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“Jesus You’re My Everything”First CreationFrom the FC Productions/New Day Distribution CD, Nobody Like Jesuswww.myspace.com/firstcreationmusic First Creation’s “Jesus You’re My Everything” is a James Cleveland moment.Everything about the recording reminds me of classic King James: the earnest lyrics (“Without you, Jesus, where would I be?”); the skillfully rendered, unpretentious harmonies; the [...]

Eric SpoonerEternal, Vol. 1: Fill Us Once AgainPureStream Music Group 2007www.ericspooner.comFans of the music of Israel & New Breed or Phil Tarver and Shekinah Glory Ministry will enjoy this debut CD by Baton Rouge, Louisiana native son Eric Spooner. Spooner is a young man with a smooth-as-silk tenor voice who [...]

Music Book Vol. 1Mel HolderPsalmist Music Group 2008www.melholder.comFirst, a disclaimer: I am not a fan of gospel (or inspirational) jazz because it sounds like smooth jazz to me, and I am no fan of smooth jazz. In fact, the term “smooth jazz” makes no sense: jazz was never meant to [...]

Lil’ Blair & the ViolinairesThese Are Our FlowersQuartet Boyz Records 2008www.violinaires.comAt the conclusion of These Are Our Flowers, singer Titus “Lil’ Blair” Stallworth explains that the CD’s title refers to the testimonial quality of the songs on the album. That is, the new Violinaires' cover of these career-defining songs by [...]

“Break Through Praise” and “Mountain Move”Jeff Roberson and L.I.F.E. (Long Island Fellowship Ensemble)From the CD Chosen Generation (Long Island Gospel Sound Records 2008)www.myspace.com/jeffarobersonPowerful Pentecostal percussion permeates “Break Through Praise” from Jeff Roberson & L.I.F.E.’s Chosen Generation, transforming a churchy reading of a praise & worship themed song into an exciting [...]

From a message on Black Gospel Promo:The McClurkin Family Mourns the Loss of their Beloved Sister, Olivia McClurkin Los Angeles, CA - One of gospel music's most powerful singers, Donnie McClurkin and his family mourns the loss of their sister, Olivia McClurkin. The second oldest sibling of seven children succumbed [...]

...who will become the 44th President of the United States of America!

The Westbrook SingersLive(Independent Release) 2008www.thewestbrooksingers.comBilled as the “Quad Cities’ First Family of Gospel,” the Westbrook Singers – Brenda, Delores, Gary, Cynthia and Larry Jr. – hail from East Moline, Illinois and Community Outreach COGIC. Their lineage includes five living generations, including their father, Bishop Charles B. Westbrook, who is 91 [...]

“Victory is Mine" (Obama Mix)Dorothy NorwoodFrom the forthcoming CD Fifty Years – It’s Been Worth it All (to be released in early 2009)Malaco Recordswww.malaco.com“This is for you, Obama,” gospel legend Dorothy Norwood exclaims as she launches into an exuberant rendition of the beloved congregational song, “Victory is Mine.” Ms. Norwood, [...]

Brenda LoweWaitingAlpha 7 Ministries 1997www.alpha7ministries.comTBGB reviewed Brenda Lowe’s 2002 project, Somebody Somewhere Was Praying for Me, which preceded V.O.W.’s current hit version of the song. But that wasn’t Lowe’s first solo project; in 1997, she released Waiting, also on Minister Randall Ogans' Alpha 7 Ministries label.Waiting is a nine-track CD [...]