by Mia Paylor

The Very Unofficial EP of Jonathan McReynolds
Release Date: August 2010
Website: www.jonathanmcreynolds.com

Must-Have Tracks: “No Gray”, “Why (feat. Corey Barksdale)”, “Living Your Life”, “Loving Me”

One of the most annoyingly pleasurable moments you can have as a songwriter is when you listen to a great song that you wish YOU wrote. Well, I had three of those moments while listening to The Very Unofficial EP of Jonathan McReynolds.

In the single, “No Gray,” Jonathan sings:

And if it’s You that I’m after/Then I can’t serve two masters/And before something happens/I have to turn it all around because I know you can’t just have your cake and eat it too/Cause it’s real easy to stay on the fence and still do you/And it’d be cool if we could love the Lord and still go do our thing/But see it doesn’t work like that/You gotta be white or black

Clear? Yes. Convicted? Yup, me too. Ministry happens every time you hear it. I also love the fact that the title of the song isn’t mentioned until about 10-15 seconds before the song ends so that the message resonates more than the catch phrase, so to speak.

“Why (feat. Corey Barksdale)” has an attractive simplicity. The light piano arrangement forces you to listen to what’s being said. By the time the song builds to the churchy drive at the end, you’re at a spiritual high point with Jonathan and Corey thanking Jesus for His underserved love. Jonathan and Corey have different sounds but their ad-libs are very complimentary of each other and well placed. (Note to Corey: Submit your project for a review as soon as it’s ready. Thank you. )

“Loving Me” builds like a gospel song but flows like an introspective pop-tune. The balance between the two is perfect. This EP is one of the best introductions to a new artist I’ve heard in a very long time.

Jonathan McReynolds was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, Illinois. In addition to being the bandleader and organist for his church, he’s also a senior earning his bachelor’s degree in music at Columbia College Chicago. His single, “No Gray”, was featured on Bonnerfide Radio…and he was named one of Bonnerfide Radio’s top new artists of 2010.

Folks, we’re over a year late getting hip to the ministry and stellar artistry of Jonathan McReynolds. Let’s catch up together.

Download The Very Unofficial EP of Jonathan McReynolds today!

At this point, Bonnerfide Radio has pretty much become synonymous with great music during the day and exclusive listening parties at night. It’s kinda like… THE PLACE to be.

In true Bonnerfide fashion, founder/host Gerard Bonner is hosting a listening party for Kierra Sheard’s new project, Free, on Monday, October 17th at 8pm ET.

You’ll hear new tracks from the new project before it hits stores the next day. And, the artists have been known to pop in for their listening parties… I’m just sayin’.

Monday. 8pm ET. http://www.GetBonnerfide.com. Be there!

Folks, you don’t wanna miss the exclusive online listening party for Jessica Reedy’s long-awaited debut solo album, From the Heart.

It’s going down THIS Monday, September 26th, at 8pm ET on Bonnerfide Radio.

Tune in!

Good people!

At 8pm ET tonight, make sure you tune in to Bonnerfide Radio for the Isaac Carree live listening party for his debut solo album, Uncommon Me.

The project hits stores tomorrow (August 23, 2011), but you’ll get to hear the full album, plus chat with folks (maybe even Ike?) about it beforehand.

Be there!

Last week, it was Richard Smallwood.  This week, it’s Dawkins & Dawkins.

Bonnerfide Radio will host the online listening party for the duo TONIGHT at 8pm ET!

Tune in to hear their new album, From Now On, before it hits stores on Tuesday, July 26, 2011.

Hey folks, don’t forget to tune in to Bonnerfide Radio tonight, where host Gerard Bonner will provide an online listening party for Richard Smallwood’s new project, Promises.

The listening party starts at 8pm ET.  Tune in to http://www.BonnerfideRadio.com!

MUST TUNE IN.  I repeat– must. tune. in.

Bonnerfide Radio is hosting an online listening party for Richard Smallwood on Monday, July 18 at 8pm ET.  You’ll get to hear the full album and chat about it… I would even reckon that the maestro, himself, would pop in… perhaps.

The album, Promises, is available NOW for pre-order on Amazon (click here), but if you pre-order it from Richard’s online store at Verity, you’ll also get an exclusive behind-the-scenes DVD of the making of Promises.

Don’t forget– Bonnerfide Radio (http://www.BonnerfideRadio.com) on Monday, July 18th at 8pm ET.

Who’s tuning in???

Grammy, Stellar AND Dove-nominated producer Freddy Washington (credits include Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Melinda Watts) is making his new single, “Jesus,” FREE until Resurrection Sunday!

Since debuting on the internet phenomenon radio show, Bonnerfide Radio, the single has been gaining momentum across the web. I’m diggin’ it.

Take a listen here–

And download it for FREE right here.

The tune is from his upcoming album, The Jesus Album, for more info on Freddy, check out his website at http://www.FreddyWashington.com.

Hey people– just a quick reminder to keep your prayers coming for Gerard Bonner, host of Bonnerfide Radio.  We added him to The Prayer List on Monday.

Click here to read the initial post and to see the prayers that have already been offered (yessuh!) in Jesus’ Name.

And pray with us!!!

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!