Tag: Music Industry Buzz

Nominees for the 2017 Billboard Music Awards announced

Nominees for the 2017 Billboard Music Awards were announced today.  Travis Greene, Kirk Franklin, and Hezekiah Walker earned three nominations each.  Other nominees in the gospel and Christian categories are:


Top Gospel Artist
Jekalyn Carr
Kirk Franklin
Travis Greene
Tamela Mann
Hezekiah Walker

Top Gospel Album
Tamela Mann, One Way
Kirk Franklin, Losing My Religion
Travis Greene, The Hill
Tasha Cobbs, One Place: Live
Hezekiah Walker, Better: Azusa – The Next Generation 2


Top Gospel Song
Jekalyn Carr, “You’re Bigger”
Tasha Cobbs ft. Kierra Sheard, “Put A Praise On It”
Kirk Franklin, “Wanna Be Happy??”
Travis Greene, “Made A Way”
Hezekiah Walker, “Better”

Top Christian Artist
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong Worship
Hillary Scott & the Family
Skillet
Chris Tomlin


Top Christian Album
Casting Crowns, The Very Next Thing
Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be
Joey + Rory, Hymns
Hillary Scott & The Family, Love Remains
Skillet, Unleashed


Top Christian Song
Lauren Daigle, “Trust In You”
Hillary Scott & The Family, “Thy Will”
Skillet, “Feel Invincible”
Ryan Stevenson ft. GabeReal, “Eye Of The Storm”
Zach Williams, “Chain Breaker”


The Billboard Music Awards will air May 21, 2017, at 8 PM on ABC.  Congrats to this year’s nominees.  The complete list of nominees is available here.

Tasha Cobbs marries music director Kenneth Leonard in private ceremony

GRAMMY®-Winning Recording Artist Tasha Cobbs Weds Acclaimed Music Director & Producer Kenneth Leonard In Surprise Private Ceremony

(Atlanta, GA)  GRAMMY® Award-winning recording artist Tasha Cobbs shocked friends, family and fans this weekend with a surprise wedding to longtime beau, acclaimed music director and producer Kenneth Leonard, Jr.
On Friday, March 3, 2017, the pair exchanged vows before an unsuspecting group of family and close friends who believed they were gathering for a private dinner party. News of the wedding surprised many as it saturated social media, but the nuptials had actually been in the works for quite some time.
“We’ve never kept our relationship a secret, but with both of us working publicly in the music industry, we wanted the opportunity to celebrate privately,” shares Cobbs. “After a year of pre-marital counseling and much planning, the timing was finally perfect. It was incredible to be able to surprise those closest to us!”
Kenneth Leonard, Jr. is the accomplished music director and keyboard player for several artists, including soul singer Anthony Hamilton, R&B songstress Tamia, and Cobbs. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from North Carolina State University, Leonard is also an active music producer. His successful HISound conference equips professional musicians in various areas, including musical skill and industry know-how.
Tasha Cobbs became one of gospel music’s top artists when her 2013 hit, “Break Every Chain,” topped charts and garnered numerous accolades, including a GRAMMY® Award. Named by Billboard Magazine as the Most Streamed Gospel Artist and Top Female Gospel Artist of 2016, Cobbs is currently working on new music, to be released on Motown Gospel later this year.

Deon Kipping announces cancer diagnosis, requests prayers

Gospel singer Deon Kipping took to social media Tuesday (Jan. 17) to announce that he has been diagnosed with stage three cancer and to ask for prayer.


In a video message, he told supporters, “The good news is God is my healer, and I know He has it all under control.”  Deon said he plans to share progress updates via his social media pages.


The singer/songwriter’s announcement comes on the heels of his newly released album, Something to Talk About (RCA Inspiration).


GMF joins a host of well wishers in praying for Deon and his family.

Fortune thankful for prayers following four-car wreck involving drunk driver

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

James Fortune says he is sore but blessed to be alive after a four-car accident involving a drunk driver.

Just last week, a photo was posted to Fortune’s Instagram account along with an urgent request for prayer.  According to the caption, he was en route to church when struck by the drunk driver.  In the photo, Fortune appeared to be on a gurney but was responsive.

The next day, he took to Instagram from his home to thank his supporters for their prayers, adding, “If the enemy’s trying to kill me this early in the year, he gave me a notification that God’s getting ready to do something great in 2017!”

Prayers and well wishes continue to pour in for Cory "CoCo Brother" Condrey

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever


Prayers have been lifted for media personality/pastor, Cory “CoCo Brother” Condrey, ever since the news broke of his involvement in a horrific head-on collision last month.  In the Periscope update that soon followed, his wife, Joann Rosario-Condrey, disclosed that he sustained several breaks and injuries.


