The Blind Boys of AlabamaDown in New OrleansTime/Life 2008www.blindboys.comSince its organization nearly seventy years ago, the Happyland Singers (aka Blind Boys of Alabama) has developed from one of many professional quartets appearing at country churches and high school auditoriums for a slice of the widow’s mite to a top gospel [...]
In the Miami Herald, Margarita Sweeting writes:"For over six decades, gospel group Stars of Harmony gave audiences a look back at gospel music birthed in the old churches of the south. Now, they said goodbye, giving their last performance recently at the Church of God by Faith in Miami Gardens."Read [...]
He ReignsWilliam Smith Jr. & The Renewed Voices for ChristSelf-released 2008(312) 409-4782You can take the choir out of the church, but you can’t take the church out of the choir.That’s certainly true for Chicago choirs, anyway, which have always had a Sunday morning vibe even when they aren’t trying to [...]
“Something Got a Hold of Me” GI (God’s Image) BGA Music Group 2008 www.gods-image.com Vocoder meets B3 in this modern cover of James Cleveland’s 1960 classic, “Something’s Got a Hold On Me.” Back in James’ day, with Rev. Charles A. Craig and Detroit’s Voices of Tabernacle, the arrival of the [...]
A Coko ChristmasCokoMusic Doll Entertainment/Light Records 2008www.lightrecords.comAs the Memphis soul singer Carla Thomas once crooned, “Gee Whiz! It’s Christmas!”Indeed, the Holiday season is nigh upon us, and with it come new gospel music recordings to celebrate the Yule from home, car, iPod, office, computer, and so on.... It’s a gospel [...]
“Victory Shall Be Mine”Nu TraditionFrom the CD Nu TraditionTyscot Records 2008www.tyscot.comThe newly-assembled gospel group Nu Tradition lets loose its youthful energy on the churchy chestnut “Victory Shall Be Mine” like it is part quartet, part choir. A special vamp represents both traditions, and a rollicking instrumental background keeps everything moving [...]
Chicago's Felisia Gladney honed her singing skills first under the tutelage of the late Patricia Andrews-Marovich and the Providence-St. Mel School Concert Choir, and most recently as a member of the world-famous Chicago Mass Choir. Gladney is ready to release her first solo project, Finally Free, produced by Harvey Allbangers. [...]
Perfect PeaceKristie L. SibleyK Love Music 2003www.cdbaby.com/kristiePerfect Peace is Kristie Linley-Sibley’s debut project, an independently produced inspirational jazz album. In the spirit of indie albums, Sibley and her crew multi-tasked: her husband Corey produced the album in association with two of their talented musicians, Clarence Hill and Alton Gibson. Gibson [...]
Thank You Jesus, One More TimeFrozene Lott HayesLotHay Music 2008www.cdbaby.comAfter losing two young adult sons in 2006, just six months apart – one to an act of violence and another to an automobile accident – Frozene Lott Hayes could have crawled into a hole and never come out. No one [...]
The nominees for the 24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards were announced at a press conference Tuesday at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau.Leading the pack in nominations are Marvin Sapp with nine; Beverly Crawford, Kirk Franklin, Dorinda Clark-Cole and Ricky Dillard with four or more; and Marvin Winans and [...]
