Hostyle Gospel Hostyle Takeover (release date: October 14, 2016) www.hostylegospel.com By Bob Marovich Hostyle Gospel, the Christian hip hop trio from Champaign, Illinois, is back with its fourth release, Hostyle Takeover. This fourteen-cut album finds the collective persistent in its quest to blot out evil, with the “takeover” being a [...]
Dallas, TX (November 29, 2016) – Gospel mega-star Kirk Franklin celebrated a win in the category of Best Gospel/Inspirational Song for his #1 hit “123 Victory” at this year’s Soul Train Awards, which recently aired on BET and CENTRIC. Marking his sixth Soul Train Award win, “123 Victory” is Franklin’s [...]
“Let It Be Done” Albert White Overboard Records (2016) www.cdbaby.com/cd/albertwhiteandavop From the opening moans and the gospel waltz tempo to the blue notes and the opening line, “I know sometimes life gets you down and it seems like there's trouble all around,” everything about “Let It Be Done” shouts traditional [...]
Click on the image above to begin streaming Episode 109: Playlist: Rock steady - Angela Bennett Devotion - Nate Bean & 4Given Give thanks - Doe Jones Be still - Riverside SDA Choir feat. Lecresia Campbell Hallelujah - The Stand Campaign feat. Joann Rosario-Condrey King [...]
“Because of Who You Are” Sounds of Imani Heaven-Wings Records (release date: October 21, 2016) www.soundsofimani.com Recording as the Sounds of Imani, Gerald and Carol Ervin have released their debut single, “Because of Who You Are,” a tuneful praiser that features the husband-wife team's fine solo and duet vocalizing. Carol’s [...]
“Excuse Me” Chrystal Rucker HBK Media (2016) Chrystal Rucker is one of the most gifted vocalists in gospel music today. Although some of her best work thus far has been on passionately rendered slow songs, “Excuse Me” gives her a chance to front a shoulder-shaking praiser. On "Excuse Me," Rucker [...]
Dee Dee Sharp Songs of Faith Cameo Records / ABKCO Music and Records (originally released in 1962; reissued October 21, 2016) www.abkco.com By Bob Marovich Just before the Beatles all but changed the face of popular music, Cameo/Parkway Records was finding new ways to keep kids dancing. From Chubby Checker’s [...]
The Rance Allen Group Live from San Francisco Tyscot Records (release date: October 28, 2016) www.tyscot.com By Bob Marovich “I’m loving me some of y’all,” gushed an obviously pleased Bishop Rance Allen to the audience gathered to hear the Rance Allen Group at the Second Annual Charles Reid Gospel Festival [...]
Half Mile Home Don’t Judge Me Church Boy Musik / Blacksmoke Music Worldwide (release date: July 8, 2016) www.halfmilehome.com By Bob Marovich Oh, the irony in reviewing a CD called Don’t Judge Me. That’s the name of Half Mile Home’s fourth and latest full-length project, which repackages some of the [...]
The Gospel Division of Sharp Records informed the Journal of Gospel Music yesterday that Eric Allen Byrd of The Golden Crowns of Louisville, Kentucky, has passed away. Allen was the quartet's manager, lead and background vocalist, and songwriter for many years. First organized in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as the Shanklin Brothers, the [...]
