Gospel Music

Solomon CrossBe FreeCrossinspire Records 2009www.solomoncrossonline.comI had high hopes for Solomon Cross’ debut album, Be Free. The project from the classically-trained Cross is packed with songs he wrote and wrapped in handsome packaging with striking photos of the singer, sleeves rolled up and ready to let the praises soar.While Cross has [...]

“(God is God) He Won’t Change” Rev. F.C. Barnes feat. Darrell LusterAtlanta International Records 2009http://www.malaco.com/The leisurely step beat eases in as Malaco’s gospel A&R director and quartet singer Darrell Luster (left) announces, “We’re goin’ to take you back old-school.” He introduces gospel legend Rev. F.C. Barnes (right), and together they [...]

Marc Lindy, a gospel announcer in Vancouver, informed TBGB today that Lyndon Baines Jones (Dixie Hummingbirds guitarist/vocalist) contacted him with the sad news that Mrs. Louise Tucker passed on Tuesday January 5, 2010 following a heart attack.Louise was married to the late Ira Tucker, iconic lead singer of the Dixie [...]

“Sky Blue”Kabanya-ChemiseFrom her forthcoming CD Mosaic (single available now; CD release date: April 2010)http://kabanya-chemise.comSinger-songwriter Kabanya-Chemise has worked alongside artists from Usher and Jennifer Holliday to Kurt Carr and Ann Nesby. She now takes her turn in the spotlight with “Sky Blue,” fusing gospel, R&B, and her classical training with the [...]

Wilma BivensGod Will Do It (Live)D-Lap Productions 2009www.dlapproductions.comOn the title track of her debut album, God Will Do It, Houston’s Wilma Bivens subconsciously channels James Cleveland’s “That’s Good Enough for Me” when she sings, “I may not ever sing at the Stellars/I may never sell a million CDs/I may never [...]

Christian Retailing reports that Broadcast Music Inc.(BMI) will honor Donnie McClurkin and Andraé Crouch during its 11th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon. The event will be held in Nashville January 15, 2010, the day before the Stellar Awards ceremony and television taping.Read more at Trailblazers of Gospel Music.Photo [...]

“Sovereign God”Maurette Brown ClarkFrom the AIR CD The Dreamwww.malaco.comLike the proverbial Energizer Bunny, Maurette Brown Clark’s The Dream keeps on going after two solid years of critical and commercial success, including two number one hits and two Stellar Awards. The latest single culled from the “Princess of Praise and Worship’s” [...]

Beliefnet's Gospel Soundcheck reports that gospel artist Calvin Hunt died December 26, 2009 in Queens, NY. He was 52.Hunt sang with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers, and the Christ Tabernacle Choir. He was also a solo artist whose recent album, Bridges (Vine Records), received two 2008 Dove [...]

The Black Gospel Blog is pleased to release its Best Fifteen Gospel Songs and Albums of 2009.As is our prerogative and tradition, the lists are completely unscientific. They are not necessarily based on units sold, chart ranking, radio spins, fan votes, downloads, ringtones, video plays or anything that requires such [...]

Seventy years ago today, December 31, 1939, Pilgrim Baptist Church of Chicago, under the leadership of Rev. J.C. Austin, hosted a Watchmeeting Service that brought together a "constellation of stars," the old and the new in religious music:The three-hour service (9 p.m. to 12 midnight) featured…The Wings over Jordan Choir [...]