Gospel Music

Since Donna Summer, the "Queen of Disco," passed away last week, several people have asked me about her sacred music roots.  Below is a Huffington Post article on her Christian music connection. Donna Summer - Gospel MusicHere's a video of Donna testifying and singing "Riding Through the Storm":

The New Converted VoicesA New BeginningVision Records (2011)www.cdbaby.com/cd/newconvertedvoicesBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.The New Converted Voices are a quartet from Tupelo, Mississippi.  Organized in 1989 by Rev. Patrick Whitfield, the group benefited from a close working relationship with Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's, who helped them travel [...]

Sean C. JohnsonSimply a Vessel Vol. 3: Surrender Allwww.SeanCJohnson.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.TBGB first encountered Sean C. Johnson when the Tampa, Florida-born singer released Simply A Vessel Vol. 2: Faithful.  He is back with Volume 3: Surrender All, released April 3.The third volume continues the “neo soul [...]

Apostle J.L. Cash & PraiseI Got a Feelin’MCG Records (2009)www.mcgrecords.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.For me, the penultimate moment of the live appearance by Apostle J.L. Cash & Praise at the Temple of Deliverance COGIC in Memphiswas when Apostle Cash, the family patriarch, pulled out his left-handed, shiny, [...]

Eddie GMElephant SongPPM Records (2002)www.cdbaby.com/cd/eddiegm2By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.Chicago gospel legend Dolores “Honey” Sykes of the Duncanaires passed this CD along to me.  It’s by pianist and baritone gospel balladeer Ed Robinson who accompanied the Duncanaires in the 1960s and is now making music in Detroit.The album's title, Elephant [...]

Detrick Haddon Presents Voices of UnityA Beautiful Soul: Music Inspired by the Motion PictureTyscot Records 2012www.tyscot.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.Am I the only one who hears musical similarities between Deitrick Haddon and Prince?This thought came to me once again only minutes into the companion CD to Deitrick [...]

“Praise Him”Angela “Missy” BillupsFrom Standing on the Promisesitunes.apple.com/us/artist/angela-missy-billups/id158230092Missy Billups is not all hat and no gospel singer.  The New Yorker's single, “Praise Him,” is a song of gratitude fitted with shouting shoes that stomp out the beat the old-school way.  As she thanks God for what He’s done for her, Missy sings the [...]

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.Chicago’s Fellowship Missionary Baptist Churchhas been fertile ground for gospel music since Rev. Dr. Clay Evans founded the church more than sixty years ago.Fellowship's first minster of music was Willie Webb, an original Roberta Martin Singer and sometime accompanist for Mahalia Jackson.  Rev. [...]

Jor’Dan ArmstrongJesus, Fashion, & Beatz – the MixtapePower Move Management (2012)www.jordanarmstrongmusic.comBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.Released in January of this year, Jor’Dan Armstrong’s Jesus, Fashion, & Beatz is a sonic rush of audio adrenaline.  The mixtape consists of 22 tracks without breaks (naturally – it’s a mixtape) with [...]