Tag: Inspirational

"Heartbeat" – Ethan Kent

“Heartbeat”
Ethan Kent (2014)
Tonic Blueprint LLC
Available at iTunes

Ethan Kent "Heartbeat" art work

It’s both a unique and unforgettable way to announce and celebrate the expectancy of one’s firstborn.  Ethan Kent and his wife Audrey have done so by releasing a lullaby entitled “Heartbeat.”

Penned by Ethan along with Jamall Houston, the lullaby is a passionate aural love letter from parent to child (“…before you learn to crawl or walk your own first step / I ain’t perfect, but I vow to do my very best / Know that I’ll give life more just for your heartbeat…”) with the baby’s actual heartbeat synced to the lullaby at the end.

According to Ethan’s blog, he learned of his and his wife’s pregnancy on Father’s Day, following a musical engagement in Chicago.  The mother-to-be requested that he compose a song for “the big announcement.”

“Heartbeat” is available on iTunes, and a portion of the download proceeds will go to prebornfriends.org.

Congratulations to the parents to be!

"Stand Up!" – Jay McGee

“Stand Up!”
Jay McGee
From the CD, Testimony!! (2012)
Beacon Records
Available at CD Baby

Jay McGee Stand Up art work
Jay McGee’s vibe is reminiscent of Sam Cooke and Johnnie Taylor, a couple of the finest and most recognizable voices in soul. Augmenting the vibe is a call he issues through “Stand Up,” from his fourth full-length project, Testimony!! 
 
Simply put, McGee wants those who believe in Jesus Christ to be bold witnesses. “Stand up and be counted / Everywhere you go, let the people know you love Him—My Jesus.”
 
Originally from Fayetteville, NC, McGee is a singer, songwriter, producer, and arranger whose music extends into various genres.

"Leave It All Behind" – Bona

“Leave It All Behind”
Bona (2013)
http://bonasings.com

Bona Leave It All Behind art work

DC area singer/songwriter, guitarist and worship leader Bona ministers a timeless lesson for humanity with her acoustic tune “Leave It All Behind.”

Bona calls her genre acoustic soul worship.  In sultry, yet organic, folksy fashion, she talks about the discipline to forgive, concluding that “sometimes letting go means you gain so much more.”

"You Can Do Anything" – Kendall Triplett

“You Can Do Anything”
Kendall Triplett (2013)
Available on iTunes

Kendall Triplett You Can Do Anything art work

Kendall Triplett could sing R&B; it’s clear he’s been influenced by the genre.  He could dabble in jazz too.  So, I think it’s pretty cool that he’s choosing to bring fresh music to the gospel scene.  Don’t get me wrong though: “You Can Do Anything” is one of those upbeat R&B/pop inspirational tunes that stretches beyond gospel’s boundaries.

The track is written by Grammy nominated songwriter Delisha Thomas (who’s also written for Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber, et al.). Triplett, himself a songwriter in addition to a talented vocalist, has plans to release a full-length project later this year entitled Lose Myself.

"B A Beacon (Se' Un Faro)" – Everett Drake

“B A Beacon (Se’ Un Faro)”
Everett Drake
From the CD, Amen Goes Right There! (2011)
Dherico Music

Everett Drake cover art

It’s not often that you get to hear something like “B A Beacon (Se’ Un Faro)” from Everett Drake.  The reason is that he’s usually seen churning out more traditional tunes with Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones and the Nashville Super Choir.  With songs like this quick-paced Latin jazz piece though, Drake shows that he’s quite capable of writing (along with the project’s producer Derrick Lee) and performing a diverse repertoire of gospel and inspirational music. 

Vocalist Kyla Jade and trumpeter Rod McGaha join Drake on “B A Beacon (Se’ Un Faro)” urging, “B A beacon, let your light shine!” 

"Imagine Me" – Alexis Spight

“Imagine Me”
Alexis Spight
From the upcoming CD, Set Me Free (available March 12, 2013)
Music World Entertainment

From day one of her appearance on BET’s Sunday Best 5, it was apparent to thousands of viewers that Alexis Spight had what it took to go to the finals of the gospel singing contest.  Among her memorable performances was a cover of Kirk Franklin’s “Imagine Me.”  If you were watching that particular Sunday night, you recall that Franklin himself was quite impressed with the 19 year-old red-haired sensation’s arrangement.  Her remake is now heating up radio as the debut single from her forthcoming first album, Set Me Free. 
Spight’s version of “Imagine Me” might strike you simply as nice–that blah nondescript adjective–until you hear her drop a rhyme that reminds you why she stood toe to toe with season winner Joshua Rogers right down to the end.  The Lauryn Hill-esque rap verse along with her smooth-to-the-taste flow, reminiscent of Kim Burrell, is the icing on the cake that elevates her cover of “Imagine Me” from nice to sweet.

