Gospel Music

I am pleased that “Yes” is still on the gospel charts. I have wanted to write about this Stellar-nominated song since its release. The emotion-soaked praise and worship performance by Valley Kingdom Ministries’ Shekinah Glory reminds me of the Tommies’ 1986 “Safe in His Arms” in Min. Valencia Lacy’s gentle [...]

“Something About the Name Jesus” The Rance Allen Group featuring Kirk Franklin.From the Tyscot LP The Live ExperienceTyscot Records 2004First of all, don’t get me wrong: I admire and respect the ministries of the Rance Allen Group and Kirk Franklin, and particularly these artists’ musical innovations that took gospel to [...]

The Bells of Joy: The Collection (1951-1954)Acrobat Records 2005www.acrobatmusic.netWhile the Bells of Joy did not possess superstar lead vocalists as did Peacock labelmates the Sensational Nightingales (June Cheeks), Spirit of Memphis (“Little Axe” Broadnax) and the Dixie Hummingbirds (Ira Tucker), leads A.C. Littlefield and Robert Dawkins were more than capable [...]

Alvin Slaughter – The Faith LifeIntegrity Gospel 2005www.integritymusic.comWorship leader Alvin Slaughter possesses a handsome baritone voice reminiscent of crooner James Ingram but sings with the command of a leading man in a Broadway musical. His seventh project, The Faith Life, is a mixture of contemporary Christian music, praise and worship, [...]

It reminded me of the famous photograph, “A Great Day in Harlem.” This time, however, the venue wasn't the entranceway of an apartment building but the Monument of Faith Church on Chicago’s South Side, and the artists weren’t jazz performers but living legends of gospel music.On October 22, 2005, at [...]

Danny Brooks – Rock This House His House Records 2005www.dannybrooksmusic.comDanny Brooks holds claim to the title of Blue-Eyed Soul Man of Canada. He has a true love and deep respect for African-American roots music and the vocal chops to do it justice. Imagine a saved Springsteen and you have an [...]

“Get Right Church” - Dixie Hummingbirds Peacock 17641956The style, showmanship, and musical skill of the Dixie Hummingbirds are evident from the first few bars of this remarkably fun 1956 recording. While many quartets of the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s had a guitarist open their recordings by picking through the individual [...]

Various Artists – Texas Gospel: Come on Over Here (Volume 1: 1951-53)Acrobat Records ACMCD 42092005www.acrobatmusic.netOnce again, Acrobat Records of England has given us a sampling of rare gospel recordings from the 1950s, many tracks that have not, until now, been available on a commercial reissue. This collection could easily have [...]

MinistryMark A. SmithDanbla Records 2005www.danblarecords.comMark A. Smith is a pleasant gospel balladeer with better than average talent who infuses his quiet-storm gospel production with hip hop, rap, and jazz stylings to great effect. In fact, the tracks on which Smith experiments with styles not often associated with gospel music are [...]

I lament that most of today's gospel music does not take a stand on political and social issues in the way that gospel artists from the '40s to the '70s had done. While this isn't quite the rage-against-the-machine that I am suggesting, "Work It Out - The Katrina Remix" is [...]