"So Blessed" - Cynthia Turner & Heartspeak (SeeSon Records 2008)

“So Blessed”
Cynthia Turner & Heartspeak (feat. Melonie Daniels)
From the CD ‘Til God Says So
SeeSon Records/Marina Park Music 2008
www.marinaparkmusic.com

Hailing from various parts of Illinois but mostly from Champaign, where leader Cynthia Turner and her husband, Stellar-nominated producer Kevin Turner reside, Heartspeak is a ten-person mixed vocal group and ‘Til God Says So is its sophomore effort.

The album comes after a six-year recording hiatus during which Cynthia battled breast cancer and emerged victorious. Last November, the youthful group debuted “So Blessed,” its first single from the new album, on BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel program.

Melonie Daniels, gospel singer and former background vocalist for Mariah Carey, joins Cynthia Turner & Heartspeak on the single, which possesses a feel-good, loping rhythm, bright vocals and cascading harmonies that play counterpoint to Turner’s alternating teaching and singing.

TBGB Chats With the Church Boyz

Young men with old souls.

That’s how one might describe the Church Boyz.

Like Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, the Church Boyz blend youthful energy with the gusto of classic male gospel quartet singing. The combination gives today's listeners a feel for what it was like hearing the classic groups in their heyday when they, too, were young and tearing up auditoriums.

Though they come from different churches and different denominations, the Church Boyz are from Chicago. The group is Rev. Eric Harris, Pastor Terrance Keys, Walter Gerald Hardy, Jeff Dagons, Maurice Anderson and Nicholas Miller. Hardy plays lead guitar for the group.

TBGB had a chance to talk with Rev. Eric Harris about the Church Boyz and their singles, "Great Things" and "I Found Someone."

How did the Church Boyz come together as a quartet?
Most of us grew up in the Baptist community, fellowshipping at each other’s churches over the years. Then, two years ago, when I was a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, we had a Men’s Day program, and a group of us sung at it. People said we sounded good, so we decided to take it to the next level. We stepped outside Mt. Vernon and got Terrance Keys, Nick Miller and Jeff Dagons. The others are Baptist and Jeff is Church of God in Christ. We became serious about the music. We started rehearsing and blending harmonies.

You are young guys – what inspired you to sing in the old time style?
Being born and raised in the Baptist tradition of singing is what inspired our sound. I grew up listening to the Canton Spirituals and the Williams Brothers. There’s something about that music that just hits home every time.

What other quartets have inspired you over the years?
We try to update the traditional down-home style of singing with a newer brand of music, like Darrell McFadden and the Disciples.

Tell us about your single, “Great Things”
I wrote “Great Things” two years ago, when I was praying for the Lord to do some great things in my life. Walter Gerald Hardy helped put the music to it and Pastor Keys, who is 34 years old, he sings lead.

Now, with the election of a new president, the song happens to be coming out at a perfect time. We’re getting radio play on a variety of radio stations, here in Chicago and elsewhere. “Great Things” was on Chicago’s V-103 and Inspiration 1390. Here we are, a new young group, no major record label, but “Great Things” is number 71 of the top 100 gospel singles of the nation.

Another one of your singles is “I Found Someone”
This song was written by Keys and Hardy. The message is based on what we’d been through, trying to find things to make us happy, whether it was clubs, dating. But when we found Jesus, we knew everything else would not be the same.

Where will you be performing next?
Our MySpace page has a list of all the places we will be performing.
http://www.myspace.com/thechurchboyzchicago

We performed at Kathy Lockett’s Mother’s Day program and Gospel Fest in Chicago, and have shared the stage with the Victory Travelers – lots of different groups.

Since we are faithful members of churches, we need to perform Saturday nights or at 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. Sunday evenings. We really can’t take any Sunday afternoon jobs.

Do you have a full-scale project in the making?
The project is finished and should be released sometime in late March or early April of this year. We are working with an investor to create “Church Time Entertainment” and are also in negotiations for a distribution deal.

Once the CD is released, we want to be a blessing to the Kingdom of God, we want the music to be a blessing around the nation. We are young men who want people to know that you can be cool and fashionable, but in the end you are going to need Jesus. Also, no matter what is going on in your life, great things can come your way, but you have to believe it first.

Birthday Tribute to Paul Arnold of the Gospelaires - on Feb. 1 "Gospel Memories"

Tune to 88.7 WLUW Chicago Sunday morning, February 1, from 3:00 to 7:30 a.m. Central Time for the monthly live broadcast of “Gospel Memories” – the soundtrack to That Old Time Religion.

Not in Chicago? No problem. Go to http://www.wluw.org/, click the Listen Live button, and enjoy “Gospel Memories” from wherever you are!

Highlights of the February 1 Broadcast:
Benediction: "The Lord's Prayer" - the Swan Silvertones

A Birthday Tribute to the late Paul Arnold (above) of the Gospelaires of Dayton, OH – featuring classic Gospelaires recordings and interviews with Paul’s daughters Khadijah Ali and Shaheeda Saleem, Jim Johnson of WDAO radio, and historian Dr. Margaret Peters.

In Loving Memory to Recently Departed Gospel and Quartet Singers:

Tommy Ellison of the Five Singing Stars

Rev. Claude Jeter of the Swan Silvertones

Willa Dorsey

(NOTE: Special musical tributes to Bishop Charles E. Cook of the Mighty Gospel Giants, pianist Hazel Henderson and gospel singer Ethel Holloway will be featured on our Sunday, March 1 broadcast)

Preacher Feature:
Rev. F.D. Washington, Washington Temple COGIC, Brooklyn, NY - "The Wildest Creature That Ever Lived" (August 1947)

From the Vault: 1920s and 1930s goodies by Rev. Ford Washington McGee, Washington Phillips, Belmont-Silvertone Jubilee Singers, and the Spartanburg Famous Four.

Classic artists and rare recordings, such as:
Ever-Ready Gospel Singers
Sister Bonnie Bradford
Deacon Leroy Shinault of Chicago leads a line-hymn
Original COGIC Choir, Detroit - Tessie Hill, vocals; a young Rance Allen, guitar
Soul Satisfiers (feat. Shirley Caesar’s former singing pal, Thelma Bumpess)
Mollie Mae Gates
Harold Smith and the Majestic Choir (Detroit)
Jimmy Witherspoon with the Trinity Baptist Church Choir
Gospel Stars feat. Mae Gooch

…and much more!

So tune in and turn on to “Gospel Memories”…rise, shine and give God the glory, glory!

Frontlynaz - Game Over (Frontlynaz, Inc. 2008)

Frontlynaz
Game Over
Frontlynaz, Inc. 2008
www.frontlynaz.com

Say what you will about Holy Hip Hop, but the Stellar-nominated HHH group Frontlynaz spits rhymes and drops beats with the power and urgency of a brakeless freight train.

Their Game Over grabbed my attention and held it with clenched fists from beginning to end. Captivating and compelling, Frontlynaz has a lot to say about today’s state of affairs and how grace can transform a person from spiraling downward to an upwardly mobile (i.e., positive, not materialistic) life that means something and is, in itself, transformative. Just as importantly, the album dresses the timeless message of personal salvation in street cred, right down to the hoodie and dog tag.

