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 ...

Congratulations to the GRAMMY Awardees in the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music categories: GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE/SONG “Never Alone,” Tori Kelly Featuring Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin and Victoria Kelly, songwriters BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE/SONG “You Say,” Lauren Daigle; Lauren Daigle, Jason Ingram and Paul Mabury, songwriters BEST GOSPEL ALBUM Hiding Place, Tori Kelly BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM Look Up Child, Lauren Daigle BEST ROOTS GOSPEL ALBUM Unexpected, Jason Crabb A shout out to other notable winners with gospel music cred: WORLD MUSIC Freedom, Soweto Gospel Choir BEST ALBUM NOTES Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William ...

JGM learned the shocking news that Marlowe Cribbs passed away. Here is Marlowe’s bio, courtesy of his website: “Raised in the home of a former Blues musician and influenced by Gospel music at an early age, M. E. Cribbs had no choice but to develop an eclectic musical ear. This would serve him greatly as he excelled in his musical ventures. He is considered a lyricist of the highest order and with artists, such as The Chicago Mass Choir, Dorinda Clark-Cole, New Direction, Reed’s Temple Choir, and Mark Hubbard & The United Voices in his clientry, this has been proven ...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (January 16, 2019) – The administrators and staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com are proud to announce the nominees for the 2019 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards. As in years past, the nominees were chosen by the staff of AbsolutelyGospel.com and select media representatives. Starting on Monday, January 21, 2019, the fans will get a chance to vote for their favorites in several categories. “Once again, another year has come and gone, and we start this process all over again,” said Deon Unthank, President/CEO of AbsolutelyGospel.com. “This will be our 15th live show that we’ve produced, and we know that they ...

Best Gospel CDs, Singles and Historic Reissues of 2018 By Bob Marovich As is our custom for this time of year, the Journal of Gospel Music presents its “best of” lists in the category of CDs, songs, and historical releases. The recordings were not chosen as “best of” based on sales, chart status, promotion, voting, fan popularity, number of likes or retweets, committee decisions, throwing darts, reading tea leaves, arm twisting, or anything other than 1) JGM was serviced with the music for review and 2) JGM believes they best represented gospel/sacred music in 2018 in terms of overall music ...