Tag: Grammy

Caesar to be honored with Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Photo Courtesy of eOne Music

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


The Recording Academy announced today (Dec. 19) that Shirley Caesar is the recipient of one of the seven 2017 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards bestowed by the Academy.  Other Lifetime Achievement Awardees are jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, country singers Charley Pride and Jimmie Rodgers, vocalist Nina Simone, musician/songwriter Sly Stone, and rock band The Velvet Underground. 


According to a press release from The Recording Academy, “The Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates performers who have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording, while the Trustees Award honors contributions in areas other than performance. The recipients are determined by vote of The Recording Academy’s National Board of Trustees. Technical GRAMMY Award recipients are voted on by The Academy’s Producers & Engineers Wing® Advisory Council and Chapter Committees, and are ratified by The Academy’s Trustees. The award is presented to individuals and/or companies who have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording industry.”
Of Pastor Shirley Caesar, The Recording Academy writes, 

A deeply spiritual and affecting gospel singer, Shirley Caesar’s emotive vocal talents were discovered in a church choir when she was 10 years old. She is arguably best known for her eight-year tenure with the Chicago-based gospel group the Caravans, whom she joined after appealing to Albertina Walker to sing a solo with the group. Electing to pursue a solo career in 1966 alongside her own choir, the Caesar Singers, she subsequently carved out a profile that earned her the title of First Lady of Gospel Music. Caesar’s roll call of achievements includes 11 GRAMMY Awards®, 14 Stellar awards, 15 Dove awards, a NAACP Image Award, a Soul Train Music Award, and two current 59th GRAMMY nominations.

Caesar, 78, has enjoyed a highly successful 2016 that, in addition to the GRAMMY nominations for her Billboard chart-topping album Fill This House, has included a number one spot on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart for “Hold My Mule” (as result of the viral Internet success of the “U Name It” Challenge featuring a portion of the sermonette), and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2017 Grammy nominees announced

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


Originally posted Dec. 6, 2016 at 5:30 PM 

Last updated Dec. 6, 2016 at 11:42 PM



Congratulations to gospel’s nominees for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.  Given her extraordinarily successful year, it isn’t surprising that Shirley Caesar earned two noms for Best Gospel Performance/Song (“It’s Alright, It’s OK”) and Best Gospel Album (Fill This House).


Gospel trendsetters Kirk Franklin and Hezekiah Walker also earned nominations, along with Jekalyn Carr, Travis Greene, Tamela Mann, Tim Bowman, Jr., Todd Dulaney, and William Murphy.  In addition, God Don’t Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson received a nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album. The Blind Boys of Alabama picked up a nomination for their performance (“Mother’s Children Have a Hard Time”) on the album in the Best American Roots Performance category.


To see the complete lists in each of the gospel categories, visit: 59th Annual Grammy Awards Nominees [Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Award Genre]


The awards show will air February 12, 2017, at 8 PM ET on CBS.


Pictured left to right from top: Caesar, Greene, Carr, Murphy, Walker, Bowman, Mann, Franklin, and Dulaney.

Gospel winners announced at the 58th Grammy Awards

Congratulations
to the gospel winners at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, announced last
evening (February 15, 2016) in Los Angeles. 

Best Gospel Performance/Song 
“Wanna Be Happy?” – Kirk Franklin
Written by Kirk Franklin

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“Holy Spirit” – Francesca Battistelli
From the album, If We’re Honest (Deluxe Edition)

Best Gospel Album
Covered Alive in Asia [Live] – Israel & New Breed

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
This is Not a Test – Tobymac

Best Roots Gospel Album
Still Rockin’ My Soul – The Fairfield Four

58th Annual Grammy nominees announced

Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever 

Congratulations to gospel’s nominees for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.  Israel & New Breed received two nods.

Pioneering gospel greats, The Fairfield Four, also earned a nomination.  Travis Greene, Jonathan McReynolds, Tasha Cobbs, sisters Dorinda Clark-Cole and Karen Clark Sheard and others are among this year’s nominees as well.

