Tag: News

Castro Coleman releases free “live” mixtape

Castro Coleman, also known as Cat Cole, released his “live” mixtape online today for absolutely free.  Cole says Strait From Da Soul of Cat Cole is the first of several mixtapes to be released every 90 days while he preps for the release of his forthcoming album, The Favor Factor (4Winds/Malaco Music Group), slated to drop later this year.

The free download is available at http://myxer.com/CATCOLE.

Freda Battle’s hit song to be featured on new OWN reality show

Freda Battle
Noted singer/songwriter Freda Battle will have her popular song “For All You’ve Done” featured on the season premiere of the reality show Beverly’s Full House.  The series that follows the family life of supermodel Beverly Johnson will air on Oprah’s OWN network tonight at 10 PM EST.

Freda Battle and the Temple Worshippers first recorded “For All You’ve Done” in 1998.  The assembly re-recorded the piece in 2006, on its Here Is Our Praise project.

Battle is currently readying for the spring release of her fourth album, How Glorious & Excellent is Our God, which will feature appearances from Stephen Hurd, Bobby Perry, Rodney Posey, and others.

Nominees for the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards

William McDowell, John P. Kee, LaCrae, and Kim Burrell are just a few fan favorites who are nominated for Dove Awards this year.  The complete list is available here.

Performances will be by Donnie McClurkin, Ruben Studdard, Mandisa, nominees LaCrae and Kim Burrell and more.

David Mann, famously known as “Leroy S. Brown” from Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns, and comedian Chonda Pierce are the co-hosts.

The awards will be taped April 19, at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre.

Israel releases decade of hits, thanks fans

If you enjoy the worship music Israel Houghton has delivered to the masses for more than ten years, you can now hear some of his best-loved songs on one CD.

The Houston-based worship leader recently released a double-disc collection, Decade, that features twenty-six songs including “Friend of God,” “Not Forgotten,” and “Again, I Say Rejoice.”  The project also contains a new mid-tempo tune, “Jesus At The Center,” which will be the title track of Houghton’s forthcoming project, due to drop this fall.

“After a decade worth of projects, hundreds of songs, thousands of nights of worship, and hundreds of thousands of people who have allowed us to usher them to Jesus, whether by way of recording or live events, I am so grateful that you gave us an opportunity to worship with you,” said the four-time Grammy Award winner to his fans in a statement.

He added, “There’s one decade down and generations more to come.  We feel like we’re just getting started and we’re already putting finishing touches on the first project of the next decade.”

Decade is available in retail stores and all major online portals.

Video – 2012 NCGAG Prestige Award Nominees Announced

Pastor Arvetra Jones, Jr., president of the NC Gospel Announcers’ Guild has announced this year’s Prestige Award nominees.  The awards banquet will be Friday, May 18, at 7 PM, at Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham.  Visit www.ncgag.org for more info.

Zacardi Cortez teases fans with five-track digital EP

Ever since his vocal contributions to James Fortune & FIYA’s “The Blood” and “I Believe,” it seems folks just can’t get enough of Zacardi Cortez. 

The buzz about the 26 year-old’s debut CD, Zacardi Cortez: The Introduction, is so strong that a five-song digital EP has been released to tide fans over until the full-length project drops later this spring.

The self-titled EP is now live and available for streaming and downloading on iTunes, Amazon.com, Google Play, eMusic.com, Rhapsody, Spotify.com, and Zune.

Message of Stephen Hurd’s new CD: Worship is for men, too

Press Release from Bill Carpenter

Over the last decade, Stephen Hurd has distinguished himself as one of the leading voices in urban praise and worship music and his songs “Undignified” and “Lead Me To The Rock” are sung at faith gatherings around the globe. Now, he’s preparing to release his most ambitious project yet, O That Men Would Worship, his sixth CD and the first on his own Hurd The Word recording label.  He has designed the new CD as a tool to inspire men to take on a greater leadership role in church worship services.

Recorded live at The First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro, MD, where Hurd is the Minister of Music, the collection is scheduled to hit retail stores on March 20, via a distribution deal with Central South Distribution, Inc.

“My goal is to get men and especially men of color to realize that worship is not a feminine sport,” Hurd says. “In this season, I feel we should come together and lift up a sound that has the power to change families and strengthen communities and help brothers to get a glimpse of what real worship is. I think when men see other men worship it gives them freedom to worship without feeling emasculated.”