Media sources initially reported the head-on collision was near fatal. Yesterday, Cory, who is recovering, tweeted the tragic news that the man who hit him has now passed on.  Prayers and well wishes continue to flood social media as Cory shares his journey to recovery with his supporters. 


If his face or name is familiar, then you probably recognize Cory as the former host of BET’s Lift Every Voice or as the voice of radio shows “The Spirit” and “CoCo Brother Live: The Weekend.”  He and Joann are pastors of RainFire Church Maranatha in Douglasville, GA.

Prayers up for Tonya Lewis Taylor

The following was provided to GMF in a media release.  Please keep Tonya lifted in prayer for a speedy recovery.

(New York, NY – December 1, 2016) Gospel artist Tonya Lewis Taylor was rushed to the emergency room and has been in the hospital since Tuesday.  On Monday night, she started to complain of severe head pains. Tonya, who insists that she doesn’t get headaches, mentioned in a Facebook post that she felt like “her head was about to explode.”  Tonya has a family history of aneurysms and strokes, and she is currently undergoing tests to determine the source of the issue. Please keep her in your prayers!


Tonya Lewis Taylor’s single “I’m A Winner” from her latest project/EP I’ve Got To Win debuted in the top 30 on the Billboard Gospel Charts.  With the highly anticipated release of her national debut album Delayed But Not Denied in 2014 (on which she wrote and co-produced all of the songs), Tonya’s music has seen incredible momentum, blazing radio airwaves.

Lewis-Taylor is not only a singer/songwriter and producer but a teacher, award winning philanthropist and an author.  Wherever she goes, she engages, encourages, and empowers people to reach their full potential in their personal, entrepreneurial and spiritual lives.

Le’Andria Johnson to star in ‘Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child’ stage play at Lincoln Theatre

(Washington, DC)  Tall One Outreach Ministries presents “Spare the Rod, Spoil the
Child” gospel play at the Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street NW, Washington, DC, on November
5, 2016, at 7:30 PM.

The award-winning gospel stage play is written by Dr. Mildred
Summerville and directed by James A. House. In this gripping and engaging dramatic piece,
a woman simply known as “Grandma” serves as the pillar of her surroundings. Her son’s
family is in crisis, and those within her neighborhood are drowning in chronic troubles of
their own. Through it all, Grandma seeks God on behalf of those who are not spiritually
inclined enough to seek Him for themselves. Even those who resent her, such as her son’s
sometimes-rigid wife, Linda, ultimately end up on Grandma’s prayer list. And when the walls
of the lives of those around Grandma seem to come tumbling down, they know who to turn
to for guidance and sound counsel. It’s not always advice that they want to hear, but it is
consistently the precise word needed to steer them in the right direction.

Using spirit-filled music and memorable characters like James, the doting son, Linda, the
insensitive daughter-in-law, Tracy, the high-strung teenager, and Sister Cantaloupe,
Grandma’s feisty sister, “Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child” portrays issues within the community
such as family dysfunction, peer pressure, substance abuse, and other pertinent matters
that are too often inadequately addressed or considered taboo altogether.

Other characters in the cast bring even more drama to the script. In her God-given wisdom,
Grandma confronts Tracy’s suppressed anger and bitterness, convincing her to disclose facts
about a rape kept secret for years. Also, she fervently prays for her grandson, William, who
has a change of heart and averts a life of gang involvement.

Though compounding events take a toll on Grandma, the audience will rejoice in knowing
that this elderly woman’s life was prayer-centered, purpose-inspired and inevitably not at all
lived in vain. Extraordinary drama, corrupt karma, a supportive pastor, and a praying
grandma, all come together to make “Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child” a must-see theatrical
production. Infused with foot-stomping gospel music, this is soul-stirring entertainment that
will warm hearts, tickle funny bones, uplift the spirits, and search the souls of all those who
experience it.

Gracing the stage are Grammy Award winning artist Le’Andria Johnson, gospel singing
sensation Shawn McLemore, who is known for his hit single “I Believe,” featuring James
Fortune, Dr. Pauline Key, and Comedian Trina Jeffrie aka Sis. Cantaloupe. Viewers are
in for an unforgettable experience! The additional supporting cast members are Hope
Demps, Anthony A.D. Demmer, Bria Walker, Trenton Lumpkin, Elizabeth Henry,
Hasan Texeira, Dana Kristina-Joi Morgan, and Rhonda McLemore.

