By Bob Marovich In Mark 6:4, Jesus advises that “a prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown.” This is true, almost to the point of becoming cliché.  It rings true for Vernell Payton Jr. “It took a man from Chicago, who did not know me, who I never met, to see something in me that my own hometown did not invest time in,” the independent gospel artist told the Journal of Gospel Music while in Chicago last week, visiting his record label, 4Parks Entertainment. Payton’s hometown is New Orleans, and more specifically, the Gentilly area, which abuts Lake Ponchartrain. ...

Donna LiZa Makin’ the Level www.facebook.com/officialdonnaliza By Bob Marovich On “He’s Got the Answer,” the concluding cut on her eight-selection solo CD Makin’ the Level, Donna LiZa gives us an autobiographical glimpse of a pivotal moment in her life. Originally from New Orleans, Donna lost everything in Hurricane Katrina and became part of the post-hurricane migration to Texas. She moved to Arlington and began singing with Bishop Greg O’Quin and iPraise. The group’s musically multi-faceted After the Storm (2009), on which Donna led “I Appreciate U,” earned five stars from the Journal of Gospel Music. Bishop O’Quin produced Donna’s solo ...