Gospel Music

Carl Lavon BellCarl Lavon Sings, Jesus SwingsTate Music Group (2013)www.tatemusicgroup.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogThe second half of the title of Carl Lavon Bell’s new album refers to its opening track, “Jesus Swings.”  Backed by a hip jazz combo, Bell strings together gospel and spiritual song titles into [...]

Chicago, IL: The 28th Chicago Gospel Music Festival, presented by The Black McDonald’s Operators Association (BMOA) and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is June 20-23. Once again the Bronzeville neighborhood, the birthplace of Gospel music, will serve as the festival’s main home – with the weekend portion [...]

Muyiwa & RiversongzLive at the Apollohttp://www.muyiwa.co.uk/By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.For their new project, Live at the Apollo, Muyiwa & Riversongz spirit the audience on a world tour of praise and worship.One clarification: the Apollo where the group performed was not the NYC landmark but the Hammersmith Apollo Theater in [...]

“It Belongs to You”Darnell Moore & Companywww.DarnellMooreMusic.com“It Belongs to You,” from Washington, DC’s Darnell Moore & Company, is an above average worship service opener with a memorable hook embedded in the chorus.  To a vivacious tempo, Moore sings out the lyric lines and Company returns them.  The melody is uncomplicated and [...]

“My Soul Says Yes”The CaravansDNMG and Soul Centered Music Groupwww.dorothynorwoodmusicgroup.comAfter the recent passing of longtime members Albertina Walker and Inez Andrews, the Caravans would not be expected to release new music.  However, in 2010, Walkerand Andrews along with Delores Washington and Dorothy Norwood recorded the traditional gospel, “My Soul Says [...]

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.Stellar Award-winning Tye Tribbett signed with EMI Gospel—now Motown Gospel—earlier this year.  He opened BET’s Celebration of Gospel on Sunday, April 7.  His new single, “If He Did It Before…Same God,” debuted at #1 on iTunes and #17 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Singles [...]

Baltimore, MD: Quartet gospel music legend Damon Little, who is best known for hit songs such as “You Can’t Straddle The Fence," “Do Right,” or his recent hit, “Make A Way,” has been scheduled for emergency heart surgery to take place Monday, April 22nd in the Baltimore, MD area.According to Little: "As I ministered last [...]

Danielle KelleyConquerorGodfather Records (2013)By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel BlogConqueror is the debut solo album for Danielle Kelley, a gutsy singer who honed her chops as part of the New York Fellowship Mass Choir, directed by the late Rev. Timothy Wright.  The choir is now called the Timothy Wright [...]

Jackson, MS – The Malaco Music Group, one of the largest U.S. independent record companies, announces the Board of Directors' election of Thomas J. Couch, Jr. as President and CEO of the company.Mr. Couch, currently a Board member, has been associated with the company for more than 15 years.  He [...]

Venerable music historians Lynn Abbott and Doug Seroff have combined their inestimable research on, and knowledge of, gospel quartet singing in a new book, To Do This, You Must Know How. Released by University Press of Mississippi in February of this year, the book takes a fascinating look at the evolution [...]