About the Writer/Producer
Dr. Mildred Summerville recently received an award from the
Heritage Registry of Who’s Who in the field of Spiritual Education
Entertainment for her award-winning play, “Spare the Rod, Spoil
the Child,” and she is an exclusive member of the Heritage Top
100. She was also a 2016 Down East Honoree of the Lifetime
Achievement Award. Dr. Summerville is an active member of Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority and Mt. Calvary Word of Faith Church in
Raleigh where she serves as an armor bearer for Pastor Shirley
Caesar. During her association and work with the renowned
gospel artist, Summerville realized she had a zeal and talent for
entertainment.

Source – Summerville Promotion and Production Co.

Ami Rushes teams with Kurt Carr, seeks songwriters for 2017 album

(Los Angeles, CA)  Gospel recording artist Ami Rushes is gearing up for her sixth album and she wants to make you part of the process. As Rushes continues to uplift and inspire with her Sunday morning classics, praise and worship anthems, and foot-stomping, hand-clapping gospel music, she’s seeking songwriters to contribute music for her presently untitled 2017 release that will be produced by the award-winning Kurt Carr.
“I love ‘Standing Up For Jesus’ and spreading His message through gospel music,” says Rushes. “And I’m looking to work with some fresh, new songwriters on music that will encourage God’s people. Come go to church with me and participate in this recording process.”
All interested songwriters should submit original material only—complete songs with music that will professionally record. Submissions should be sent in the mp3 format. Deadline to submit music is Friday, December 16, 2016. For consideration, submit to: [email protected].
As a member of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ and a former singer for the late Rev. James Cleveland, Rushes has a deep appreciation for gospel music and prides herself on maintaining the traditions of the genre.

Jovonta Patton debuts at #1 on Billboard Gospel Albums chart with no radio airplay

It’s a pretty remarkable accomplishment for Minneapolis singer/songwriter Jovonta Patton.  This week, his third album Finally Living debuted at the top of the Billboard Gospel Albums sales chart–with no radio airplay. 


Equally notable is Jovonta’s album sits on two other Billboard charts: the Billboard Christian & Gospel Albums sales chart at number 12 and the Billboard Independent Albums sales chart at number 21. 


In a press release, CEO Marquis Boone of MBE Enterprises said, “We count it an honor to be able to introduce the next generation of artists to the world.  Jovonta is a great talent.  We are excited that he hired our firm to assist him in introducing hi music to the world.  I think Jovonta has a long, wondrous career ahead of him.”  Boone also manages gospel sensations Casey J and Bri Babineaux.  


Jovonta got his start singing at the tender age of four in the choir at Berean Missionary Baptist Church.  He began writing songs at age six.  He cites Donald Lawrence, one of gospel’s prolific songwriters, as his musical hero and says that the 11 tracks on Finally Living are, like Lawrences’s compositions, grounded in the Scriptures. 

Tonya Lewis-Taylor to release new single, ‘I’m A Winner,’ off forthcoming EP

(New York, NY)  EARS Music Group is pleased to announce the release of “I’m A Winner,” the highly anticipated first single off Tonya Lewis Taylor’s forthcoming EP, I’ve Got to Win. Tonya
Lewis Taylor wrote and  co-produced the song with Martin Christie
and  husband J.P. Taylor.  This catchy motivational song features
Tonya’s signature vocals with a strong engaging beat that makes you
want to stand up and declare, “I’m a winner!”  The song is set to hit
airwaves July 11, and will kick off the countdown for the I’ve Got to Win EP coming out later in the month. 

With the highly anticipated release of her national debut album Delayed But Not Denied in
2014 (on which she wrote and co-produced all of the songs), Tonya’s music
has seen incredible momentum, blazing radio airwaves.  Her gospel music
classic, “Thank You,” reached number 15 on the Billboard charts.  Tonya
has been afforded opportunities that emerging artists rarely receive. 
She was hand-picked to be the opening act for the 32-city Festival of Praise Tour with Fred Hammond and Donnie McClurkin. She has been featured on Trinity Broadcasting Network with Clifton Davis, and in concert on TBN’s 15th Street Live.  Tonya has appeared on Bobby Jones Gospel, ABC’s Here & Now, and MSNBC’s Melissa Perry Show. 
Tonya
Lewis-Taylor is not only a gospel singer/songwriter and producer but a
teacher and award-winning philanthropist and author.  Wherever Tonya
Lewis-Taylor goes, she engages, encourages, and empowers people to reach
their full potential in their personal, entrepreneurial and spiritual
lives.  God has fueled this woman with tremendous passion to help
broken people and build character in youth through her Women of Power Fellowship (an organization created to mentor women) and the “I WILL GRADUATE PROGRAM” (youth development organization).  Simply put, she is called to help people become what God created them to be in excellence.
For all things TLT visit www.tonyalewistaylor.com.
From a press release