Gospel Music

TBGB just learned from The Belle Report that the iconic gospel quartet the Dixie Hummingbirds will receive the 2006 Artists of the Year Award from Pennsylvania's 2006 Governor's Awards for the Arts.The Governor's Awards for the Arts honors outstanding artists, arts organizations and patrons of the arts in Pennsylvania.The Belle [...]

Nobody Else Compares to YouLa Varnga G. HubbardLA Sing Management 2006This is the best gospel album I’ve heard this year. And it’s not on a major label. In fact, it’s not really attributable to any label. It’s independently produced. But to paraphrase the title, nothing else compares to it.Nobody Else [...]

TBGB note: I've been a strong supporter of DeNetria Champ for some time, and now that she's received Oprah's attention, perhaps this will be her season! Let's hope!DeNetria Champ Sings Flawlessly!by Sheilah Belle (from The Belle Report)Richmond, VA -- JDI Recording artist DeNetria Champ, stopped by St. Paul’s Baptist Church [...]

“Get Ready For Your Miracle!”Norman HutchinsFrom the forthcoming album Where I Long to BeJDI Records 2006www.jdirecords.comWhen Pastor Norman Hutchins sings “God’s Got a Blessing (With My Name on It),” he is not kidding. The prolific Hutchins has already left an indelible mark on gospel music with a string of hits, [...]

From Sounds of Inspirationby Effie RolfePublished in the Chicago DefenderApril 28, 2006Jessy Dixon presents Liberty Baptist and Friends in a Live TV Taping on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. The legendary singer Dixon started his career singing and playing with Rev Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers. Reflecting on the [...]

“Use Me, Lord”Drinkard SingersFrom A Joyful Noise RCA Victor LSP-18561958American music owes an enormous debt of gratitude to the Drinkard Family for nurturing the musical talent of its kinfolk Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick, Cissy Houston and her daughter Whitney, and adopted daughter Judy (Guions) Clay. Imagining how popular music [...]

From a Malaco Records press release:Jackson, MS. April 25, 2006-The Malaco Music Group is proud to announce the appointing of D.A. Johnson to the newly vacated post of Executive Director of its Gospel Division. The position, formerly held by Jerry Mannery, is a natural step up for Johnson, who has [...]

From a press release by OwensMorris Communications:CHICAGO – OwensMorris Communications announced today that Jerry Mannery will join the marketing communications agency on May 1 as Client Service Director, Entertainment Marketing Division. Mannery will provide grassroots and entertainment marketing services for the agency’s clients including TV One, ExxonMobil and Darden Restaurants. [...]

TBGB learned from Tony Heilbut, who heard from Roberta Martin Singer Eugene Smith, that Sister Irma Gwynn passed away this morning, April 23. Gwynn was a featured soloist with Chicago's famed First Church of Deliverance choir and was featured on Heilbut's All God's Sons and Daughters album on Spirit Feel. [...]

No Limits…LiveMartha MunizziIntegrity/Columbia 2006www.marthamunizzi.comMartha Munizzi has gone from the hottest blue-eyed gospel singer on the circuit (one of the finest since Gene Viale) to one of the hottest gospel singers, period. Having watched the Florida-based performer work her magic at the Chicago Gospel Fest a couple of years ago, I [...]