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“Victory Shall Be Mine”Nu TraditionFrom the CD Nu TraditionTyscot Records 2008www.tyscot.comThe newly-assembled gospel group Nu Tradition lets loose its youthful energy on the churchy chestnut “Victory Shall Be Mine” like it is part quartet, part choir. A special vamp represents both traditions, and a rollicking instrumental background keeps everything moving [...]

Chicago's Felisia Gladney honed her singing skills first under the tutelage of the late Patricia Andrews-Marovich and the Providence-St. Mel School Concert Choir, and most recently as a member of the world-famous Chicago Mass Choir. Gladney is ready to release her first solo project, Finally Free, produced by Harvey Allbangers. [...]

Perfect PeaceKristie L. SibleyK Love Music 2003www.cdbaby.com/kristiePerfect Peace is Kristie Linley-Sibley’s debut project, an independently produced inspirational jazz album. In the spirit of indie albums, Sibley and her crew multi-tasked: her husband Corey produced the album in association with two of their talented musicians, Clarence Hill and Alton Gibson. Gibson [...]

Thank You Jesus, One More TimeFrozene Lott HayesLotHay Music 2008www.cdbaby.comAfter losing two young adult sons in 2006, just six months apart – one to an act of violence and another to an automobile accident – Frozene Lott Hayes could have crawled into a hole and never come out. No one [...]

The nominees for the 24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards were announced at a press conference Tuesday at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau.Leading the pack in nominations are Marvin Sapp with nine; Beverly Crawford, Kirk Franklin, Dorinda Clark-Cole and Ricky Dillard with four or more; and Marvin Winans and [...]

"Drugs" The Virginia Aires Dove Records 2008 www.solidrockworldwide.com/virginiaaires.htm This summer, the popular Virginia Aires quartet of Chesapeake, VA declared jihad on drugs. "Drugs are a trick of the enemy," the group harmonizes in that languid tempo characteristic of modern quartet singing. It's a song that bemoans the devastating impact substance [...]

“Mercy”James IngramFrom the CD Stand (In the Light)Music One/WEA 2008www.jamesingramsmusic.com“Mercy” is a blues-soaked song with inspirational lyrics rendered by smooth-as-silk balladeer James Ingram. That’s it. Ingram doesn’t attempt whatsoever to change his style to sound more “gospel” in his delivery. It’s the warm sound you have come to know and [...]

SOUTH ORANGE, New Jersey (AP) -- Dee Dee Warwick, a noted soul singer who won recognition for both her solo work and her performances with her older sister Dionne Warwick, has died. She was 63. Dee Dee Warwick was the niece of gospel singer Cissy Houston and a cousin of [...]

“Dance of Eternity”Benita Farmer & New JourneyFrom the CD Come Homewww.benita4newjourney.comSwirling, psychedelic prog rock with spasms of Pentecostal handclapping and shouting, inspirational lyrics and gospel-style singing and preaching…that’s Benita Farmer & New Journey’s “Dance of Eternity.”The group, whose musical architect is Benita Farmer’s brother Lawrence Farmer IV, is an earful [...]

Flashback: Rev. Walter Butts & the W.J.B. SingersI Can Feel the FireElisha Records 1994Rev. Walter Butts, founder and pastor of Chicago’s Mount Carmel Children of God Baptist Church and the self-proclaimed “Big Man of Gospel Music,” has a throaty, tear-stained baritone voice that sounds uncannily like the late Rev. James [...]