To see the complete list in the gospel categories, visit: 58th Annual Grammy Awards Nominees [Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Award Genre]

The awards show will air February 15, 2016, at 8 PM ET on CBS.

Gospel winners announced at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards

Congratulations to the gospel winners at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, announced last evening (February 8, 2015) in Los Angeles.

Best Gospel Performance/Song
“No Greater Love” – Smokie Norful
Written by Aaron W. Lindsey and Smokie Norful 

Best Contemporary Christian Performance/Song
“Messengers” – Lecrae featuring For King & Country
Written by Torrance Esmond, Ran Jackson, Ricky Jackson, Kenneth Chris Mackey,
Lecrae Moore, Joseph Prielozny, Joel Smallbone and Luke Smallbone
 
Best Gospel Album
Help – Erica Campbell

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. – For King & Country 

Best Roots Gospel Album
Shine For All The People – Mike Farris

Danny Yancey, NC educator and church music director, a finalist for Grammy Foundation award

Danny Yancey, NC educator and church music director, a finalist for Grammy Foundation award

Congratulations are in order for NC educator Danny Yancey, one of 10 music teachers selected from over 7,000 nominees as a finalist for the second annual Music Educator Award presented by The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation.

According to www.grammy.com, “[The] Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators
(kindergarten through college, public and private schools) who have made
a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education
and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining
music education in the schools.”

If Yancey is chosen as recipient from the 10 finalists, he will be flown to Los Angeles to accept the honor, attend the Grammy Awards, and receive $10,000.

Yancey teaches choral music at Martin Gifted & Talented Magnet School in Raleigh.  He is also the music director at Durham’s Monument of Faith Church. He cites his father, Pastor Willie Yancey, and his uncle, Detroit Yancey—gospel singers/writers/musicians and recording artists—as his earliest significant music influences.

57th annual Grammy nominees announced

Congratulations to gospel’s nominees for the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. Erica Campbell and Smokie Norful received two nods each.

The Grammys will air live Sunday, February 8, 2015.

See all the nominees for the gospel categories here: 57th Annual Grammy Awards Nominees [Gospel award genre]

Gospel Winners Announced at the 56th Grammy Awards

Tribbett

Congratulations to gospel winners (highlighted in yellow) at the 56th Grammy Awards, announced this evening in Los Angeles.





Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
For new vocal gospel/CCM recordings. All sub-genres of gospel/CCM music are eligible.

  1. BREAK EVERY CHAIN [LIVE] Tasha Cobbs
    Track from: Grace [Live] [EMI Gospel/ Motown Gospel]     
  2. HURRICANE Natalie Grant [Curb Records] 
  3. LORD, I NEED YOU Matt Maher
    Track from: All The People Said Amen (Live) [Essential Records] 
  4. OVERCOMER Mandisa
    Track from: Overcomer [Sparrow Records] 
  5. IF HE DID IT BEFORE… SAME GOD [LIVE] Tye Tribbett
    Track from: Greater Than [Live] [Motown Gospel]

Best Gospel Song
A Songwriter(s) Award.  (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  1. HAVE YOUR WAY
    Calvin Frazier & Deitrick Haddon, songwriters (Deitrick Haddon)
    [RCA Inspiration; Publishers: Deitrick Vaughn Haddon Publishing/Calvin Frazier Publishing] 
  2. IF HE DID IT BEFORE… SAME GOD [LIVE] Tye Tribbett, songwriter (Tye Tribbett)
    Track from: Greater Than [Live]
    [Motown Gospel; Publisher: Everything Fresh Entertainment LLC] 
  3. IF I BELIEVE
    Wirlie Morris, Michael Paran, Charlie Wilson & Mahin Wilson, songwriters (Charlie Wilson)
    Track from: Love, Charlie
    [RCA Records / P Music Group Inc.; Publishers: Nephew Wirlie Music/EMI Music Publishing/Pacific Coast Pirate Publishing/Mamas Pebbly Publishing] 
  4. A LITTLE MORE JESUS
    Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Erica Campbell)
    [My Block Inc / Eone Music; Publishers: That’s Plum Song-EMI April/It’s Tea Tyme-EMI April/Campbell Kids
  5. STILL Percy Bady, songwriter (Percy Bady Featuring Lowell Pye)
    Track from: Kingdom Inspirations
    [Maranatha! Music/K-Bizz Ent.; Publisher: Kingdom Bizz Songs BMI]