"Christ in Me" – Jacqueline T. Powell

“Christ in Me”
Jacqueline T. Powell
From the upcoming CD, Christ in Me (Available October 2012)
www.jacquelinetpowell.com

“Christ in me covers me consistently…” croons Jacqueline T. Powell in her current single “Christ in Me.”  While there is “a war going on,” Powell (who also plays eleven instruments) reminds us that Christ is at work in our lives to free us from our past and propel us toward our purpose.

"Free" – Tim Bowman, Jr.

“Free”
Tim Bowman, Jr.
From the upcoming CD, Beautiful (Available April 24, 2012)
www.timbowmanjr.com

Tim Bowman, Jr. scatted his way to notoriety on his aunt Vickie Winans’ radio hit, “How I Got Over.”  Now the 22 year-old Wayne State University pharmacy student–whose father is the renowned jazz guitarist Tim Bowman, Sr.–is stepping again to the forefront of the music scene with “Free,” the current single from his own soon-to-be-released CD, Beautiful.

“Free is a song that is very dear to me because it is a song that I can relate to myself,” says Bowman, who penned the inspirational song with producer/composer Josh Davis.  “As a young person in a traditional church setting where things are sometimes so cookie cutter or strict, it kinda makes it a little challenging for young people my age to express themselves as it relates to their way of worshipping God.  So this song just simply declares that I’m free to worship, free to shout, free to dance without any restraints or reservations. I want all of my music to cause people to feel again and to be liberated to worship God. So I encourage everyone to declare and walk in your freedom.”

Beautiful drops April 24, and features guest appearances by Vickie Winans and Dorinda Clark Cole.  Marvin Winans, Sr. sits in the producer’s chair for a medley on the 13-track set.

"Don't You Give Up" – Christopher Terrell & The New Journey Project

“Don’t You Give Up”
Christopher Terrell & The New Journey Project
From the upcoming CD, It’s Cool to Love God  (November 4, 2011)
http://www.christopherterrellnewjourneyproject.com/

Christopher Terrell is no stranger to the music scene.  You’ve heard his music on Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls soundtrack (“Struggle No More”), and he’s collaborated with a number of producers and artists from the R&B and hip hop industries.

Just a few years ago, Terrell formed The New Journey Project, and on Friday, November 4, the ensemble will release a brand new CD, It’s Cool to Love God.  He describes the project as “neither traditional nor contemporary gospel,” but versatile with something that he hopes will appeal to everyone.  Take a listen to the current single, “Don’t You Give Up” for yourself.  Its message is clear: hold on, be strong, don’t give up, and God will see you through.

Sizzlin' This Week (8/8/11) – "Jesus Is Love"

My pick this week differs from the usual in that it has not yet been recorded.  Well, actually, Lionel Richie’s “Jesus Is Love” has been recorded, first by his own funk/soul group The Commodores in 1980, and later by several other artists both secular and gospel, including Melvin Williams and Smokie Norful & Heather Headlley.  Richie himself also performed it at the memorial service of his friend Michael Jackson.

My pick, however, is the one performed by none other than “Mama” Sue Roseberry last night on BET’s Sunday Best.  Honestly, the song has never been one of my favorites.  I know.  I’m probably the only one who thinks “Jesus Is Love” is an okay tune, but nothing extra.

Until last night.

Roseberry’s styling and ad libs were nothing short of brilliant, as she embarked upon making it more “wedding-y” (her word) to keep with the show’s “I Do” theme week.  It was enough to stir Donnie McClurkin–and not exactly in the Holy Ghost, either.  In fact, I wrote to BET.  Well, it was really a status update on my Facebook wall:

Dear BET Sunday Best: Mama Sue needs to record that NOW!!!  I don’t even like that song, but her version should become the definitive!

I’m telling you, Fever readers, Mama Sue’s cover of “Jesus Is Love” is a hit waiting to happen.