Richard Smallwood: A Remembrance
When I heard the news that Richard Smallwood passed away today, it was as if church bells stopped tolling.
When I heard the news that Richard Smallwood passed away today, it was as if church bells stopped tolling.
By Robert M. Marovich JGM is saddened to learn of the passing of Carnell Murrell. Here is a short bio we contributed to the Malaco Music Group website some years ago: Born in Detroit on June 25, 1962, gospel songwriter, group leader, musician and singer Carnell Murrell spent his early [...]
I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston chronicles the singer’s journey from the junior choir to singing hymns in major motion pictures and large arenas. The fourteen-track album rocketed to the top of Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart shortly after its release on March 24.
Although on her latest selection, “Don’t Leave Me Jesus,” Lady Voncile Belcher pleads with Jesus to not leave her “in this barren land,” she knows he won’t. Quoting from “No Ways Tired,” she and her background vocalists sing: “he didn’t bring me this far to leave me.”
“Fall On Me” A. Samar Biggham A. Samar Biggham Music Group (2021) www.samarbiggham.com By Robert M. Marovich In case you are wondering, A. Samar Biggham indeed is from that Biggham family. His grandfather is the Rev. Dr. Milton Biggham, veteran choir leader and former executive of Savoy Records. His great-grandmother [...]
By Bob Marovich The Journal of Gospel Music was saddened to learn from social media posts by Gayle Lecus and Kurt Carr that gospel's Troy Sneed has passed away. Reports indicate his passing was from contracting COVID-19. Here is a quick bio on Sneed from the Malaco Music Group website: [...]
“I Have So Much to Thank God For” Bishop Jonathan Greer feat. Evangelist Lorraine Punch Baldwin Dorothy Norwood Music Group (release date: May 31, 2019) By Bob Marovich With Bishop Jonathan Greer doing a song co-written by Dorothy Norwood and featuring fiery shouting and squalling from the Georgia Mass Choir's [...]
“So Glad” Lady Voncile Belcher Glory Bound Records (release date: June 15, 2018) By Bob Marovich When Lady Voncile Belcher opens her mouth to sing, you know she has been formed in the crucible of traditional gospel music. On her latest single, “So Glad,” Lady Voncile sings and shouts unbridled exclamations [...]
By Bob Marovich Patrick Lundy and the Ministers of Music mix traditional and classically-infused contemporary gospel into their repertory. While their current single, the unapologetically traditional “Enter His Gates,” continues to impact radio, the group has also recorded an entire album of spirituals and hymns. This reflects Patrick Lundy's admiration for, and experience with, the full [...]
“Enter His Gates” Patrick Lundy and the Ministers of Music From the New Day Distribution CD By Faith www.plundymom.com By Bob Marovich Minister Patrick Lundy’s musical instruction in the gospel and classical worlds are in evidence on the robust church rouser “Enter His Gates.” Taking its text from Psalm 100:4, the song [...]