Tag: News

GMF’s Libra Boyd is guest on Bob Marovich’s “Gospel Memories” Radio Show – June 15

Libra & Bob in 2011

Tune in to Chicago’s WLUW 88.7 FM (or the live webcast at www.gospelmemories.com) this Saturday, June 15 at 11am EST, for host Bob Marovich’s interview with GMF’s Libra Boyd.  Bob is a friend of GMF as well as an author and walking encyclopedia of gospel music history.

“Libra Boyd, founder and editor of Gospel Music
Fever who helped raise the money for the Barrett Sisters documentary,
is our special guest on Saturday’s Gospel Memories. She’ll share with us
her other brushes with gospel royalty.” – Host Bob Marovich

Mickey Martin of the Brooklyn Allstars has died

Gospel promoter Gladys Poteat passed along the news that singer/drummer Mickey Martin died yesterday.

Martin shared his musical talents with many, including the Brooklyn Allstars, the Sons of Zion, Willie Banks and the Messengers, the Gospel Aires and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama.

GMF expresses its sympathy to Mr. Martin’s family, friends, and supporters.

Homegoing arrangements are as follows:

Visitation for Family & Friends
Monday, June 17, 2013
12:30 – 1 PM
 New Light Missionary Baptist Church
1105 Willow Road
Greensboro, NC

Funeral to Follow at 1 PM

Radio veteran, Gospel Announcers Guild officer Donna Creer perishes in fire

GMF extends heartfelt condolences to and prayers on behalf of the family and many friends of gospel radio personality and GMWA Gospel Announcers Guild 2nd Vice President Donna Creer.  She and her husband Donald passed this morning when fire struck their Little Rock, AR home, according to published reports.  (Click here for the story from ABC affiliate KATV.)
Very recently, prayer requests circulated online after Creer was hospitalized due to a reported “serious and critical situation.”

I met Donna last July at GMWA, and she was a warm and kind spirit.  I was blessed by our brief time together, her wealth of knowledge, and her willingness to pass it along.

Homegoing arrangements for the couple, as reported by www.gospelnewsroom.com, are as follows:

Visitation
Thursday, June 20, 2013
12 – 6 PM
Robinson Mortuary
1201 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr.
Little Rock, AR  72202

Memorial Musical 
Thursday, June 20, 2013
6:30 PM
Greater St. Mark Baptist Church
5722 W. 12th St.
Little Rock, AR  72204


Homegoing Celebration
Friday, June 21, 2013
11 AM
Greater St. Mark Baptist Church
5722 W. 12th St.
Little Rock, AR  72204

Homegoing services announced for Rev. Gerald Thompson

From robinsonmortuary.com
GMF is saddened to learn of the passing of Rev. Gerald Thompson on May 22, at age 52.  The noted singer/songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, and preacher’s popular compositions include “Everybody Ought To Know Who Jesus Is,” “Hallelujah I Found Him (The Barnyard Song),” and “Jesus Is My Rock.”  
Rev. Thompson’s discography includes work with the Arkansas Fellowship Mass Choir, Rev. Timothy Wright, Rev. James Moore, and Bishop Paul Morton and the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Mass Choir.  He also co-produced Dottie Peoples’ albums Live At Salem and On Time God.

Additionally, Rev. Thompson served the Greenwood Missionary Baptist Church in Lamar, MS as its pastor and was the founder and president of Gerald Thompson Ministries, Inc.

He is survived his wife Vikki, stepsons, mother, and a host of other relatives.  GMF extends its sincerest condolences.

Homegoing arrangements are as follows:

Musical Tribute
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
6:30 PM
Covenant of Zion Cathedral
3023 W. 12th St.
Little Rock, AR 

Visitation for Family & Friends

Wednesday, May 29, 2013
12 – 6 PM
Robinson Mortuary Chapel
1201 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Little Rock, AR

Homegoing Celebration
Thursday, May 30, 2013
11 AM
Greater Second Baptist Church
5615 Geyer Springs Rd.
Little Rock, AR

Cards can be mailed to The Family of Gerald Thompson, P.O. Box 165818, Little Rock, AR  72202.  Flowers may be sent to Robinson Mortuary.

Are you a youth with talent? “Wilson Idol” Talent Search 2013 wants you!

