GMF nominated for 2016 Rhythm of Gospel Award

Vote now through March 1, 2016.

Congratulations are in order again for Gospel Music Fever (GMF), which has been nominated for the 2016 Rhythm of Gospel (ROG) Award in the category of Gospel Internet Promotion & Marketing Group of the Year.  


This
is GMF’s second nomination.  In 2013, GMF emerged from a category of
nine nominees to win the ROG Award for Internet Media Group of the Year.



“It’s gratifying to be nominated,” says GMF’s founder and editor, Libra Boyd. “GMF uplifts and advances gospel music, and it’s an honor for that to be recognized.”

According to the Rhythm of Gospel Awards website,
the awards show is presented by the National and Independent Gospel Music
Association (N.I.G.M.A.) and “recognizes
outstanding churches/pastors, choirs and independent gospel music
artists of all genres, for their outstanding contributions toward the
betterment and advancement of their communities.”

 
Voting is now open for you, our GMF readers, to vote at
http://www.therhythmofgospelawards.com/VOTING.html# an UNLIMITED number of times through March 1, 2016.  Please note:

  1. GMF is in category #49
  2. The site requires that you vote for each category
  3. You must click the black and white VOTE box near the bottom of the page to submit your votes.

Lecrae celebrates multiple wins at 46th Annual GMA Dove Awards

Lecrae

One wonders if Lecrae is running out of space for all his music hardware.  The rapper toted three trophies–including one for Artist of the Year–from the 46th annual GMA Dove Awards.  The sold-out show was held October 13, at Allen Arena on the campus of Lipscomb University.  Tasha Cobbs and Erica Campbell also won awards for Gospel Artist of the Year and Contemporary Gospel/Urban Song of the Year, respectively.  

Also among the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Bobby Jones Gospel, which is currently airing its final season of shows to crown a 35-year run. 

The Dove Awards will air this Sunday, October 19, at 9 PM CT (10 PM ET) on TBN. 

Read more and see the complete list of winners here: 46th Annual GMA Dove Awards Honored Top Christian and Gospel Artists

2015 'Wilson Idol' talent show to feature Evelyn Turrentine-Agee as special guest

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

On September 19, sixteen talented Wilson area contestants will compete for the title of “Wilson Idol.”

Wilson’s got talent.  And the competitor whose talent rises to the top next Saturday will win a $1,000 cash prize, a part in the onstage production of the award-winning Mildred Summerville play “Spare the Rod,
Spoil the Child,” and an opportunity to perform for multi-Grammy winner, Pastor Shirley Caesar.

The special guest and judge for the talent show–now in its third year–is Evelyn Turrentine-Agee, who is dubbed “The Queen of Quartet” and is best known for her hit number, “God Did It.”  The Stellar Award winner and evangelist will be joined on the judges’ panel by Rod Lewis, Prophet Calvin Suggs, Rev. Glenda Murray-Kelly, Will Ellis, Bob Owens, Don’trell Barnes, and Wilson Idol’s producer Dr. Mildred Summerville.  

GMF’s Libra Boyd and Min. Justin Barbour will return this year as hosts for the evening.  GMF is also an event sponsor.

 

This year, for the first time, Wilson Idol will recognize three honorees as Tall One Outreach Ministries’ Champions.  During a pre-show, Bishop Eloise Sessoms, Sharetta Blackwell, and Min. Michael Boone will be recognized for standing tall in the Wilson community through excellence in leadership, integrity, and inspiration.The Wilson Idol talent competition is sponsored by Summerville Promotion and Production Company and Tall One Outreach Ministries to give residents of Wilson, NC (ages 10 and up)
an opportunity to showcase their talents in the areas of music, dance/step, and acting.



Event Details
3rd Annual Wilson Idol Talent Competition

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015
5 PM (doors open at 4)
Fike High School Auditorium
500 Harrison Drive
Wilson, NC 27893

Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 at the door) and can be purchased at
Hamilton Funeral Chapel, Arts Council of Wilson, and from all
contestants.  For more information, contact Dr. Mildred Summerville at
252-230-2689.

GMA 46th Dove Award Nominees

Jonathan McReynolds, Tamela Mann, Tasha Cobbs, Erica Campbell, and Charles Jenkins are among those whose nominations were announced today (August 12) for the 46th Annual GMA Dove Awards.  The complete list is available here.