The masterpiece on Game Over is “What I See,” the most melodic of the tracks and also the wisest. It not only puts down the brutality of the mean streets but also takes on the apathy, aimlessness and boredom of Corporate America/Cubicle Nation. On Game Over, these lifestyles are two heads of the same coin, equally murderous of creativity and change.

Rhymes, accompanied by gothically symphonic beats, rail at the vile side of the music industry (“Clap At ‘Em”); false friends, low self-esteem and posturing (“Imagine” and "Survival of the Fittest"); and personal weaknesses and failures of the flesh (“Under Attack”). Even churches gone wrong are not spared the group's fiery criticism. These are all part of the "game" that is "over." Without Jesus and a purpose or direction, Frontlynaz concludes, life is nothing more than a loveless passing parade of empty consumerism and shallow relationships.

Ultimately, this year's Stellar Award for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year went to Da' T.R.U.T.H. for Open Book (Cross Movement Records), but don’t think you’ve heard the last of Frontlynaz. Honestly, why aren't these guys on late night TV programs like SNL so mainstream hip hop and rap fans can find out about them?

Frontlynaz – Bro. Wise, Proph 1 and Wit – is from New Jersey and Delaware.

Four of Four Stars

TBGB Pick of the Week: January 26, 2009

“Get Up”
GI
From the group’s forthcoming album, scheduled for release April 7, 2009
www.gods-image.com

“Get Up” is a bright and bouncy wake-up call to arise, shake off the winter doldrums and its emotional residue, and get your praise on. It’s a new day. The spirit is moving. Change is in the air. “Get up and dance while you have the chance now.”

The rhythm-and-praise male group GI (God’s Image: Branden, Marlon, Curtis, and Lamonte), whose “Something Got Hold of Me” was reviewed by TBGB earlier, has the sound, the looks, the moves, the groove, the jump, the whole package.

And on their video…is the woman in the SUV a cameo appearance by The Belle Report’s Sheilah Belle?

Thanks to God, the world is your oyster, “Get Up” proclaims. So shake some sauce on that shellfish and dig in.

Another Farewell: Ethel Holloway

From Dennis Cole, President of the Chicago Area Gospel Announcers Guild:

Our office was informed today of the homegoing of gospel great Ethel Holloway. She passed at the Alden Manner Nursing Home on Austin, in Chicago.

Ethel is known/loved all over the world through her travels with the Jessy Dixon Singers, the Thompson Community Singers, the Ethel Holloway Singers, and foremost by representing herself as a phenomenal solo artist.

She was a proud member of the Evangel World Outreach Center, pastored by Dr. Ray Allen Berryhill.

We extend our heartfelt love and prayers to Ethel's five children, grandchildren and a world of gospel music fans.

The wake and funeral services are as follows:

The body will lie in state on Friday, January 30, 2009 from 2 - 8 p.m. at
New Home M. B. Church
4804 W. Polk, Chicago, IL
Rev. Mack McCullogh, Pastor

The City Wide Musical Tribute will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2009 from 9 -11 a.m. and the Homegoing Celebration will began at 11:00 a.m.

Mount Carmel Holiness Church
4800 W. Washington Blvd, Chicago
Rev. Donald Coleman, Host Pastor

Ethel's Pastor, Dr. Ray Allen Berryhill, Senior Pastor of Evangel World Outreach Center, will officiate.

Bishop Charles Edward Cook of Mighty Gospel Giants Passes Away

From gospel quartet expert Min. Donnie Addison:

It is with sadness that I report the loss of another Quartet Music Pioneer.

As we all know, New York was a hotbed for quartet gospel in the 1950s and 1960s. One of the great groups to rise to prominence was The Mighty Gospel Giants of Brooklyn, New York.

The Giants recorded for large labels like Nashboro and Savoy records but their major hit recordings came with 1968's "It’s A Needed Time” on Veep Records and 1970's "Let There Be Peace" on Minit.

On these and almost all other Mighty Gospel Giant recordings, the lead voice was Bishop Charles Edward Cook. On this past Friday, January 23rd 2009, Bishop Cook passed away in Brooklyn, New York.

Below you will find the arrangements for the services honoring this man of God.

The Viewing will take place at the church where he was the Pastor,
January 29th 2009 2 PM – 6 PM
House of David Pentecostal Apostolic Church Inc.
747-749 Hendrix Street
Brooklyn, NY 11207

The Wake will take place on Thursday January 29th 2009 @ 7:30 PM Until
Wayside Baptist Church
1746 Broadway (Corner of Rockaway Avenue)
Brooklyn, NY 11207

All Groups, Ministers, and other well wishers are welcome to come and celebrate this Pioneer’s life and service to Gospel music and the preaching ministry.

Funeral Services
Friday January 30th 10:00 AM
Wayside Baptist Church
1746 Broadway (Corner of Rockaway Avenue)
Brooklyn, NY 11207

In lieu of flowers, please send donations and cards to his wife and son:
Mrs. Edith Cook or Mr. Victor Cook
932 Dana Avenue
Valley Stream, NY 11580

Curley L. Jones - Let's Get Excited (2007)

Curley L. Jones
Let’s Get Excited
Self-produced 2007
(203) 507-3661

I tried to get excited about gospel singer-songwriter Curley L. Jones’ Let’s Get Excited. I even listened to it twice to see if it was just my mood getting in the way (it’s the dead of winter, and I live in Chicago), but no dice.

First and foremost, the project is challenged by a pinched-sounding production. Jones’ vocals, for example, often sound as if they are coming forth from a small transistor radio speaker. That works for some hip-hop artists, at least temporarily, but I don’t think that this was the effect Jones was trying to demonstrate. The chief problem is that monaural vocal tracks muffle lyrics, and this happens at several junctions throughout the project. Not good if you are a songwriter trying to get your message across.

Second, an over-reliance on synthesized keyboards (that sometimes borders on bubble-gummy) gives the album a two-dimensional, saccharine feeling – again, not the best vehicle for Jones’ songwriting.

Not to say that there aren’t interesting moments. “I’m Gonna Be Right There with Jesus” is a ready-made gospel ballad for a quartet. “Keep God First” has a beat reminiscent of the fabled ring dance, or the 1950s “hambone” craze popularized on Okeh Records by the Hambone Kids (featuring a young Dee Clark). I can imagine “Keep God First” being a fun, interactive composition for a children’s choir.

It’s quite possible that Jones’ real songwriting talent lies in developing songs like “Keep God First” or “Jesus True” for youth groups. Surely the combination of singing and percussion could bring the Orff methodology of music instruction into orbit with gospel singing. Many a young person would be turned on to gospel singing this way, I’m sure.

I applaud Curley Jones’ entrepreneurial eagerness to share his music and passion with a broader audience, and he seems like a really fine gentleman. I only hope that his next release removes the audio filters that shroud and muffle the messages on Let’s Get Excited.

One of Four Stars

Update on Rev. Timothy Wright - "Prayers Needed"

TBGB: At the Stellar Awards taping last weekend, it was noted during a special tribute to Rev. Timothy Wright that the pastor and singer's health had recently taken a turn for the worse.

Here's an update, as reported by The Belle Report's Sheilah Belle (1/25/09):

The Rev. Timothy Wright, the Grammy-nominated gospel singer who was critically injured in a July 4 head-on collision on Interstate 80 in Clinton County, is NOW a patient at the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Bronx, NY.

