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“Rejoice in the Lord”Keesha RaineyFrom the JSound Records CD Breakthrough (2011)http://www.keesharainey.com/Nashville’s Keesha Rainey is called the "Billie Holiday of gospel" for her voice, not for fateful self-destructive behavior. In fact, on her rhythmic single, “Rejoice in the Lord,” Rainey sings that God saved her “from destruction and gave me peace [...]

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.It’s been nearly a decade since Central Florida’s Martha Munizzi burst on the gospel music scene with her debut CD, Say the Name. Since then, the praise and worship leader has garnered Grammy and Soul Train Music Award nominations and secured Stellar and [...]

Jennifer Holliday & Rev. Raphael G. Warnock Goodness & MercyEuphonic Records (2011)www.cdbaby.com/cd/jenniferhollidayandrevraBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church is preserved in the amber of history for having once been blessed with Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as co-pastors. The [...]

“Rejoice”SoJo Ministrieshttp://www.sojojo2.com/Gospel music has long celebrated the singing married couple, Sullivan and Iola Pugh of the Consolers being among the most renowned, but there are many others. Delaware’s Sophia and Joe Yancey, Jr. of SoJo Ministries continue the tradition. Sophia sings and Joe makes the music. Both write.“Rejoice” is the [...]

Shane Ford informed TBGB of a Kickstarter campaign to fund The Search for "Blind" Willie Johnson and the Texas Gospel, a documentary that will explore Texas gospel music and its antecedents.According to the film's Kickstarter page: "The goal of this documentary will be to explore the social and cultural significance [...]

Eric Sharper featuring Committed PraisePressing ForwardDream Reality Records www.myspace.com/committedpraiseFriend of TBGB Tom Matta forwarded a copy of Eric Sharper and Committed Praise’s most recent release, Pressing Forward, for review.The ten-track album showcases an ensemble – technically a choir – of fresh, young voices propelled by Sharper’s zesty vocals. But it [...]

Madelyn Berry MadelynBerryTightMusic 2011http://www.madelynberry.org/On her eponymously-titled third CD, Madelyn Berry continues to demonstrate that she can hold her own vocally against better-known urban gospel female singers such as Damita Haddon and Kiki Sheard.TBGB first became aware of the stylish songstress from Apopka, Florida last year when she released her live [...]

“Trust Me”Richard Smallwood with VisionFrom the forthcoming Verity Records CD Promises (available June 21, 2011)http://www.verityrecords.com/Iconic singer-songwriter Richard Smallwood has created sacred masterpieces such as “Total Praise,” “Center of My Joy” and “I Love the Lord.” Smallwood's latest single, “Trust Me,” recorded with his vocal group, Vision, carries his deft touch: [...]

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.No one can call Bishop J.C. Williams an underachiever. He accepted the ministry at age 15 and started a church ten years later. Now in his thirties, Williams is one of ten ministers who will be honored at the Rhythm of Gospel Awards this [...]