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BloodlineTime for Change: Live in ColumbusBAMM Records 2008www.BloodlineMusicGroup.com“Originality with no compromise.” “New Sounds for Generation Now.” “Urban gospel with a twist.” “Crazy Praise.”These are just a few of the ways Bloodline describes itself. Listening to the Richmond, Virginia group’s first full-length project, Time for Change, I must say the descriptions [...]

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I Got Two WingsLynn AbbottCaseQuarter 2008www.aumfidelity.com/casequarterThis is the story of an electric guitar-slinging, gospel music singing evangelist from the Church of God in Christ whose popularity was greatest in the 1940s and 1950s.No, I don't mean Sister Rosetta Tharpe. A lesser-known but equally electrifying musician was Elder Utah Smith. Smith [...]

The New Faith Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago's south side reported that Rev. Leroy Taylor passed away January 8, 2009. Homegoing services were on January 11.The 89 year-old Taylor was a member of the Soul Stirrers and a founding member of the Christland Singers (above). He pastored New Faith from [...]

“We’re Going to a Meeting”The Soul StirrersFrom the Malaco CD A Soul Stirring Reunion (2008)www.malaco.comLead singer Willie Rogers summons the spirit of fellow Stirrers alumni Sam Cooke, Johnnie Taylor, Spencer Taylor and Martin Jacox on “We’re Going to a Meeting.” The song was written by Malaco quartet maven Darrell Luster, [...]

RetrospectiveBlind Boys of AlabamaSheridan Square Records 2007www.sheridansquaremusic.comThe Blind Boys of Alabama are among the most anthologized quartets in all of gospel music. For good reason, too – the group has been recording since music was on thick ten-inch discs and Truman was in the White House. Earlier this month, they [...]

GratitudeCalvin EarlBack to Basics Records 2004www.calvinearl.comFollowing in the footsteps of artists such as Ella Jenkins and Odetta, who performed African American spirituals within a folk music context, Calvin Earl has produced Gratitude. It is Earl’s personal statement of “gratitude” to his ancestors for their gift of the spiritual, which he [...]

Singer Regina Belle, whose Love Forever Shines was a critical success in 2008, announced this week that two surgeries and plenty of recovery from an "undetected illness" will keep her from touring in 2009.Read more in the article below, from Melanie Clark of BlackPlanet.com's Elev8:Sudden Illness Sidelines Regina Belle

EnduranceI’ve Got a HomeSCCME Records 2008www.musicbyendurance.com“I'm talking about foot tappin’, hip smackin’, good old fashioned church!”This line, from Endurance’s uptempo workout “Old Fashioned Church,” could well be the group’s personal motto. The Stellar-nominated three-man quartet from Houston provides listeners with plenty of opportunities to tap feet and smack hips on [...]