The Sowetan announced that producer Sizwe Zako was honored with a Lifetime Achiever Award and crowned the new King of Gospel at the Crown Gospel Awards in Durban on Sunday.Zako's work with Rebecca Malope, Pure Magic and the late Vuyo Mokoena celebrates the rich, vibrant and rhythmic harmonies of South African gospel. You hear it [...]
“He Knows”Karen Clark SheardFrom the Karew Records/EMI Gospel CD All In Onehttp://www.karewrecords.com/Asking herself the rhetorical questions that trouble those in need, Karen Clark Sheard wonders whether God knows about her tears, her sleepless nights, her joys and dreams, even “does he know my weakness when I feel like I want [...]
Patrice WilsonA Christmas Blessing (2010)www.cdbaby.com/cd/patricewilson2by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.Stellar Award-nominee Patrice Wilson returns after a five-year absence from the recording scene to offer a toast of Yuletide cheer with A Christmas Blessing. Wilson’s first seasonal CD includes two original songs and nine classics, the latter “some of [...]
Take 6The Most Wonderful Time of the YearTake 6 Records (2010)http://www.take6.com/Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.The most wonderful time of the year is upon us, and with it come new musical projects to celebrate the season. The first to be featured on TBGB this year is the [...]
The Original Golden Stars of Greenwood, SC/Reverend Norris TurnerSouth Carolina GospelGospel Friend (2010)http://www.gospelfriend.com/Jonas Bernholm and Per Notini’s Stockholm-based Gospel Friend label has been an invaluable resource to the gospel music community. It’s inexplicable that Golden Age stars such as J. Earle Hines and the St. Paul Baptist Church Choir of [...]
“Real Real Mad” (prequel)FreshaunFrom Commercial Bricks: I.R.A. (2010)Commercial Bricks Records http://www.commercialbricks.wordpress.com/On the prequel to his single, “Real Real Mad,” Freshaun “Fresh” Porter puts all haters on alert: make him mad – “real real mad” – and see what happens. The self-proclaimed “King of Rap” from the Washington, DC area raps [...]
“You Are My Everything”Immeasurablehttp://www.immeasurablesings.com/Immeasurable, a female gospel trio, was formed in 2002 in Columbia, Maryland. Members are Ronnie Brooks, Yanna Foster, and Victoria Coleman. They sing in the style of Witness and RiZen.The vibrant hip hop-influenced “You Win” is Immeasurable's single, but I find their contemporary gospel selection,“You Are My [...]
“In the Heart of a Hero”Lee CooksFrom the Tate Music Group album Enlightened (2010)http://www.tatemusicgroup.com/“In the Heart of a Hero” is a faith-based tribute to veterans – alive and fallen – from contemporary gospel balladeer Lee Cooks, himself a veteran of the armed forces. The heartwarming song describes heroes as anyone [...]
Charles Martin Mary’s SonChuck’s Room 2010 http://www.charlesmartinmusic.com/ Praise and worship leader Charles Martin’s debut CD Mary’s Son is an outstanding example of the New Detroit gospel style. What is the New Detroit style, you ask? It’s that edgy-cool, electrifying, melodic, R&B-soaked sound that informs the work of Damita, Deitrick and [...]
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.When you think of great cities for gospel music, what places come to mind? Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Oakland...…Indianapolis?Yep. The capital of the Hoosier state has a special place in gospel music history. Beatrice Brown, one of the [...]
