EXCLUSIVE from Associate Editor Troy Lilly…

I love good music and good food. And boy did I get an overdose of both at the NABJ Gospel Brunch during convention for the National Association of Black Journalists in San Diego, California on Saturday.

CeCe Winans was this year’s featured artist, and she dropped by to feed our souls with her music as we feasted on a delicious brunch assortment. She started by revisiting the upbeat singles “Hallelujah Praise,” “Pray” and “Waging War” from her three most recent albums.  But then there was a change of pace a bit because, as CeCe put it, she “gets really excited about the slow songs.”

Just before she moved on, though, she revealed that her son Alvin Love III had traveled with her and was actually singing backup with her on stage. How cool is that? He did an awesome job, by the way, and she praised him just enough to make him blush – the way only a mother can.

She sang “He’s Concerned” next, a song recorded right after her oldest brother, Ronald, passed away in 2005. It was clear that this song had a deeper meaning for her. For nearly ten minutes, she talked about God’s concern for each of us, his children, and asked everyone in the audience to place a hand on our hearts. As you can imagine, tears began to flow around the room.

After everyone recovered from “He’s Concerned,” she closed the set with “We Welcome You (Holy Father),” the beautiful worship ballad from her Thy Kingdom Come album. Although I love to eat, I’m sure you understand that the music was the most satisfying treat at the brunch. This was also her second invitation to NABJ; she graced the Gospel Brunch in 1996 when the conference was in Nashville, Tennessee.

Following the performance, I spoke with CeCe briefly.  Here’s what she had to say:

What are your thoughts on the gospel music industry at the moment?

CeCe: I think we have a lot of great talent – we’ve always had great talent in gospel – but I think we’ve got to come up with more platforms for some of the newer artists. And I wonder if the next generation will recognize and heed the wisdom of the gospel greats.

You just released a compilation album, Songs of Emotional Healing. What’s next for you?

CeCe: Well, we’re taking the “Always Sisters, Forever Brothers” conference on the road – nationwide and maybe international, possibly Africa. So far it’s been held in Tennessee at Belmont University, but we want to expand.

What memories can you share of the late Bishop Walter Hawkins?

CeCe: Wow! Well, I will never forget the first time I saw Walter, the first thing that I thought was, ‘what kind of perm does he have in his head?’ I really did! But also, the Winans, we started out by emulating the Hawkins family. We wanted to be like them and I truly miss Walter very much.

Well, who keeps you looking so put together all the time?

CeCe: I’m actually a licensed cosmetologist, and I don’t have anyone on the road with me, so I use what I know to help myself out, you know what I mean? I know a few things.

You’ve always recorded music with a contemporary and R&B sound. What has kept you from crossing into secular territory like some gospel artists have decided to do?

CeCe: When you know what your purpose is, and what you’re here to do, it’s not hard. It’s never been a hard choice for me. And I’m not passing judgment on any gospel artists that have. However, there have been things that we [Bebe & CeCe] have done where I look back and say, ‘Lord, why did we do that?’ Like when we appeared on the Martin show back in the 90s. We got on the set and it was really a mess. I was said “God if you can use this to bless, then please do.”

I’ve always been a fan of CeCe’s music, but I can truly say now that I love her as a person, too.