“Arise” – Strong Tower Church feat. Richard T. Davis
“Arise” Strong Tower Church feat. Richard T. Davis From the album Fresh Wind – New Waves www.strongtowerlive.com By Robert M. Marovich Last year, Strong Tower Church dropped “Waves,” featuring Maurette Brown Clark. The Virginia music ministry is back with another song with a single word title: “Arise.” From the 2021 [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: August 22, 2022
“God Bless the World" Siobhan Maher Kennedy (release date: May 6, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich While not a gospel or religious song per se, “God Bless the World" is nonetheless a prayer for unity in a world where people have separated from each another on account of race and [...]
“Name On It” – Titus Showers
“Name On It” Titus Showers A&P Records (release date: April 22, 2022) www.AP-Records.net By Robert M. Marovich For “Name On It,” Titus Showers, member of The Showers family band and now a popular solo artist since 2019, takes a lyrical cue from Norman Hutchins’ 1999 hit for JDI Records, “God’s [...]
“You Win” – Jovan Whyte
“You Win” Jovan Whyte Minister J Music (release date: March 18, 2022) https://windermerefl.adventistchurch.org/ By Robert M. Marovich With Kevin Winebarger, Jovan Whyte co-wrote the melodic “You Win” during a particularly low point in the pandemic as a reminder that when all is said and done, the Lord will render you [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: August 15, 2022
“It’s On the Way” Gia Wyre 141st Lane Music (release date: May 6, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich Peace, joy, and happiness is coming, sings Miami songstress Gia Wyre at a breathless pace, on “It’s On the Way.” Near the vamp, Wyre lets loose with some good old quartet-style moaning [...]
“What More Can He Do? (Already Done)” – LaNorris McFadden & P.R.O.O.F. ft. Beverly Crawford
“What More Can He Do? (Already Done)” LaNorris McFadden & P.R.O.O.F. ft. Pastor Beverly Crawford Independent (release date: September 18, 2020) By Robert M. Marovich Although nearly two years old, Elder LaNorris McFadden & P.R.O.O.F.’s “What More Can He Do” continues to be promoted to media, and I can see [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: August 8, 2022
“Never Stop Trusting God” Lemmie Battles DAF Entertainment Group (release date: June 17, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich Every song Lemmie Battles sings sounds like her personal testimony. Probably because every song is. Same with “Never Stop Trusting God.” Written by Percy Gray and produced by Jeral Gray Sr., the [...]
“Miracles” – Kingdmusic
“Miracles” Kingdmusic Independent (release date: July 1, 2022) www.kingdmusic.com By Robert M. Marovich Pulling its text from Matthew 17:20, “Miracles” by Kingdmusic is a bright, optimistic worship anthem designed to remind listeners that belief in God can overcome all crises. Kingdmusic premiered the composition at a worship service in Pretoria, [...]
“We Call” – Grant Allison IV
“We Call” Grant Allison IV One Nation Under God Records (Release date: April 14, 2020) www.grantallisoniv.com By Robert M. Marovich Though worship pastor Grant Allison IV has a new single (“Here”) and “We Call” has been around a while, I’m nevertheless struck by the loveliness and power of the latter [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: August 1, 2022
“With Joy We Draw Water” The Bishop’s Choir feat. Kyle Sanders Enon Music Group (release date: April 15, 2022) www.enonmusic.com By Robert M. Marovich The Bishop’s Choir gives the original John Howard Caravan classic, “With Joy We Draw Water,” a full-throated rendering, complete with impassioned lead by Min. Kyle Sanders. [...]
“Worship Him” – Donnell Russell
“Worship Him” Donnell Russell Independent (release date: May 30, 2022) www.donnellrussell.com By Robert M. Marovich “Worship Him” is a blast of extroverted praise by New Orleans’ own Elder Donnell Russell. If it sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the late Bruce Ballinger’s classic hymn given a hyper-rhythmic arrangement. While the background [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: July 25, 2022
“Jesus Knows” Lisa Knowles-Smith and the Brown Singers EvoWorld Music (release date: May 13, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich For their new single, Lisa Knowles-Smith and the Brown Singers draw on key lyrics from the folk spiritual, “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.” But that’s where the comparison ends. Whereas [...]
“Lord of All” – Carolyn Wright
“Lord of All” Carolyn Wright Independent (release date: April 3, 2022) By Robert M. Marovich Ms. Carolyn Wright lit up the Rhythm of Gospel Awards in Jacksonville, Florida, last month with her lead vocals for one of the many talented church choirs that were in attendance. I wasn’t alone in [...]
Hood Memorial AME Zion Church Celebration Choir – I’m In His Plans
Hood Memorial AME Zion Church Celebration Choir I‘m In His Plans Bison Disc (release date: February 23, 2021) https://hoodmemorialamez.com/ By Robert M. Marovich Time was, you would have looked long and hard in the AME Zion church writ large and found neither gospel music nor gospel singers anywhere within the [...]
JGM Pick of the Week – July 18, 2022
“Proud of Me” Treva Chezmusique (release date: June 18, 2022) www.trevajones.com By Robert M. Marovich Treva Jones is no stranger to gospel music or to the Journal of Gospel Music. Written by the premier songwriter V. Michael McKay, “Proud of Me” is Jones’s latest single. Her warm, resonant alto curls [...]
William Murphy – Worship & Justice
William Murphy Worship & Justice RCA Inspiration (release date: July 15, 2022) www.rcainspiration.com By Robert M. Marovich Do gospel artists have a responsibility to speak truth to power through their songs? Isn’t all gospel music message music, or should it be more explicit when it comes to the social gospel? [...]
Bro. Glenn – Childlike Faith
Bro. Glenn Childlike Faith WayMakker Music (release date: December 22, 2021) By Robert M. Marovich “Will you be ready when Jesus comes?” asks Christian hip hop artist Bro. Michael Glenn, aka Bro. Glenn, at the outset of his album Childlike Faith. I don’t know about you, but from the sounds [...]
JGM Pick of the Week – July 12, 2022
“Grace Over Me” Mike Geo Independent (release date: July 8, 2022) www.MikeGeoMusic.com By Robert M. Marovich What Staten Island CCM artist Michael Giordano, aka Mike Geo, offers in “Grace Over Me” is a fizzy, energetic outpouring of gratitude for salvation. When the walls are closing in, Geo closes his eyes [...]