Sources tell us that Rev. Wright, 61, was still undergoing rehabilitation until a few days ago. Rev. Wright is suffering from a severe C4 spinal cord injury and periodically has been on a ventilator for breathing assistance.

However, on Saturday, January 24th, during a telephone conversation with the VA Medical Center in the Bronx, we here at The Belle Report were told that he was in the Intensive Care Unit and in stable condition. Visitation is also allowed for ten minutes at a time; however, it was suggested that we first call the family directly before planning such a trip.

Wright’s wife, Betty, 58, and grandson, D.J., 14, were killed in the crash. The accident was caused by John Pick, 44, of Lewisburg, when he drove his vehicle the wrong way on Interstate 80, according to state police at Lamar. Pick also was killed in the crash.

After a stay at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Wright was transferred to the Kessler Institute in New Jersey in August.

Over the weekend, Rev. Wright was given an honorary Stellar Award that was accepted on his behalf by his three sons.

Additionally, continued giving is needed at this time. If you can, please show your support through donations.

PLEASE SEND YOUR CHECKS, MADE PAYABLE TO THE TIMOTHY WRIGHT TRUST, ADDRESSED TO:

TIMOTHY WRIGHT TRUST
C/O TIMOTHY WRIGHT
3399 LAWSON BLVD
OCEANSIDE, NEW YORK 11572

RIP, Hazel Henderson: Gospel Songwriter, Pianist

Hazel Henderson, 79, pianist and composer of gospel music

She worked for the city of Long Beach as a librarian for years, but her passion was writing, arranging and composing music.

By Pamela Hale-Burns, Staff Writer
Press-Telegram of Long Beach, CA
January 22, 2009

Music was her life, and Hazel Henderson showed it by writing and composing more than 50 gospel songs over her lifetime.

"She would sit still and the spirit of God would give her the words and the music," said her daughter, Alisha Wade.

Henderson died Monday. She was 79.

The self-taught pianist began playing alongside her father, the late Rev. N.J. Kirkpatrick, founder of New Hope Baptist Church in Long Beach.

"My grandfather would sing and she would pick it up," Wade said. "She had such a great spiritual insight and she did everything through music. She used to say, `music does, where words fail."'

Henderson went on to record four albums with several other groups and her father.

Read more here: Hazel Henderson

Jesus is a Sure Thing - Perfect Peace (2006)

Perfect Peace
Jesus is a Sure Thing
Self-produced 2006
(256) 329-2258

Husband and wife gospel singing duos have been active at least since the 1920s. Prominent examples include Memphis evangelists A.C. and Mamie Forehand, who recorded “Honey in the Rock” (Victor, 1927), complete with Mrs. Forehand’s ringing finger cymbal percussion. William and Versey Smith’s shambolic ode to the Titanic disaster, “When That Great Ship Went Down” (Paramount, 1927) is another.

In the 1950s, Iola and Sullivan Pugh turned the harmonizing husband and wife team into a hit maker as the famed Consolers. Their smash “Give Me My Flowers” remains a gospel music classic and church catchphrase.

Guess he who sings together stays together.

Today, Lee and Ruth Burns of Alexander City, Alabama, former members of the Alabama Spirituals, have taken the married-with-voices concept into the 21st century as the group “Perfect Peace.” Their 2006 CD Jesus is a Sure Thing is all-too brief but packed with bright, bluesy congregation pleasers that hum with the duo’s spit-polished Southern harmonies. There’s no question that the Burns’ quartet roots show proudly throughout the project.

The duo’s “I Believe in Jesus” and “God’s Love” are gospelized versions of popular songs. The former riffs on Mac Davis’ 1972 “I Believe in Music” and the latter replaces the Temptations’ “My Girl” with “God’s Love,” complete with the iconic bass line intro.

Additional voices appear alongside the Burns on “Weeping May Endure,” leading me to believe that some of the Alabama Spirituals lent their voices to the project. All together, they give the song the kind of deep-groove soulfulness that female quartets of the 1970s were so skilled at committing to vinyl.

The finest track on Jesus is a Sure Thing is the Burns’ version of the chestnut “The Old Rugged Cross.” This lovely cut will play especially well on radio stations below the Mason-Dixon line.

Whoever produced Jesus is a Sure Thing (Lee Burns?) did a fine job balancing the sound and giving the project depth, as well as capturing the nuances of the exquisite harmonies. Traditionalists will enjoy this latest version of the husband-wife singing troupe.

Three of Four Stars

Phil Tarver - Draw Nearer (Kingdom Records 2006)

Phil Tarver
Draw Nearer
Kingdom Records 2006
www.kingdomrecordsinc.com

On his solo project, Draw Nearer, praise and worship meister Phil Tarver offers up more of the graceful songs with simple melodies and singable lyrics that have transformed Shekinah Glory Ministry from a church-based troupe into a Stellar Award-winning recording artist.

Recorded on Watch Night 2006 and featuring the musical production of Michael and Daniel Weatherspoon and the searing guitar riffs of in-demand guitarist Joey Woolfalk, Draw Nearer is a showcase for Tarver’s husky vocalizing. He has the preacher’s talent for moving from a whisper to a shout in a split second.

Those who follow Shekinah Glory Ministry will instantly identify with the controlled power and prayerful aura of Tarver’s solo outing. Punctuating the solemnity early on is “Better than That,” a hook-laden, antiphonal song with a funky bass line that will have listeners shimmying in their seats or dancing in place. Dancing in the spirit is very much part of this project, and more than once during the performance, Tarver exhorts his listeners to do just that.

Speaking of dance, the emotional highlight of Draw Nearer is “Dance With Me.” It is a breathtakingly beautiful, sensually sacred piece from the pen of Chris Dupre, and will make a good gospel wedding selection. Perhaps to ensure that listeners did not misunderstand the meaning of a song containing lyrics like, “Romance me, oh lover of my soul,” Apostle H. Daniel Wilson, Senior Pastor of Valley Kingdom Ministries International (where Tarver is praise and worship leader) outlines how there can be sacred as well as secular love songs, and that they share much in common spiritually. In any event, “Dance With Me” is the finest seven minutes the CD has to offer.

Tarver’s background vocalists sound like a mini version of Shekinah Glory Ministry, which contributes to the fact that Draw Nearer sounds like a Shekinah Glory CD featuring the best of Phil Tarver. Tarver is such a fine gentleman, and the content of his character comes through loud and clear in his heartfelt singing.

Praise and worship music combines the soulfulness of gospel music performance technique with smooth jazz instrumentation and contemporary Christian melodies, the latter which CCM performers borrowed from progenitors of power pop, rock and the modern folk movement. Like a nineteenth-century gospel hymn made over by Brill Building tunesmiths, P&W lyrics are intended to relate simple truths that are easy to learn, memorable and meaningful. And as Phil Tarver encourages on Draw Nearer, sometimes you can dance to them, stomping on the devil’s head all the while.

Three of Four Stars

TBGB Pick of the Week: January 19, 2009

“I Wish”
Heather Headley
From the EMI Gospel CD Audience of One
www.emigospel.com

This may seem a little early to predict, especially since her “Jesus Is Love” with Smokie Norful is the current chart riser, but Heather Headley’s “I Wish” has the potential to be one of the top inspirational songs of 2009. Shoot, it may well end up being one of the best songs this year, in any category.

