Zadella "Mama" Curtis informed TBGB that Mr. Melvin Couch, CEO of Meltone Records and NuSound Entertainment, passed away today, Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 3:15 p.m. ET in Douglasville, Georgia.Mr. Couch was an indefatigable promoter of traditional gospel artists and quartets. We will miss him dearly.TBGB will pass along more [...]
JDJIn Due SeasonJanayra Music Group 2009www.cdbaby.com/cd/jdjtunesBetcha didn’t know there are gospel musicians in Bermuda. In fact, the island that sits approximately 1,100 miles northeast of Miami, Florida fosters a thriving music industry. When it comes to gospel, John Duncan and the husband-and-wife team of Jackie and Darryl Simons are in [...]
“I’m On My Way” Monae Miller From the EP I’m On My Way www.monaemiller.com Born in Wichita, Kansas and now living in Dallas, Texas, Monae Miller is a singer/songwriter and classically-trained musician who has served as a church music minister. “I’m On My Way” is the first single from her [...]
Various ArtistsThe Pitch/Gusman Records StoryBig Legal Mess Records 2009www.biglegalmessrecords.com/pitch.htmWe must have been very good boys and girls this year to merit yet another multi-CD collection of out-of-print indie gospel recordings. Truth is, The Pitch/Gusman Records Story might never have happened at all if it weren’t for the passion and dedication [...]
Kim RuffReady to LiveMackim Records 2009www.kimruff.comWhile enjoying Kim Ruff’s singing on her debut CD, Ready to Live, I discovered something even more striking than her pleasant, pop-influenced voice:She’s one heck of a songwriter.The Georgia native and 2010 Stellar-nominated artist has Diane Warren’s touch with a melody: simple, lovely, memorable. Singers [...]
TBGB Spotlight: C.D.W. Music Groupwww.cdwmusicgroup.comC.D.W. Entertainment and Recording Studios (“Christ Doing Wonders”) is also a record label and songwriting concern based in St. Louis, Missouri.The C.D.W. label’s current roster of gospel artists features an amalgam of sacred styles: from the neo-soul vocals of singer-musician Cherie Whitt (photo, left) and Holy [...]
“Nobody”Shirley Caesar and J MossFrom the CD A City Called Heaven (Light/Shu-Bel Records 2009)www.lightrecords.comTraditional meets contemporary on “Nobody” from Shirley Caesar’s new album, A City Called Heaven. Shirley and J Moss share their fierce convictions in an equally fierce, fiery duet.The singers have at least two things in common: they [...]
Forever JonesGet ReadyEMI Gospel (release scheduled for early 2010)www.emigospel.comIn gospel music, family groups are as plentiful as singing preachers and go back just as far. Most gospel artists will tell you that their first singing experience was with their siblings, whether professionally, for their home church, or harmonizing in the [...]
Congratulations to the following gospel artists who have been nominated for a GRAMMY Award!The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, January 31, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. For more information, go to http://www.grammy.com/.Best Gospel Performance • Free To Be MeFrancesca Battistelli[Fervent Records/ Word [...]
Steve ArringtonPure ThangGod Factor Records 2009www.stevearringtonministries.comOn the title track of his latest release, Pure Thang, funk meister Steve Arrington declares, “Just like Thelonious [Monk], I’m known to be different/It’s just the way I am, in this I’m consistent. No time for foolishness ‘cause I’m on a mission.”Truer words were never [...]
