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An Open Letter to the NAACP Image Awards – Memorial Segment Omissions

Editor’s Note: International gospel music veterans Delois Barrett Campbell and Jessy Dixon passed away in August and September 2011, respectively; however, both were excluded from the NAACP Image Awards memorial segment.  The following inquiry was initially sent as a private email to the Image Awards on Friday, February 17, 2012, immediately following its airing on NBC.  After waiting nearly one month for a response, I sent a second email Thursday, March 15, 2012.  To date, I still have not received any acknowledgment of my emails.
 
 

Dear NAACP Image Awards:

I am extremely disturbed that two giants in gospel music, Delois Barrett Campbell and Rev. Jessy Dixon, were omitted from the 2012 program’s memorial segment.  Certainly, gospel music has been the foundation of the African-American experience and should be revered as such.

President Barack Obama posits that “the potent words of gospel gave strength to a generation that rose above the din of hatred to move our country toward justice and equality for all.”  Delois Barrett Campbell was one such voice.  She is hailed as “The Royal Lady of Gospel” and recognized internationally for her pioneering contributions to the art form.  Media coverage of her passing was massive, and her three-day funeral services brought tributes from President Obama, Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson, Rev. Jesse Jackson and others.  The New York Times published a well-written article chronicling her seven-decade career.

Singer/songwriter/musician Rev. Jessy Dixon’s discography includes collaborations with Paul Simon, Diana Ross, Earth, Wind & Fire, Billy Preston, and James Cleveland–and this is the short list.  The Chicago Sun-Times published a piece detailing his impact on the music industry.  The 54th Grammy Awards mentioned him in its memorial segment; unfortunately, the NAACP Image Awards did not.

I submit this inquiry: If we do not esteem our own, who will?  If we do not honor our own in death as we have celebrated our own in life, who will?  If we fail to recognize those who blazed trails for Jennifer Hudson, Aretha Franklin, Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence, and Kirk Franklin, who will?

I am kindly requesting a reply and explanation of these omissions.  Thank you in advance for taking time to address my concern about these exclusions.  I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Libra N. Boyd, Founder & Editor
Gospel Music Fever™

Members of the gospel community support justice for Trayvon Martin

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Utterly tragic is the February 26th murder of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin.  Utterly outrageous is that Sanford, FL police state they don’t have sufficient evidence to refute the gunman’s claim of self defense, and therefore can’t arrest him.
 
Are you kidding me?  Martin was unarmed, carrying a bag of Skittles and a bottle of iced tea.  George Zimmerman, the gunman, pursued him, despite being told by a 911 dispatcher not to.  Details of the case are too many to recall here; you can refer to ABC News for the overview.
 
This matter reeks of the racism that remains alive and pervasive in this society.  Martin is Black; Zimmerman is White and Hispanic.  I posit, however, that even if one removes the notion of race as a factor, the matter is equally egregious: an adult followed and murdered an unarmed child holding some candy and a drink.
 
Numerous congregations wore hoodies yesterday, symbolic of their stand against senseless violence and injustice.  I wore mine also–along with a badge of Trayvon Martin and me pictured in hoodies, side by side.  Underneath was a scripture from 1 Samuel 17:29: “And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”
 
And like Mahalia Jackson, Sallie Martin, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other gospel singers and clerics who were vocal about the issues of injustice in their day (especially during the 1960’s civil rights movement), people from the gospel community are speaking out in their own way regarding this injustice.
 
 
Fortune’s Twitter Avatar
“Where’s the justice?” asked James Fortune on Twitter.  He also changed his avatar in protest.
 
Brian Courtney Wilson tweeted, “Still expecting justice for #TrayvonMartin.” 
 
“So Zimmerman says he’s sorry for shooting #Trayvon Martin?” producer Kevin Bond posted on Twitter just this morning.  “Yet you were standing your ground? #FOOLISHNESS and #RACIST!”
 
 
Perhaps with reconciliation at the heart of his tweet, Pastor John P. Kee posted, “Wish I could grab 3 of my nephews! We’d roll into Florida and find Zimmerman and pray with him!”  He, too, donned a hoodie in his avatar.  (See more photos of other gospel artists who are showing support for Trayvon Martin at  NuthinButGospel blog.)
 
