Heads-up folks– the new season of Bobby Jones Gospel starts at 9am ET THIS SUNDAY, October 2nd on BET, with a premiere featuring Mary Mary and VaShawn Mitchell.
Then, tune-in every Sunday at 9am ET to catch performances from just about everyone in gospel music, including… well, just about everyone!
It’s time, folks. New episodes of Bobby Jones Gospel will begin to air on BET this Sunday, October 3rd, at 9am ET.
This year marks 30 years of the hit show, so they’ve got A LOT of great performances planned.
My DVR is already set! Who’s tuning in???
Word has it that the new season of Bobby Jones Gospel on BET will debut on October 3, 2010.
The show wrapped its tapings last week, with appearances by a little bit of EVERYONE in the industry. I hear some great performances went down.
Who’s tuning in?
An editorial from Associate Editor Troy Lilly…
It may be hard to believe but it’s been 30 years since Bobby Jones Gospel debuted, making its host, Dr. Bobby Jones, more popular on Sunday mornings than most preachers in the pulpit.
When Bobby Jones Gospel first aired on BET in 1980, the network’s first year, I wasn’t even alive. My parents weren’t married until the following year, and Martin Luther King’s birthday wasn’t a national holiday. Albums were still called LPs then, and everybody’s home entertainment center consisted of a deluxe turntable. Remember those days? Okay, neither do I, but I’ve done some research.
Anyway, what I’m saying is that it’s been really long time since the cameras started rolling on the set over there, and things have changed. A lot.
We’ve come a long way. We have Sunday Best now, which is the gospel equivalent of American Idol. Singers (and pretenders) belt their hearts out in front of the judges for weeks, and at the end the home viewing audience votes to decide who wins a recording contract. And then there’s the yearly Celebration of Gospel where gospel and secular artists make music on the same stage while host Steve Harvey tries to tell clean jokes. How’s that for progress? I know some of you are disenchanted with Sunday Best but this isn’t a comparison, so hear me out.
Long before the competitions and musical soirees went mainstream and hit primetime, Bobby Jones Gospel put a face with the music and gave the industry its first national platform. Dr. Jones expanded that platform across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans , earning the title “Ambassador of Gospel.” I hold him in the highest of regard for everything he’s done for gospel music, and I’m sure you do as well. I just have a couple of questions, and I want to know what you think.
Although the music and mediums have changed over the years, those changes haven’t affected the show very much. You can still find it airing on the same network, on the same day, in the same timeslot, same format, and still hosted by Dr. Jones. In fact, Bobby Jones Gospel is the longest-running show on BET and one of the longest in cable television history. However, do you find it strange that the show has stuck to the same formula for three decades?
I mean, Bob Barker did the same thing with The Price is Right, so maybe it’s not a bad thing. But I’m leaning against it.
Consider this: traditional radio and television viewership is declining; digital music sales via iTunes and online music retailers will eclipse physical sales this year; internet marketing through social media is rapidly becoming the most effective way to market and sell music, aside from the music itself. Let us also remember the rise of blog sites in the last five years, sites like GospelPundit.com (which we love, right?).
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m well aware that many artists who were introduced on Bobby Jones Gospel went on to achieve unprecedented success. Gospel heavyweights like Yolanda Adams and Kirk Franklin, who are two of the best-selling gospel acts of the last 20 years, both got their start there.
I’m just asking you, when was the last time you saw a new artist on the show Sunday morning and headed to Best Buy or jumped on iTunes to cop their album? I’m curious to know.
If anything, I feel like the show has become sort of a rite of passage. It’s the place every major gospel artist must go to pay their respects at some time or another, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
I think it’s very appropriate for us to take this time to appreciate (and congratulate) Dr. Bobby Jones for all he’s has done for gospel music. By introducing the look and sound of gospel to households across the nation, Bobby Jones Gospel has allowed countless artists to share their ministry with the world. And I love a good ole’ gospel jamboree.
As we celebrate 30 years, however, I’m just wondering– will you still be skipping Sunday School to watch?
We’re still rolling with our weekly series– The Prayer List– in which we pray for one member of the gospel community each week.
This week, I’m adding Gerard Bonner to The Prayer List.
As one of the co-founders of GospelFlava.com, you’ve probably read dozens of Gerard’s articles and reviews, as well as benefitted from his photography skills for a decade. But, for nearly a year now, the gospel community has also been blessed BIG time by his innovative internet radio show– Bonnerfide Radio.
Gerard Bonner has gained the recognition and support of artists, labels and consumers alike. He was nominated for Internet Radio Show of the Year at the 2010 Stellar Awards and was recently awarded Internet Radio Station of the Year at GMWA’s Crystal Mic Media Awards.
