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“Beautifully Made”Leah SmithFrom the Beautifully Made EP (available September 8, 2009)www.myspace.com/leahsmithmusic1At twenty years old, Leah Smith of North Philadelphia already has eleven years of professional vocal experience. She worked with the Temple University Program for Gifted Young Musicians as a nine year old. She spent a year and a half [...]

Fred HammondLove UnstoppableVerity Gospel Music Group 2009 (release date: September 29, 2009)www.verityrecords.comFred Hammond’s Love Unstoppable could just as easily be titled Fred Unstoppable. The Grammy-winning “Architect of Urban Praise and Worship” and the leading light behind gospel supergroup Commissioned is in fantastic form on his thirteenth solo CD. Love Unstoppable [...]

The Beginner's Guide to the Gospel Music IndustryMonica A. CoatesPaul Marchell Publishing 2009203 pages; $16.95www.monicacoates.comDiscovering new music is great. We can discover new music via the radio, TV shows, or even sites like Strummer Recordings. Most of us love discovering new music because it can enduce desired feelings and make [...]

“God Can Fix It,” “Jesus Will Never Fail,” and “Worthy”A’Donna B. WilliamsFrom the CD Worthy (Williams Music 2008)www.adonnabwilliams.comIt’s a long way from singing in the Baptist church in Wetumpka, Alabama, a town of about 6,000, to opening for nationally-recognized artists such as Dorinda Clark-Cole, Paul Porter and Kurt Carr, but [...]

Marie Knight, who rose to fame in the 1940s as gospel singing partner with Sister Rosetta Tharpe, died in New York City Sunday, August 30, after complications due to pneumonia. In their heyday, Knight and Tharpe were among the genre's top singing stars.Marie's passing was reported by Mark Carpentieri of [...]

“I Do It For You”K-Praize feat. CamFrom the album Kingdom Certified (K-Praize 2009)www.cdbaby.comIn 1993, Kirk Franklin explained why he sings. In 2009, K-Praize (who was not yet born in 1993) explains why he raps. Time marches on.On “I Do It For You,” the single from his self-produced debut album, Kingdom [...]

“Don’t Do It Without Me”Bishop Paul S. MortonFrom the bonus edition of Cry Your Last Tear (Tehillah/Light 2008)www.lightrecords.com“Don’t Do It Without Me” is the best song not found on Cry Your Last Tear, Bishop Paul S. Morton and the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Mass Choir’s latest release. That is, [...]

“If I Be Lifted Up”The Anointed Pace SistersFrom the Tyscot CD Access Granted (release date: October 20, 2009)www.tyscot.comSinging together for 40 years and with debut projects for the Faith Record label under their collective belts, the Anointed Pace Sisters finally received national attention in 1992 with their initial release for [...]

"Just Couldn’t Keep It”Angela Spivey & the Voices of VictoryFrom Eyes on the Prize (Tekoa Records 2008)www.tekoarecords.comIt’s hard to listen to or watch Chicagoan Angela Spivey and not have a smile on your face. When it comes to positive energy, Angie is a force of nature. Her happiness is infectious, [...]

“When I Rise”Cathy TownsendFrom the CD RE-Born! RE-Juvenated! RE-Joicing!www.cdbaby.comChicago psalmist Cathy Townsend is a veteran gospel singer. Since making her music debut at the age of seven, Cathy has soloed, sang in trios and groups, and directed and participated in choir. Her relaxed jazz vocal style has taken her from [...]