Chicago Celebrates Black History Month with Gospel Music Symposium

From Mack Mason:

Chicago Celebrates Black Music Month with a Gospel Music Symposium and Youth Gospel Concert!

OPENING NIGHT – DISNEY TV MOM SINGS AS GOSPEL DIVA

Mack C. Mason’s THE GOSPEL TRADE MUSIC SYMPOSIUM 2010 kicks off on Friday, June 18, 2010 at 8:00 PM with an Opening Night Gala production featuring television’s T’KEYAH CRYSTAL KEYMAH’S SALUTE TO GOSPEL’S ORIGINAL DIVA.

Votes are being cast and comments posted on various blogs (www.theblackgospelblog.com) and Keymah fan pages on networking sites like Facebook, where some say Mahalia Jackson is the original gospel diva. Others say Clara Ward or Rosetta Tharpe. Find out in this rousing evening of gospel song!

Keymah is a Chicago native, and a former Miss Black Illinois winner. In addition to her TV roles on Disney’s “That’s So Raven,” Fox TV’s sketch show “In Living Color,” and CBS’ “Cosby,” Keymah is known for her stage performances singing as Dinah Washington in ETA Theatre’s The Regal Theatre. Most recently, Keymah played the late COGIC Mother Elsie Shawn in Crowns – the Musical at her alma mater Florida A&M University.

Joining Miss Keymah and performing music by the Rage of the Gospel Age will be Symposium host Mack Mason, author of Saints in the Land of Lincoln, which has been hailed as Gospel Music 101.

If you love and remember the traditional sounds of Gospel’s golden era, make plans to attend opening night at Christian Tabernacle Church, located at 4712 South Prairie Avenue (Tickets are: VIP $25, General $20, available at Christian Tabernacle 773.548.2500, Fletcher’s One Stop 773.874.4484, and New Sound Gospel Store 773.785.8001. Groups of ten, call 630.336.5379 for 20% discount)

DAY TWO – YOUTH GOSPEL CONCERT with LEON LACEY
(FREE CDs to attendees while supplies last)

Day Two of the Gospel Trade Symposium features speakers, workshops and a spectacular Youth Gospel Concert on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at the historic Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ at 4021 South State Street in Chicago, IL.

Registration has been priced especially for our youth at only $10 (Lunch ticket additional $7, Limited sponsorship available).

Registration and Continental Breakfast begins at 9:30 AM, followed by worship group, Private Appointment with God.

10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Speakers and workshop panelists will include:

Symposium Host – Pastor Mack C. Mason on “WHY INDIES MATTER: From Precious Lord through Oh Happy Day until now.” Mason encourages aspiring artists to begin preparing, commit to excellence and despise not day of small things.

Michael Weatherspoon, A&R dir. for Kingdom Records (Shekinah Glory, Kim Stratton, Brown Sisters) and Wilfred Moore of Las Vegas based Lerae Records will offer tips on quality demo production. Before you spend money on a demo you need to know WHAT RECORD COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR. Also how to get your demo into the right hands and heard by the right ears.

Professor Reginald Miles of Howard University with Bob Marovich and Mack Mason will reprise CHICAGO SCHOOL OF GOSPEL, their breakthrough history presentation during Bobby Jones Gospel at the Gospel Complex for Preservation and Education last year in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Grammy winning producer, songwriter and speaker Tracy Williamson (Rance Allen Group) – “ANOINTING VS AMBITION IN AGE OF AMERICAN IDOL.” Sheer talent is not enough. We must have a Biblical understanding of the anointing and maintain a holy life of worship which is key to lasting success.

Author and worship artist Sarah Byrd of St. Luke COGIC says, As seen on TV, dancing can be sensual entertainment. However you need insight into the praise dance phenomenon. Byrd asks, are you “DANCING WITH THE STARS OR DANCING LIKE DAVID?”

Paula Hayes Clarke of Atlanta, GA, organizer of Association of Gospel Songwriters, will empower aspiring songwriters with an exploration and understanding of “SUCCESS IN TODAY’S SONGWRITERS MARKET.”

Many singers and songwriters unknowingly sign away their careers before they begin. Atty. Elliott Powell and TV actress T’Keyah Crystal Keymah will share on “CONTRACT BASICS: AVOIDING DANGER ON THE DOTTED LINE.” Entertainment law is a specialized field. You need to know who to find the right attorney and the right agent for the right deal.

Day Two will conclude with a YOUTH GOSPEL CONCERT featuring finalists from The Urban Unction New Artists TV Showcase. It will feature Lerae Records artist Jack Yates of Minneapolis, MN, and from New York City, special guest LEON LACEY (songs like “Winners,” “Who Else But God,” “Deliver Me From Myself,” “Swagg Like Christians”). Leon Lacey’s super talent is only exceeded by his tremendous humilty and his desire to reach out to young people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Leon Lacey is a member of Eastern NY Second Jurisdiction and has appeared with his Live Orchestra at New York’s Lincoln Center backing Kim Burrell; on Motown’s anniversary with Michael Jackson at Madison Square Garden; Kirk Franklin; Yolanda Adams; and has written for Hezekiah Walker. Lacey’s CD Prophecy features guests such as Donald Lawrence, Jackie McCollough, Nikki Ross and the late Pastor Timothy Wright.

This day has been prayerfully designed to minister to our youth as schools close for summer, in the midst of tremendous violence.

Pastors, Youth Leaders, Music Directors are invited to bring your youth. Come and reach out with us at THE GOSPEL TRADE SYMPOSIUM & YOUTH GOSPEL CONCERT.

For more information, contact: Mack Mason, 630-336-5379