Ostensibly a lullaby sung by a mother to her child, “I Wish” is driven by a lovely melody surpassed only by the beauty of the hopeful message. Headley's wish is for happiness, love, wisdom and understanding. It takes on special meaning on this Martin Luther King holiday and the eve of the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama.

A treat for the ears, the heart and the soul, “I Wish” is a perfect reading by a consummate artist.

Chicago "in the house" at the Stellars!

Heather Headley performed Roberta Martin Singer Eugene Smith's "I Know the Lord Will Make a Way." Ricky Dillard was part of the program and, with New G, was a Stellar Awardee for Choir of the Year and Contemporary Choir of the Year.

Shekinah Glory Ministry received a Stellar for Praise & Worship CD of the Year for Jesus (Kingdom Records).

Joann Rosario, Percy Gray, VaShawn Mitchell, Donald Lawrence, Darius Brooks and the Tommies Reunion, and Chicago Mass Choir were all nominees.

Yes, Chicago was definitely "in the house" at the Stellar Awards yesterday.

Also present, and part of the pre-show (to be aired on-line at RushmoreDrive.com on January 24) was Chicago's own Acme Church Choir, winners of the national "How Sweet the Sound" competition to find the best church choir in America.

The choir, directed by Janet Sutton, is from Acme Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago's south side. The group wowed the audience with its vocal gymastics, transforming a hymn into an Olympic-like singing event.

And of course, Don Jackson and Central City Productions hails from the Windy City, where it was established in 1970.

Behind the scenes making things happen throughout the weekend were plenty of members of the Chicago Area Gospel Announcers Guild, including President Dennis Cole, Debra "Snoopy" Hanna, Geraldine Bates, Shirley Bell, Wanda Ewing, Willie Jones, and probably others whom I have failed to mention (count it to my head and not my heart).

Congratulations to all on a spectacular event!

Below is a photo of Pastor Marvin Sapp accepting one of his seven awards (his CD Thirsty won an additional two), with his daughters and Pastor Shirley Caesar.

Marvin Sapp Big Winner at 24th Annual Stellar Awards

Pastor Marvin Sapp of Grand Rapids, Michigan was the top winner at the 24th Annual Stellar Awards, taped at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee Saturday evening, January 18.

Sapp, whose song "Never Would Have Made It" was an enormous gospel hit in 2008, walked away with eight awards, including Artist of the Year, Traditional Male Artist of the Year, CD of the Year (for Thirsty) and Song of the Year (for "Never Would Have Made It").

Hosted by Sinbad, Dorinda Clark Cole, and Donnie McClurkin, the Stellar Awards Ceremony featured a stirring tribute to Rev. Timothy Wright, led by Kirk Franklin and Myrna Summers. Dionne Warwick sang "Battle Hymn of the Republic" during a special tribute to President-Elect Barack Obama.

The Allstate James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Daryl Coley. Vickie Winans received the first Thomas Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award, and the Rance Allen Group was honored with the Walgreens Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award.

Two other firsts this year: the Gospel Music Channel is now the official cable home for the Stellars and will air the program on March 1, 2009. Meanwhile, RushmoreDrive.com will stream the Stellars pre-show -- the part of the show not televised -- on its site January 24.

Here's an article on the event, published in The Tennessean.

Check with www.thestellarawards.com for a complete list of the evening's Stellar Award winners and dates and times when the program will be televised locally in your area.

Blind Boys of Alabama to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

From Saguaro Road Records:

(Fairfax, VA) January 15, 2009 – The Blind Boys of Alabama will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by The Recording Academy as part of the 51st Annual Grammy Awards this February.

The prestigious honor comes just weeks after the quartet was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Gospel Album category for their 2008 release Down In New Orleans. A companion concert DVD, Live in New Orleans, will be released on February 24th via Saguaro Road Records.

The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes honorees for their tremendous artistic accomplishments and impact on music. Already winners of four Grammy Awards, the group enters a venerated club that includes the likes of Bob Dylan, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis. We are very thrilled to be receiving this prestigious award,” said member Clarence Fountain. “We've worked a long time for this and are thankful to be recognized."

The forthcoming Live In New Orleans DVD was filmed at the city’s historic club Tipitina’s during the 2008 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Inspired by the Blind Boys’ critically acclaimed album Down in New Orleans, the DVD continues their heartfelt tribute to the Crescent City and includes guest appearances by old friend Susan Tedeschi as well as New Orleans-born acts the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Dr. John, Henry Butler and Marva Wright.

Live in New Orleans combines new songs and old favorites, with selections from the Down in New Orleans disc performed alongside songs from the Blind Boys’ four Grammy-winning CDs as well as several classic gospel tunes.

The DVD also features bonus material: “The Making of Down in New Orleans” program which aired on BET earlier this year, and the music video for “Free at Last,” filmed in the city.

Candi Staton - I Will Sing My Praise to You (Emtro/Beracah 2008)

Candi Staton
I Will Sing My Praise to You
Emtro Gospel/Beracah Records 2008
www.emtro.com

As a teenager, Canzetta “Candi” Staton sang gospel with her sister Maggie and the Harrison girls Naomi and Nettie Mae as the Jewell Gospel Singers. They recorded for Aladdin in 1953, and two years later shifted to the mid-South’s Excello and Nashboro labels, where they were known as the Jewel Gospel-Aires and the Jewel Gospel Trio, respectively. Some of the group’s top singles from the mid-50s included “Many Little Angels in the Band” and the appropriately unhurried “Too Late,” featuring Candi on lead.

In the 1970s, Candi made her mark on the disco generation with the smash dance hit “Young Hearts Run Free.” A life filled with challenges eventually drew her back to singing for the Lord. Her latest release, I Will Sing My Praise to You, is out on Troy Sneed’s Emtro label, the same company that gave you the sensational Bonafide Praisers.

On her new CD, Candi sings through a variety of styles, from the slow and emotional praise and worship music that opens the album to Christian power pop (“Our God Saves”) and even through a little Kraftwerk-like techno on “I Will Rejoice.” Of course, there’s plenty of bluesy gospel here, such as “Just Jesus,” on which Candi delivers some personal testimony. Gospel blues also supports “Don’t Miss Your Moment” and the poignant “Grace, They Call it Amazing.” “Butterfly” has an infectious hand-clapping chorus with a sanctified backbeat and is one of the CD’s highlights. The final track, “It’s Your Season,” hearkens back to Candi’s glam days on the disco stage, with aggressive dance beats propelling the performance forward.

Candi Staton emotes, testifies and teaches without any of the histrionics. It’s as if she’s just standing on the altar of the church, sharing her story matter-of-factly, warts and all, a sacred recitative delivered with the gut-wrenching fire of a singing evangelist and the dignity and wisdom of Maya Angelou. Even on cheerily charming songs such as “Undignified” (“I’ve got to get radical for the Lord”), Candi can evoke a far-distant cry in her voice.

Her background singers deserve special mention, as they are simply amazing. In many respects, the album ought to have been titled Candi Staton and the (insert name of group), because they play that prominent of a role in the production. Among the singers are Candi’s daughter Cassandra Hightower and…well, what’ya know, there’s sister Maggie Staton, too. John Brockman multi-tasks as producer as well as musician and vocalist.

Canzetta Staton has come full circle back to gospel, and we are the better for it.

Three of Four Stars

Dixie Hummingbirds to be Inducted into GMA Hall of Fame

The following information, summarized from an AP article by John Gerome, comes from Marc Lindy via Lindon Jones:

Dolly Parton, Michael W. Smith, Dr. Bobby Jones, the Dixie Hummingbirds and producer Lari Goss will be inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame next month. The ceremony will be held Feb. 2 in Nashville.

"This year's class of GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees have all achieved great professional and personal success in many different areas of the music and entertainment industries, but each shares a common heritage of the Gospels' powerful impact on their lives," said GMA President John Styll.

Dr. Bobby Jones is a singer and host and executive producer of the long-running "Bobby Jones Gospel" program on the BET cable network. He has a new series, "Bobby Jones Next Generation," on the Gospel Music Channel.

The Dixie Hummingbirds formed in 1928 and have influenced musical acts in several genres, including early soul singers such as Jackie Wilson and James Brown. They provided the distinct harmony vocals for Paul Simon's hit "Loves Me Like a Rock."

Congratulations to the Dixie Hummingbirds on this latest of a string of well-deserved honors!

"Every Year Carries a Number"...So Something Has to Be Done Today

Willa Dorsey. Rev. Claude Jeter. Tommy Ellison. Elmo Franklin. Paul Arnold. Rev. Lawrence Roberts. Margaret "Babe" Allison. Mr. Ira Tucker. Irma Gwynn. Michael Cook. Charles Ashley Craig. Robert Wooten. Junious Norfleet. Hulah Gene Dunklin Hurley.

And so on.

What goes through my mind when I see these names is the saying, "When an old person dies, a library burns to the ground." All these gospel music legends, gone.

Every year carries a number, and with every passing year, the number gets larger. I don't want to sound alarmist, but who knows how many of the legends who are alive today will be with us in five years? I hope that the answer to this question is, "all of them," but let's face it: that's not likely.

It's time we capture the voices, stories, and remembrances of these deserving men and women. I propose a nationwide oral history project that chronicles the stories of the gospel artists who paved the way, and a place of storage where future generations of gospel music enthusiasts, historians, and family members can access the interviews - digitally. This project will simultaneously honor and respect the forefathers and mothers of gospel music while ensuring that their joys, sorrows, struggles, achievements, and artistry is collected, stored, and available in perpetuity.

We need to do this now. The longer we wait, the longer the list of lost chances. The legends are, each and every one of them, national treasures with vessels of knowledge from which each of us can learn, and be better people for the learning.

Veteran gospel singer Willa Mae Dorsey has died at age 75

From an article by Nancy Haught, The Oregonian

Monday January 12, 2009, 9:40 PM

The music that fills a Northeast Portland church Wednesday will honor Willa Mae Dorsey, 75, whose gospel-singing career lasted 56 years, filled five albums and won her a Grammy nomination.

Dorsey died Jan. 5 in a Portland care center after a series of strokes. Her funeral is at 11 a.m. Wednesday at The International Fellowship Family, 4401 N.E. 122nd Ave.

Read more at: Willa Dorsey

TBGB Pick of the Week: January 12, 2009

“I Desire More”
Crystal Aikin
From her self-titled Verity CD (released Jan. 13, 2009)
www.verityrecords.com

Crystal Aikin, winner of BET’s inaugural “Sunday Best” competition, sings every ounce of glory out of “I Desire More,” demonstrating why she won the program’s top prize. From its dramatic opening to the stirring conclusion and fade, “I Desire More” is perfectly paced and just about flawless. Aikin certainly knows how to improvise while building momentum and excitement in her performance.

Known as the “Songbird of the Northwest,” Aikin hails from Tacoma, Washington and on her MySpace page lists her occupation as “nurse.” Something tells me that after hearing this single, some listeners may require her services to revive them.

The song is the first single from her debut CD on Verity Records.

After All These Years - Chuck & the Guiding Clouds

Chuck & the Guiding Clouds
After All These Years
Quartet Boyz Records 2008
www.myspace.com/chuckandtheguidingclouds

Ever wonder where the sweet soul sound of the seventies went? It’s being preserved by some gospel quartets.

Proof positive: Chuck and the Guiding Clouds’ release After All These Years offers up hearty helpings of quartet spirit wrapped in the bright, easy-going groove of three decades past.

The Huntsville, Texas-based quartet harmonizes high and tightly, reminiscent of their label mates the Violinaires. Thematically, the songs on After All These Years focus on Jesus as friend and fixer during troubled times, which always resonates well with gospel music enthusiasts but is especially relevant today.

Dwight Gordon multi-tasks on a variety of instruments, as the group bounces out song after song. Floyd Bryant, the quartet’s songwriter, persuades his brother James Bryant Jr., lead of the Wonderful Harmonizers (World Wide Gospel Records), to be second lead on the driving “Help Me 2 Be Strong.” Speaking of relations, on the superb ballad “All In Your Hands,” Chuck starts to preaching and in doing so, lists members of his family who have gone to the other side.

“I Love You Lord” is another ballad on After All These Years, a doo-woppy performance reminiscent of seventies iterations of the Chi-Lites and Dells, but enhanced with an intriguing echo effect. The opening track, “In Control,” is a funky riff on Ecclesiastes.

As with other Quartet Boyz recordings, the production quality on After All These Years is rich and robust. The vocals and instruments are well balanced so the lyrics don’t get buried behind bass and drums. The album is a fine representation of a quartet that, according to its MySpace page, has a fairly packed schedule of appearances this winter.

Three of Four Stars

Breakthrough - Pilgrim M.B. Church Choirs "Live"

Breakthrough
Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church Choirs “Live”
Independent release 2008
(708) 237-3779

I’m not certain exactly when churches recognized the fundraising, membership development and public relations potential of producing records of their gospel choirs, but my guess is it took hold in the early 1950s.

The earliest known progenitor of this practice was the St. Paul Baptist Church of Los Angeles, whose “Echoes of Eden” choir had a recording resume reaching back to the late 1940s, though to be fair, they were on Capitol, a major label.

Other early adopters included Chicago’s St. Paul COGIC, Tabernacle Baptist, Greater Harvest Baptist, Fellowship MB and First Church of Deliverance; and Newark's Greater Harvest Baptist Church. The Angelic Choir of the First Baptist Church of Nutley, NJ was a simple, ordinary singing group, but when it teamed up with James Cleveland in the early 1960s, it became a smash recording artist that delivered volume after volume of popular LPs for Savoy Records. Its Peace Be Still album (September 1963) is one of the most influential gospel albums of all time.

The volume of DIY church choir albums exploded in the 1960s and 1970s, as the costs of producing bare-bones full-length projects diminished. Idessa Malone of Staff Records produced a number of early church recordings, including Rev. Clay Evans and Fellowship's earliest releases. Witnessing Records of Kansas City had a catalog of choir records and sermons. Then a couple of these “vanity” pressings actually became overnight sensations. It was the on-location recording service Century Records that introduced the international smashes “Oh Happy Day” for the Northern California State Youth Choir (Edwin Hawkins) and “God Gave Me a Song” for the Interdenominational Youth Choir of DC and Maryland (Myrna Summers).

Today, just about every church that has a decent music ministry – and even some that don’t (!) – has produced at least one CD to raise money for capital projects and garner greater attention to its ministry. The CDs are purchased by members and their friends and other gospel music enthusiasts, and the better ones get played on local radio stations. And there’s always the possibility that an overnight sensation can turn the church choir into a cause celebre at the level of an Angelic Choir or the Echoes of Eden.

Following in this tradition, Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church of Hickory Hills, Illinois, a suburb southwest of Chicago, just released its own DIY album, called Breakthrough. Recorded at Chicago’s storied Greater Walters AME, the first half of Breakthrough contains three performances each by the Youth Choir and the P&W-focused Inspirational Voices of Joy. The second half is a concert by the Combined Choirs.

The jazz-savvy musicians, under music director Brian Lofton, steal the show. They come together like the King Cole Trio on “Much Obliged,” which the Inspirational Voices of Joy imbue with Pointer Sisters-like pop harmonies oozing with dynamic tension. Frankie Blaze, Danny Dowd and Isaiah Sharkey provide crackling guitar work throughout the album, especially on the opening track, “Bless the Lord.”

While Prophet Todd Hall’s stimulating evangelism on “Let Jesus Come Into Your Life” turns up the heat, the capstone cut on the album is “Job Said.” It’s the album’s only churchy choir workout, with lyrics borrowed from the jubilee tradition, as Sally Hall-Durrell delivers a lesson on Job (always a good jubilee topic). She leads the choir with the musical wisdom of a seasoned church wrecker.

Breakthrough is an enjoyable listen that will garner fans beyond the confines of Pilgrim M.B. Church.

Two and a Half of Four Stars

Cynthia Jones - Gotta Soul (Kingdom Records 2008)

Cynthia Jones
Gotta Soul
Kingdom Records 2008
www.kingdomrecordsinc.com

You may not be able to judge a book by its cover, but sometimes you can judge a CD by its cover.

Especially in the case of Cynthia Jones’ Gotta Soul.

On the cover (above), Jones is bedecked in an ultra-hip top and earthy jewelry, and coiffed in a fetching, artsy and colorful Beyonce-as-Foxxy-Cleopatra ‘do. She is flanked by groovy ‘70s flowery designs of brown and orange. One of the tracks, “Love Jones,” riffs on the title of the Brighter Side of Darkness hit from the soulful seventies. All of this doesn’t just suggest that Jones is a neo-soul evangelist, it shouts it. And Jones delivers on the presumption.

Though raised in the COGIC church, Cynthia Jones is not a run-down-the-aisle gospel singer. At the same time, and in the finest spirit of COGIC, she plants today’s sound deep into her music ministry. She delivers an evangelical message in a crisp, intimate voice, as if she's perched on a stool and her immediate audience is hanging out in her living room or the corner cafe. She’s sassy and playful with the lyrics, reminiscent of Erykah Badu, Tracy Chapman and India.Arie. Behind Jones, guitars wah-wah, the keyboard sounds like the string section of the Love Unlimited Orchestra, and the bass digs in deep, making Gotta Soul accessible to those who don’t yet know they like gospel music.

On her recent hit single, “Live Right,” Jones puts the scat in escatology. She soothes listeners with a smooth jazz soundtrack, scats when the spirit moves her, and reminds everybody that they’d better be ready for the judgment anyhow.

The title track teaches the Golden Rule, no exceptions, because everybody’s “gotta soul.” And “Something About that Name,” another potential hit, is soft and groovy, with Jones purring out the praise one moment and worshipping powerfully the next.

Cynthia Jones is more jazz clubby than churchy, but her message is straight outta the KJV.

Three of Four Stars

S.C. pays tribute to gospel great Tommy Ellison

From The State, Thursday, January 8, 2009:

Viewing, funeral to celebrate life of Tommy Ellison

By OTIS R. TAYLOR JR. - otaylor@thestate.com

Like James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke, Tommy Ellison got his start as a singer in church. But unlike them, he stayed there.

The Salley native was lead vocalist of the gospel quartet Tommy Ellison & The Singing Stars for decades. He died Saturday in Baltimore at age 75.

Part singer, part preacher and a full-time evangelist, the spiritual word would come out of Ellison’s mouth in pleading tones, harmonic vocal runs and, when the spirit really hit him, screeches.

“All of his performances were energetic and stimulating,” said I.S. Leevy Johnson, Ellison’s local attorney and close friend. “He had a distinct style that blended good music and a good message.”

A public viewing and musical tribute will be held Saturday at Brookland Baptist Church, 1066 Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia, and there will be plenty of gospel music, sung with soul.

The Canton Spirituals, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, The Swanee Quintet, Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson and The Original Drifters are scheduled to perform.

The public viewing is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the tribute following from 2 to 5 p.m. at the church.

Ellison’s funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in Springfield at Smyrna Baptist Church, 541 Smyrna Church Road.

Ellison, who started singing in the 1950s, also performed in groups such as The Sensational Nightingales, The Chosen Gospel Singers and the Harmonizing Four. He was the kind of singer that made fans feel appreciated, said Loretta Coleman, a radio announcer for local gospel stations WFMV-FM 95.3 and WGCV-AM 620.

“It wasn’t just his music. It’s the way he was,” she said. “He never met a stranger. When he got to shows, he didn’t sit on the bus. He would sit with the audience.”

For Coleman, it’s simple why Ellison didn’t follow Brown, Franklin and Cooke into pop music.

“He realized (gospel) was the ministry that God has given him to do,” she said.

Reach Taylor at (803) 771-8362.

Another Quartet Soldier Gone: Claude Jeter Dies

Anthony Heilbut (The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times) informed TBGB today that Rev. Claude Jeter, the amazing high tenor lead singer and original member of the famed Swan Silvertones, went home to glory yesterday, January 6, 2009.

Jeter was 94 years old and living in New York City at the time of his death.

The Swans were among the Golden Era's most beloved and revered gospel quartets. They drew huge crowds for their programs and recorded for top labels such as King, Specialty, Vee Jay, HOB, and Savoy.

A line from the Swan Silvertones' classic recording "Oh Mary Don't You Weep," as led by Jeter, inspired Paul Simon to compose another classic, "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

The location of the NEW YORK CITY Homegoing Service for Rev. Claude Jeter has been changed. The service will now take place Friday January 16, 2009 at:

LaGree Baptist Church
362 West 125th Street (St. Nick & Morningside Aves.)
New York City, NY

Viewing will start at 4:00 p.m. & the service will start at 7:00 p.m.

Cards & condolences in New York can be sent in care of:

Virginia Cotton
P.O.Box 514
New York City, NY 10029
212-427-5058

In lieu of flowers in New York City area, donations will be accepted in care of Virginia Cotton, who is taking care of the church arrangements in NYC.

The final service will be in Detroit, MI on Wednesday, January 21, 2009: wake 12-8 p.m. Thurs, January 22, 2009: 10:30 a.m. service at The Jeter Memorial Chapel; 8436 West Chicago, Detroit. Tele.: 313-834-6100 & fax: 313-834-6191.

