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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 [...]

Congratulations to the Dixie Hummingbirds and Dr. Bobby Jones. They joined Dolly Parton, Lari Goss and Michael W. Smith as the latest inductees in the Gospel Music Association (GMA) Gospel Music Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday, February 2.Pictured above (L-R) are: GMA Foundation [...]

Miss Walk Around Heaven All Day:The Untold Story of Cassietta Baker GeorgeCassietta Lerone BakerSelf Published 2008www.cassiettaleronebaker.com“One of these mornings/It won’t be very long;You’ll look for me and I’ll be gone.”And then a piercing chord from a Hammond B3 swings down like the blade of a guillotine.That’s “Walk Around Heaven All [...]

Perfect PeaceIn His WillChurch House Music 2007www.perfectpeaceministry.comHusband-and-wife team Lee and Ruth Burns of Alexander City, Alabama continue to spread country church goodwill whenever they perform as “Perfect Peace.” Proof of this is evident throughout In His Will, the duo’s follow-up to its 2006 firecracker Jesus is a Sure Thing. Regardless [...]

Joiner's Five Trumpets, arguably the most popular quartet to come from Gary, Indiana, was honored Sunday, February 8, 2009 at a musical celebrating Black History Month and saluting local quartets.The event was sponsored by New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Gary, where the Rev. Benjamin J. Holmes is pastor.Mr. James [...]

“Jesus Promised Me a Home Over There”Jennifer HudsonFrom the Arista CD Jennifer Hudson (2008)www.jenniferhudsononline.comChicagoan Jennifer Hudson now has a Grammy Award to set next to her Oscar. At the 51st Grammy Awards on February 8, 2009, the "RnB Album of the Year" award was bestowed on Jennifer Hudson’s eponymous debut [...]

From the Associated Press: black gospel artists who won honors at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, held February 8, 2009.Gospel Performance: "Get Up," Mary Mary; track from "The Sound" (Columbia)Gospel Song: "Help Me Believe," Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin); track from "The Fight of My Life" (Fo Yo Soul Ent./Zomba [...]

Steve Mann of Black Box Photography in Asheville, NC has been promoting and photographing Tommy Ellison and the Singing Stars and other gospel quartet figures for fifteen years. He was given exclusive permission to photograph Bro. Ellison's homegoing service, held Saturday, January 10, 2009 at Brookland Baptist Church in West [...]

God Did That ThingBishop Bobby Hilton & Word of Deliverance Mass ChoirBVHilton Records 2009www.goddidthatthing.comIf his new live project, God Did That Thing, is any indication, Forest Park, Ohio's Bishop Bobby Hilton is no one-hit wonder.Hilton and the Word of Deliverance Mass Choir's single, "God Did That Thing," is just one [...]