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Vickie Winans to kick off multi-city comedy tour Easter Sunday

In case you never noticed, Vickie Winans is very funny, and this month, “The Comedianna” (her trademarked definition of a hilarious story-telling Queen), is taking her side-splitting sense of humor on the road to promote two new comedy DVDs entitled “Hilarious And Unplugged” Volume 1 and “Hilarious And Unplugged” Volume 2.  The tour kicks off Easter Sunday, April 8, at Chicago’s House of Hope/Salem Baptist Church Worship Center, where Rev. James Meeks is the Pastor, and continues throughout the summer.

Recorded in December at Detroit’s Upper Room Complex, Winans’ DVD stand-up routine consists of uproarious stories as well as a live performance of her hits “Shake Yourself Loose” and “How I Got Over” with her nephew, Tim Bowman, Jr.  She also shot a music video of her son Mario Winans’ “Overcomer” remix.

According to a press release, a unique element to the comedy tour is that Winans has purchased a luxury Sprinter van to transport the homeless in each city to be her special guests at each show. The singer is currently in pre-production for the starring role as “Grace Avery” in the feature film Amazing Grace, a movie centered around the issue of homelessness.  It is an issue that has heightened her sensitivity so much so that she has established a foundation to help decrease homelessness in America.

“My ultimate goal is to build homes and more shelters for the homeless,” says an enthusiastic Winans, “but until then, as many as the bus will hold will be my special guest VIPs for a night of laughter, food and a gift bag!”

The stand-up comedy DVDs will be available in stores, on www.vickiewinans.com, and at every stop along the projected 40-city tour.

Castro Coleman releases free “live” mixtape

Castro Coleman, also known as Cat Cole, released his “live” mixtape online today for absolutely free.  Cole says Strait From Da Soul of Cat Cole is the first of several mixtapes to be released every 90 days while he preps for the release of his forthcoming album, The Favor Factor (4Winds/Malaco Music Group), slated to drop later this year.

The free download is available at http://myxer.com/CATCOLE.

It’s GMF’s First Anniversary!

Today is GMF’s first anniversary!  Praise God and thanks to each and every one of you for your well wishes, feedback, and support.

In the spirit of it being more blessed to give than to receive, GMF will celebrate with a giveaway every Friday, through the month of April.  Be on the lookout for your chance to win.

GMF and its founder and editor–yours truly–will keep celebrating God, enjoying gospel music, and anticipating all that is to come from the many talented people who share their gifts with others.  I can neither hide it nor deny it–I have gospel music fever! 
Always,
Libra Boyd, Founder & Editor
Gospel Music Fever™

Freda Battle’s hit song to be featured on new OWN reality show

Freda Battle
Noted singer/songwriter Freda Battle will have her popular song “For All You’ve Done” featured on the season premiere of the reality show Beverly’s Full House.  The series that follows the family life of supermodel Beverly Johnson will air on Oprah’s OWN network tonight at 10 PM EST.

Freda Battle and the Temple Worshippers first recorded “For All You’ve Done” in 1998.  The assembly re-recorded the piece in 2006, on its Here Is Our Praise project.

Battle is currently readying for the spring release of her fourth album, How Glorious & Excellent is Our God, which will feature appearances from Stephen Hurd, Bobby Perry, Rodney Posey, and others.

Nominees for the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards

William McDowell, John P. Kee, LaCrae, and Kim Burrell are just a few fan favorites who are nominated for Dove Awards this year.  The complete list is available here.

Performances will be by Donnie McClurkin, Ruben Studdard, Mandisa, nominees LaCrae and Kim Burrell and more.

David Mann, famously known as “Leroy S. Brown” from Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns, and comedian Chonda Pierce are the co-hosts.

The awards will be taped April 19, at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre.

Israel releases decade of hits, thanks fans

If you enjoy the worship music Israel Houghton has delivered to the masses for more than ten years, you can now hear some of his best-loved songs on one CD.

The Houston-based worship leader recently released a double-disc collection, Decade, that features twenty-six songs including “Friend of God,” “Not Forgotten,” and “Again, I Say Rejoice.”  The project also contains a new mid-tempo tune, “Jesus At The Center,” which will be the title track of Houghton’s forthcoming project, due to drop this fall.

“After a decade worth of projects, hundreds of songs, thousands of nights of worship, and hundreds of thousands of people who have allowed us to usher them to Jesus, whether by way of recording or live events, I am so grateful that you gave us an opportunity to worship with you,” said the four-time Grammy Award winner to his fans in a statement.

He added, “There’s one decade down and generations more to come.  We feel like we’re just getting started and we’re already putting finishing touches on the first project of the next decade.”

Decade is available in retail stores and all major online portals.

My Purpose – Genita Pugh

Genita Pugh
My Purpose
Eternity Records (2011)
www.genitapugh.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

You won’t hear any vocal acrobatics on Genita Pugh’s current CD.  What you will hear, though, is the heart of a pastor with a passion for her purpose: worship.  My Purpose is a most fitting title for the no-frills alto vocalist’s current project.

The set opens with “Can’t Live,” borrowed from R. Kelly’s “Can’t Sleep.”  From there, “Open My Eyes,” “You Were There for Me,” and “In the Presence of the Lord” deliver a pleasant listening and worship experience.  “Who Can?” does the same, albeit with an uptempo head-bobbing bounce.

Pugh doesn’t neglect her roots, though.  The founder and pastor of Original Worship Ministry has old-fashioned church Mississippi-style with her self-penned toe-tapper “All the Ways of You” and the mid-tempo “Die to Myself.”  Even with this pair of tunes, Pugh stays in her lane–avoiding feverish riffs and vocal cartwheels–supporting the adage that less is sometimes more.  She does give some oomph to the urbanesque “Do You Love the Lord?” an upbeat track accented with beastly slap bass and mean horn swells.

Produced by James Roberson (JDI Music), this project melds nice selections, good writers and musicians, and a singer who is grateful to know her purpose.

Favorites
“Can’t Live” – “Open My Eyes” – “In the Presence of the Lord”

Fever Meter
SIMMERIN’ (3 of 5 Stars)