The Journal of Gospel Music

AKRON, OH (Wednesday, October 11, 2017) — Prayers and condolences to Half Mile Home’s Todd Burton. This past Saturday his son DeAndre Andrus, 21, was shot and killed in what police believe to be a drive-by shooting that involved his cousin. Todd’s son was found dead the next morning from the gunshot wounds in Akron’s Goodyear Heights neighborhood. This is the second time that one of Todd’s kids was shot. His son Trey was shot in the head at the end of last year after an altercation with a man and his girlfriend. Please keep Todd and his family in ...

“I’ve Got to Win” Tonya Lewis-Taylor From the EARS Entertainment Group I’ve Got to Win 2.0 (EP, released August 24, 2017) www.tonyalewistaylor.com By Bob Marovich “I’ve Got to Win” is Tonya Lewis-Taylor at her most expressive. This slow burner of a title track is a modified and more radio-ready version of the title track and emotional highpoint of her 2014 live album, Delayed but Not Denied. Like its predecessor, the inspirational “I’ve Got to Win” benefits from delicate musical accompaniment that provides Lewis-Taylor ample room to emote about how she has persisted in her journey despite almost insurmountable odds. A ...

Patrick Lundy & the Ministers of Music By Faith New Day Distribution (release date: October 27, 2017) www.plundymom.com By Bob Marovich By Faith, the latest full-length release by Patrick Lundy & the Ministers of Music, contains the group’s finest work to date. The quality of the MOM vocalists, individually and collectively, make By Faith strong, but so does the selection of songs and songwriters. While Lundy contributes original compositions, such as “It’s On the Way,” a powerfully-rendered ballad of encouragement, other songwriters include top-shelfers V. Michael McKay (“Rest”), Byron Cage (“From the Rising”), and Stephen Manders (“Under His Wings”). The songs dip frequently into ...

Debbie Cochran Born Again Wildflower Independent Release (release date: June 16, 2017) www.debbiecochran.com By Bob Marovich Debbie Cochran, the Arkansas singer whose “Faith Can” was a JGM Pick of the Week in September 2016, scores big by landing Dolly Parton as a duet partner on the title track of her new album, Born Again Wildflower. Cochran, a self-described “classic country” singer, has a voice that is wizened, expressive, and passionate. Her rich, low warble evokes another classic country singer, Kitty Wells, and her aggressive vocal projection reminds me of Opry stars. Her street-level lyrics are like country poetry, not unlike Dolly ...

More love from Feedspot, which just named the Journal of Gospel Music #9 of the Top 50 blogs and websites dedicated to Gospel Music. Thanks so much to all of JGM‘s fans for your support, because the ranking is based on Twitter and Facebook followers and readership! God bless! https://blog.feedspot.com/gospel_music_blogs/  

The Mighty Gospel Inspirations In Black and White Independent Release (2009) http://theboguesound.com/mgi.html By Bob Marovich A cappella quartet singing may not be nearly as widespread in today’s gospel music market as it once was, but it hasn’t gone away completely. For nearly half a century, the Mighty Gospel Inspirations of Durham, North Carolina, have kept the tradition alive. The biracial group’s 2009 release, In Black and White, is a sampling of their harmonistic approach. Representing the quartet on the album are brothers Mike and Ken Sanders, Larry Perry, James Bailey, and Robert Waldrop. In Black and White sounds like someone turned ...

The Journal of Gospel Music has been selected by Feedspot panelists as one of the Top 100 Christian Music Blogs on the web. “This is the most comprehensive list of Top 100 Christian Music Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!” Feedspot founder Anuj Agarwal said to JGM. We are honored to be part of this distinguished list of citizen journalists. View all 100 Top Christian Music Blogs on the list here: Feedspot  

Keith Reed Jr. & New Sound of Worship Bless the Lord (EP) New Sound Music Group (release date: July 21, 2017) http://newsoundofworship.com By Bob Marovich Cool harmonies from New Sound of Worship support Keith Reed Jr.’s singing of three conventional Rhythm & Praise songs on the EP Bless the Lord. Two of the three, “Bless the Lord” and “I Can’t Praise You Enough,” are the type of song and arrangement often used by praise teams to open worship services and gospel music programs. The most compelling of the three cuts is the hypnotic seven-minute “All Hail the Power.” Featuring warm riffs ...

“Even Then” Rev. Luther Barnes & the Restoration Worship Center Choir From the Shanachie / SRT CD The Favor of God www.shanachie.com By Bob Marovich Man plans and God laughs, the saying goes. “Even Then,” the latest single from Reverend Barnes’ 2016 CD, The Favor of God, is about man trying to understand God’s plan for his life, especially during the challenging moments. In this case, Barnes thinks he knows his destiny but questions God’s thinking when it goes awry. Like the famous “Footprints” poem, Barnes realizes that God was there all the time, carrying him through the darkest hours ...

Marvin Williams Gospel Sing Night Independent Release 2016 https://form.jotform.us/marvinwilliams/shop-with-marvin-williams- By Bob Marovich Gospel Sing Night, a combination CD and DVD offering from Arkansas-based pianist and singer Marvin Williams, contains the same zestful singing of traditional gospel songs and church hymns that the late Bishop G. E. Patterson presented in 2005 and 2006 in his two-volume Singing the Old Time Way. One difference between Patterson’s and Williams’s projects: instead of simply offering a congregational singalong, Williams talks about the components of an old fashioned worship service as he presents songs associated with each part. Including everything but the offering and altar call, Williams’s narrative, singing, ...