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  1. HURRICANE
    Matt Bronleewe, Natalie Grant & Cindy Morgan, songwriters (Natalie Grant)[Curb Records; Publisher: Razor & Tie Music Publishing] 
  2. LOVE TAKE ME OVER
    Steven Curtis Chapman, songwriter (Steven Curtis Chapman)Track from: The Glorious Unfolding
    [Reunion Records] 
  3. OVERCOMER
    David Garcia, Ben Glover & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Mandisa)Track from: Overcomer
    [Sparrow Records; Publishers: Ariose Music/9T One Songs/Meaux Mercy/LarryDavid Music/Capitol CMG Publishing/Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing/D Soul Music] 
  4. SPEAK LIFE
    Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore & Ryan Stevenson, songwriters (Tobymac)
    Track from: Eye On It
    [Forefront Records; Publishers: Achtober Songs/EMI CMG Publishing/Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing/Songs Of Emack/Jamnu Music/Hole-Steen Music] 
  5. WHOM SHALL I FEAR (GOD OF ANGEL ARMIES) Ed Cash, Scott Cash & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)Track from: Burning Lights
    [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records; Publishers: Sixsteps Songs/Worship Together Music/A Thousand Generations Publishing/EMI CMG Publishing/Alletrop Music/McTyeire Music]

Best Gospel Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal gospel recordings.

  1. GRACE [LIVE]
    Tasha Cobbs
    [EMI Gospel/ Motown Gospel] 
  2. BEST FOR LAST: 20 YEAR CELEBRATION VOL. 1 [LIVE]
    Donald Lawrence
    [Quietwater Entertainment/EOne] 
  3. BEST DAYS YET
    Bishop Paul S. Morton
    [Tehillah Music Group/EOne] 
  4. GOD CHASER [LIVE]
    William Murphy[RCA Inspiration/ Verity Gospel Music Group]
  5. GREATER THAN [LIVE]
    Tye Tribbett
    [Motown Gospel] 

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal contemporary Christian music recordings.

  1. WE WON’T BE SHAKEN Building 429
    [Essential Records]
  2. ALL THE PEOPLE SAID AMEN [LIVE] Matt Maher
    [Essential Records] 
  3. OVERCOMER Mandisa
    [Sparrow Records] 
  4. YOUR GRACE FINDS ME (LIVE) Matt Redman
    [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records] 
  5. BURNING LIGHTS Chris Tomlin
    [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records] 

Gospel Winners Announced at the 56th Grammy Awards

Tribbett

Congratulations to gospel winners (highlighted in yellow) at the 56th Grammy Awards, announced this evening in Los Angeles.



Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
For new vocal gospel/CCM recordings. All sub-genres of gospel/CCM music are eligible.

  1. BREAK EVERY CHAIN [LIVE] Tasha Cobbs
    Track from: Grace [Live] [EMI Gospel/ Motown Gospel]     
  2. HURRICANE Natalie Grant [Curb Records] 
  3. LORD, I NEED YOU Matt Maher
    Track from: All The People Said Amen (Live) [Essential Records] 
  4. OVERCOMER Mandisa
    Track from: Overcomer [Sparrow Records] 
  5. IF HE DID IT BEFORE… SAME GOD [LIVE] Tye Tribbett
    Track from: Greater Than [Live] [Motown Gospel]