Cards To
Ms. Gwen Davis
p.o.box 114
Lillie, LA 71256

Condolences can be faxed to the Jeter Memorial Chapel, Detroit: 313-834-6191.

Read an article on Rev. Jeter that was written by David Hinckley and posted today in the New York Daily News. Anthony Heilbut contributes to the story.

Sister of Maurette Brown Clark Passes Away

From D.A. Johnson of Malaco...

The Malaco Music Group regrets to inform you that Maurette Brown Clark's sister, Loretta Faison, passed after a brief illness on Saturday, January 3, 2008. Ms. Clark would like to thank all of you for your prayers and support. She asks that you please say a special prayer for her brother-in-law, their daughters along with the rest of the family.

The information for the wake and where to send condolences is as follows:

Location:
Caggiano Memorial Funeral Home
62 Grove Street
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 744-6667

Date/Time: Wednesday, January 7, 2009 - 4:00pm-8:00pm

The wake is being held from 4:00pm to 7:00pm, followed by a short ceremony, concluding 8:00pm.

Funeral services will be held this weekend in Govan, South Carolina as by her sister's request on Saturday, January 10, 2009 @ St. Phillips Church of God in Christ, 1:00pm.

Photo: Maurette Brown Clark and her daughter, Jada - both Stellar Award-winners!

TBGB Pick of the Week: January 5, 2009

“Born Again”
Perry Taft & Company
From the forthcoming CD Born Again (available January 20, 2009)
www.bksmusicgroup.com

Somehow, it seems fitting that the first official Pick of the Week of the new year is an old-school quartet recording about being reborn spiritually.

On “Born Again,” Perry Taft pumps out line after line with a preacher’s breath and cadence. He also facilitates musical exchanges with members of his quartet in the style of Jimmy Hicks. Quartet fans will love the extended vamp on “Born Again,” which is exhilarating listening and in line with the sanctification the quartet sings about. And, of course, there’s that funky guitar work holding it all together.

The always-helpful Gloryland Gospel notes that Minister Taft has sung with the likes of the Gospel Keynotes, the late Tommy Ellison and the Five Singing Stars, Darrell McFadden and the Fantastic Disciples, and Bill Pinkney and the Gospel Drifters. No wonder Taft is so doggone good at what he does. He’s learned from some of the best in the biz.

“Born Again” is from the album of the same name, scheduled for release by BKS Music Group on January 20, 2009.

Try Jesus - Reverend Wesley Woods & the Hebrews Gospel Singers (G.C. Productions 2008)

Reverend Wesley Woods & the Hebrews Gospel Singers
Try Jesus
G.C. Productions 2008
www.hebrewsgospelsingers.com

Try Jesus, the latest release (April 2008) from the Houston-based and Stellar-nominated Reverend Wesley Woods & the Hebrews Gospel Singers – their seventh, if I’m counting correctly – blends Southern-fried traditional quartet singing with the fiery, keyboard-accompanied mixed voice gospel sound that came to prominence in the late 1950s and 1960s.

Although the singers on Try Jesus sound a tad tired and rough-edged at times – the tracks are hit and miss as a result – they make up for it with soulful enthusiasm. The song choices and performances are nevertheless genuine and remind the listener of being at a Sunday afternoon quartet program.

Quartet fans will be pleased with the title track, as well as with the engaging “Call Your Name,” “When I Meet Jesus,” “I’m So Glad” and “Ain’t No Love.” “I’m So Glad” has the most radio potential because of its rollicking rhythm, laid-back vocal, interpolation of a couple lines of melody from Rev. Cleavant Derrick’s “Just a Little Talk with Jesus” in the verses, and its steady driving vamp.

In terms of production quality, Try Jesus has smidgeons of hiss and buzz behind the singing that’s most discernible during the fading of every track, but they don’t detract from the listening experience.

Along with Reverend Woods, the Hebrews Gospel Singers are Alberta Williams (who shares lead vocal responsibilities with Woods), Lois Bethel, Ola Waters, Rev. Roy Harrison and Joseph Taylor. The group was organized in 1994 and waxed their first album, Call Your Name, two years later. The group has shared the stage with Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, the Spiritual QCs, and the late Howard “Slim” Hunt and the Supreme Angels, to name a few. They have been nominated twice for Stellars, once for their CD Sinner Man (Traditional Quartet Group, 2003-2004) and again in 2006-07 for Live In Houston.

Two of Four Stars

"Went Home to Glory" - RIP, Tommy Ellison

Sam Williams, manager of Tommy Ellison and the Singing Stars, informed TBGB this afternoon that Tommy Ellison "went home to Glory." He passed away this afternoon, January 3, 2009.

The memorial services will be held this Saturday, January 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Brookland Baptist Church, 1066 Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia, SC.

Mr. Williams (and TBGB) ask that everyone keep the Ellison family and the Singing Stars in their prayers during this difficult time.

No Grammy for Marvin Sapp?

From EURweb.com:

Grammy Awards official explains the reason 'Never Would Have Made It' wasn't nominated.

By Mona Austin/mediamindedpro@yahoo.com

(December 31, 2008) A Brooklyn street vendor is standing in 30 degree weather peddling Hip Hop mix tapes and DVDs from a six-foot table.

Encircled by a variety of CDs of Black motivational speakers and President-elect Barack Obama's acceptance speech, there are some CDs bearing a guy on the cover wearing what resembles a zoot suit.

Referring to the music coming from his speakers the vendor hollers in a New York drawl, almost yawning the vowels: "Got that 'Maaavin Saaapp!'"

Translation: "Marvin Sapp," who is the Pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan and noted gospel artist. He is the man smiling on the cover of the CD, the voice behind one of the most popular gospel recordings ever. A former member of Detroit-based gospel group Commissioned, the album "Thirsty" is Sapp's 7th musical undertaking in his solo career. The song blasting through the speakers is "Never Would Have Made It," the uber-popular lead single.

In 2008, Marvin Sapp was to music what President-Elect Barack Obama was to politics, a phenomenon. As one of the hottest musical commodities of 2008, the album sat high among the hodgepodge of selections at this make-shift record store, just as it engrossed spins at mainstream urban AC station, KJLH-FM to become the first gospel single to hold the #1 position.

That's only the beginning of the impact "Never Would Have Made It" has had.

The record-breaking track spent over 40 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's gospel radio charts, successfully crossed-over to No. 1 on the urban adult contemporary chart, maintained the No. 1 position in Gospel radio for over 6 months, making it the longest number one song in the history of the Nielsen BDS Gospel Chart, plus the inspiring ballad became the longest running No. 1 single at radio across all genres in the history of Billboard analysis.

(Incidentally, many would argue that this was the top gospel recording of the year, but it never mentioned the words that some say define a song as a gospel song: "Jesus" or "God.")

While its simple refrain, "never would have made it without you," resonated deeply with everyday people who could feel the weight of a suffering economy, a dramatic election competition and a war that seems to have no end in sight, it also touched the hearts of famous rappers Lil' Wayne and Nellie who were moved to lift their hands in worship when Sapp performed the song at the 2008 BET Awards. Sapp was honored with BET's Best Gospel Aryist Award that night and leads the list of Gospel music's Grammy equivalent, The Stellar Awards with a whopping 9 nominations.

