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JGM Pick of the Week: January 6, 2025
Mervin Mayo, the Richmond, Virginia, policeman whose gospel singing was caught on video in 2020 and subsequently went viral, sings “In This Place” with a gritty and instantly-compelling R&B-style vocal delivery.
“Angels We Have Heard on High (Joyful, Joyful)” – CeCe Winans
CeCe Winans’ take on the classic Christmas carol “Angels We Have Heard on High” is massive, orchestral, and as dramatic as a Broadway production number.
RIP: Rodessa Barrett Porter, the Last of the Original Barrett Sisters
Rodessa Barrett Porter, the last of the original Barrett Sisters, passed away December 16, 2024, one day after her 94th birthday.
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Angelo Ellerbee, the founder/president of Double XXposure Media, who guided entertainment luminaries such as Grammy winning producer James Mtume, Tony Award legend Melba Moore, and the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has released his fourth in a series of motivational books, Before I Let You Go.
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Recent Posts
JGM Pick of the Week: January 6, 2025
Mervin Mayo, the Richmond, Virginia, policeman whose gospel singing was caught on video in 2020 and subsequently went viral, sings “In This Place” with a gritty and instantly-compelling R&B-style vocal delivery.
“Angels We Have Heard on High (Joyful, Joyful)” – CeCe Winans
CeCe Winans’ take on the classic Christmas carol “Angels We Have Heard on High” is massive, orchestral, and as dramatic as a Broadway production number.
RIP: Rodessa Barrett Porter, the Last of the Original Barrett Sisters
Rodessa Barrett Porter, the last of the original Barrett Sisters, passed away December 16, 2024, one day after her 94th birthday.
Sponsored Post:
Melvin Crispell III – the BET Sunday Best Season 9 champion – gives James Fryson’s classic composition “God Is” an easygoing shuffle tempo.
The Ring Music Group is proud to announce its involvement in the PBS film series RENEGADES, contributing original music for three of five pivotal episodes in the series.
Singer-songwriter DOE has repainted the time-tested prayer room in shades of neo-soul and introspective acoustic sounds.
"We Three Kings," starring BeBe Winans and Deborah Joy Winans, will be part of Lifetime's It's a Wonderful Lifetime movie slate this holiday season.
Bri Babineaux’s best single in a while, “Confident” lives up to its title in lyric and overall musical swagger.
Sometimes you come across a singer of significant sensitivity and sometimes you come across a skillful songwriter, but rarely do you come across someone who combines both. Regina Vandereijk has both.
LATEST 5 STAR REVIEWS
Maverick City x Kirk Franklin Kingdom Book One Tribl Records / Fo Yo Soul / RCA Inspiration (release date: June 17, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich Maverick City Music, gospel’s current “it” group, joined with the venerable Kirk Franklin, no stranger to special event gospel projects, to bring music and ministry to 1,300 Florida inmates. [...]
Various Artists Gospel, Vol. 6: Female Gospel Groups 1940-1962 Fremeaux & Associes (2022) http://www.fremeaux.com By Robert M. Marovich If it weren’t for women, there might not be gospel music as we know it today. A gutsy statement, but accurate. For every Thomas Dorsey, Theodore Frye, and James Cleveland, there were dozens of women who, denied [...]
Various Artists Malaco 50th Celebration Malaco Music Group (release date: February 25, 2022) www.malaco.com By Robert M. Marovich The nearly two-hour Malaco 50th Celebration two CD set (and companion DVD) is one of the best releases thus far this year. Recorded live on July 12, 2018, at the record company’s golden anniversary gala at Thalia [...]
Dedicated Men of Zion The Devil Don’t Like It https://fatpossum.com/collections/bible-tire-recording-co (release date: March 3, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich On The Devil Don’t Like It, their follow-up to 2020’s Can’t Turn Me Around, the Dedicated Men of Zion quartet breathes new life into a handful of gospel classics by fitting them with arrangements that sound [...]
Maranda Curtis Die to Live Butterfly Works / Red Alliance Media / Fair Trade Services Release date: February 18, 2022 www.iammaranda.com By Robert M. Marovich Although his declaration doesn’t appear until several minutes into the album, Bishop John Francis essentially states the theme of Maranda Curtis’s new album Die to Live. After quoting John 12:24, [...]
LATEST PICK OF THE WEEK – SINGLES
There’s a lot to like about “Agree,” the new single by James Johnson Jr.
“Share the Load” Eric Lee Brumley From the Old Bear Records album Electric Chair (single release date: March 1, 2024)
“The Blood” Paul Porter & Melvin Williams From the Marxan-Blackberry Records album The Kings of Quartet Vol. 1
“Jesus Dropped the Charges” Earl Bynum and Phillip Carter SOV Inc. (release date: March 30, 2024)
“Father in Heaven (Right Now)” BeBe Winans feat. Gerald Albright Regimen Records (release date: April 12, 2024)
“Conversations with the Gospel Legends” – Allen Cathey and Dianne Williams
Director Allen Cathey and soloist Dianne Williams ("Jesus Can Work it Out") of the world-renowned Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer "Warriors" of Chicago, Illinois, are our guests on "Conversations with the Gospel Legends." Special thanks to Rev. Harold Bailey and Mr. Clarence McMillon for putting the show together expertly every time! [...]
“Conversations with the Gospel Legends” – Min. Kevin Yancy
This episode of "Conversations with the Gospel Legends" with talented singer, songwriter, musician, and producer Min. Kevin Yancy (Fountain of Life Joy Choir) explores the Yancy Family's many significant contributions to gospel music. Special thanks, as always, to the Reverend Harold Bailey, Mr. Clarence McMillon, and the PCC Network for [...]
By Robert Marovich
In A City Called Heaven, gospel announcer and music historian Robert Marovich shines a light on the humble origins of a majestic genre and its indispensable bond to the city where it found its voice: Chicago.
By Robert Marovich
In A City Called Heaven, gospel announcer and music historian Robert Marovich shines a light on the humble origins of a majestic genre and its indispensable bond to the city where it found its voice: Chicago.
By Bob Marovich Earlier this year, the Chicago Children’s Choir was busy coordinating some 5,000 youth meeting in various in-school and after-school ensembles throughout the region. The sound of song was in the air everywhere. Then COVID-19 happened. Choirs became potential virus spreaders. Everything moved to virtual learning. CCC launched the online Arts Enrichment Sessions [...]
By Bob Marovich Where are the musical tributes to the one who wrote “My Tribute?” Who is remembering the man who taught the world to “Always Remember” Jesus? Myron Butler wanted to know. Then he took matters into his own hands. Butler, a multiple Grammy and Stellar-Award winning gospel artist, is releasing a multi-artist collection [...]
By Bob Marovich Like Beatles and Bob Dylan purists, fans of gospel’s celebrated Clark Sisters know every harmony, every vocal ornamentation, and every nuance of every singer on every song by heart—almost better than the artists themselves. No pressure on Donald Lawrence, musical director of The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel. The biopic premieres [...]
The Journal of Gospel Music was saddened to hear that keyboardist, songwriter, producer, and group organizer Bishop Michael A. Brooks made his transition on July 16, 2024. He was 62.
The Journal of Gospel Music is sad to report the passing of Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon.