
“Redeem the Dream” which is the title song, speaks about
Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Mahatma Gandhi and what it will
be like if they woke up today: would they be happy with what’s going on in our
world or will they be sad and disappointed? “Issues,” another featured
song on the EP, has a strong world-beat influence, which mirrors the ethnic
genre on The Return, one of Sam’s previous albums.

Singing groups, dancers and community groups are encouraged to use the title
song for their Black History Month performances and/or events. Students can
enter into a video making competition and they have the option to use the
recorded version or create their own version of the song to use in the video.
Students are encouraged to be creative. Prizes will be given for the videos with
the most views. Sponsors with interest to contribute a prize must contact the Redeem the Dream team at letthemusichelp@gmail.com. 

 
With a full
month to celebrate African contributions (Black History Month), Redeem The
Dream will prove to be a great resource and a conversation
piece. 
 
Visit
the website: www.toredeemthedream.info for more
information.
 
To
sample songs from Redeem The Dream, and for more music from Samuel Archer,
please visit www.samuelarcher.bandcamp.com.

“Heaven” – Changed

“Heaven”
Changed (2012)
Baby Boy Records

Mississippi has bragging rights when it comes to great traditional
quartet music, and Changed of Natchez is doing its best
to maintain those rights with the single “Heaven,” produced by Castro
“Cat Cole” Coleman on his Baby Boy Records imprint.

Besides lyrics describing the sweet by and by and its stark contrast to the troubles of this world, “Heaven” is a classic gospel soul groove that nearly convinces you that
Changed met up with The Williams Brothers and then hooked up with Rance Allen’s band on
their way to Cat Cole’s lab.

Elder George Jordan remembered

Homegoing services were held in Chicago last week for singer, songwriter and musician Elder George Jordan.

Jordan was the writer of numerous now-classic gospel songs including the hymn “God Never Fails” and the choir hit “Jesus Can Work It Out.”

Read a profile on Elder Jordan by Mack C. Mason at www.gospelflava.com.

Shirley Caesar mourns passing of brother LeRoy Caesar

GMF extends its condolences to Pastor Shirley Caesar and family in the passing of her brother, LeRoy Caesar, who died January 24.  The homegoing service is being held today, January 30, at noon at Durham’s Mt. Calvary Lighthouse Church.

In addition to Pastor Caesar, he is survived by his wife Flora, ten daughters, three sons, one sister, two brothers, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Elder Vernon Chappel, noted songwriter & worship leader, succumbs

GMF joins the gospel community in mourning the unexpected passing of musician, songwriter, and worship leader Elder Vernon Chappel, who transitioned this morning, January 27.  He was 56 years old.

Chappel was known throughout the United States and abroad for his music ministry and has been described as “a contemporary gospel vocalist with the soul of Thomas Whitfield and the energetic flair of Milton Biggham and Timothy Wright.”  His compositions have been recorded by a host of artists who include Dorothy Norwood, Joe Pace and Colorado Mass, and Beverly Crawford (who made his “Jehovah, We Praise You” a hugely popular worship song).

Though a native of California, for the past several years Chappel resided in NC and served as Music Pastor at The River Church, Inc. in Durham.  Upon learning of his passing, Sheryl Brady, founding pastor of The River, commented via Twitter, “One of the GREATEST men in my life went home to be with the Lord. Elder Vernon Chappel was my hero. Help us Jesus!”

GMF extends its sincerest sympathy to Chappel’s family, to his many friends, and to all whom he mentored during his 35-plus years in ministry.

As relayed by Mylum Nicholson, celebration services are planned for both the West and East Coast.

West Coast
Musical
Friday, February 8, 2013
6 PM

Homegoing Service
Saturday, February 9, 2013
11 AM

Both the musical and homegoing service will take place at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 1401 E. Brundage Lane, Bakersfield, CA  93307. 

Interment
Wasco Cemetery
300 Leonard Ave.
Wasco, CA  93280

East Coast
Raleigh-Durham Memorial Service
Friday, February 15, 2013
7 PM
Wake Chapel Church
3805 Tarheel Road
Raleigh, NC 27604

Ethel Shannon, grandmother of John P. Kee, goes home

 
Mother Ethel Shannon
 
Ethel Shannon, the beloved grandmother of Pastor John P. Kee passed tonight, January 25.  She was 100 years old.
 
Mother Shannon can be heard on Kee’s various V.I.P. recordings including Lily In The Valley, and most recently on The Legacy Project.
 
GMF sends its heartfelt sympathy to the Shannon and Kee families during this time of transition.
 
Arrangements are as follows:
 
Public Viewing
Thursday, January 31, 2013
10 AM – 7 PM
Fisher Funeral Parlor
3137 Fayetteville St.
Durham, NC  27707 

Service of Remembrance
Friday, February 1, 2013 
7 PM
New Life Fellowship Center
1337 Samuel St.
Charlotte, NC  28206
 
Final Service of Remembrance
Saturday, February 2, 2013
12 noon  (viewing two hours prior)
Union Baptist Church
904 N. Roxboro St.
Durham, NC  27701

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Mt. Calvary United Church of Christ Sunday School, 1715 Athens Street, Durham, NC  27707.

Malaco announces first Malaco Artists Retreat & Showcase (M.A.R.S.)

(Jackson, MS) – The Malaco Music Group is proud to announce the inaugural Malaco Artists Retreat & Showcase (M.A.R.S.).

The Malaco Artists Retreat & Showcase (M.A.R.S.)  is a national singing and performance competition developed to give unsigned artists an opportunity to showcase their talents, win prize money, receive a recording contract with one of the Malaco Music Group family of labels and appear on a national television show on The Word Network. The Word network is available in over 200 countries and reaches nearly 60 million homes in the U.S. alone.

In addition, there will be panel discussions conducted with veteran industry professionals in the areas of Gospel Radio, Marketing, Radio Promotions, Public Relations, Distribution, Booking & Management, Concert Promotion, Studio Production, Songwriting, Publishing, Copyrights, and How To Succeed in Today’s Gospel Music Industry.

The Malaco Artists Retreat & Showcase (M.A.R.S.) will take place on February 16, 2013 at Stronger Hope Baptist Church located at 223 Beasley Road in Jackson, MS 39206.

Visit www.malacoshowcase.com for more information.

Winners at the 28th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards

‘Twas a big night for Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago and Mary Mary