Understandably so ... There is something special about this song that brings about a universal connection, although it penetrates on a personal level. I personally hadn't seen nor felt this type of energy from a recording since "We Are the World."

Yet, even with the stream of unprecedented accolades there is a level of honor the song will never attain--the coveted Grammy Award.

"Never Would Have Made It" never made it onto the 2009 Grammy ballot.

Here's how it got nixed:

Unlike any other award show, the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) issues the Grammy award based strictly on peer recognition -- it is not a popularity contest or based on chart status or record sales. The basic eligibility requirements are to have nationwide commercial distribution or for digital releases to be available on a Web site other than the artist's personal Web site such as CD Baby, Amazon.com or Itunes.

"Peers" are producers, song-writers, artists etc. who are dues paying members of the organization allowed to vote.

In Sapp's case, "What happened was ... " Bill Freimuth, NARAS Vice President, Awards explains, "It didn't really take off in the public consciousness until this year."

The album was nominated in the Best Traditional Gospel category last year (for 2008) and re-entered for 2008, which is allowed in the allotted 2-year submission window. It was disqualified because continues Freimuth, "The live version was on the album that was entered into the process in the previous year."

Essentially, the song had not peaked in mass popularity and did not receive enough votes the first time around and was disqualified in round 2, although it achieved public acclaim, because it was the same performance of the song according to Freimuth.

It's an unfortunate reality that artists run into all the time, Freimuth says. As another example, "Alternative rock group MGMT, for the album Oracular Spectacular expected that they would be nominated but were disqualified because of a previous entry,” Freimuth stated.

"We live and die by our rules and we publish them to makes sure that everybody making the decisions knows."

The bottom line in Freimuth's opinion is that time was not on Marvin Sapp's side.

Pastor Sapp had not responded to an interview request by press time.

Rogina Thomas of Mississippi Mass Choir Passes Away

From D.A. Johnson of Malaco Records:

The Mississippi Mass Choir Family regretfully announces the passing of our beloved singer - Rogina Thomas - on Saturday, December 27, 2008.

Her homegoing service will take place:

Saturday, January 3, 11:00AM

Greater Tree of Life M.B. Church
3102 Monticello Drive, Jackson, MS, 39212,
Rev./Dr. F.L. Blount, Pastor.

Although her signature song was "He Can Fix What is Broke," Rogina also was lead singer on "He's Coming Back," "By Grace," "You Brought Me," and "Wise Men Still Seek Him."

She leaves to cherish her precious memory, her loving husband Bobby Thomas, and daughters, Ronita Thomas and Bonitsha Thomas; and a host of family and friends.

Expressions of condolences can be forwarded to:
The Mississippi Mass Choir Ministries
PO Box 11279
Jackson, MS 39283

(All expressions will be forwarded to the Thomas Family)

Astronomers tells us that there are stars that burned out thousands of years ago, whose light can yet be seen in the celestial sky; Rogina Thomas was such a star.

Essential Gospel – Classic Recordings: No. 147 & 148

“Call Him Up” &
“When All God’s Children Get Together”
Min. Keith Pringle & the Pentecostal Community Choir
Savoy Records, 1980 and 1981

Min. Keith Pringle was an important figure in the 1980s gospel choir community. Even though he may be better known in the gospel music industry as a soloist, Pringle established a reputation for choral excellence when he organized the Pentecostal Community Choir in Los Angeles. The choir delivered the no-holds-barred, open-throated, gymnastic power vocals that had become the signature sound of late 20th Century gospel choruses.

Originally from Detroit and raised in the COGIC church, Pringle cites Rev. James Cleveland as the one who made him industry mainstream. The story goes that Pringle was organist on a recording session that featured James Cleveland with Pastor J.C. Wade and the Salem Mass Choir of the Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Omaha, Nebraska. During “No Ways Tired,” King James turned to Pringle, blithely content at the keyboards, and said, “Sing it for me, Keith.” Astonished, Keith responded by singing it, though he had never sung solo on a recording before.

The record was a success and launched Pringle’s gospel music career. The following year, Pringle organized the Pentecostal Community Choir in Los Angeles.

Pringle and the PCC’s 1980 runaway gospel hit “Call Him Up” -- co-written by another powerhouse, Ricky Grundy -- with its audience-thrilling stop-time pauses, and the following year’s feel-good “When All God’s Children Get Together,” became compulsory learning for any church-based or professional gospel chorus worth its muster. Nearly thirty years later, these arrangements are still heard from time to time, and – credit due to Pringle and Savoy Records – the original recordings sound just as fresh and exciting today as they did then. Some of the finest old school choir recordings from the Golden Age of Mass Choirs.

As Keith Pringle writes, “There will NEVER be another choir like PCC!”

"Call Him Up" is on the LP True Victory (Savoy SGL 7053)

"When All God's Children Get Together" is on the LP When All God's Children Get Together (Savoy SL 14656)

By the way, want to know what Min. Pringle is up to these days? Check out his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/keithpringle.

(Special thanks to Benita Bellamy and Joseph Middleton for their assistance.)

New Year, New YOU, More Gospel Memories!

Tune to 88.7 WLUW Chicago this Sunday morning, January 4, from 3:00 to 7:30 a.m. Central Time...

for the monthly live broadcast of “Gospel Memories” – the soundtrack to That Old Time Religion.

Not in Chicago? No problem. Visit www.wluw.org, click the Listen Live button, and enjoy “Gospel Memories” from wherever you are!

Highlights of the January 4 Broadcast:

Benediction: “The Lord’s Prayer”:
Historic 1925 recording of Prof. J. Wesley Jones and the Cosmopolitan Community Chorus, the classical music stars of pre-gospel black Chicago, featuring a recitation by the church's founder, Rev. W.D. Cook. Gospel choir pioneer Magnolia Lewis Butts is very possibly on this recording.

RIP: Odetta Holmes Gordon (photo above, circa 1960) – folksinger, balladeer, spirituals singer, Civil Rights activist - hear some of her performances of spirituals from the early 1960s.

Songs from a live performance of Chicago’s Apostolic Church of God Sanctuary Choir w/the Chicago Sinfonietta at Orchestra Hall, 1995.

Preacher Feature:
"Wise Head, Foolish Heart" - Rev. Eugene Cochran, Pastor - Philadelphia MB Church (Memphis, TN - 1971)

Recordings by classic artists such as:

Swan Mellarks (photo right - a tribute to Mahalia Jackson)
R.L. Knowles
Soul Stirrers
Cotton Brothers (a special New Year’s song)
Cassietta George
Evelyn Gay
Rev. Ford Washington McGee & Congregation (1930)
Trumpet-letts
Harmonizing Four
Gospel Troubadours
Pilgrim Jubilee Singers
Elder James Lenox
St. Paul Baptist Church Choir “Echoes of Eden”
Original Church of God in Christ Radio Choir – featuring a young Rance Allen
Delores Chandler and the Chandlerettes
“Chicago’s own” Mel-tones
…and much more!

So tune in and turn on to “Gospel Memories”…it’s radio-therapy!

CHECK OUT OUR NEW LOOK: www.gospelmemories.com. Handsome!

Studio line: (773) 508-WLUW.