Gospel Music

Power: Money, Music and the AlmightyMelvin Couch, with Kate E. StephensonWelstar Publications 2009 164 pages, w/illustrationsThe music business is tough. Whether working in pop, rock, classical, jazz, easy listening, blues, country or gospel, there will be moments of joy and moments of frustration and disappointment. There will be trustworthy people [...]

Various ArtistsGrassroots Vol. 2Lamp Mode Recordings 2009www.lampmode.comOn its website, Lamp Mode Recordings of Philadelphia states that it is about “Christ-centered, excellent music that stays true to the authentic, rugged hip-hop aesthetic that we love while bringing glory to God - and at an affordable price. And when we can, we [...]

by Bob Marovich, The Black Gospel Blog More than a decade ago, Kenny Lewis was content to be a member of Appointed by God, a Chicago-based male group affiliated with Stellar Award-winning producer Daniel Weatherspoon. But God had other plans for him. “I had no desire to have a group [...]

“In the Name of the Lord”Distinctive PraiseFrom the Ivory Coast Records album First Fruitwww.ivory-coastrecords.comKC Fortenberry of Distinctive Praise said the group’s 2008 appropriately titled debut album, First Fruit, was intended to be “real and emotional.” If the album's single “In the Name of the Lord” is any indication, the finished [...]

Madelyn BerryYou Deserve All PraiseBerryTightMusic 2010https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/madelynberryMadelyn Berry is an extraordinarily gifted vocalist. She possesses boundless energy, superb pacing, a personality that leaps out of the speakers, and a spectacular voice that runs the gamut from throaty warble to launching pad for high notes that soar into the ozone layer. On [...]

“Free”RiZenFrom the Verity Records CD Free (2009)http://www.verityrecords.com/Free, the third CD by Adriann and Aundrea Lewis, better known as the Stellar Award-winning gospel duo RiZen, has energy and optimism to spare. The title track pulls no punches, either. It is as liberated musically as its title and theme suggest.With a team [...]

The SojournersThe SojournersBlack Hen Music 2009www.blackhenmusic.comVancouver is on everyone’s minds these days as the Winter Olympics start today, but there’s another reason to focus attention on this wonderful city. It’s a quartet – technically a trio – called the Sojourners. The Sojourners are Will Sanders, Ron Small and Marcus Mosely. [...]

Julia RoystonFor Your Glory Lord: Concert DVDJuju 4ee Publishingwww.juliaroyston.comJeffersonville, Indiana sits on the north bank of the Ohio River. Louisville, Kentucky gazes across from the south bank. On May 24, 2009, folks from both banks gathered to attend gospel singer Julia Royston’s musical, For Your Glory Lord, and it was [...]

Jerry and Val Griffis of I Am Magazine reported that Bishop A.T. Moore, Jurisdictional Prelate Emeritus of the Kentucky 1st Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ, passed away. According to his bio, Bishop Moore, who was born in 1911, was the "last living, active Jurisdictional Bishop in the [...]

Various ArtistsWOW Gospel 2010Verity Records www.wowgospelonline.comI have been an ardent follower of the WOW Gospel series since its debut in February, 1998. Back then, I was not as heavily involved in the gospel music industry as I am now, so the collection was a way to keep current on who [...]