Today, Pastor Jamal Bryant and others will lead a National March of Justice at Centennial Park in Sanford, FL.  Accordingly, the prominent pastor tweeted this morning, “Dear Lord 2day get justice 4 TRAYVON, redeem those who’ve been done wrong, protect kids from harm & don’t let us wait long!”
 
I am glad to see the gospel community join this fight, and I hope the momentum continues.  In his work, Privilege, Power, and Difference, sociologist Allan G. Johnson asserts, “There is no such thing as doing nothing. There is no such thing as being neutral or uninvolved. At every moment, social life involves all of us.”

“Little Old Lady’s” gospel goes viral on YouTube

Hundreds of thousands of gospel heads have seen the video on YouTube titled, “This Little Old Lady WIPED the church OUT!!!” in which Sis. Rowena Smith works the congregation into a frenzy with “To God Be The Glory (My Tribute).”  With over a million views to date, it’s entirely appropriate to say that the octogenarian has become a YouTube sensation.

Patty Stohlman at www.nola.com recently caught up with Sis. Smith to talk with her about her newfound widespread popularity.  Her initial reaction is priceless. See St. Rose Gospel Singer Becomes A Surprise Hit On YouTube.

"Hello God" – Eunice Wright

“Hello God”
Eunice Wright
From the upcoming CD, Worth It All (Available April 10, 2012)
www.eunicewright.com

Eunice Wright’s contemporary christian flavored “Hello God” is a refreshing way to invite the Father to take center stage in your life.

“Make Yourself comfortable,” Wright bids, “for Your presence just made my day.”

The worship single is being greeted warmly on radio and is featured on the award-winning psalmist’s forthcoming CD, Worth It All.

Though still rather new to the industry, Wright is not new to singing or ministry.  Her first release, Wait On Me, earned her three awards and thirteen other award nominations including Stellar, the Rhythm of Gospel, and South Florida Gospel Music Awards recognition. 

“Hello God” is presently available for download free on the official Eunice Wright website: www.eunicewright.com.

Zacardi Cortez teases fans with five-track digital EP

Ever since his vocal contributions to James Fortune & FIYA’s “The Blood” and “I Believe,” it seems folks just can’t get enough of Zacardi Cortez. 

The buzz about the 26 year-old’s debut CD, Zacardi Cortez: The Introduction, is so strong that a five-song digital EP has been released to tide fans over until the full-length project drops later this spring.

The self-titled EP is now live and available for streaming and downloading on iTunes, Amazon.com, Google Play, eMusic.com, Rhapsody, Spotify.com, and Zune.

"A Story to Tell" – North Carolina Community Choir

“A Story to Tell”
North Carolina Community Choir feat. Darrell Luster
4Winds/Malaco Music Group (2012) 
www.malaco.com 

Originally posted March 20, 2012 at 7:58AM
Last Updated March 21, 2012 at 11:52AM

Darrell Luster takes the lead on North Carolina Community Choir’s new single “A Story to Tell.”

“What’s that behind that smile on your face?” the choir inquires over the unhurried horn-laced musical backdrop. “What kind of pain are you trying to erase?  How do you hide it–hide it so well?”

“I’ll bet you’ve got a story,” Luster interposes.  The choir returns, “A story to tell!” 

The choir was originally formed in 2008, under the direction of Ray Braswell, Jr. and James Bellamy in Rocky Mount, from the vision of Dr. Thomas L. Walker (known for his circa 1980 gospel gold album One Day at a Time).  At that time, the aggregation was called The Promise Choir.  Sometime later, the choir was revamped and renamed with Luster, Braswell, and songwriter Brian Foster at the helm.

The choir has performed on Bobby Jones Gospel, and has sung on projects by The Sensational Nightingales (Live in Rocky Mount), Darrell Luster & F.C. Barnes (“He Won’t Change”), and Lil’ Blair & The Fantastic Heirs.

“A Story to Tell” is a compelling preface to the North Carolina Community Choir’s upcoming CD memoir.

