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JGM Pick of the Week – April 20, 2026
“My Rock” DJ Allen & Righteous EvoWorld Entertainment (release date: March 6, 2026)
56th Annual Dove Awards Winners List (2025)
List of the winners of the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards (2025)
“Heaven Rules” – Reverend John Lee Hooker Jr.
“Heaven Rules” is a righteous variation on the talking blues, a sermonette by the Reverend John Lee Hooker Jr.—son of the famous bluesman—as preacher and a mixed choir as congregation.
Sponsored Posts:
Bob Marovich of the Journal of Gospel Music interviews gospel recording artist Lil Prince.
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Recent Posts
JGM Pick of the Week – April 20, 2026
“My Rock” DJ Allen & Righteous EvoWorld Entertainment (release date: March 6, 2026)
56th Annual Dove Awards Winners List (2025)
List of the winners of the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards (2025)
“Heaven Rules” – Reverend John Lee Hooker Jr.
“Heaven Rules” is a righteous variation on the talking blues, a sermonette by the Reverend John Lee Hooker Jr.—son of the famous bluesman—as preacher and a mixed choir as congregation.
Sponsored Post:
JGM learned from Eric Clark that Harrison Johnson of “I’ve Decided to Make Jesus My Choice” fame passed away December 19, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was living at the time. He was 86.
Nearly two hours of holiday music released recently by gospel artists, most of them independent artists.
John Paul McGee A Gospejazzical Christmas Jazz Urbane (release date: November 16, 2023) Guest review by David McGee In A Gospejazzical Christmas, the first new recording we’ve heard from Dr. [...]
“God Said He Would Heal the Land” Cherry and Family Independent (release date: October 20, 2023)
JGM was saddened to learn from Kim Ruff-Moore that Arthur Crume of the Soul Stirrers passed away. Kim reported that he died in Savannah Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
LATEST 5 STAR REVIEWS
LATEST PICK OF THE WEEK – SINGLES
“I Owe God a Praise” Jimmy Hicks & ACOJ From the Blacksmoke Music Worldwide album Waterway (release date: August 4, 2017) By Bob Marovich What I like about Jimmy Hicks is how he can transform a church song into what sounds like a big number from a gospel musical. Hicks and his Voices of Integrity did [...]
“Give It All to Him” The Oladipo Sisters From The Rebirth (release date: June 10, 2018) www.oladiposisters.com By Bob Marovich Boston’s Oladipo Sisters—nineteen-year-old Oladunni and seventeen-year-old Olayeni-make a joyful noise on “Give It All to Him.” Though born in Massachusetts, the sisters’ combination British and Nigerian heritage is on display in the song’s simple melody and [...]
“Even Louder” Steven Malcolm feat. Leeland From the IVAV (Word Entertainment) EP The Second City, Pt. 2 (release date: June 8, 2018) www.StevenMalcolm.com By Bob Marovich “Even Louder,” written by Steven Malcolm and Leeland Mooring, blends musical understatement with Malcolm’s declarative rap about the many wonders of salvation. Its lullaby-like melody, incessant beat, atmospheric swirl [...]
“Holy Ghost” Frozene Lott Hayes LotHay Music (2018) Available on iTunes By Bob Marovich You can be certain that a song titled “Holy Ghost” is going to be a church burner, and Frozene Hayes delivers on this promise. Supported by a chugging band and a choir of BGVs, Hayes sings about the exhilaration of salvation [...]
“Chainbreaker” Angela “Missy” Billups E’Mazin Entertainment (release date: May 15, 2018) Available digitally By Bob Marovich New York-based singer Angela “Missy” Billups is known for both traditional church wreckers and rhythmic praise ballads. Her latest single, “Chainbreaker,” is right in the middle in terms of tempo, while the lyrics are consistent with the message she [...]
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 (UPDATED 12/17/16) Gospel quartet legend Willie Joe Ligon passed away on Sunday, December 4. Homegoing and memorial details are at the bottom of this report. Born October 11, 1936, in Troy, Alabama, Ligon migrated to Los Angeles at age 14 and met his future mates in the Mighty Clouds of Joy in the [...]
The Gospel Division of Sharp Records informed the Journal of Gospel Music yesterday that Eric Allen Byrd of The Golden Crowns of Louisville, Kentucky, has passed away. Allen was the quartet's manager, lead and background vocalist, and songwriter for many years. First organized in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as the Shanklin Brothers, the Golden Crowns made one 45 [...]
