Bob

From the Associated Press:CHICAGO — The on-again, off-again reconstruction of a landmark Chicago church known as the birthplace of gospel music is on again.Church leaders have announced work to rebuild the fire-ravaged Pilgrim Baptist Church will begin in earnest this summer.A 2006 fire ignited by workers repairing the roof devastated [...]

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.Gospel music is, by its very nature, forward-looking, anticipatory. Gospel songs are about keeping the faith and having hope, awaiting blessings, knowing that “troubles don’t last always” and preparing for that Great Day in the Morning. The Gospel Train is moving and if you don’t [...]

Terry MyrickShow Me the WaySweet Melody Records (2011)http://www.terrymyrick.com/By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogShow Me the Way is gospel artist and off-Broadway talent Terry Myrick’s sophomore solo release on his own imprint, Sweet Melody Records.The album’s opening selections, such as “He Is” and “It’s Going to Be All Right,” [...]

God bless writer-producer Vy Higgensen for preserving gospel music as an American art form while using the genre to help young people connect with, and become enriched by, their cultural heritage.  The Gospel for Teens Program is a program of The Mama Foundation for the Arts and Vy's Higginsen's School of Gospel, Jazz and [...]

“Holy Ghost”StormFrom the forthcoming Cardinal Records CD God Is True (2011)http://www.stormiam.com/When Washington, DC hip hop artist Storm raps about having the Holy Ghost, you don’t envision him shouting in the church but pacing back and forth, microphone in hand, spitting rhymes. Amidst jarring chimes and dramatic beats, “Holy Ghost” finds [...]

Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press reports on the start of BeBe and CeCe Winans' farewell tour in their hometown of Detroit.  The Grammy Award-winning brother-sister duo, who will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in October, is retiring as an entity but both singers plan to pursue [...]

Jonathan DuBose, Jr.Releasing the SpiritJoBo Records (2007)http://www.jdubose.com/Jonathan DuBose, Jr. is the Hal Blaine of gospel music.Known as “The Prophesying Guitarist,” DuBose has played a supporting role, supplying the guitar parts for dozens of recordings you hear on the radio and on CD.For Releasing the Spirit, DuBose takes his turn on center [...]

“It’s Not Over”Robert Earl DeanSEP Productions 2011robertearldean@hotmail.comTo a relentless mid-tempo R&B ostinato, complete with handclapping on the backbeat, Robert Earl Dean and his background vocalists revisit the familiar church declaration, “It ain’t over until God says it’s over.” When Dean sings, “I can tell what He did for me, He’ll [...]

“Because of You”Carnell MurrellAvailable on iTunes (2011)“Because of You” is another restful, easy praise song that Minister Carnell Murrell is so talented at composing and performing. His tender piano accompaniment is particularly notable, and his vocals are conversational in a Smokie Norful kind of way. He even tosses in a [...]

"Smile”Yvette GreenAvailable on iTunes (2011)Yvette DeLane Green is a coloratura soprano from Chicago’s historic Fellowship M.B. Church, founded in 1950 by civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Clay Evans.In addition to her work at the ‘Ship, Yvette has recorded with a number of choirs, including Chicago Mass Choir and the AARC [...]