Message of Stephen Hurd’s new CD: Worship is for men, too

Press Release from Bill Carpenter

Over the last decade, Stephen Hurd has distinguished himself as one of the leading voices in urban praise and worship music and his songs “Undignified” and “Lead Me To The Rock” are sung at faith gatherings around the globe. Now, he’s preparing to release his most ambitious project yet, O That Men Would Worship, his sixth CD and the first on his own Hurd The Word recording label.  He has designed the new CD as a tool to inspire men to take on a greater leadership role in church worship services.

Recorded live at The First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro, MD, where Hurd is the Minister of Music, the collection is scheduled to hit retail stores on March 20, via a distribution deal with Central South Distribution, Inc.

“My goal is to get men and especially men of color to realize that worship is not a feminine sport,” Hurd says. “In this season, I feel we should come together and lift up a sound that has the power to change families and strengthen communities and help brothers to get a glimpse of what real worship is. I think when men see other men worship it gives them freedom to worship without feeling emasculated.”

Joining Hurd for this manly worship experience are Verity Records artist Jason Nelson, Christian pop artist Anthony Evans and Minister Deonte Gray who is a member of the 7 Sons of Soul vocal group. Hurd created an all male sextet of singers to back certain songs and a coed group called Extol to back the CD as a whole. Aside from co-writing most of the songs, Hurd produced the fifteen track set alongside up-and-coming producers Kenny Shelton and Anthony Brown. Celebrated producer Steve Ford, who’s worked with acts ranging from Phyllis Hyman to Richard Smallwood, created the lush string arrangements while the in-demand Phil Lassiter (John P. Kee, Marvin Sapp) delivered the hearty horn arrangements.

“It was the easiest thing I’ve ever done,” Hurd says of the recording. “There was no drama. Everybody was excited to be there and came with the attitude of what can I do to make this impact?”

A praise party mini-concert to celebrate the new CD is set for Tuesday, March 20, at 7:30 PM, at First Baptist Church of Glenarden.  There is no admission and CDs will be available for purchase. The church is located at 600 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774. Visit www.hurdthewordmusic.com for more information on Hurd.

Thank You for Saving Me – Catalog Vol. II – Minister Johnson

Minister Johnson
Thank You For Saving Me – Catalog Vol. II
Psalms Way Music Ministry (2011)
www.theministerjohnsoncatalog.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Minister Lamont C. Johnson’s Thank You For Saving Me – Catalog Vol. II is full of west coast flair.  The Sacramento songwriter and minister of music’s charisma is apparent from the CD’s opening track, the trotting “Won’t Just Say I’m Saved,” but it’s really the collaborations that nicely round out this 13-song contemporary gospel project.

“I’m Doing It God’s Way (Women’s Anthem),” which I’d be none surprised to hear in a gospel stage play, features Carla Fleming as a Godly woman laying out her standards to the player who wants to “just kick it.”  The anthem is dedicated to Minister Johnson’s wife, Felicia, whose commitment to sexual purity before marriage changed his walk with the Lord.

Adrian Weatherspoon joins Minister Johnson for “They Never Knew You Were God,” a slow, heartfelt preface to the subsequent “You Are the King,” which features Deneen Cox’s warmly textured contralto over a bed of velvety background vocals.

On the title track, Minister Johnson croons an ode of gratitude to his Savior atop minimal musical accompaniment: finger snaps, electric piano, and guitar.  Norman McDaniel eventually takes the guitar solo and crafts an intimate melody for the final few bars.

Other selections are in the vein of today’s popular contemporary music, save the ear-arresting “God’s Time.”  Surely, it’s the lyrics targeted to the members of “Bedside Baptist Church” that will prompt you to “get up, get dressed, and get in” to a house of worship on Sunday morning! 

Thank You For Saving Me – Catalog Vol. II is a testament to Minister Johnson’s diversity as a songwriter and zeal for spreading the gospel through music.

Favorites
“You Are the King” – “Thank You For Saving Me”

Fever Meter
SIMMERIN’ (3 of 5 Stars)