But the enemy is mad. In January during Stellar Awards weekend, after throwing a landmark launch party that is STILL being talked about, Gerard and two associates were in a collision with an 18-wheeler, totaling the car he was in. They all walked away bruised, but alright. Then, this past week, his tire blew out on the highway en route to Bobby Jones Gospel tapings– again, safe and spared from a MAJOR accident that happened just a mile ahead of him, around the time he would have arrived there, had his tire not blown out.
All that to say– we’ve gotta lift up our brother.
Father, thank You for the life, gifts and calling of Gerard Bonner. Thank You for orchestrating so many aspects of his life– the good and the bad– to be for his ultimate well-being, and Your ultimate glory. Thank You for being faithful to him, even in times when it felt like You were missing in action. Thank You for having more plans for Gerard than he could have dreamt for himself.
Lord, I pray for protection for Gerard. I pray for physical protection, but also for spiritual protection and emotional protection. I pray that all of the things You’ve placed in him would be guarded for Your glory. I pray that he would dive deeper into relationship with You, pursuing You more, craving time with You more. And I pray that when he comes to You, that You would hide him in the safety of Your wings. God, please cover him.
God, thank You for Gerard’s humility and his passion for the gospel music industry. Thank You for his heart of servanthood. I pray that it would grow even larger. I pray that Your Kingdom would be blessed by this one man, that testimonies will continue to be told of Your goodness and Your grace, and how his trusting in You was rewarded openly.
Father, expand the reach of Gerard Bonner. Let his faithful devotion to You be announced and noticed. Let opportunities open up for him and shut doors that he ought not enter. Surround him with people who are good for him, not opportunists looking to latch on to his calling. Help him to have brothers and sisters in Christ who will challenge, edify and hold him accountable.
Finally, Lord, bless his daughter and bless him as father, to model the fathering that You do for Your children every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Okay, fam… let’s hear what you’re asking God for as it relates to our brother, Gerard Bonner. Post your prayers in the comment section!
This song holds a special place in my heart– at my old church, I sang on the worship team. The pastor had us sing this song practically every Sunday, having us repeat the vamp for so long that I felt like my vocal cords were gonna pop onto the pulpit. Sorry for the visual– just need you to understand how high it is.
In any case, “Prayer Away” is from Walter Hawkins’ last recorded album, Song From In Heart (released in 2005). This particular performance is from an episode of Bobby Jones Gospel.
Whatd’ya think???
Make sure you guys tune-in to Bobby Jones Gospel on BET this Sunday at 9am ET.
The Pace Sisters will be singing the “If I Be Lifted Up,” lead single from their latest album, Access Granted. They’ll also perform “He’s Here.”
As if I haven’t raved enough over this album, I STRONGLY encourage you all to check out their performance and buy the project
Bobby Jones is getting ready for the taping of his 3rd annual Bobby Jones Gospel In New Orleans, which will air later on The Word Network.
The taping takes place on March 25-27, 2010 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel and is TOTALLY FREE to attend.
No word yet on the performers, but the event has four taping time slots and includes several VIP luncheons, dinners and receptions.
Check out the event’s official website for more details– http://www.bobbyjonesgospelinneworleans.com/.
Who caught Bobby Jones Gospel on BET yesterday? It featured some INCREDIBLE performances from Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Darwin Hobbs and LeJeune Thompson.
Vanessa performed her hit single, “Good News,” and the classic and TIMELESS “Peace Be Still.” In my humble musical opinion, the choir behind her didn’t quite know some of the nuances of their part, but the performance was still awesome.
Darwin Hobbs is just a worshipper, plain and simple. He is a great performer because he offers the audience a personal encounter with God, in that moment, every time. He performed “We Worship You Today” and did a great job with it. For his second go’ round, Darwin sang the hit “He’s Able,” which has been, like… the rock worship ballad for the past year. Deitrick Haddon wrote QUITE an anthem with that song– it’s awesome.
Aaand, LeJeune. My, oh my. LeJeune Thompson is one of the most underrated female vocalists in gospel and I don’t quite know why. In any event, she sang “Lost Without You,” from her 2008 sophomore release, Metamorphosis. It’s a mellow cut laced with incredible vocals… great job.
Who else saw it yesterday? What was your favorite performance of the episode?
Make sure you tune in to BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel this Sunday, January 24th at 9am ET, to catch the legendary Rance Allen Group, The Whispers and The Brown Sisters.
You can bet on Rance Allen showin’ out and I’m kinda interested in seeing The Whispers perform a gospel cut. The Brown Sisters have been getting a lot of indie buzz since their debut project, Live In Chicago, was released last year… it’ll be good for the nation to see them in action.
Admittedly, I’m not EAGER for this episode, but I am curious. Who’s tuning in???
