McDonald’s will kick off its 5th annual Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour featuring Grammy Award-winning gospel recording artist Hezekiah Walker. The tour is part of McDonald’s everyday commitment to celebrating the culture of the African-American community.

The tour will make stops at churches in 6 U.S. cities (Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Atlanta) and will play at the Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson, Mississippi, as well as, summer festivals in Newark, NJ, and Washington, DC.

Tour dates and locations include:
June 11 – Atlanta, GA (Ray of Hope Christian Church)
June 14 – Jackson, MS (Jackson Convention Complex)
June 16 – Philadelphia, PA (Deliverance Evangelistic Church)
June 18 – Newark, NJ (McDonald’s Gospelfest – Prudential Center) *not a free concert
June 21 – Detroit, MI (Greater Grace Temple)
June 23 – Chicago, IL (Christ Universal Temple)
June 25 – Dallas, TX (Friendship West Baptist Church)
July 22 – Los Angeles, CA (West Angeles COGIC)
September 10 – Washington, DC (Black Family Reunion Celebration – National Mall)

The McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour concerts are FREE (except for the McDonald’s Gospelfest event in Newark, NJ), and tickets are available, while supplies last, at the host church and select local retailers.

“Gospel music gives inspiration to people and McDonald’s is known for giving to communities around the world,” said Hezekiah Walker. “I am honored to headline a tour of this nature and be able to share my music with audiences across the country to uplift and inspire them.”

Bishop Walker will be joined by all-star gospel artists 21:03 in Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago; Canton Jones in Atlanta and Jackson, MS; Myron Butler and Anthony Evans in Dallas; and Nikki Potts in Los Angeles.

“McDonald’s is really excited to share in culture and community in a way that really connects with our consumers in a meaningful way,” expressed Rob Jackson, McDonald’s Director U.S. Marketing.  “During the community events, attendees will also have the opportunity to learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities® and the incredible work they do to help families right in the local community.”

In previous years, the tour featured top gospel artists such as CeCe Winans, Regina Belle, Smokie Norful, J. Moss, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Kierra “KiKi” Sheard.

For more info about the tour, visit www.365Black.com, McDonald’s portal for its 365Black® programs, celebrating the African American community throughout the year.

Who’s attending???

Soulful praise & worship artist Vicki Yohe is prepping for a live recording in Nashville, TN on April 30th for her upcoming album, Somebody Worship.

The recording will feature Yohe, an all-star list of musicians, a 30-voice choir and special guest Canton Jones (which is a pairing I definitely wasn’t expecting, but am rather interested in hearing!).

The event is FREE to the public, taking place at Bethel World Outreach (5670 Granny White Pike) at 7pm.

Israel Houghton’s Love God. Love People. leaps from the #16 spot to the #4 spot on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart this week. It’s one of my favorite albums from him to date… you got it yet?

All else is pretty much as it was…

1 | WOW Gospel 2011
2 | Deitrick Haddon – Church On The Moon
3 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
4 | Israel Houghton – Love God. Love People.
5 | Lecrae – Rehab
6 | William McDowell – As We Worship: Live
7 | Lecrae – Rehab: The Overdose
8 | Canton Jones – Dominionaire
9 | James Fortune & FIYA – I Believe: Live
10 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of Marvin Sapp

I’m curious to see who hangs in there on the top 10 over the next couple of weeks, with new releases coming from Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Smokie Norful and Twinkie Clark…

After taking a year to regroup and revitalize, CeCe Winans and her team return this year with the 2011 Always Sisters, Forever Brothers conference, with dates and participants already being announced.

The Nashville-based annual youth conference, to be held from July 21-23, 2011 at the Belmont University Curb Events Center, draws thousands of youth from across the world each year for a multi-day weekend of encouragement and empowerment via guest speakers and concerts.

Already on tap for this year’s weekend is Christian hip-hop artist LeCrae and urban gospel artist Canton Jones.

Full registration (conference registration + concert ticket + meals) runs just $130, but the cost is less for less participation.

For more info, and to register, visit http://www.AlwaysSistersForeverBrothers.com.

WOW Gospel 2011 remains at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week, followed again by Deitrick Haddon’s Church on the Moon at #2.

Lecrae’s Rehab: The Overdose rockets back to #3 from the #6 spot, and the other albums fall in place.

The Billboard top 10 in gospel…

1 | WOW Gospel 2011
2 | Deitrick Haddon – Church On The Moon
3 | Lecrae – Rehab: The Overdose
4 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
5 | James Fortune & FIYA – I Believe: Live
6 | Canton Jones – Dominionaire
7 | William McDowell – As We Worship: Live
8 | Lecrae – Rehab
9 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of Marvin Sapp
10 | Marvin Sapp – Here I Am

Which of these projects are you STILL waiting to get? Why???

Nothing major to report on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart this week…

The biggest news would be that Deitrick Haddon’s Church on the Moon and Canton Jones‘ Dominionaire projects switched places, so that Deitrick is now at #2.  That’s pretty cool.

The Billboard top 10…

1 | WOW Gospel 2011
2 | Deitrick Haddon – Church On The Moon
3 | Canton Jones – Dominionaire
4 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
5 | James Fortune & FIYA – I Believe: Live
6 | Lecrae – Rehab: The Overdose
7 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of Marvin Sapp
8 | William McDowell – As We Worship: Live
9 | Marvin Sapp – Here I Am
10 | Lecrae – Rehab

Which of these albums do you still need to get???

WOW Gospel 2011 has debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week!

Canton Jones comes in at #2 with his new project, Dominionaire.

