Tag: Singles

“King of Kings” – Monique Chambers-Watson

“King of Kings”
Monique Chambers-Watson (2022)
Available on all digital streaming platforms
Instagram: @monique.chamberswatson

"King of Kings" cover art - Monique Chambers-Watson

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Monique Chambers-Watson conveys her zeal for ministry in song through her self-penned single, “King of Kings.”

Jonathan Laws, the song’s producer, issues the opening declaration that “Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” After which, Monique guides the song along for its high-energy duration, encouraging listeners to lift high the Holy One. “King of Kings” is Afrobeat-infused praise and worship perfectly suited to kick off a live worship service experience.

Monique began singing at the age of eight. She continues as it is her desire to spread the gospel of salvation through her gifts. “King of Kings” is the Toronto native’s debut single.

“Higher” – Lady Kimberly Jackson

“Higher”
Lady Kimberly Jackson (2021)
ladykimberlyjacksonorg.godaddysites.com

Lady Kimberly Jackson_Higher_cover art

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

“Higher” is the self-penned single from Lady Kimberly Jackson of Houston, TX. Lady Kimberly describes herself as a trained vocalist whose talents range from being a drummer to a praise and worship leader. In 2020, her talent put her in the same virtual space as Karen Clark Sheard when Lady Kimberly had the privilege of singing for her live on Instagram.

Lady Kimberly makes her way through her own single “Higher” seeming to sing with the timidity of a budding leader in a church youth choir. Once I listened to the full track, I was convinced she must have been holding back in anticipation of the vamp because when she arrives, she delivers rounds of robust riffs and growls along with two key changes. Her background singers ascend with her: “Lord, lift me up higher!”

With a dream and passion to touch and change the lives of people all over the world, Lady Kimberly is well on her way.

“You Are God” – Loni Crawford

Loni Crawford_You Are God_cover art

“You Are God”
Loni Crawford (August 5, 2022)
www.iamsimplyloni.com

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Loni Crawford joins producer Glenn “GK” Jones and the songwriter known as Key of “E” for the single, “You Are God.”

With lyrics that emphasize the manifold attributes of God, Loni sings passionately, “My healer, protector, deliverer, provider, life-giver, comforter, creator…” as the worship song marches forward percussively. One can rarely go wrong marrying the old to the new, and Loni gets it right by incorporating a stanza of the 19th-century Judson Van DeVenter hymn “I Surrender All” into the song’s bridge.

Loni is a Detroit native who presently resides in Birmingham, AL. GMF gave its review of her single titled “Foot of the Cross,” in 2020.

“Pass Me Not” – Elder Randall Ogans, Sr. & Dorian Ogans

“Pass Me Not”
Elder Randall Ogans, Sr. & Dorian Ogans (Available Sept. 5, 2021)
Alpha 7 Ministries
Available at https://elderrandalloganssr.hearnow.com/

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Elder Randall Ogans, Sr. and Dorian Ogan’s “Pass Me Not” delights the palates of sacred hymn lovers and jazz aficionados alike.

“Pass Me Not” is interpreted through the artistry of Elder Ogans’ son Dorian – the gospel jazz track’s arranger – who can be heard on acoustic and electric piano, guitar, and bass. Listeners will enjoy tasteful piano and bass comping alongside the guitar solo on the first pair of verses and refrain. Elder Ogans carries the melody through the second verse and subsequent refrain on the Hammond B3. The interplay among the instruments adds both texture and depth to the piece.

“Pass Me Not” is the first single to be released from the Ogans’ forthcoming gospel-jazz CD by the same name. The full project has an early 2022 release date.

“Get Ready” – Darwin Hobbs

“Get Ready”
Darwin Hobbs (2021)
HeartART Worship
https://smarturl.it/HobbsGetReady

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Darwin Hobbs is back and his new single “Get Ready” hits as if he never left. Hobbs hasn’t recorded an album in a decade, using his time away from the industry to regain a sense of focus and purpose. Now not only has he released new music, but he’s done so through his own company, HeartART Worship, a community for creative worship artisans wherein pastors, leaders, musicians, and others will foster opportunities for mentorship, discipleship, and creative expression. The mid-tempo horn-driven declaration of expectancy (shout out to Mo’Horns brass band) is HeartART Worship’s first release.

In addition to his latest endeavors, Hobbs serves as a worship leader at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, NY.

“Oh My Lord” – God’s Example

“Oh My Lord”
God’s Example (2020)
www.gemuzik.com

God's Example cover art

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Urban contemporary group God’s Example drops bars lamenting racial and social unrest, COVID-19, political party divides, and other issues of the day in the single, “Oh My Lord.” Relying on the hope of overcoming turbulent times, the group says the countdown is on for the end of “Pharoah’s gig” and calls for kingdom reformation.

It’s a heavy message that pivots to a decidedly optimistic declaration: “He said He’ll never leave me / Neither will He forsake me / If He said it, I believe it / If He spoke it, I receive it / And I won’t let nobody shake me!”

