By Robert M. Marovich Last March, the COVID-19 pandemic washed over Bishop J. Drew Sheard’s family and associates like a tsunami. His brother, the Reverend Ethan B. Sheard, tested positive for the virus. So did his children, well-known musicians J Drew II and Kierra. His mother, Willie Mae Sheard, and [...]
Ora Watkins-Jones. Photo Credit: Church of God in Christ Music Department By Robert M. Marovich Marcel West of Detroit informed JGM of the passing of Mother Ora Watkins-Jones, stalwart lead vocalist for the Southwest Michigan State Choir of the Church of God in Christ, under the direction of [...]
Young Men 4 Christ Elevation (EP) Independent (release date: September 11, 2020) www.youngmen4christ.com By Bob Marovich Formed in 2012, Young Men 4 Christ is a contemporary male quartet from Detroit that offers the churchy turns and pulpit-honed declarations for which their hometown is famous. On the six-track EP Elevation, the [...]
From a Press Release: Bishop Rance Allen, of the Grammy® Award nominated inspirational soul and gospel trio, The Rance Allen Group, has passed away at the age of 71. “While recovering from a medical procedure at Heartland ProMedica [in Sylvania, OH], Bishop Rance Allen passed away around 3 AM this [...]
“Testimony” Young Men 4 Christ From the EP Elevation (release date: September 11, 2020) www.youngmen4christ.com By Bob Marovich On “Testimony,” Detroit’s Young Men 4 Christ blend the fervor of traditional gospel quartet singing with hard-driving contemporary musicianship. The lead vocalist assembles familiar couplets and references from the Bible to hint [...]
PJ Morton Gospel According to PJ Morton Inspiration / Tyscot (digital release date: August 14, 2020; physical release date: November 27, 2020) www.tyscot.com By Bob Marovich Much is being made about Gospel According to PJ being PJ Morton’s return to gospel. But like the Reverend C. L. Franklin said of [...]
Verline Rogers (left) and Laura Lee (right) at the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum induction ceremony in Detroit. Photo courtesy of Laura Lee. By Bob Marovich JGM was saddened to learn from Laura Lee and Marcel West that soprano Verline Rogers of the Meditation Singers [...]
Instruments of Musick Determination (EP) Independent (release date: June 20, 2020) By Bob Marovich “Psalm 33:2,” a track from the Instruments of Musick’s Determination, is a rousing sacred steel-led and non-vocal interpretation of “Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.” [...]
By Bob Marovich JGM learned from multiple sources of the passing of Leo Coney, a quartet singer formerly with the Violinaires and the Gospel Classics. He transitioned to glory on August 2 around 5:00 p.m. Coney was one of the original Violinaires. The quartet was formed in 1952 in Detroit, [...]
Photo Credit: AIM 2015 Convention Website By Bob Marovich The gospel music community mourns the loss of Rose Marie Rimson Brown. Detroit gospel music historian Marcel West informed JGM of the passing of the beloved soloist of the Southwest Michigan State Choir of the Church of God in [...]
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