Gospel Music

Jerry Zolten informed TBGB that Edward Hall, current member of the Fairfield Four, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee.Zolten noted that Hall was "a pioneering African American radio personality," and sang formerly with the "Fireside Singers, the Fairfield Four’s auxiliary 'juniors.'"Photo: Keith Case

Listen to the "Gospel Memories" radio program on Chicago's 88.7 WLUW Saturday morning, July 4, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Central Time for a special treat:Before They Were Famous!Enjoy rare, early recordings by... Gospel legends, such as James Cleveland (Gospelaires), Mahalia Jackson (1937), Alex Bradford (Willie Webb Singers) and the [...]

Current scholarship suggests that the lithe, celestial, tinkling notes Washington Phillips played to accompany his singing on 1927-29 Columbia recordings were not produced by a dolceola.What, then, did he play? Was it a phonoharp? A celestaphone? Was it a homemade instrument, as some claim? Possibly an amalgam of two fretless [...]

Calvin BridgesGospelphyedPneuma/Spirit Recordings 2009www.calvinbridges.orgIf you don’t think you know who Calvin Bridges is, I’ll bet you know his songs. “I Can Go to God in Prayer.” “So Much to be Grateful For.” The list goes on.In his hometown of Chicago, Bridges is a fixture, known for gospel music composition and [...]

Today starts a new chapter in Pam Morris’ life. After two decades of helping the city to bring some of the biggest names in the gospel industry to Grant and (later) Millennium Parks downtown, Morris has left her post in the Mayor’s Office of Special Events. Read more in the [...]

Various ArtistsTake Me to the WaterImmersion Baptism in Vintage Music and Photography 1890-1950Dust-to-Digital 2009www.dust-digital.comCollectors who have salivated over the Grammy-nominated Goodbye Babylon from Lance Ledbetter’s Dust-to-Digital imprint, take heart: Take Me to the Water, a compilation advertised as “what could easily be seen as the seventh part of the acclaimed…box [...]

“Stepping Up”SondayFrom Kerry Douglas Presents Gospel Truth Magazine’s Gospel Mix, Vol. III (2009)www.gospeltruthmagazine.comFormerly known as “100% Cotton,” the fresh-faced urban contemporary gospel trio Sonday is Erika, Amber and Krystal Cotton. Hailing from Wagoner, Oklahoma, the group recently scored a major goal by landing a distribution and marketing deal with Black [...]

Greg O’Quin & iPraiseAfter the StormPendulum Records 2009www.pendulumrecords.bizAfter an eight-year recording hiatus, Dallas-based Greg O’Quin, pastor and founder of The Church Without Walls International, is back with a new group and a new project, After the Storm, a sequel to his previous hit, “I Told the Storm.” O’Quin and iPraise [...]

From a press release: AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL (ABFF) TO FEATURE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED ROCK CAPITAL FILMS’ “PASTOR BROWN”VIP EXCLUSIVE SCREENINGS FEATURED ON JUNE 26TH FOR ABFF AND JUNE 28TH FOR THE CITY OF MIAMIRock Capital Films, CEO Steven Belser, American Black Film Festival executives and participants, industry leaders, VIP’s, Celebrity [...]