Click to enlarge
Summerville Promotion and Production Company (SPPC) has begun its search for talented youth to compete in the first annual “Wilson Idol” contest. Wilson Idol is a local competition sponsored by SPPC and Teaching Academics for Life Learning Outreach Ministries (TALL-1 OM) which will find musical, dance and acting talent from Wilson’s youth, ages 10-18.
The competition will give Wilson’s youth an opportunity to showcase their talent in the areas of solo music, band/group music, dance/step and acting. Cash prizes will be awarded and the top performer will be given an opportunity to perform for Pastor Shirley Caesar, Queen of Gospel and will be given a part in the onstage production of the award winning gospel play, “Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child” written and produced by Dr. Mildred Summerville. All winners will be featured in TPC Magazine and within The City Insight and posted on their websites, www.tcpmagazineusa.com and www.thecityinsight.com. This event will showcase diverse talents throughout the community and give all interested youth an opportunity to reach their full potential while building their confidence, social skills, and communication skills.

The competition is being produced by Dr. Mildred Summerville, Founder/CEO of Teaching Academics for Life Learning 1-Outreach Ministries (TALL1-OM). Dr. Summerville established TALL 1-OM, a community-based nonprofit organization, to strengthen academic achievement and bring about a multicultural awareness within the community on various issues hindering students’ academic success. This awareness serves as a strong force for overcoming barriers such as gangs, crime, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, tobacco use and HIV/AIDS prevention. In addition to its focus on academic achievement, TALL-1 aims to help youth with learning enhanced social and life skills to assist them in becoming healthy functioning members of the community.

As a means to carry out its mission, TALL-1 established the James and Leanther Summerville Academy, named to honor Summerville’s parents. The Academy is a community base school serving suspended students from Wilson County Schools offering them an opportunity to continue their education. Its fundamental purpose is to improve academic performance and reduce negative behavior, leading to a decrease in the number of suspensions and dropouts.

Youth can obtain the Wilson Idol Rules and Application Package by calling Dr. Mildred Summerville at 252-230-2689, Marjie Slagle at 252-265-2688, emailing your request to [email protected], or by picking one up at the J&L Summerville Academy, 618 Tarboro St. NE, Wilson, NC 27893. Additional information on Summerville’s Entrepreneur Program can be obtained by calling Dr. Summerville or emailing her at [email protected].

Rev. Arthur T. Jones, co-founder of Florida Mass Choir, has died

Jordan K. Phillips informed GMF that Pastor Arthur T. Jones passed away today after battling cancer since 2010.

Pastor Jones is co-founder of the Florida Mass Choir, with which he recorded and produced several projects.  In 2002, he released his first solo CD, Speak For Me.  He was also the founder and senior pastor of Tampa’s Bible-Based Fellowship Church.

GMF extends condolences to Pastor Jones’ wife, children, other relatives, friends, church family and Florida Mass Choir.

McCollins Thorpe, Sr., of John Thorpe and Family, passes on

Please join GMF in extending condolences to the family and friends of McCollins Thorpe, Sr., who transitioned yesterday, April 30, after a brief illness.  He was 70 years old.
Thorpe was perhaps one of traditional gospel quartet’s best kept secrets with a versatile vibratic tenor that could drive a quartet scorcher, churn out a soul-drenched hymn arrangement, or croon a melodic ballad.  He was a lead singer in his sibling group John Thorpe and Family and can be heard handling lead chores on “I Trust in God” and “I Don’t Mind,” both on the CDs In His Name and John Thorpe and Family “Live” with Dr. Bobby Jones.  Additionally, every Sunday morning listeners could tune in to WKRX 96.7FM to hear Thorpe along with his brothers, called simply The Thorpe Brothers.  He opened every broadcast with the Sam Cooke-popularized version of “Nearer My God to Thee.”
Thorpe was also a dedicated member of several choirs at his home church, New Hope Person Missionary Baptist Church in Timberlake, NC.
In addition to his 13 brothers and sisters, he is survived by three children and a host of other relatives.

Homegoing arrangements, per sister Joyce Bailey, are as follows:

Visitation, Public Viewing & Musical
Saturday, May 4, 2013
6:30 – 8:30 PM
New Hope Person Missionary Baptist Church
1261 Tom Oakley Road
Timberlake, NC 27583

Homegoing Celebration
Sunday, May 5, 2013
2:30 PM
Greater Cleggs Chapel Community Missionary Baptist Church
2601 Surl-Mt. Tirzah Road
Timberlake, NC 27583


Online condolences can be posted at www.whitesmortuary.net.

