The Journal of Gospel Music

“Praise Him”Mud MorganfieldDelmark Records (release date: August 20, 2021)www.delmark.com By Robert M. Marovich Although Chicago’s Delmark Records is best known for its estimable blues and jazz catalogues, there’s a sacred single in the mix, brought to you by a most surprising source: Mud Morganfield, the eldest son of electric blues pioneer Muddy Waters. Expressing the religious experience in his own way, Morganfield conjures “Praise Him” as a hoodoo brew built on a pinch of blues, a dollop of gospel, and a generous scoop of Memphis-style soul. A salvation story sets the scene for this haunting praise song. Morganfield participates in ...

Ruth Black and the Harmonettes He Woke Me Raymarkable Music, Inc. (release date: August 13, 2021) www.raymarkablemusic.net By Robert M. Marovich Production by Ray Braswell Jr. at his Raymarkable Studios in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, is a seal of quality for any quartet project, as it for the latest Braswell-produced CD, Ruth Black and the Harmonettes’ He Woke Me. The five-member female quartet from Alexander City, Alabama, offer ten quintessentially deep southern soul quartet selections. The album toggles between high-energy songs like “Weeping May Endure” (where the group bears an aural resemblance to the Ingramettes) and “I Know I’m Blessed;” ...

“More than Enough” Tiff Jones Independent (release date: August 27, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich “More than Enough” is a gorgeous meditation on the transformative power of God’s love, made all the more beautiful by Tiff Jones’ restful delivery. Her vocals and the delicate musicianship flow like gently cleansing water. The harmonies on the lyrics about peace and grace are scrumptious. A key change at the end would have made it even more affecting. It’s the first songwriting credit for co-writer Nicole Thomas, a Chicagoan now living in the near western suburb of Oak Park (Donald Robinson is the other ...

Birdsong and Lilly will receive recognition for their contributions to the gospel music industry  St. John’s, Antigua – James C. Birdsong, Jr., a member of the renowned famed Birdsong family and award-winning figure in gospel music; and Lillian Lilly, the longtime principal vocalist of the world-renowned GRAMMY® Award-nominated Mississippi Mass Choir, are among the nine honorees for the 7th Annual Antigua Barbuda Gospel Music & Media Awards (ABGMA). The event will take place on Friday, October 22, 2021, at Kentish Pentecostal Church in St. John’s, Antigua, West Indies, during an invitation-only event. Birdsong and Lilly will receive their recognition at ...

Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz Proclaims Friday, September 24 Rance Allen Group Day in Toledo, Ohio In Celebration of New Release, “Love Makes the World Go Around” Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz has proclaimed Friday, September 24, 2021, as Rance Allen Group Day in the gospel trio’s adopted hometown of Toledo, Ohio. Steve Allen and Tom Allen visited with the city’s chief executive in his office earlier this week when he officially presented them with the proclamation. The front man, Bishop Rance Allen, passed away in October 2021. His widow, Ellen Allen, called in on the speakerphone to thank the mayor for honoring the ...

Sponsored Post: On Saturday, October 30, 2021, The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation will host the Purple Diamond Awards Fundraising Dinner in North Bergen, New Jersey. Simone Gordon is known nationally for her philanthropic work as The Black Fairy Godmother. For almost three years, The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, has helped marginalized Black and Brown families, especially those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with assistance. The non-profit has received accolades for its excellent work from many quarters, most recently the Gates Foundation, which awarded a grant to the nonprofit. Since Ms. Gordon launched The Black Fairy Godmother ...

“Pass Me Not”Elder Randall Ogans Sr. & Dorian OgansAlpha 7 Ministries (release date: September 5, 2021)https://elderrandalloganssr.hearnow.com By Robert M. Marovich Gospel jazz artist Elder Randall Ogans Sr. and his equally-talented son Dorian combine their efforts to tastefully update the beloved Fanny Crosby hymn “Pass Me Not.” Dorian’s acoustic piano and electric guitar riffs give the hymn a gentle swing that evokes a late-night cafe’ jam session, until Randall’s organ enters and brings it back to Sunday morning worship. It’s the kind of restful piece you play just before or after service, or at the end of a very busy Sunday.

The free streaming program will be available on Sunday, October 10. Maurette Brown Clark will appear alongside Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy, JJ Hairston, and Patrick Riddick. Multi-award-winning musician and syndicated radio personality Lonnie Hunter will host the four-part weekly virtual “Gospel City Playlist” series, where artists will vie to see whose region produces the greatest gospel hit makers and hits. The series will air at 8 PM ET every Sunday from September 19 to October 10 on BET Network’s YouTube channel and BET.com.  By Robert M. Marovich JGM spoke recently with Maurette Brown Clark, the “Princess of Praise & Worship,” ...

Episode 157 Playlist Amazing – Pastor Mike Jr. Redeemed – Denita Gibbs I’m not tired yet…running for Jesus – Calvin Bridges You did it – Kisha Grandy Fear is not welcome – Brian Courtney Wilson w/Hilary Scott Better – Pastor Skylar Patterson & Predestined feat. Lisa Knowles Smith UWait 2021 – Walter Barnes and Men of Ministry I’m yours – Leah Oduro-Kwarten I am strong – Capathia Jenkins Thank you – Pastor Mike Jr. Yamagoya3 – Imari Tones Perfect healing – Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers I will call upon the Lord – Dr. E. LaQuint Weaver II & ...

“Jesus Christ is Lord” Carmella Green Cloud Records (release date: December 18, 2020) www.cloudrecordsllc.com By Robert M. Marovich “Jesus Christ is Lord” by Carmella Green is another outstanding sacred single from Cloud Records, an emerging label with a small but mighty roster of accomplished vocalists. Despite being a soprano, Carmella Green delivers this song in a deep, dramatic voice, like a trained senior choir soloist. She does toss in a few vocal flowers, mostly at the end, but in general, she sings the worship opus in an operatic style. With its text drawn from Philippians 2:10-11 (“every knee shall bow, ...