Musically, God’s Example packages “Oh My Lord” with ample urban contemporary bop and a quick traditional quartet hump – all before the track reaches the three-minute mark. A certain aural nostalgia makes it apparent to me that The Winans are among the group’s musical influences. It’s definitely a compliment to the style of these four biological brothers whose quartet originated in Florida under the leadership of their father, Pastor Emaniuel Roberts.

“Heart’s Cry” – Hope McCants

“Heart’s Cry”
Hope McCants (October 2, 2020)
Hope McCants Ministry

Hope McCants

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Austere simplicity is the hallmark of Hope McCants’ self-written single “Heart’s Cry,” a personal petition for more of God. The vertical worship tune begins with Hope echoing sentiments of the psalmist David, as written in Psalm 63, longing for God as one who thirsts for water in an arid desert. Antonio Black of MB Production accompanies on keys and strings as Hope, whose natural vibrato emerges as the prominent stylistic element in her otherwise deliberately unpretentious performance, lays bare her heart before an audience of One. The rest of us might feel privileged to overhear and make her prayer our own.

Hope serves in ministry with her husband, Pastor Michael L. McCants. She is currently co-pastor at East Point Church of the Nazarene in Atlanta.

“Take Your Knee Off My Neck” – Shirley Caesar

“Take Your Knee Off My Neck”
Shirley Caesar (September 11, 2020)
Shu-Bel Records/Red Alliance Media
http://smarturl.it/shirleycaesar

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

“Take Your Knee Off My Neck” is one of the most direct and impassioned calls to action for social and racial justice that Pastor Shirley Caesar has issued in song. That speaks volumes for a gospel legend whose nearly seven decades of recording stretch across many of our nation’s darkest days of bigotry, segregation, and injustice.

In the riveting single co-written with Michael Mathis, Pastor Caesar speaks frankly about George Floyd’s May 2020 “lynching in broad daylight,” during which Minneapolis police officers held him in place with a knee to his neck until he lost consciousness. Floyd’s death was followed by days of demonstrations around the country. The track opens with crowd chants of “I can’t breathe!” – the last words of too many who have died in officer-involved encounters. Caesar minces no words addressing this and related acts of police brutality.

“Take your knee off my neck!”

“Enough is enough!”

“Stop killing our sons and daughters!”

“Leave us alone!”

She speaks the names of several other victims as well: Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Oscar Grant, Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland. The roll call of Black lives taken senselessly never ceases to stir deep emotions for me, and this context is no different. “You’re gonna reap what you’ve sowed,” Caesar warns the evildoers.

The straightforward message of “Take Your Knee Off My Neck” is driven by the song’s pulsating rhythm section. It’s an auditory evocation of trifold symbolism. Caesar’s finger is on the pulse of the times, singing pointedly about defenseless hearts that have stopped beating at the hands of their cold-hearted murderers.

Despite the circumstances that make “Take Your Knee Off My Neck” a necessary and urgent call to action, Caesar doesn’t confront the oppressors without lifting up the oppressed. “Beautiful Black people,” she sings, “hold your head up high. Don’t be ashamed of who you are. Black lives matter!”

“God Is Love” – Steve Dalton & The Leviticus Singers of Charlotte

“God Is Love”
Steve Dalton & The Leviticus Singers of Charlotte (LSOC) (2020)
www.facebook.com/LSOC2014

Steve Dalton & LSOC God is Love cover artBy Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor

Steve Dalton & The Leviticus Singers’ riveting vocals and soul-rousing lyrics minister to the brokenhearted and the downtrodden through their latest single, “God Is Love.” It is a powerful but simple message, packaged with an upbeat tempo, which serves as a vivid reminder of the all-embracing reach of the love of God.  Dalton’s finely calibrated declarations mixed with LSOC’s stylistic background vocals that are centered around God’s love will uplift your spirit and stir up your soul.  The ensemble’s vocal vitality and beats are contagious, and as you listen you will be transformed from tapping your toes, praising and worshiping, to eventually pointing to yourself in the mirror and singing, “He’ll never stop loving you!”

“God Is Love” is the first single from Steve Dalton & LSOC’s upcoming EP, The Introduction.

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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.

“Look to the Hills” – Rev. Luther Barnes & The Restoration Worship Center Choir

“Look to the Hills”
Rev. Luther Barnes & The Restoration Worship Center Choir
From the forthcoming CD, Look to the Hills (available May 29, 2020)
www.shanachie.com 
  
By Janie Sheeley-Torain
GMF Special Contributor 

In “Look to the Hills,” Reverend Luther Barnes and The Restoration Worship Center Choir harmoniously encourage us with a testimony of the unstoppable miracles that only God can perform. Allow this song to reach deep down into your spirit with the reassuring message that whatever you’re facing is gonna get better for you if you just “look to the hills and be blessed!”

Barnes adheres to his signature smooth delivery and relatable lyrics, which he co-wrote with the late Derrick Adams, and both will entice you to sing along and encourage yourself.  “Look to the Hills” is an amazing song – powerful and much needed during this national crisis. 


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Janie Sheeley-Torain, Ed.D, is a gospel music enthusiast, author, National Board Certified Teacher, and life-long educator. She is an advocate of invigorating gospel music that inspires, elevates, and encourages the listener. She has published and is currently working on manuscripts that embolden the musicians of gospel music.