LEBANON, TN – (December 20, 2021) – Deon Unthank, founder and CEO of AbsolutelyGospel.com, peacefully passed into the arms of his Savior on Friday, December 17, 2021, surrounded by his family. Always a Southern Gospel singer and fan first, Deon founded AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com), with his deceased wife Susan in 1997. The site gained national prominence and became a leading voice in the industry in the early 2000s that has continued to this day. The site’s awards program, Absolutely Gospel Music Awards, became it’s calling card and legacy. He also founded the Southern Gospel group The Sunday Edition in the 1970s ...

From the Ace Records UK website. Thanks to Doug Price for letting JGM know of Bishop Simon’s passing and forwarding this information. Joe Simon died on 13th December 2021, aged 85 years. Joe Simon possessed one of the greatest Southern Soul voices heard throughout the golden age of the 60s & 70s soul music. The voice of Joe Simon was one of deep soul. It had a languid, velvet-smooth quality reminiscent of other great talents such as Jerry Butler, Garland Green, and James Carr. One of his early influences was the supper-club crooner Arthur Prysock and he was also very ...

By Robert M. Marovich Anne’ DuBose informed JGM of the passing of her father, Jonathan “Papa Joe” DuBose Sr. He transitioned today at age 82. Papa Joe DuBose was a member of the Sensational Starlights gospel quartet of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and a leader in the local gospel music community. Anne’ and her family developed a book on the life of Papa Joe after she and her brothers Kenneth and Jonathan Jr. compiled a historical program for their father’s 70th birthday celebration. Many know Jonathan DuBose Jr. for his years of guitar work for many gospel artists. Homegoing details:Thursday, December 23, ...

By Robert M. Marovich On Sunday, December 12, at 8 p.m. ET, McDonald’s USA will deliver the gift of music to McDonald’s fans through its Inspiration Celebration® Gospel Tour Holiday Experience. Yolanda Adams, Kurt Carr, James Fortune, The Walls Group, and Brian Courtney Wilson, and featuring BET’s Sunday Best winner Stephanie Summers, will grace the virtual stage to ring in the season with some of their chart-topping hits and holiday carols and gospel music. The show, hosted by multi-award-winning musician and syndicated radio personality Lonnie Hunter, will air on BET Network’s YouTube Channel.  In addition to their solo spots, the ...

(DETROIT, MI, Nov. 30, 2021) On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks stood up for civil rights and against segregation when she refused to give up her seat and move to the back of a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This bold move from Ms. Parks helped spark the Civil Rights Movement, inspiring leaders such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr to take action towards helping our nation become a better society. To commemorate that historic event, this year the Rosa Parks Family Foundation, headed by Rhea McCauley – the niece of the departed Ms. Parks – announces the ...

Congratulations to the nominees in the 64th GRAMMY Awards gospel categories, and those whose projects are gospel related. The telecast will air Monday, January 31, 2022, on CBS. 36. Best Gospel Performance/Song Voice Of God Dante Bowe Featuring Steffany Gretzinger & Chandler Moore; Dante Bowe, Tywan Mack, Jeff Schneeweis & Mitch Wong, songwriters Joyful Dante Bowe; Dante Bowe & Ben Schofield, songwriters Help Anthony Brown & Group Therapy; Anthony Brown & Darryl Woodson, songwriters Never Lost CeCe Winans Wait On You Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music; Dante Bowe, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick, Tiffany Hudson, Brandon Lake & Chandler Moore, ...

CECE WINANS A BIG WINNER AT THE 52ND DOVE AWARDS Marvin Sapp, Lecrae, Maverick City Music Win Too! Nashville, TN (October 26, 2021) – The 52nd GMA Dove Awards were recently handed out in 38 categories at the Allen Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Under the banner, Stronger Together, Christian/Gospel music’s biggest night of the year stressed a theme of racial harmony in light of America’s polarization following the birth of CVID-19 and the death of George Floyd. The show was hosted by gospel singer Jonathan McReynolds and Christian Pop star Natalie Grant, who lost thousands of social media followers when ...

CECE WINANS ADDS FOUR NEW TROPHIES TO HER DOVE AWARDS COLLECTION: GOSPEL ARTIST OF THE YEAR, GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR, GOSPEL WORSHIP SONG OF THE YEAR AND INSPIRATIONAL RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR (Los Angeles, CA) – The incomparable CeCe Winans continues to blaze the trail in the music industry with heartfelt and empowering songs. Winans’ chart- topping album, Believe For It, won big at the 52nd Annual Dove Awards that was taped at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville and aired Friday, October 22nd, on Trinity Broadcasting Network at 8:00 p.m. ET and 10:00 p.m. ET and was ...

From a press release (NOTE: JGM’s Bob Marovich appears in the film): How They Got Over tells the story of how Black gospel quartet music became a primary source of what would be known as rock and roll, and in the process helped to break down racial walls in mid-twentieth century America. Beginning in the 1920s, Black singers across the country took to the highways as the new technology of radio and records made it possible to reach a wider audience. Intense competition brought new ways to entertain, first with guitars, later with full bands, then with a performance style ...

For Immediate Release (Houston, Texas) The music community is mourning the loss of a Gospel music legend with the passing of Shawn McLemore after an extended illness. “Shawn was a great spirit with enormous talent and personality to match”, says Blacksmoke Music Worldwide CEO Kerry Douglas. “To see him take the stage and have absolute command of the room was just magic. He was genuine, he had a great sense of humor and when he sang, God listened. Shawn was a gift to us and he will surely be missed.” Life began for Shawn McLemore in Los Angeles, California, where ...