Gospel Music

“Help Me to Stay Saved”Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson and the Spiritual VoicesFrom the album Just Being MeVerity Records 2006www.verityrecords.comYou can’t help but grin during old-style quartet redux specialist Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson’s tongue-in-cheek rant on “that’s what’s wrong with the church today." The song reminds me a little of Rev. Anderson Johnson's [...]

TBGB reported some time ago on the phoenix-like rise of George Jordan's "Jesus Can Work it Out." It went from gospel oldies favorite to megahit, courtesy of the ICEE Records' re-recording of Dr. Charles G. Hayes and the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Warriors' 1980s version on Savoy, itself a cover [...]

Victorious PraiseDwayne LeePsalm 27 Records 2003www.dwayneleesings.comI am not certain whether Dwayne Lee, a young singer from Chicago’s Apostolic Church of God, was inspired by Walter Hawkins, but his crooning baritone and precision reading of a lyric are certainly reminiscent of vintage Hawkins.Victorious Praise, Dwayne Lee’s sophomore outing, features uncomplicated melodies [...]

“Lead Me to That Rock”CanaanitesGotham 6071949[Also available on Pewburner CD reissue PB597]“Lead Me to That Rock” is included on this list of gospel essentials not for its exceptional compositional quality – it’s a pretty standard 1940s a cappella quartet number – but because it features as lead vocalist the incomparable [...]

From a press release distributed through Malaco Music Group.MALACO MUSIC GROUP MOURNS THE PASSING OF ROY "MR. MALACO" WOOTENLos Angeles--Wednesday, June 21, 2006--The mighty Malaco Music Group regretfully announces the passing of it's legendary record promoter, marketing expert and truly devoted friend of the Gospel music industry, Roy "Mr. Malaco" [...]

TBGB received this message courtesy of Sheilah Belle and The Belle Report:It is with extreme sadness that we report the passing of Mr. “Malaco” Roy Wooten. We received the called here at The Belle Report around 9:40pm, Friday, June 16, 2006, that Mr. “Malaco” died just a few hours ago [...]

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In addition to jazz, blues, and dance music, Paramount released dozens of spiritual and sermon recordings during its short but prolific tenure.TBGB has heard that the specialist referred to below is none other than the "recording history detective" himself, Dick Spottswood. By LAWRENCE SUSSMANlsussman@journalsentinel.comPosted: June [...]

“Over My Head”Sounds of Blackness From the album UnitySLR Records 2005www.soundsofblackness.comIt’s hard to categorize Sounds of Blackness – and if there’s one thing we reviewers like to do, it’s categorize – because they have recorded just about every type of music borne and bred in the African American tradition in [...]

Various ArtistsGospel FavoritesSound of New Orleans 2006www.soundofneworleans.comNew Orleans author Lynn Abbott writes in the liner notes to this exquisite compilation: “On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans, and the levee system gave way. The floodwaters quickly reached Gary’s Sound of New Orleans studio on Canal Boulevard, and [...]

TBGB received this note from Tammy Taylor, who asked us to keep GMWA board member Rodena Preston and the rest of the family in our prayers at this time. Billy Preston was a talented gospel and soul organist who could just about make the Hammond Organ sing in tongues. Billy [...]