This year’s awards will take place October 13, at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville and will air on TBN.

Congratulations to all nominees!

DeVaughn Murphy posthumously ordained as an elder in Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship

Bishop Jerry Hutchins of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Bishops Council announces DeVaughn Murphy’s posthumous ordination as an elder in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International at the conclusion of Murphy’s homegoing celebration today at Detroit’s Second
Ebenezer Church.  His nephew, William Murphy IV (standing with the choir, second from right), looks on.

Murphy, beloved songwriter, musician, producer, and worship leader,
passed July 20, 2015 (read here).  He was 33 years old. 

Marvin Sapp elevated to bishop in Global United Fellowship

Bishop Marvin Sapp (2nd from right) with fellow newly installed Bishops (from left) Antoine Wright, Leofric Thomas, Sir Walter Mack, and Carroll Baltimore.
Photo Credit | Facebook Page of The Official Global United Fellowship

Congratulations to Pastor Marvin Sapp, who was installed as a bishop on July 10, during the Global United Fellowship’s annual conference, held in Jacksonville, FL.  


The pastor and gospel singer will continue to lead his flock in Grand Rapids at the Lighthouse Full Life Center Church.


As a bishop in Global United Fellowship (GUF), under the leadership of Presiding Bishop Neil C. Ellis, Sapp will overssee GUF’s North Central Province which consists of 70 pastors and churches in nine states.

Tribbett launches benefit concert for families of Charleston massacre victims – July 23

From Bill Carpenter

Emanuel 9

The Charleston Church Massacre (June 17) has prompted Grammy Award
winning recording artist Tye Tribbett to launch a “Hate Won’t
Win” concert to benefit the families of the nine people who were shot to
death in that tragic incident. The concert features some of the biggest
names in Christian music such as gold-selling artist Israel Houghton, Tasha Cobbs, Mali
Music, and Columbia, SC native Travis Greene. The concert takes place
Thursday, July 23 at 7 PM at The Medallion Conference Center in Columbia,
SC and caps the first day of Tribbett’s second annual “The Chosen
Music Mentorship” conference for church worship leaders.
 
“Gospel
is the good news,” Tribbett says of his use of music as a healing tool
to create racial harmony in the Carolinas. “By spreading the music we
induce hope, and we train new worship leaders so they are equipped with
the same intent to go fearlessly where some have lost hope and to boldly
declare through this gospel that there is yet hope.”
 
The
Chosen Music Mentorship Program runs July 23-25 and boasts some of the
country’s top gospel

Tribbett

practitioners such as producer Donald Lawrence and
rising star Jonathan McReynolds to provide spiritual and practical
workshops that will improve the lives and ministries of
the participants. It all takes place at The Medallion Conference Center,
7309 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209.  The general public can
call (973) 351-1569 or email [email protected] for more information and detail.

Shirley Caesar to receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever



Congratulations are in order for Pastor Shirley Caesar, who is named among the honorees to receive a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame.  The Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2016 was announced Monday (June 22) via live stream.  

The 11-time Grammy Award-winning singer, whose recording career spans well over a half century, will join only a handful of her fellow legendary Black gospel music luminaries (James Cleveland, Andraé Crouch, Mahalia Jackson, and BeBe & CeCe Winans) with the distinction of having a star cemented into the world-famous stretch that now extends along both sides of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles.

Tamela Mann makes history


Congratulations to Tamela Mann on an unprecedented achievement in gospel music.  Read about it here:
 

‘Bobby Jones Gospel’ enters its final season, announces BET

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

BET has reported that the upcoming 35th season of Bobby Jones Gospel will be its last. 

The flagship gospel program is the longest running original show in cable TV history and is hosted by its namesake, Dr. Bobby Jones.

It is said that all good things must come to an end, but Bobby Jones Gospel has been embedded in the routine of our Sunday mornings for three and a half decades.  Not seeing the legendary Dr. Jones, his “super choir cast,” and his suits will be a major adjustment–not to mention the famous as well as not-yet-famous gospel talents who leave smoke on the studio stage year after year.

GMF will follow the final season closely. Stay tuned in the coming months for my commentary on a series that has done what no other has been able to do for gospel music.