“The Battered Woman’s Prayer” The Allen Family Sharp Records (2013) www.sharprecordsusa.com “I’ve got this girlfriend, and she came to work with a black eye.”Thus begins “The Battered Woman’s Prayer” by the Allen Family of Liberty, Mississippi. A soft soul selection that explores the dark side of romance, the song focuses [...]
The Malaco Music Group regrets to announce the passing of Atlanta International Records (AIR Gospel) recording artist Rev. Gerald Thompson. Rev. Gerald Thompson had, without a doubt, emerged as one of America’s premier gospel personalities. He wrote, arranged, and recorded such songs as “Everybody Ought To Know Who Jesus Is,” “Your Deliverance [...]
The Flint Cavaliers Havin’ Church Low Rush Music/Grammercy Records (2013) www.lowrush.com By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogThe Flint Cavaliers, known by their fans as the Cavs, have been around for many years. The Stellar and Soul Train Award nominees from Flint, Michigan—a stalwart quartet town—waxed at least one [...]
The BrooklynTabernacle ChoirLove Lead the WayBrooklynTabernacle Music (2013)www.brooklyntabernacle.orgBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogThe Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir notches its second five-star CD in a row with Love Lead the Way.I have always considered the six-time Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir the hipper, cooler sibling of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, [...]
A Piece of My Soul (The Anthology of Gospel)Christ Universal Temple, ChicagoMay 24 and 25 By Bob Marovich of The Black Gospel BlogLast night, A Piece of My Soul opened as a musical and ended as church.Faith Howard (r) sings a tribute to Albertina WalkerEvoking Jackie Taylor’s Black Ensemble Theater presentations in [...]
“Heaven”Bishop Neal Roberson & the MacedoniaMass ChoirBroken Chains Entertainment (2013)www.BrokenChainsEntertainment.orgGospel music is chockablock with evocations of the hereafter, from wistful and melancholy to out-and-out celebratory. Bishop Neal Roberson and Josh Hicks join the mass choir of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church of Flint, Michigan on a sample of the latter. In [...]
Alvin DarlingWaiting Right HereEmtro Gospel (2013)www.emtro.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogStellar and Dove-nominated artist Alvin Darling takes listeners by the hand and leads them back to the old landmark on Waiting Right Here.These days it is difficult to find a gospel project that does more than pay lip [...]
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogThe joyous musical, A Piece of My Soul (The Anthology of Gospel), returns to Chicago, the city where it debuted, for one weekend, Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25, at ChristUniversal Temple, 11901 South Ashland. Gospel superstar Vickie Winans will be part [...]
Various ArtistsTop 25 Gospel Songs – 2013 EditionMaranatha Music/EMI Music CMG Distributionwww.maranathamusic.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogIf it were not for a couple of traditional-leaning selections, Maranatha Music’s Top 25 Gospel Songs – 2013 Edition could easily be titled Top 25 Praise and Worship Songs – 2013 Edition.Whether [...]
“Just What He Said”Joel BrileyClark Music Group (2013)www.cdbaby.com/cd/joelbrileyTwenty-two-year-old Joel Briley may be a praise and worship singer for The Love Center Church in Dunn, North Carolina, but on “Just What He Said,” he demonstrates the vocal prowess of a hard quartet lead. This single about God making a way out [...]
