By Bob Marovich Despite rumbles of thunder and intermittent downpours that kept the audience under umbrellas for much of the program, the closing event of the two-day 2019 Chicago Gospel Music Festival proceeded without delay. A collaboration between Chicago’s Department of Cultural and Special Events, the Stellar Awards, and the National Museum of Gospel Music, the evening program, held at the city’s Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, featured appearances by several Stellar Award nominees and awardees. Emcees were Pastor Charles Jenkins and Terrell Brown, Anchor, ABC 7 Chicago. Here are a few photographic highlights of the evening:

Stellar Award Lifetime Honoree PASTOR MACEO WOODS Presents HELLO SUNSHINE LIVE! Pastor Maceo Woods, Stellar Award Bobby Jones Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Billboard classic, Hello Sunshine. TRACK LISTING: Hello Sunshine In Jesus Name (I Won’t Leave Here) Jesus is Keeping Me Oh Lord Deliver Me I Thank The Lord I’ll Get Home Someday (We Are Climbing) I’m So Grateful Wonderful He’s There Step To Jesus I’m Living in the Care of the Lord Revive Us Again The Life Boat I Will Give Thanks He Lifted Me Executive Producer: Pastor Maceo L. Woods 2019 Compilation: ...

JGM offers its sympathies on the passing of Elder John Powell, the husband of gospel singer Sara Jordan Powell.

Check out the link below for a Chicago Sun-Times article that offers the lineup of artists for the 34th Chicago Gospel Music Festival, to be held at the Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park May 31 and June 1, 2019. The lineup was announced this past week by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Among the festival’s highlights this year are a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin and a collaboration with the Stellar Awards, which will honor Black Music Month and the National Museum of Gospel Music by bringing Stellar Award-winning artists to the main stage. ...

By Bob Marovich The Journal of Gospel Music is saddened to learn of the transition of Elder Arlester Washington, gospel artist and pastor of Now Faith Worship Center in Lexington, Kentucky, as a result of a two-vehicle collision on Tuesday, April 9. Originally from Madisonville, Kentucky, Pastor Washington migrated to Chicago, was a member of the Gospel Crystals and the Chicago Gospel Cavaliers, and traveled with the Caravans and Jessy Dixon. He founded the Anointed Central Kentucky Mass Choir in 1990. Funeral Services are taking place THIS weekend: 1) Visitation: Friday, April 12th from 5:00-7:00pm. After the visitation will be ...

The 2019 Billboard Music Awards will air live from the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 1 at 8:00 PM ET on NBC. Here are the Christian and Gospel Music nominees: Top Christian Artist: Cory Asbury Lauren Daigle For King & Country Hillsong Worship MercyMe Top Gospel Artist: Kirk Franklin Koryn Hawthorne Tori Kelly Tasha Cobbs Leonard Marvin Sapp Top Christian Album: Cory Asbury “Reckless Love” Lauren Daigle “Look Up Child” For King & Country “Burn The Ships” Hillsong Worship “There Is More” Zach Williams “Chain Breaker” Top Gospel Album: Snoop Dogg & Various Artists “Snoop Dogg Presents ...

April 1, 2019 (LAS VEGAS, NV) – Central City Productions wrapped up the taping of the 34th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Friday, March 29 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The biggest night in gospel music, hosted by Kirk Franklin, will premiere on BET Network on Easter Sunday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT. The stand-out highlight of the evening was an emotional tribute performance by Kelly Price, Erica Campbell and Regina Belle honoring the undisputed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Family members of the late-legend Brenda Corbett, Jordan Franklin and Kecalf Franklin were ...

Jackson, MS (March 15, 2019): After twenty-eight years of heading the label, Doug Williams is officially retiring from his role as President and CEO of Blackberry Records as of April 1, 2019. Williams was instrumental in signing such artists as Bishop Paul S. Morton, the Canton Spirituals, the Williams Brothers and many others. Williams says: “We’ve had an incredible 28 years and made some history along the way. However, God is leading me in other directions at this time in my life.” Doug Williams will continue his involvement in the music industry, sharing that “music is my first love, therefore, ...

By Bob Marovich The Journal of Gospel Music is saddened to report that Sis. Gertrude Deadwyler Hicks passed away March 1, 2019. The Rev. Dr. Stefanie Minatee informed JGM of her transition. Gertrude Hicks was a member of the Gospel Chordettes / Lawrence Roberts Singers and a founding member of the Angelic Choir of the First Baptist Church of Nutley, New Jersey. She was born March 9, 1938, to Georgiana and Arvie Deadwyler in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents left Brooklyn to establish the Mount Olive Pentecostal Faith Church in Jersey City, New Jersey. Gertrude learned to play classical piano ...