Bob

KJ ScrivenThe Acoustic Experiment (2011)www.kjscriven.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogExperiment is the key word in KJ Scriven’s six-track The Acoustic Experiment.  While acoustic guitar in gospel is not unheard of—it was an essential tool of quartet singing for decades—as a main instrument, it is new to contemporary gospel.  [...]

“Better Than Life”Lisa Page BrooksFrom the Habakkuk Music CDBetter Than Lifewww.habakkukmusic.comFormer Witness vocalist Lisa Page Brooks has a knack for releasing top-notch gospel singles.  She follows-up her radio hit, “I Just Want To Say Thank You” with “Better Than Life,” the title track of her new album, produced by her [...]

When it rains, it pours. Jordan Phillips reported that gospel music lost another legend.Willa Ward-Royster died today at the age of 92. Along with sister Clara and mother Gertrude, Royster was a member of the Famous Ward Singers of Philadelphia, one of gospel music's most popular singing groups. Royster recounted the [...]

Anthony Heilbut alerted TBGB that Gladys Beamon Gregory, member of the famed Little Lucy Smith Singers, died today.Born in Chicago in 1925, Gregory was a gospel singer's gospel singer.  She was a member of the original Lucy Smith Trio from All Nations Pentecostal Church on Chicago's South Side, whose founder [...]

Terrell TaylorHe Is Good – The Live ExperienceTNT Ministries (2012)www.terrelltaylor.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.Experience is an ideal description of singer-songwriter Terrell Taylor's music. Possessing a praise and worship sound that evokes Shekinah Glory Ministry, Taylor’s song-scape is designed with the totality of the worship service in mind [...]

Jennifer Mekel and Friends“Destiny” LivePower of Word and Music Ministries (2012)www.jenniferjonesmusic.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogJennifer Mekel duets with skilled producer H. Doobie Powell on Powell's “It Won’t Work.” The single is the energetic and joyful opening number for Mekel's "Destiny" Live. A singer since her toddler days, Mekel [...]

SHEKINAH GLORY MINISTRY MEMBER ANDRE LESTER MOBLEY PASSES AWAY JUST WEEKS BEFORE RELEASE OF PLATINUM-SELLING ENSEMBLE’S NEW “SURRENDER” LIVE CD ON SEPTEMBER 25TH  Chicago, IL – Andre Lester Mobley, 46, a founding member of the platinum selling-ensemble, Shekinah Glory Ministry, passed away on August 2nd from blood clot complications.  “There are heavy hearts in Shekinah Glory Ministry and the [...]

“I’m Glad I Don’t Look Like What I Been Through!”Bishop Richard “Mr. Clean” White Flow Records (2012)A Gospel Music Workshop of America mainstay, Bishop Richard “Mr. Clean” White lifts a line from the church lexicon to express his testimony, traditional-style. To an insistent and sassy rhythm, White channels an O’Neal Twin [...]

“Turning Around For Me”VaShawn MitchellFrom the forthcoming EMI Gospel CD Created 4 Thiswww.emigospel.com“Turning Around For Me” is rooted firmly in VaShawn Mitchell’s songwriting technique of matching dramatic lyrics with equally dramatic and simple melodies. It is a hushed but intensely-sung ballad of personal and public encouragement. The background vocalists serve as a [...]