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.
Kell Bailey – Evidence
Kell Bailey’s Evidence is a collection of bracing P&W selections with traces of hymnody embedded in their DNA.
JGM Pick of the Week: April 18, 2022
“Grateful” Earnest Pugh Blacksmoke Music Worldwide (2022) By Robert M. Marovich Earnest Pugh’s current single, “Grateful,” is a gently swaying ballad of thanksgiving for Christ’s love, expressed most ardently in his sacrifice for all humanity. Pugh and his background vocalists riff on the “you didn’t have to do it but [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: June 14, 2021
“Thank You”Rufus JohnsonMiddle Boy Media (release date: July 19, 2020) By Robert M. Marovich Rufus Johnson, a native of Richmond, Virginia, expresses his gratitude to God on “Thank You” with a pocketful of shoulder-shaking beats and an R&B melody that is as fresh as right now. Johnson’s gratefulness for making [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: May 25, 2020
“I’ll Serve Him” Ken Heath & the True Disciples Keep Hope Music (release date: March 20, 2020) By Bob Marovich The latest single by the Richmond, Virginia-based quartet Ken Heath & the True Disciples rolls along on a simple message about discipleship and the blood of Jesus that has kept [...]
The Best is Yet to Come – James C. Birdsong Jr.
The Best is Yet to Come: A Testimony of One Young Man’s Redemption. By James C. Birdsong Jr. T & J Publishers, 2017. 362pp. (softcover). ISBN 978-0-9994121-7-6 By Bob Marovich Too often, memoirs written by members of famous families paint a rosy portrait of their lives. Not so in James [...]
JGM Pick of the Week: March 26, 2019
“Moving Forward” Ken Heath & the True Disciples Keep Hope Music (release date: March 29, 2019) By Bob Marovich I’ll admit it: when I first heard Ken Heath shout “Move! Get up out of your seat!” on “Moving Forward,” I did immediately as commanded. The optimistic song about the joy [...]
“You Deserve My Praise” – M’Renee
“You Deserve My Praise”M’ReneeFrom the EP You Deserve My Praise (2014)www.mreneemusik.com By Bob Marovich "Chosen" might be the single, but the title track of M’Renee’s EP You Deserve My Praise is more memorable. It is an uncomplicated rhythm and praise offering that bristles with the sunny electronica and perky beat [...]
G.I. – Winning
G.I. Winning BGA Records / Shanachie (release date: September 8, 2017) www.shanachie.com By Bob Marovich Depending on your political point of view, “winning” can be a timeless mantra or a creepy coded message. For Richmond, Virginia’s G.I., however, winning is not a political football but a forgone conclusion. Just believe. [...]
The Rance Allen Group – Live from San Francisco
The Rance Allen Group Live from San Francisco Tyscot Records (release date: October 28, 2016) www.tyscot.com By Bob Marovich “I’m loving me some of y’all,” gushed an obviously pleased Bishop Rance Allen to the audience gathered to hear the Rance Allen Group at the Second Annual Charles Reid Gospel Festival [...]
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