True Worship Retreat 2010, hosted by Lance Williams, returns to New Jersey from September 9-11, 2010.  This year’s conference is titled “Pursuing His Glory & Your Purpose.”

Speakers include Dr. John Guns and Bishop Liston Page.  On tap to perform this year are Dorinda Clark Cole, Sheri Jones-Moffett, Kathy Taylor-Brown and Martha Munizzi in a “Women In Gospel” concert.  In a “Next Generation” set, attendees will get a concert featuring Tye Tribbett, Jonathan Nelson, Kierra Sheard and JJ Hairston.

For more info, visit the official website for the retreat by clicking here.

Anyone planning to attend???

It’s just about 11am PT, which means you can now visit KTVU’s website for streaming footage of the homegoing service for Walter Hawkins:

http://www.ktvu.com/video/24333743/index.html

More details are unfolding about this year’s popular ManPower conference, hosted by Bishop TD Jakes.  The three-day event, titled “MENDED,” will be held from August 26-28, 2010 in Fort Worth, TX.

In addition to Bishop Jakes, speakers for the weekend will include Dr. Myles Munroe, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Bishop Lester Love, Bishop I.V. Hilliard and Pastor Bill Winston.  Musical guests scheduled to perform include Marvin Sapp, Salvador and Bishop Gary Oliver.

For more info, visit the conference’s official website: http://manpowerconference.org.

Anyone planning to attend???

I got the chance to attend the McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour, featuring J Moss and Regina Belle, in Chicago this past weekend.  Three words– I’m lovin’ it.

The concert was great.  It opened with a MAJOR high-energy performance from J Moss.  Backed by some great vocalists from Detroit, including the fellas of gospel group 21:03, J Moss commanded the audience’s attention as he opened with a medley of “Psalm 150,” ”I Wanna Be” and “Could’ve Been Me.”

J slowed things down a bit with “Holy One,” before launching into his first single, “Restored.”  By the time he got to his latest single, “Rebuild,” the entire vibe of the concert had made a decided shift from party to worship service.  To see God’s power move through “Rebuild,” taking root in the lives of folks I’ve never met, was incredible.  With hands raised and faces full of tears, the audience worshipped God for his rebuilding power.  J’s set ended well with a rousing chorus of “Praise On The Inside.”

Up next was Regina Belle, who launched into her set with the hand-clapping, foot-stomping oh-so-churchy ”Can’t Nobody” from her debut gospel album, Love Forever Shines.  She then moved to the classic Walter Hawkins’ cut, “Thank You,” before leading us in her rendition of Chris Tomlin’s “How Great Is Our God.”

Her set continued, and included her classic “If I Could,” which she sang to children as video footage from her recent trip to a Ronald McDonald House played in the background.  She finished her set with her hit single, “God Is Good” and I MEAN we sang along with her. LOL

The tour will be stopping in 6 more cities– Newark, NJ; Oakland, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Memphis, TN; Atlanta, GA; and Washington, DC.  Click here for more details!

Special shout-out to McDonald’s for the invite and to Alexea Davis of Burrell Communications who took extra special care of me and my wife while we were there!

Before the show, I chatted with both J and Regina, so I’ll be sharing what they had to say over the next couple of days, too.  Stick around! 

In the meantime, a couple of stage shots from the concert:

Anyone attended the tour yet?  Anyone planning to attend when it comes to your area?  Talk to me!

Headed to Chicago today, fam– McDonald’s has invited me to check out their annual Gospel Fest.  It’ll feature performances from J Moss, Regina Belle and more…

I’ll give you guys a full recap when I get back.  In the meantime, I’ve got some grrrreeeat stuff coming up.  Stay tuned.

If you are ANYWHERE REMOTELY CLOSE to Chicago on Saturday, June 5th and/or Sunday, June 6th, you already know (hopefully) where you need to be– it’s the annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival in Millennium Park.

The two-day weekend gospel celebration features a mainstage with non-stop concert performances from some of the biggest names in gospel each year.  This year, attendees include Ricky Dillard & New G, Kathy Taylor, Byron Cage, Hezekiah Walker & LFC,  The Caravans, Richard Smallwood & Vision, and Fred Hammond.  Plus, there are two smaller stages with performances from great Chicagoland talent throughout each day.

In addition to the performances, you’ll find food, vendors, gospel radio booths and more.  The event goes down from 11am to 9pm each day and you oughta be there, if ya can.  For full details, visit www.chicagogospelmusicfestival.us.

Lemme know if you’re going!

