Karlos Nichols Live in Memphis: Hope! With The Covenant The Kane Group (release date: August 16, 2016) Available from Amazon.com By Bob Marovich Live in Memphis: Hope! is the debut album by Karlos Nichols, a Memphian who received his music education in New York City and came home to impact [...]
By Bob Marovich (UPDATED 12/17/16) Gospel quartet legend Willie Joe Ligon passed away on Sunday, December 4. Homegoing and memorial details are at the bottom of this report. Born October 11, 1936, in Troy, Alabama, Ligon migrated to Los Angeles at age 14 and met his future mates in the Mighty [...]
“Let It Go” Evangelist Brenda Whitt-Abney & Bones of Fire (private release, 2016) djjmusicmedia@yahoo.com Many sing about God as a doctor in a sickroom. In the case of “Let It Go,” His intercession can prevent an ulcer. Aiken, South Carolina’s Evangelist Brenda Whitt-Abney & Bones of Fire (a great group [...]
“You Were There” Henry Hall and New Dimension Worshippers Rebel Hill Music “You Were There,” a graceful ode of gratitude to God for His constancy, is a slow burning single by Henry Hall and New Dimension Worshippers. The choral harmonies are reminiscent of the Hawkins Family, Thomas Whitfield, John P. [...]
Yesterday, the Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Here are the nominees in the Gospel and Contemporary Christian Music categories: Best Gospel Performance/Song It's Alright, It's Ok Shirley Caesar Featuring Anthony Hamilton; Stanley Brown & Courtney Rumble, songwriters (Light Records/Entertainment One) You're Bigger [Live] Jekalyn [...]
“Operator 911” Chris Byrd & the Heavenaires From the album Diversified (released August 2016) Available from digital music outlets Chris Byrd and the Heavenaires dust off and update “Operator,” the Cleveland-based Friendly Brothers’ 1959 classic covered in the 1970s by a cappella vocal group the Manhattan Transfer. In their hands, [...]
VaShawn Mitchell Secret Place – Live in South Africa V Man Entertainment / Motown Gospel Release date: November 4, 2016 www.motowngospel.com By Bob Marovich While European and Scandinavian countries prefer American gospel artists to sing traditional fare when touring, South Africa appears to have wholly embraced the P&W offerings of [...]
Summer Love Letters Rich Life Records (2016) www.summerofficialpage.com By Bob Marovich “I’m in love with Jesus / The greatest love I’ve known; For even when I’ve left you / You claimed me as your own.” Thus sings Summer Pearson, aka Summer, on “Key To My Heart,” one of eight selections [...]
Gospel Music Legend and Former BMI Trailblazer Award Recipient Yolanda Adams to Co-Host with Gospel Singer-Songwriter VaShawn Mitchell NEW YORK, November 28, 2016 – Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) will honor gospel music superstars Kim Burrell and Marvin Sapp at the 18th annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Honors at the [...]
Dr. Mark Williams When A Man Worships ATAP Music Group (released: August 2016) www.DrMarkWill.com By Bob Marovich Although Dr. Mark Williams is originally from Cincinnati and now lives in Nashville, his latest solo release, When A Man Worships, sounds straight outta Memphis. That’s because on most of the album’s dozen [...]
