Tag: News

Sensational Nightingales to be inducted into NC Music Hall of Fame

The Sensational Nightingales are among seven artists to be inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame for 2017.

The Gales have been on the gospel highway for more than seven decades and are treasured both nationally and abroad.  “It’s Gonna Rain,” “Prodigal Son,” and “At the Meeting” remain among their most requested songs.

The
induction ceremony is set for October 19, 2017, at the Kannapolis Performing Arts Center in
Kannapolis, NC.  Other 2017 inductees are R&B singer/songwriter Anthony Hamilton, country singer/musician Bucky Covington, blues singer/guitarist Etta Baker, country songwriter/musician Jim Lauderdale, R&B songwriter/musician Richard Lewis Spencer, and bluegrass band The Steep Canyon Rangers.

Lecrae wins BET Award

Lecrae emerged as winner of the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award for “Can’t Stop Me Now (Destination)” at the 2017 BET Awards, held Sunday evening in Los Angeles.  Lecrae beat out CeCe Winans, Fantasia (ft. Tye Tribbett), Kirk Franklin (ft. Sarah Reeves, Tasha Cobbs, and Tamela Mann), and Tamela Mann for the honor.


Following his win, the Christian hip-hop artist/activist/songwriter posted on Facebook,

I don’t do it for the Awards…but the rewards. Whatever category it is I’m just glad people appreciate my art. God is the master artist I’m just trying to be like Him. Thanks to those in the 11Six movement. And anyone who supported me even on my worst day. I love y’all.

Billboard Music Awards 2017 Winners

Billboard Music Award winners were announced at last night’s live show, televised on ABC. Winners (blue) in the gospel categories are as follows:

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 complete list of winners is available here.

32nd Annual Stellar Awards Winners and Honorees

GMF congratulates all of the winners and honorees at the 32nd Annual Stellar Awards. The complete list of this year’s recipients is available here.  


The Stellar Awards, hailed as “Gospel’s Biggest Night,” will be televised Sunday, April 9, at 6 PM EST on TVOne. 

Franklin, Mann win at 2017 Grammys; Caesar receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Congratulations to the gospel winners at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, announced this afternoon (February 12, 2017) in Los Angeles. 

Best Gospel Performance/Song
“God Provides” – Tamela Mann; Kirk Franklin, songwriter

Best Gospel Album
Losing My Religion – Kirk Franklin

Best Roots Gospel Album
Hymns – Joey + Roey

Congratulations also to eleven-time Grammy recipient Shirley Caesar, who receives one of this year’s seven Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards bestowed by the Academy.  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,  enjoyed a highly successful 2016 that, in addition to this year’s Grammy nominations for her Billboard chart-topping album Fill This House, 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 Stellar Award nominees announced; Greene, Mann lead with nine each

CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ – Central City Productions has announced the nominees in 26 categories for the 2017 Stellar Awards.  Hailed as an “epic night in gospel music,” this year’s Stellar Awards will return to the Las Vegas Orleans Arena on Saturday, March 25, 2017.  The telecast will premiere on TV One Sunday, April 9 at 7 PM ET with encores at 9 PM and 11 PM ET.  In addition, the Stellar Awards will air in national broadcast syndication on 170 stations in over 150 markets around the country April 14 – May 7, 2017.


Praise and worship breakthrough artist Travis Greene and chart-topping soloist Tamela Mann lead the nominations with nine each.  Greene is having an amazing year, in the running for both Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year, for his work on The Hill (RCA Inspiration). This inspirational psalmist is also nominated for CD of the Year, Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary CD of the Year, and Praise and Worship CD of the Year.


Gospel superstar Tamela Mann joins Greene on the Stellar Awards nominee leader board, nominated this year for Artist of the Year, Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year, and Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year.  She is also competing for CD of the Year, Producer of the Year, Song of the Year, and Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year.