Winners are listed in red.  Click here for dates and airtimes in your market.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Andraé Crouch, The
Journey, Riverphlo Entertainment
Charles Jenkins &
Fellowship Chicago, The Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
Donald Lawrence &
Company, YRM (Your Righteous Mind), Quiet Water Entertainment/Verity
Gospel
Music Group/ Sony
Marvin Sapp, IWin,
Verity Gospel Music Group
SONG OF THE YEAR
Andraé Crouch,
“Let The Church Say Amen” – The Journey, Riverphlo
Entertainment
Charles Jenkins,
“Awesome” – The Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
Marvin Sapp &
Aaron Lindsey, “My Testimony” – IWin, Verity Gospel Music
Group
Tina Campbell, Erica
Campbell & Warryn Campbell, “Go Get It” – Go Get It, My
Block/Columbia Records
MALE VOCALIST OF THE
YEAR
Deitrick Haddon, A
Beautiful Soul, Tyscot Music & Entertainment
Fred Hammond, God,
Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Jason Nelson, Shifting
The Atmosphere, Verity Gospel Music Group
Marvin Sapp, IWin,
Verity Gospel Music Group
ALBERTINA WALKER
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Dorinda Clark Cole, I
Survived, Light Records/eOne Music
Kierra Sheard, Free,
Karew Records
Le’Andria Johnson, The
Awakening Of Le’Andria Johnson, Music World Gospel
Maurette Brown Clark,
The Sound Of Victory, Air International Records
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
Donald Lawrence &
Company, YRM (Your Righteous Mind), Quiet Water Entertainment/Verity
Gospel Music Group/Sony
Forever Jones, Musical
Revival, EMI Gospel
James Fortune &
FIYA, Identity, Light Records/eOne Music
Mary Mary, Go Get
It, My Block/Columbia Records
NEW ARTIST OF THE
YEAR
Charles Jenkins &
Fellowship Chicago, The Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
Cheneta Jones, Transformed,
Real Talent Media Group
Isaac Carree, Uncommon
Me, Sovereign Agency/Door 6 Entertainment
Le’Andria Johnson, The
Awakening Of Le’Andria Johnson, Music World Gospel
CD OF THE YEAR
Andraé Crouch, The
Journey, Riverphlo Entertainment
Charles Jenkins &
Fellowship Chicago, The Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
Fred Hammond, God,
Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Marvin Sapp, IWin,
Verity Gospel Music Group
CHOIR OF THE YEAR
Charles Jenkins &
Fellowship Chicago, The Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
James Hall Worship
& Praise, Trip Down Memory Lane, Music Blend, Inc.
Jj Hairston &
Youthful Praise, After This, Light Records/eOne Music
Richard Smallwood
With Vision, Promises, Verity Gospel Music Group
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Donald Lawrence, YRM
(Your Righteous Mind), Quiet Water Entertainment/Verity Gospel Music
Group/Sony
Fred Hammond, God,
Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Isaac Carree, Eric
Dawkins, Warryn Campbell, Gerald Haddon, & Rick Robinson, Uncommon Me,
Sovereign Agency/Door 6 Entertainment
Warryn Campbell, Go
Get It, My Block/Columbia Records
CONTEMPORARY
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
Donald Lawrence &
Company, YRM (Your Righteous Mind), Quiet Water Entertainment/Verity
Gospel Music Group/ Sony
Forever Jones, Musical
Revival, EMI Gospel
James Fortune &
FIYA, Identity, Light Records/eOne Music
Mary Mary, Go Get
It, My Block/Columbia Records
TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO
OF THE YEAR
Angela Spivey &
Greater Blessings Praise Team, He Keeps His Promise, Innovative Records
Luther Barnes &
The Sunset Jubilaires, Another Level, Air International Records
The Williams
Brothers, Live At The Hard Rock – Part 1, Blackberry Records
Tim Rogers & The
Fellas, Real, Blackberry Records
CONTEMPORARY MALE OF
THE YEAR
Fred Hammond, God,
Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Isaac Carree, Uncommon
Me, Sovereign Agency/Door 6 Entertainment
Smokie Norful, Once
In A Lifetime, EMI Gospel
Zacardi Cortez, Zacardi
Cortez: The Introduction, Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
TRADITIONAL MALE OF
THE YEAR
Andraé Crouch, The
Journey, Riverphlo Entertainment
Jason Nelson, Shifting
The Atmosphere, Verity Gospel Music Group
Marvin Sapp, IWin,
Verity Gospel Music Group
William McDowell, Arise,
Light Records/eOne Music
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE
OF THE YEAR
Anita Wilson, Worship
Soul, EMI Gospel
Dorinda Clark Cole, I
Survived, Light Records/eOne Music
Kierra Sheard, Free,
Karew Records
Le’Andria Johnson, The
Awakening Of Le’Andria Johnson, Music World Gospel
TRADITIONAL FEMALE OF
THE YEAR
Angela Spivey, He
Keeps His Promise, Innovative Records
Dorothy Norwood, God’s
Been Just That Good, Malaco Records
Shirley Murdock, Live:
The Journey, Tyscot Music & Entertainment
Vanessa Bell
Armstrong, Timeless, Music World Gospel
CONTEMPORARY CD OF
THE YEAR
Donald Lawrence &