Best Gospel Song
A Songwriter(s) Award.  (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  1. HAVE YOUR WAY
    Calvin Frazier & Deitrick Haddon, songwriters (Deitrick Haddon)
    [RCA Inspiration; Publishers: Deitrick Vaughn Haddon Publishing/Calvin Frazier Publishing] 
  2. IF HE DID IT BEFORE… SAME GOD [LIVE] Tye Tribbett, songwriter (Tye Tribbett)
    Track from: Greater Than [Live]
    [Motown Gospel; Publisher: Everything Fresh Entertainment LLC] 
  3. IF I BELIEVE
    Wirlie Morris, Michael Paran, Charlie Wilson & Mahin Wilson, songwriters (Charlie Wilson)
    Track from: Love, Charlie
    [RCA Records / P Music Group Inc.; Publishers: Nephew Wirlie Music/EMI Music Publishing/Pacific Coast Pirate Publishing/Mamas Pebbly Publishing] 
  4. A LITTLE MORE JESUS
    Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Erica Campbell)
    [My Block Inc / Eone Music; Publishers: That’s Plum Song-EMI April/It’s Tea Tyme-EMI April/Campbell Kids
  5. STILL Percy Bady, songwriter (Percy Bady Featuring Lowell Pye)
    Track from: Kingdom Inspirations
    [Maranatha! Music/K-Bizz Ent.; Publisher: Kingdom Bizz Songs BMI]

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  1. HURRICANE
    Matt Bronleewe, Natalie Grant & Cindy Morgan, songwriters (Natalie Grant)[Curb Records; Publisher: Razor & Tie Music Publishing] 
  2. LOVE TAKE ME OVER
    Steven Curtis Chapman, songwriter (Steven Curtis Chapman)Track from: The Glorious Unfolding
    [Reunion Records] 
  3. OVERCOMER
    David Garcia, Ben Glover & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Mandisa)Track from: Overcomer
    [Sparrow Records; Publishers: Ariose Music/9T One Songs/Meaux Mercy/LarryDavid Music/Capitol CMG Publishing/Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing/D Soul Music] 
  4. SPEAK LIFE
    Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore & Ryan Stevenson, songwriters (Tobymac)
    Track from: Eye On It
    [Forefront Records; Publishers: Achtober Songs/EMI CMG Publishing/Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing/Songs Of Emack/Jamnu Music/Hole-Steen Music] 
  5. WHOM SHALL I FEAR (GOD OF ANGEL ARMIES) Ed Cash, Scott Cash & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)Track from: Burning Lights
    [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records; Publishers: Sixsteps Songs/Worship Together Music/A Thousand Generations Publishing/EMI CMG Publishing/Alletrop Music/McTyeire Music]

Best Gospel Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal gospel recordings.

  1. GRACE [LIVE]
    Tasha Cobbs
    [EMI Gospel/ Motown Gospel] 
  2. BEST FOR LAST: 20 YEAR CELEBRATION VOL. 1 [LIVE]
    Donald Lawrence
    [Quietwater Entertainment/EOne] 
  3. BEST DAYS YET
    Bishop Paul S. Morton
    [Tehillah Music Group/EOne] 
  4. GOD CHASER [LIVE]
    William Murphy[RCA Inspiration/ Verity Gospel Music Group]
  5. GREATER THAN [LIVE]
    Tye Tribbett
    [Motown Gospel] 

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal contemporary Christian music recordings.

  1. WE WON’T BE SHAKEN Building 429
    [Essential Records]
  2. ALL THE PEOPLE SAID AMEN [LIVE] Matt Maher
    [Essential Records] 
  3. OVERCOMER Mandisa
    [Sparrow Records] 
  4. YOUR GRACE FINDS ME (LIVE) Matt Redman
    [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records] 
  5. BURNING LIGHTS Chris Tomlin
    [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records] 

List of the 56th Grammy Awards Gospel Nominees

From the NARAS 56th Grammy Final Nominations Press List:

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
For new vocal gospel/CCM recordings. All sub-genres of gospel/CCM music are eligible.

