Earnest PughBy Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.
Now that the air is chillier (at least in the North), thoughts turn to Christmas and the holiday album blitz.
First up for TBGB this 2012 season is Christmas with Earnest Pugh & Friends. It is a collection of original songs and new takes on classic carols led and produced by Pugh and featuring a team of emerging as well as veteran gospel artists.
Known as Gospel’s Leading Man, Earnest Pugh possesses a handsome baritone voice that can caress a song and sanctify it at the same time. It is this technique that helped his gospel hits “Rain On Me” and “I Need Your Glory” cross over onto the Adult R&B charts, and it is this technique he employs on his Christmas CD.
Thankfully, Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” is not one of the album selections, not because it is not a good song, nor that Pugh would not do a fine job with it—it is and he would—but it has been overdone recently.
Those who appreciate Earnest Pugh’s relaxed vocal style will enjoy Christmas with Earnest Pugh & Friends.
Four of Five Stars
Picks: “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Ring Dem Bells.”
Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
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