Joining Hurd for this manly worship experience are Verity Records artist Jason Nelson, Christian pop artist Anthony Evans and Minister Deonte Gray who is a member of the 7 Sons of Soul vocal group. Hurd created an all male sextet of singers to back certain songs and a coed group called Extol to back the CD as a whole. Aside from co-writing most of the songs, Hurd produced the fifteen track set alongside up-and-coming producers Kenny Shelton and Anthony Brown. Celebrated producer Steve Ford, who’s worked with acts ranging from Phyllis Hyman to Richard Smallwood, created the lush string arrangements while the in-demand Phil Lassiter (John P. Kee, Marvin Sapp) delivered the hearty horn arrangements.

“It was the easiest thing I’ve ever done,” Hurd says of the recording. “There was no drama. Everybody was excited to be there and came with the attitude of what can I do to make this impact?”

A praise party mini-concert to celebrate the new CD is set for Tuesday, March 20, at 7:30 PM, at First Baptist Church of Glenarden.  There is no admission and CDs will be available for purchase. The church is located at 600 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774. Visit www.hurdthewordmusic.com for more information on Hurd.

Shirley Caesar to be crowned “Queen of Gospel” – CALLING ALL FANS

Originally posted March 10, 2012 at 8:18PM
Last Updated April 26, 2012 at 3:08PM
Albertina Walker and Shirley Caesar

 

GMF has learned from Mildred Summerville that the “First Lady of Gospel” Pastor Shirley Caesar will be feted on April 29, 2012, during which she will be crowned the “Queen of Gospel.”  The metaphorical crown was previously worn by the late Albertina Walker, who passed October 2010.  Pastor Caesar, an alumna of the famous Caravans, considers Walker as a mentor, friend, and legend on whose shoulders she stands.

A multiple Grammy, Stellar and Dove award winner, Pastor Caesar is one of the most recognized and beloved women in gospel music, both here and abroad.  Her recording career stretches across six decades.

The crowning ceremony will take place at Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church (3100 Sanderford Road, Raleigh, NC), at 4 PM, where Caesar pastors.  The service will feature a host of gospel singers and performers including six year-old Symone Spencer, performing as Baby Shirley Caesar, Michael Boone, Leniyus Sullivan, Fayetteville State University Choir United Voices of Praise, Mount Calvary Word of Faith Choir, and the mini-stage play “Hold My Mule” by Lucy Hawkins of the 700 Club. 

Click flyer to enlarge

Also performing are: The Caesar Singers, Virginia Beach, Juan Santiago and JSUP, The Maryland Mass Chior, Ruth La’Ontra Jones, Bishop Floyd Knowlin & Lighthouse Choir, Steve Johnson & Singers, New Bethel Baptist Choir, TDK Mime, and Anointed Voices of Praise.

Jerry Smith of The Light 103.9FM and Peggy Tatum of TCP Magazine will host.

The service is open to the public and all seats are free.

Update (3/17/12):  A fan club donation along with congratulatory cards will be presented to Pastor Caesar during the ceremony.  This is your chance to give her flowers while she can enjoy them, by showing her just how much her music has meant to you.

Cards as well as donations of any amount are welcomed.  All checks should be made payable to Pastor Shirley Caesar and mailed to:

Dr. Mildred Summerville
Fan Club Coordinator
P.O. Box 21
Wilson, NC  27894

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Grand Opening of Greensboro’s Club EnCORE

It’s being called Greensboro’s premier spot for Christian nightlife.  Tonight, you can check it out for yourself at the grand opening of Club EnCORE.
Christian hip-hop crew, The C.O.R.E. will perform along with other guests.
When: March 10, 2012
Where: 2100 E. Wendover Avenue, Greensboro, NC  27405
Time: 7 PM until
Admission: General – $10; College Students – $7

Fred, Le’Andria, Ledisi to perform at BET’s 12th Celebration of Gospel

Fred Hammond
Gospel’s “main man” Fred Hammond, 2012 Grammy winner Le’Andria Johnson, and R&B sensation Ledisi are among this year’s cast of performers at BET’s 12th annual Celebration of Gospel.  The program will air, for the first time in its history, during the Easter season, Palm Sunday, April 1.
Steve Harvey will once again host the two-hour show.  The lineup also includes Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Jessica Reedy, Earnest Pugh, Isaac Carree, Moses Tyson Jr., Ricky Dillard & New G, Zacardi Cortez and Maurette Brown Clark.  Additionally, there will be a special appearance by BET Music Matters artist Mali Music.
Other performers are Jennifer Holliday, Faith Evans, Johnny Gill and Kelly Price.  Dr. Bobby Jones and actress Wendy Raquel Robinson will deliver spoken word selections, and tributes will be paid to Mahalia Jackson and Whitney Houston.
The show will be taped Friday, March 16, at 8PM (PST) at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.