  1. BREAK EVERY CHAIN [LIVE] Tasha Cobbs
    Track from: Grace [Live] [EMI Gospel/ Motown Gospel]     
  2. HURRICANE Natalie Grant [Curb Records]
  3. LORD, I NEED YOU Matt Maher
    Track from: All The People Said Amen (Live) [Essential Records]
  4. OVERCOMER Mandisa
    Track from: Overcomer [Sparrow Records]
  5. IF HE DID IT BEFORE… SAME GOD [LIVE] Tye Tribbett
    Track from: Greater Than [Live] [Motown Gospel]

Best Gospel Song
A Songwriter(s) Award.  (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  1. HAVE YOUR WAY
    Calvin Frazier & Deitrick Haddon, songwriters (Deitrick Haddon)
    [RCA Inspiration; Publishers: Deitrick Vaughn Haddon Publishing/Calvin Frazier Publishing]
  2. IF HE DID IT BEFORE… SAME GOD [LIVE] Tye Tribbett, songwriter (Tye Tribbett)
    Track from: Greater Than [Live]
    [Motown Gospel; Publisher: Everything Fresh Entertainment LLC]
  3. IF I BELIEVE
    Wirlie Morris, Michael Paran, Charlie Wilson & Mahin Wilson, songwriters (Charlie Wilson)
    Track from: Love, Charlie
    [RCA Records / P Music Group Inc.; Publishers: Nephew Wirlie Music/EMI Music Publishing/Pacific Coast Pirate Publishing/Mamas Pebbly Publishing]
  4. A LITTLE MORE JESUS
    Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Erica Campbell)
    [My Block Inc / Eone Music; Publishers: That’s Plum Song-EMI April/It’s Tea Tyme-EMI April/Campbell Kids
  5. STILL Percy Bady, songwriter (Percy Bady Featuring Lowell Pye)
    Track from: Kingdom Inspirations
    [Maranatha! Music/K-Bizz Ent.; Publisher: Kingdom Bizz Songs BMI]

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  1. HURRICANE
    Matt Bronleewe, Natalie Grant & Cindy Morgan, songwriters (Natalie Grant)[Curb Records; Publisher: Razor & Tie Music Publishing]
  2. LOVE TAKE ME OVER
    Steven Curtis Chapman, songwriter (Steven Curtis Chapman)Track from: The Glorious Unfolding
    [Reunion Records]
  3. OVERCOMER
    David Garcia, Ben Glover & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Mandisa)Track from: Overcomer
    [Sparrow Records; Publishers: Ariose Music/9T One Songs/Meaux Mercy/LarryDavid Music/Capitol CMG Publishing/Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing/D Soul Music]
  4. SPEAK LIFE
    Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore & Ryan Stevenson, songwriters (Tobymac)
    Track from: Eye On It
    [Forefront Records; Publishers: Achtober Songs/EMI CMG Publishing/Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing/Songs Of Emack/Jamnu Music/Hole-Steen Music]
  5. WHOM SHALL I FEAR (GOD OF ANGEL ARMIES) Ed Cash, Scott Cash & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)Track from: Burning Lights
    [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records; Publishers: Sixsteps Songs/Worship Together Music/A Thousand Generations Publishing/EMI CMG Publishing/Alletrop Music/McTyeire Music]

Best Gospel Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal gospel recordings.

  1. GRACE [LIVE]
    Tasha Cobbs
    [EMI Gospel/ Motown Gospel]
  2. BEST FOR LAST: 20 YEAR CELEBRATION VOL. 1 [LIVE]
    Donald Lawrence
    [Quietwater Entertainment/EOne]
  3. BEST DAYS YET
    Bishop Paul S. Morton
    [Tehillah Music Group/EOne]
  4. GOD CHASER [LIVE]
    William Murphy[RCA Inspiration/ Verity Gospel Music Group]
  5. GREATER THAN [LIVE]
    Tye Tribbett
    [Motown Gospel] 

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal contemporary Christian music recordings.

  1. WE WON’T BE SHAKEN Building 429
    [Essential Records]
  2. ALL THE PEOPLE SAID AMEN [LIVE] Matt Maher
    [Essential Records]
  3. OVERCOMER Mandisa
    [Sparrow Records]
  4. YOUR GRACE FINDS ME (LIVE) Matt Redman
    [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records]
  5. BURNING LIGHTS Chris Tomlin
    [sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records]