Damon Little recovering well, personally thanks fans for payers

(Baltimore, MD)  Damon Little announced two weeks ago that he would
have surgery on April 22, but he entered the hospital earlier, on April
15, for emergency open heart surgery, and now he wants everyone to know
his progress in this update letter: 

I just want to take some
time to inform my fans, friends, family, and the gospel music industry
on the progress of my surgery. As momma used to say, “this is from the
horse’s mouth.”  Thanks be to God, my operation went very well.
Although I had a few slight setbacks, I am alive and I want to give God
all the praise.  I was told before surgery that I probably would need
stents, a pacemaker, or animal parts for the bypass surgery, but God
fixed it that when the doctors opened me up they were able to repair my
heart without those things because a supernatural healing had
already begun. I didn’t need a pacemaker, or foreign animal parts to
complete the surgery.

The surgery should have only lasted four
hours but lasted almost eight hours instead. The chief surgeon explained
to me that they fought hard to restart the heart because it was only
working at 18%.  My body was rejecting the heart and would not let the
pulmonary-lung machine go.  The chief surgeon did not want to give up,
and did few other techniques to restart the heart. He believed I was too
young and strong to go out like that.  The doctor told me that he
remembered hearing me say, “yea though I walk through the valley, I will
fear no evil for though art with me” before I received anesthesia.
Saints, God was truly with me because my heart restarted and climbed to
36.5% and has continued to climb. 

After entering ICU, I had
another setback, where mucus began to build up all over my body. My ICU
nurse treated me horribly that night after my surgery. She wasn’t aware
that I was coherent and the more I attempted to communicate with my
hands for help, the more she medicated me for comfort, thinking I was
delirious.  Once again I was at death’s door, but God sent an angel, who
was the morning nurse. He had been off for three days and decided to
come in two hours early for his shift. He found me choking, and started
working on me. Since then I’ve remained stable, and I am now in cardiac
rehab.  I want everyone to know, that I don’t have to assume. I know God
is truly a way maker, so please keep me in your prayers and I will be
speaking to my pastors, radio announcers, promoters, sponsors, and
colleagues in the industry, friends, and family very soon.

On April 27, Damon celebrated “a true birthday of being renewed in spirit
and happy to be alive.”  You can continue to send well wishes to
P.O. Box 29806, Baltimore, MD. 21216, [email protected],
or 410-462-5371.   
Damon has one more request: “Everyone eat a slice of sugar-free cake on my
birthday for me. Lol…I look forward to personally making calls in
May—God Bless.”

Desmond Pringle joins Cancer Treatment Centers of America for concert series

(Zion, IL)  Noted gospel singer/songwriter Desmond Pringle is teaming up with Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) to present a three city inspirational concert event to inspire hope in Chicago, Charleston and Los Angeles as Kingdom Records releases his new CD, Fidelity, on May 14, 2013. His current radio single “Can’t Even Imagine” is #22 on Billboard magazine’s Hot Gospel Songs chart.

The series of music and worship-filled events kicks off in Chicago on Thursday, May 2, with the city’s leading pastors and choirs participating in “An Evening of Inspiration” at 7:30 PM at Grace Apostolic Faith Church.

“I’ve worked with the most prominent Christian artists and leaders of our time, Pringle said, “and I am so very honored to partner with Rev. Percy McCray and Cancer Treatment Centers of America.” Rev. McCray leads the Our Journey of Hope program at CTCA in Illinois, a community outreach program to assist faith based organizations establish ministry programs to support parishioners and their families who are facing life threatening illnesses.

“We are so grateful to the Lord for providing us with this opportunity to serve our congregations most challenged members,” he stated.

“We are going to have a beautiful and inspired time,” said Rev. McCray, who will serve as the MC of the events. “We are offering a night of inspiration and hope with a stellar lineup of invited guests, choirs and ministries. We are extending an invitation to all of the people living with cancer and their supporters to come and bask in the glory,” he added.

On Saturday, May 11, Pringle will perform for leaders in the faith-based community at the Inaugural Red Carpet Awards Dinner Gala at the Alfred Williams Community Center in Charleston, SC.  The Los Angeles “Evening of Inspiration” event, scheduled for June 2013, will feature Pringle and the area’s prominent religious leaders and gospel musicians.

All events are free and open to the public.

George Beverly Shea (1909-2013) of Billy Graham crusades leaves rich legacy

Photo | American Profile

George Beverly Shea, gospel singer widely recognized for his ministry alongside Rev. Billy Graham, died yesterday in Asheville, NC. He was 104 years old.

Read the related New York Times article on his life, career, and passing here: George Beverly Shea, Billy Graham’s singer, dies at 104.