The rest Billboard’s top 10…

1 | WOW Gospel 2011
2 | Canton Jones – Dominionaire
3 | Deitrick Haddon – Church On The Moon
4 | James Fortune & FIYA – I Believe: Live
5 | Lecrae – Rehab: The Overdose
6 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of Marvin Sapp
7 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
8 | William McDowell – As We Worship: Live
9 | Lecrae – Rehab
10 | The Rance Allen Group – The Live Experience II

The WOW Gospel series is a strong one, so I’m expecting WOW Gospel 2011 to stay where it is for the next several weeks– probably until Kirk Franklin releases his new album, Hello Fear, on March 22nd, followed by Mary Mary’s Something Big on the 29th.

Deitrick Haddon’s new album, Church on the Moon, debuts at #1 this week, pushing Lecrae’s Rehab: The Overdose, to the #2 spot on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart.

Also, the legendary Rance Allen Group debuts at #10 with their new release, The Live Experience II.

The top 10 at Billboard…

1| Deitrick Haddon – Church On The Moon
2| Lecrae – Rehab: The Overdose
3 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of Marvin Sapp
4 | Kevin Bond presents… – We Give You Praise
5 | William McDowell – As We Worship: Live
6 | Lecrae – Rehab
7 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
8 | John P Kee – The Legacy Project
9 | James Fortune & FIYA – I Believe: Live
10 | The Rance Allen Group – The Live Experience II

I’m a bit surprised to see that Marvin Sapp’s “best of” project hit #3 (it seems so close to the release of much of his most popular music), but I’m glad about it.

Next week, I’m predicting WOW Gospel 2011 to get big numbers– maybe even the #1 slot– and I’m curious to see how Canton Jones does.

Canton Jones is back on the gospel scene with his new release, Dominionaire. Always true to the formula that put him on the map, Canton has churned out enough head-bangers to satisfy the cravings of all you Hip-Hop loving Christians out there! He’s singing on it. He’s rapping on it. His writing skills are on it. His production skills are on it. And, as if that isn’t enough work for one man to handle, he’s even released it on his own label, Cajo Records! How’s that for drive?!

The cuts that give Dominionaire some good, Dirty South flavor are “G.O.D.”, “Big” (featuring Messenja), “Already Gone” (featuring D-Maub), “In Da Club”, and “Hallelujah” (featuring Deitrick Haddon, Mr. Del, and DPB). “Beautiful”, “Worshipper”, “I’m Fly”, and “Necessary (Remix)” (featuring James Fortune and Ramona Estell) bring listeners a bit closer to the Mason-Dixon Line with a melodic, soulful swing. The music slows down nicely on “Be Healed” and “Worship You”. And, you get small, yummy hints of church on “That Devil” (featuring Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson) and “Worshipper (Remix)” (featuring Jonathan Phillips).

A few tracks would have to grow on me. Though I really enjoyed the rap in the beginning, “He Reigns” (featuring Erica Cumbo) seems a bit contrived. The chorus for “When I Ride” had an…interesting arrangement. And, though I hate to admit this, I didn’t think the vocal on “I Believe in Love” was convincing enough. “All About the Kingdom” (featuring Big Ran) threw me a bit lyrically. The first verse gives props to all cool, self-sufficient women and declares them, “All about Kingdom”. Is that all it takes to be “All about Kingdom”? *Kanye shrug*

I’ve been hip to Canton since I saw the video for “Stay Saved”, the single from his 2005 release, Password: Access Granted. As a former hothead, I quickly identified with the struggle to maintain a Christ-like attitude in the midst of crazy situations, LOL. “Great Things”, the single from his 2009 release, Kingdom Business Part 2 Featuring The Cajo Family, is my joint, too! But, I still don’t own an entire Canton Jones CD.

*pauses for gasps*

I know…lemme explain.

I’m a R&B nut. I have to be in the mood for Hip-Hop…any Hip-Hop. The option to get a whole CD of Gospel Hip-Hop is simply not appealing to me. Musically, Hip-Hop, in general, is not unique anymore. In my opinion, Hip-Hop producers create their tracks with the same beats and production tricks that you’ll hear on every other Hip-Hop release. Heard one, heard’em all.

Yet, interestingly enough, I actually wouldn’t mind having Dominionaire in my arsenal for the rare occasions that I’d want to jam to some Dirty South Gospel Hip-Hop…and for the more melodic, slow, and churchy tracks on the project that appeal to my musical preferences. The talent, clean production, and sincerity exuding from the project are a sure draw for my attention.

But, don’t mind me, Hip-Hop fanatics! With only 4 possible skip-it’s out of 17 tracks, you’re good to go, LOL!

You can listen to snippets and buy it here!

Remember on Tuesday, when I told you big news was coming about the Dove Awards?  Well, it came…

Word has it that the GMA’s Dove Awards will take place in Atlanta, GA in 2011, leaving its home of Nashville for the first time in the award program’s history.  The event will take place at the Fox Theater on April 20, 2011.

In its press release, the GMA mentioned that Atlanta is home to many of the industry’s biggest names– and it included SEVERAL gospel artists, like Byron Cage, Canton Jones… even Dottie Peoples.  And Bishop Paul Morton was quoted in the press release.

I hear inclusion and diversity comin’ on the horizon.

Now, the question is– will the gospel community RECIPROCATE it?  The GMA has, historically, had extremely low membership among the “black gospel” community.  They’re clearly putting a good foot forward, I think… what will our response be?  Will we see their effort and raise ‘em a few, or will we say “y’all never include us”?  I dunno…

What do you guys think about the move???