Company, YRM (Your Righteous Mind), Quiet Water Entertainment/Verity
Gospel Music Group/ Sony
Dorinda Clark Cole, I
Survived, Light Records/eOne Music
Fred Hammond, God,
Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Mary Mary, Go Get
It, My Block/Columbia Records
TRADITIONAL CD OF THE
YEAR
Andraé Crouch, The
Journey, Riverphlo Entertainment
Byron Cage, Memoirs
Of A Worshipper, Verity Gospel Music Group
Charles Jenkins &
Fellowship Chicago, The Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
Marvin Sapp, IWin,
Verity Gospel Music Group
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL
SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Anita Wilson,
“Speechless” – Worship Soul, EMI Gospel
Fred Hammond, “I
Feel Good” – God, Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Isaac Carree,
“In The Middle” – Uncommon Me, Sovereign Agency/Door 6
Entertainment
Mary Mary, “Go
Get It” – Go Get It, My Block/Columbia Records
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE
YEAR – SHORT FORMAT
Darren Grant, Go Get
It – Go Get It, My Block/Columbia Records
Daven Baptiste,
“In The Middle” – Uncommon Me, Sovereign Agency/Door 6
Entertainment
Jamaal Banks,
“Lead Us To Truth” – The Next Dimension, Bga Music Group
Steve Huffman,
“I’m At Peace” – I’m At Peace, Shanachie Entertainment Corp.
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF
THE YEAR
Bill Winston &
LivingWord, Bill Winston Presents LivingWord “Released”, Source Media
Charles Jenkins &
Fellowship Chicago, The Best of Both Worlds, Inspired People
James Hall Worship
& Praise, Trip Down Memory Lane, Music Blend, Inc.
Richard Smallwood
With Vision, Promises, Verity Gospel Music Group
SPECIAL EVENT CD OF
THE YEAR
Deitrick Haddon, Anthology:
The Writer & His Music, Tyscot Music & Entertainment
James Fortune &
FIYA, The James Fortune & FIYA, Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
Mary Mary, Go Get
It, My Block/Columbia Records
Smokie Norful, Once
In A Lifetime, EMI Gospel
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD
OF THE YEAR
Da T.R.U.T.H., The
Whole Truth, XIST Music/Black Fuel Entertainment
Flame, The 6th,
Clear Sight Music
Json, Growing
Pains, Lamp Mode Recordings
Trip Lee, The Good
Life, Reach Records
CHILDRENS PROJECT OF
THE YEAR
Anointed By God, Anointed
By God, One Voice Media
Kingdom Kids
Worldwide, Kingdom Kids Worldwide – After School Party, Headstrate
Entertainment
Nyasia, Take Off,
Independent
Pure-N-Heart Kids, Pure-N-Heart
Kids: Live Praise And Worship Experience, Music2changeu Records
QUARTET OF THE YEAR
Luther Barnes &
The Sunset Jubilaires, Another Level, Air International Records
The Clark Brothers, It’s
In Your Hands, CE Records
The Williams
Brothers, Live At The Hard Rock – Part 1, Blackberry Records
Tim Rogers & The
Fellas, Real, Blackberry Records
RECORDED MUSIC
PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
Charles Jenkins, The
Best Of Both Worlds, Inspired People
Daniel Joel Ortiz, The
Journey, Riverphlo Entertainment
Denise Trotman, God,
Love & Romance, Verity Gospel Music Group
Fusako Chubachi, Go
Get It, My Block/Columbia Records
PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD
OF THE YEAR
Anita Wilson, Worship
Soul, EMI Gospel
Byron Cage, Memoirs
Of A Worshipper, Verity Gospel Music Group
Jason Nelson, Shifting
The Atmosphere, Verity Gospel Music Group
William
McDowell, Arise, Light Records/eOne Music
OTHER HONOREES OF THE EVENING
Bishop T.D. Jakes
Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award
Inez Andrews (Posthumous)
Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award
Kurt Carr 
James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award

Frances McClurkin, mother of Donnie McClurkin, passes on

GMF extends condolences to Pastor Donnie McClurkin and the McClurkin family in the passing of their matriarch, Frances McClurkin.  Mother McClurkin transitioned January 18, from complications of a massive coronary heart attack she suffered Sunday, January 13, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bethpage, NY.
Mother McClurkin’s survivors include seven children: Marlene, Donnie, Cheryl, Andrea, Tony, Tanya, Rafael, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Preceding Frances in her journey are children Olivia and Thomas.
The homegoing service will be held Friday, January 25, at:
Greater Allen AME Cathedral of New York
11031 Merrick Blvd
Jamaica, NY 11433
Doors open at 6:30 PM and the service starts at 7 PM. The service will also stream live at www.perfectingfaith.org.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Frances McClurkin Memorial Fund to help feed, care for, and empower the Harlem community through the Perfecting Faith Church’s mission activity.  Donations can be made online at www.perfectingfaith.org, by calling the church office at 516-223-8300, or by mailing your donation to 311 N. Main St., Freeport, NY 11520.