Gospel Music

From the Tennessean, Sunday, 01/06/08BY BILL FRISKICS-WARRENStaff WriterThey have opened for or toured with Paul Simon, Ray Charles and the Rolling Stones. They were the first gospel quartet to appear on Soul Train and one of the earliest to don bright costumes and choreograph their stage moves, a practice that [...]

He’s a God (25th Anniversary Edition)The Victory TravelersRapture 2007Just about every one of the eight tracks on the 25th Anniversary CD Edition of the Victory Travelers’ He's a God, their debut album for Gene Strawhun’s Rapture Records, is hard-charging, powerful, going-to-church quartet excitement. The rest of the songs are deep [...]

Jesus Got Me OffThe Pilgrim JubileesMalaco 2007www.malaco.comJesus Got Me Off is the Pilgrim Jubilees' latest offering in a string of recordings going back to when Eisenhower entered the White House. The Jubes’ singing has been preserved on every type of recording medium (except for cylinders) and span as many decades [...]

A nicely written article from the Philadelphia Daily News.By JOHN F. MORRISONmorrisj@phillynews.com THEY CALLED Freeman Wilson Jr. the "Teddy Pendergrass of gospel music." They also called him a "miracle," because when he was born in 1941, he weighed just 2.5 pounds and there was considerable doubt that he'd survive.But survive [...]

“Family (There’s a Healing)”Donald Lawrence Introduces The MurrillsQuiet Water Entertainment 2007Supported by Stellar Award-winning gospel artist Donald Lawrence (left), the Murrills deliver a slow, contemplative call-and-response paean to the imperative of family strength and personal forgiveness. The delicate melody tugs at the heartstrings while the lyrics remind us that “Life [...]

“I Found a Friend”Major ChoirboyGospel Management Group 2007www.choirboyonline.comTrained at the world-class Berklee School of Music, Major Choirboy asserts that he wants to establish “a new brand of sophisticated gospel music.” If so, “I Found a Friend” is an excellent start, because it's anchored in cool combo jazz, not generic-sounding smooth [...]

Walk With MeSister Elizabeth EustisDelmark 2000www.delmark.comNew Orleans may be known for giving birth to jazz, but Crescent City musicians and vocalists also made important contributions to gospel music. Mahalia Jackson, Helen Robinson, the Jackson Gospel Singers, Zion Harmonizers, the Greater St. Stevens Choir, and many more from New Orleans praised [...]

From the Chicago Sun-Times:SOUTH SIDE Deacon at Trinity United Church of Christ found shot multiple times in his home on Sunday December 26, 2007SUN-TIMES STAFF REPORTSChicago Police were searching for answers Tuesday about who shot and killed a beloved choir director and teacher in his South Side home.Meanwhile, funeral arrangements [...]

“His Glory”Calvin Suggs & FriendsFrom the CD CelebrateMCG Records 2007http://www.calvinsuggs.org/ North Carolina’s Calvin Suggs, former leader of the Carolina Spirituals, teams up with fellow quartet singer Luther Barnes of the Sunset Jubilaires on “His Glory,” a lovely, unpretentious gospel ballad. While the title track is the touted single from Suggs’ [...]

Unfinished BusinessFairest HillVision Productions 2007www.fairesthill.netSon of legendary Detroit gospel vocalist Tessie Hill and original member of the Followers of Christ quartet, Dr. Fairest Hill is now a motivational speaker and gospel singer. On his new project, Unfinished Business, Hill shines the spotlight on these two passions as a mighty band [...]