From a press release: The McCrary Sisters share the following on the loss of their sister, Deborah McCrary, yesterday, June 1, 2022: “It is with deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of our beloved sister Deborah.” Deborah Person McCrary, born June 17, 1954 (age 67), was a member of the legendary McCrary Sisters, who have performed on countless recordings, television shows and live performances including Grammy, CMA, CMT, SNL, and others. Deborah’s smile and foundational tones graced the stage with her sisters Ann, Regina, and Alfreda on countless festivals in North America and Europe since 2011. ...

By Robert M. Marovich Lady Sharon Poston shared the sad news that her husband, Deacon Dr. Timothy D. Poston Sr., passed away on March 15, 2022. The California organist’s Churchin’ on the Hammond B3 Organ was reviewed by the Journal of Gospel Music in 2018. We at JGM express our condolences to the family, friends, and many fans of Dr. Poston, a keyboard talent bar none. Here is the homegoing service information (it will be livestreamed):

By Robert M. Marovich The gospel music community is mourning the loss of Derrick Lee, who transitioned from labor to reward February 19, 2022, at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. He had been battling health issues for some time and had been in the hospital since the week after Christmas 2021. Friends and associates sete up a GoFundMe page to help defray his hospital expenses. From Newark, New Jersey, Lee was a talented songwriter and musician who went on to become the music director for BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel, the longest-running gospel music television program. After his show’s 35-year tenure ...

From a press release: The SRT ENTERTAINMENT family regrets to announce the passing of Dr. Norris Andrus Lipsey, professionally known as Stellar Award Nominee gospel artist DK. DRU. Every once in a while, music creators converge in a studio and what is crafted is pure magic. Pure magic is the only way to describe the vocal collaboration featuring late great Stellar and Grammy nominated Bishop Rance Allen, Quartet legend Paul Porter of The Christianaires, veteran producer, songwriter, artist, Chris Byrd & True Victory and DK. DRU on his debut single, “Man From Galilee,” earning him his first appearance on the ...

LEBANON, TN – (December 20, 2021) – Deon Unthank, founder and CEO of AbsolutelyGospel.com, peacefully passed into the arms of his Savior on Friday, December 17, 2021, surrounded by his family. Always a Southern Gospel singer and fan first, Deon founded AbsolutelyGospel.com (formerly SoGospelNews.com), with his deceased wife Susan in 1997. The site gained national prominence and became a leading voice in the industry in the early 2000s that has continued to this day. The site’s awards program, Absolutely Gospel Music Awards, became it’s calling card and legacy. He also founded the Southern Gospel group The Sunday Edition in the 1970s ...

From the Ace Records UK website. Thanks to Doug Price for letting JGM know of Bishop Simon’s passing and forwarding this information. Joe Simon died on 13th December 2021, aged 85 years. Joe Simon possessed one of the greatest Southern Soul voices heard throughout the golden age of the 60s & 70s soul music. The voice of Joe Simon was one of deep soul. It had a languid, velvet-smooth quality reminiscent of other great talents such as Jerry Butler, Garland Green, and James Carr. One of his early influences was the supper-club crooner Arthur Prysock and he was also very ...

For Immediate Release (Houston, Texas) The music community is mourning the loss of a Gospel music legend with the passing of Shawn McLemore after an extended illness. “Shawn was a great spirit with enormous talent and personality to match”, says Blacksmoke Music Worldwide CEO Kerry Douglas. “To see him take the stage and have absolute command of the room was just magic. He was genuine, he had a great sense of humor and when he sang, God listened. Shawn was a gift to us and he will surely be missed.” Life began for Shawn McLemore in Los Angeles, California, where ...

The Journal of Gospel Music was saddened to learn of the passing of Lee Williams, quartet legend and leader of the Spiritual QCs. Below is a brief bio of Williams and the group that I wrote back in 2019: Born July 28, 1946, and raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, Lee Williams began singing gospel at the tender age of seven. He was encouraged to do so by his uncle, Mitchell Thornton, who was part of a quartet called the Gospel Stars. Soon, Lee and his three brothers were performing as the Gospel Stars Juniors. Thornton formed another quartet called the Spiritual ...

Nashville, TN — Legendary Stellar Award and NAACP Award-winning radio announcer Connie Denell Cato-Dickerson was the pride of Nashville. The daughter of radio legend Evelyn Cato, the first black female disc-jockey in the Southeast, Denell started as a sports reporter for her school newspaper while attending Riverside High School in Chattanooga, TN. She worked for two local Chattanooga radio stations, WNOO AM and WNTP, hosting the Quiet Storm shows before attending the famed Morris-Brown College, a historically black college in Atlanta, GA. Denell went on to attend Georgia State University and worked at the local Atlanta radio station WAOK FM ...

From a Press Release: James Lott, beloved Minister of Music for Sweet Holy Spirit Church and CEO of Utopia Music Group LLC, made his transition Saturday, June 5, 2021. To say the Gospel Music Industry is shocked and saddened would be an understatement. God called his dedicated servant home after a lengthy illness. The void left by his physical presence will be deeply felt and hard to fill. Please keep James’ family, Bishop Larry D. Trotter, Sweet Holy Spirit Church, and Utopia Music Group in your prayers. Their current recording project “Alright” will continue forward and a new CEO will ...