Tag: Earnest Pugh

Pugh leaves Houston’s Lighthouse Church, launches non-profit

Earnest Pugh

Earnest Pugh is ending his tenure as pastor of worship at Lighthouse Church in Houston.

“Pastor Keion Henderson and I mutually agreed that seasons have changed,” Pugh stated in a press release.  “I am moving on to pursue some dreams that have laid dormant in my heart for years.  Our joint efforts of laboring in the vineyard at Lighthouse have been fruitful and we believe God’s best is yet to come for all involved parties.  To God be the glory for the wonderful things He has done, is doing and will do to advance the Kingdom through our lives and ministries.”

In upcoming months, Pugh will launch Vets Rock, a non-profit organization to assist women combat veterans.  A vet himself, the singer is retired from 15 years of active-duty in the Army.  The organization’s official launch on November 21 in Washington, DC will include an “Oh Give Thanks” concert, a Thanksgiving dinner voucher giveaway to 250 vets and their families, and a birthday gala for Pugh.

In addition to establishing Vets Rock, Pugh is reportedly beginning a 50-city tour to commemorate his journey to 50 years of life and more than 20 years in the gospel music industry.

Earnest Pugh to receive Alumni Award for the Arts from Howard U. School of Divinity

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever
 
Congratulations to Earnest Pugh (“I Need Your Glory” and “Rain on Us”) who will be presented with the Alumni Award for the Arts this weekend by the alumni association of his alma mater, Howard University School of Divinity. Pugh earned the M.Div. degree there while balancing his successful recording career and serving in the music department at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, MD. (He is also the recipient of the honorary Doctorate of Divinity in Christian Counseling from The Institute for Teaching God’s Word in Rockdale, TX.)

In a press release, Pugh comments,

I view
this as one of the greatest accomplishments in my life to be honored by
my alma mater. My tenure at HUSD was instrumental in
shaping, molding, and developing me into the man, preacher and artist
that I am today.


The weekend begins with Howard University School of Divinity’s third annual Alumni Association Awards Banquet and concert, featuring Pugh, on Saturday, April 25.  On Sunday morning, April 26, he will perform at Ebenezer’s 7:45am worship service, before attending Howard University’s main campus to receive the alumni award.

Here’s the weekend at a glance:

Saturday, April 25, 2015
Concert featuring Earnest Pugh at 5:30 PM
Howard University School of Divinity’s 3rd Annual Alumni Association Awards Banquet
Armour J. Blackburn University Center
2397 Sixth Street NW
Washington, DC 20059
(Red carpet arrival and reception at 3 PM; dinner at 4 PM)
 
Concert featuring Earnest Pugh at 7 PM
In celebration of Howard Univ. School of Divinity Professor Robert G. Childs’ 30th pastoral anniversary

Berean Baptist Church
924 Madison St. NW
Washington, DC 20011
(Concert proceeds go to the alumni association’s scholarship fund)


Sunday, April 26, 2015
Special performance by Earnest Pugh at 7:45 AM worship
Ebenezer A.ME. Church
7707 Allentown Road
Fort Washington, MD 20744

Earnest Pugh headlines "The Men of Worship" tour, promotes new CD

Earnest Pugh

It was announced today by Bill Carpenter that Earnest Pugh is headlining “The Men of Worship Tour,” which kicks off with an appearance at Bishop T.D. Jakes’ MegaFest on Friday, August 30, at 8:30am.  Joining Pugh on “The Men of Worship Tour” will be EPM Music Group recording artists Keith Williams and Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis. Williams releases his sophomore urban contemporary CD Tone For Worship on September 10, and Tharpe is pushing his current CD Live in Memphis.

From there, Pugh will weave fifteen listening party concert dates for his forthcoming CD The W.I.N. (Worship in Nassau) Experience into his regularly scheduled touring dates.  The new CD is produced by Grammy winner Cedric Thompson and features appearances by Shirley Caesar, Rance Allen, LeJuene Thompson, and Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis.

You can get news updates on Pugh, book “The Men of Worship Tour” for your church, and or his confirmed tour dates at earnestpugh.com or by calling 301-259-1419.  You can also stream snippets from the new album at https://soundcloud.com/earnest-pugh.

Churchy Christmas/Joy to the World – Beverly Crawford & JDI Christmas

Beverly Crawford and JDI Christmas
Churchy Christmas / Joy to the World
JDI Records (2012)
 
By Libra Boyd
 

You need not hear anything beyond this CD’s opening track to understand exactly why it’s called Churchy Christmas.

If your spirits need uplift this holiday season, Beverly Crawford and her labelmates at JDI Records have just what you need. Crawford herself kicks off Churchy Christmas with “Joy to the World,” a traditional Christmas carol recorded live in Dallas that she transforms into a high energy fire-starter. She’s backed by the 200-voice Antioch Fellowship Voices of Praise. (GMF recently shared the official video.)  The scorcher is followed by Shanika Bereal’s “Precious Lamb of God” and Gary Mayes and Nu Era’s “Don’t 4get the Baby,” featuring the sensational Nakitta Clegg Foxx (of the Kurt Carr Singers).  Both selections stand out beautifully for tenderly rendered vocals.

But it’s not just the ladies who deliver on this project.  Professor James Roberson ministers a flawless interpretation of the BeBe Winans ballad “I Wanna Be More,” and Patrick Lundy and The Ministers of Music sprinkle in some Yuletide funk with the bouncy “Emmanuel” (written by Cedric Thompson).  Earnest Pugh comes along and serenades the Savior on the jazzy “Hosanna” (which hints ever so slightly to Kool & the Gang’s “Joanna”), elevating the chorus after announcing, “I feel a key change in the house right here!” There’s still room for one more drive though, and that belongs to Chester D.T. Baldwin on “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” backed by a jubilant choir and band as he takes us on modulation after modulation.
 
Genita Pugh (“Holy to the Lamb”) and saxophonist Donald Hayes (“What Child Is This”) round out Churchy Christmas, making this CD one of the nicest and churchiest I’ve heard this season.
 
Favorites
“Joy to the World” – “Don’t 4get the Baby” – “Holy to the Lamb”

Fever Meter
SMOKIN’ (4 of 5 Stars)

It’s Official: Earnest Pugh signs Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis

Gospel sensation Earnest Pugh has officially signed Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis to EPM Music Group.  The dynamic gospel ensemble will release its new CD Live in Memphis on October 30, 2012.  The single “Thank You, Lord” is already heating up the airwaves.

Pugh was inspired to sign the rising group after they performed Pugh’s hit “I Need Your Glory” at a TV taping for the Gospel Superfest.

“They did what they do and `brought it’ in a major way and I wanted to give them this opportunity to `bring it’ on a national level,” remarks Pugh on his decision.  “I’m very optimistic about their ministry because they manage to attract young adults but they are also seasoned enough to capture the attention of the mature church crowd as well”.

For more information on Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis and other EPM Music Group acts, visit www.epmmusicgroup.com.

Above, left to right: Keith Williams, President of EPM Music Group; Vincent Tharpe (new artist); and Earnest Pugh, Founder & CEO of EPM Music Group.