With seven and six nominations respectively, veterans Hezekiah Walker and Kirk Franklin demonstrate their staying power in gospel music, recognized for Male Vocalist of the Year, Choir of the Year, Contemporary Choir of the Year, and Contemporary Male of the Year for their projects Azusa The Next Generation 2: Better (Walker/EOne Music) and Losing My Religion (Franklin/RCA Records).  Franklin also receives a nod for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, CD of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Contemporary CD of the Year.   


Jekalyn Carr, nominated for Artist of the Year, and Todd Dulaney, nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, CD of the Year, and Contemporary CD of the Year, are in contention for Praise and Worship CD of the Year. Other artists earning multiple nominations include newcomers Bri (Brianna Babineaux), Livre’, and Enon Tabernacle, and living legend Shirley Caesar.  For more information visit www.thestellarawards.com and to view the complete list of nominees click here. 


Multiple Stellar Award- and Grammy Award-winning solo artist, nationally-syndicated radio host and television personality Erica Campbell joins multiple Stellar Award winner, songwriter and arranger Anthony Brown to co-host the 32nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.


Don Jackson, Founder of the Stellar Awards and Chairman of Central City Productions, Inc. commented, “Our 2017 nominees represent the strongest group of gospel artists and songs in our 32-year history of the Stellar Awards.  This year’s large number of artists who are first-time nominees is a positive testament to the new and upcoming artists in gospel music, as well as a reflection of the tremendous growth of the gospel music genre.”


Mr. Jackson further stated, “The announcement of the 2017 nominees corresponds with the launch of www.stellartv.com, the first phase of the Stellar TV Cable Television Network, which will be officially introduced during the taping at the 32nd Annual Stellar Awards on March 25, 2017.”


The Stellar Gospel Music Awards Pre-Show is scheduled for Friday, March 24, to showcase non-televised award winners.  Also, the Stellar Gospel Radio Awards & Showcase will be held on Saturday, March 25, honoring top radio stations and announcers serving urban gospel music audiences.  The Stellar Awards show taping is open to the public, with ticket prices ranging from $50 -$200 and tickets for each event can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com. 

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.

Winners of 47th Annual Dove Awards announced

Congratulations to all of the winners and honorees at the 47th Annual Dove Awards, which took place October 11, at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville.  Kirk Franklin (pictured accepting award) and Anthony Brown & group therAPy were among the gospel artists who carried trophies away from the ceremony.  

For a recap of the show and the complete list of winners, click here.  The Dove Awards will air on TBN this Sunday, October 16, at 10PM ET (7PM PT).

Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Dove Awards

Hezekiah Walker lands radio show on Rejoice Musical Soul Food Radio Network



(Virginia Beach, VA)  Rejoice! MSF (Musical Soul Food Radio Network) has signed gospel music legend Hezekiah Walker to an exclusive syndication and sales partnership. Rejoice! MSF will handle production, distribution, and syndication duties while Sun Broadcast Group will supply sales support for Walker’s new syndicated radio program. 

The working title for the show that will launch the first week in November is, “The Hezekiah Walker Show.” The Grammy, Stellar, and Dove Award winning recording artist has sold millions of records over the years and is known for classic songs such as “Every Praise” and his current No. 1 hit “Better.” Hezekiah Walker joins Rejoice! Musical Soul Food’s illustrious roster of gospel stars who also host syndicated radio shows such as Dorinda Clark Cole, Melvin Williams of the Williams Brothers, Dottie Peoples, and Coko Clemmons of the R&B group SWV. 

“The Hezekiah Walker Show” will target urban, urban adult contemporary, hip-hop, and gospel stations with a one-hour, weekday music-driven inspirational format to kick-off the mornings with a burst of inspiration. Additionally, Walker will also package a two-hour weekend program targeting multi-formats. 

“The addition of Hezekiah Walker to our lineup of powerful celebrity-driven shows positions us to increase our impact in the gospel music arena,” says Mike Chandler, Rejoice! MSF President. “We’ve been blessed to have some of the most recognizable names in the gospel industry as part of our talent pool.”


Hezekiah Walker says, “I am excited about teaming up with such an influential organization in the gospel music industry as the Rejoice Musical Soul Food Radio Network….so radio look out, here we come!”


SOURCE Bill Carpenter