WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2023 @ 7 PM CST

AT THE VKMI COMPLEX IN THE CHICAGO SUBURBS

From a press release:

For more than two decades, the platinum selling, Chicago-based ensemble known as Shekinah Glory Ministry (SGM), has set the standard for urban praise and worship music. They’ve made anthems such as “Praise is What I Do”, “Yes,” “Fall on Me,” and “Jesus” universally known tunes that choirs and praise teams around the globe sing every Sunday morning.

Their most recent live recording, Surrender, was released in 2012. Fans have been clamoring for a new album ever since and they are finally getting their wish. The legendary aggregation has set the date for the Fresh Fire Live Recording Experience on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 @ 7:00 PM CST at Valley Kingdom Ministries International, 5300 W. 151st Street, Oak Forest, IL. There is no admission fee.

Thaddeus Johnson (bass player for Jonathan McReynolds, James Fortune & FIYA, Shekinah Glory Ministry) will produce the Fresh Fire project. The session will feature new songs written by a few noted tunesmiths, including GRAMMY® winner Jonathan McReynolds, Ted Winn of Ted & Sheri fame, and legendary songwriter Percy Bady who ghost-wrote R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” as well as hit recordings by R&B and gospel artists such as Toni Braxton and CeCe Winans.

Shekinah Glory Ministry’s 2001 breakthrough smash, “Praise is What I Do” (featuring Pastor William Murphy III on lead vocals) laid the foundation for praise and worship music in the urban church world. Their albums, Praise Is What I Do (#5 peak Billboard Top Gospel Albums) and Shekinah Glory Ministry Live (#3 peak Billboard Top Gospel Albums – 103 weeks on the chart) were both certified gold in 2005 and 2008 respectively. They also have three gold or platinum DVDs to their credit and their 2010 set, Refreshed by Fire, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart.

SGM is equally known for its dramatic stage productions that showcase the colorful pageantry of praise dancers, minstrels, and banner bearers. Acclaimed film director Joel Kapity has just wrapped production on a riveting documentary series, Beyond the Praise, that chronicles Shekinah Glory Ministry’s many ups and downs on its way to the top of the Billboard music charts. It will make its television debut soon.

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Written by : Bob Marovich

Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.