The 41st annual Dove Awards were taped last night in Nashville, TN at the Grand Ole Opry House.  The show, hosted by Natalie Grant and Bart Millard (of MercyMe), featured a who’s-who of artists and execs in Christian music, along with great collaborative performances.

Among the winners in gospel categories were Fred Hammond (Contemporary Gospel Album – Love Unstoppable), Smokie Norful (Traditional Gospel Recorded Song – “Justified”), and Israel Houghton(Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song – “The Power Of One”).  There was also a tie between BeBe & CeCe Winans (“Grace”) and Israel Houghton (“I Just Wanna Say”) in the Urban Recorded Song category. 

The night was great, featuring key performances by Donald Lawrence & Jason Crabb (in a special tribute to Andraé Crouch), Natalie Grant & Jordin Sparks, TobyMac, BeBe & CeCe Winans, MercyMe, Francesca Battistelli and more.  As I mentioned yesterday, I was backstage for much of the preparation and the taping, itself, so I missed seeing a lot of the performances (I could hear ‘em though, and I loved it!).

I’ve also gotta say that I loved the vibe of the show.  Everyone seemed like one big family and I didn’t see too many of those “gotta-hold-it-together-for-the-camera, but-I’m-really-mad-that-I-didn’t-win” faces.

All in all, the evening was great fun.  Backstage, I got a chance to speak with Natalie Grant, Donald Lawrence & The Co., Wess Morgan, Brian Courtney Wilson, Calvin Nowell, B. Reith, Mandisa, Melinda Doolittle, TobyMac, Casting Crowns, Tony LeBron, Britt Nicole… I KNOW I’m forgetting folks. Sorrrrry…

If you don’t know who some of the above-noted folks are, tell me so I can feature them for you QUICKLY.  And I think I’m gonna write an editorial soon, cuz I’ve got something else to say… stay tuned.

For a full list of winners, head over to gmc’s official website.

The show will air this Sunday, April 25th, at 8pm ET/7 CST exclusively on gmc.

Watchin’???

Hey fam– I’m going to the 41st Annual Dove Awards tonight, so I’ll try to recap some of it for you here tomorow or Friday.

I’ve already been to some of the rehearsals and it’s gonna be a GREAT show.  Donald Lawrence is performing with Jason Crabb (awesome), Natalie Grant is performing with Jordin Sparks (incredible), BeBe & CeCe Winans (you already KNOW)… and there will be many more great performances.

I’ll fill you guys in later… gotta run!

Last night, BMI honored some of its songwriters and publishers at its annual BMI Christian Music Awards (kinda similar to the Trailblazers Awards in January) at their Nashville office.  It’s all part of the annual festivities of GMA Week here.

Though GMA Week isn’t taking place in the grand fashion of previous years, the parties aren’t stoppin’!

I caught up with Donald Lawrence (who was honored for “Back II Eden”), Jonathan Nelson (for “My Name Is Victory”), Derrick Starks (for “Take It Back”), Nate McNair (for “Souled Out”), TobyMac (for “Lose My Soul” and “My Deliverer”), and Caleb, the CCM duo comprised of Steven Curtis Chapman’s sons, who also performed Chapman’s “Cinderella” in his absence from the event.

Other performances came from TobyMac and The Booth Brothers.    It was a GREAT night!  A couple shots (TobyMac and Caleb) for ya:

Artistic Soul Entertainment’s popular Beyond Potential Music Gathering & Showcase is taking place this weekend in Nashville, TN.

The two-day conference is the brainchild of Brandon Egerton & Antonio Neal and has been very successful over the past several years, providing attendees with a LOT of industry info and some great performance/feedback opportunities.

On the evening of Friday, April 16th, there will be time to chat with Joey Elwood (President, Gotee Records) and Wade Jessen (Sr. Chart Manager, Neilsen/Billboard), followed by an Open Mic Showcase hosted by Wayne “Holla” Waller.

On Saturday, April 17th, there will be a full day of instructional seminars and discussions featuring presentations by Larry Blackwell (VP/GM, EMI Gospel), Karen Jackson (Director of Artist Development, EMI Gospel), Marcelo Pennell (GRAMMY-winning mix/recording engineer), and several other notable industry folks.

If that’s enough to draw you in (and it oughta be), yours truly will be teaching a class on “Maximizing Social Media”, as well as sponsoring a Networking Luncheon & Halftime Show.

Visit http://www.GoBeyondPotential.com for details on how to attend– I don’t think it’s too late!

Several of you have reached out to me on Twitter, telling me you’ll be there.  Can’t wait to see ya!  Who all is coming???