After being postponed from its usual December-taping, BET’s popular Celebration of Gospel returns to Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theater for a taping on March 16, 2012 at 8pm PT.
The long-running program will again be hosted by Steve Harvey. No word yet on who performers will be.
Visit http://www.bet.com/celebrationofgospel for updates and info. There’s nothing there just yet, but there will be. And I guess I’ll clue you in as I get details, too. 
Kirk Franklin, one of the most innovative and gifted trendsetters to ever enter gospel music, returns to the marketplace with his latest offering, Hello Fear. It’s theme? A bold, in-your-face, musical expression of stepping to our fears and, in essence, saying “so what?!”
The album opens with the beautiful title track, “Hello Fear.” Though love-song in its acoustic sound and style, its lyrics are that of an unwavering breakup letter to FEAR– “never again will I love you; my heart, it refuses to be your home; no longer your prisoner, today I remember– apart from you is where I belong.”
The project then moves into a spoken word piece, before launching the banger “Before I Die.” Many will remember loving it on BET’s Celebration of Gospel this year, but it’s even better when you can put it on repeat over and over and over… (and over).
The project seamlessly transitions to “I Am,” a great declaration of who we, as children of God bought by Christ’s blood, truly are. And more– what it means for life… real life. The simple piano accompaniment on “But the Blood” is perfectly placed, framing the simplicity of its message.
“Everyone Hurts” offers a mellow reminder of the reality of life, tagged by the promise that God will actually “heal the hurt,” before the hit single “I Smile,” encourages believers to… smile. And, listening to the playful tune, you kinda can’t help but to do just that.
Always an artist who presents varied musical stylings, Kirk doesn’t disappoint this go ’round either– the “Never Alone” interlude, which features just a children’s choir, is sandwiched between the urban pop track “Give Me” (featuring the stylized and popular Mali Music) and the oh-so-churchy “The Altar,” featuring Beverly Crawford and Marvin Sapp. Contrast those tracks with the electronica dance vibe on “Today,” and you’re reminded that Kirk really is an incredible musician, able to authentically master multiple styles of music, even if one or more of those styles don’t fit your fancy.
Fans of unbeatable male crooners will enjoy “Something About the Name Jesus Pt. 2,” which features the incomparable Marvin Winans, Rance Allen, Isaac Carree and John P Kee. I probably would have enjoyed more of an integration of the now-classic original with this new tune, aside from the “shoo doo doo doo’s” at the end. Still, you can’t beat the guest vocals on this one.
But lest you think that the guest artists make this project, “The Moment #1″ and “The Moment #2″ remind listeners that Kirk’s got some of the most gifted “backup singers” in the game. As the vocalists trade leads on multiple musical medleys, Kirk fades to virtually silent, showcasing the incredible talent, and worship, that his team brings to the table. The album closes with the playful and bouncy “A God Like You.” It’s a fun, lighthearted declaration that there is no one like the God that we serve.
I am intentionally avoiding the trite conclusion that Hello Fear is better than Album X, but falls short of Album Y. With a catalogue as vast as his, it’s becoming difficult to make such delineations. More than that, though, this album has a bit of something for everyone and I don’t want anyone thinking they can pass on it. At the most fundamental level, plainly– you’re going to be out of the loop if you don’t get this project.
See, with each album release, the gospel industry looks to see what Kirk Franklin will do. Maybe not to imitate it, but definitely to be informed. Kirk informs the gospel music genre, progressing it in a way that only a handful of artists can. Though younger than most “legends” in our industry, Kirk is certainly one of the gospel community’s teachers.
So, hurry to your seats… with Hello Fear, Kirk Franklin announces that class is once again in session.
Buy it NOW by clicking right here
Hey folks– just a quick reminder to make sure you tune-in to BET this Sunday, January 30th, at 8pm ET for Celebration of Gospel.
And right after the show, BET.com will do a webcast of “My First Celebration of Gospel,” where cameras follow rising artists VaShawn Mitchell and Jessica Reedy to capture all the running around that leads up to an artist’s first time on BET’s Celebration of Gospel– from rehearsals to interviews, glam to pre-parties… all the action is on film, and will be online.
It’s gonna be goooooood. Check my recap if you don’t believe me. Or, better yet, don’t take my word for it– let host Steve Harvey give you 10 reasons to watch:
This Sunday, January 30th at 8pm ET, BET will air this year’s much-anticipated Celebration of Gospel program, with incredible performances from Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, VaShawn Mitchell, James Fortune & FIYA, Kim Burrell (with Whitney Houston!)… and many more.
Before that, though, BET.com is already buzzing with exclusive content about the event– from red carpet interviews to video footage, from photos to funny stuff from host Steve Harvey, you could easily spend an hour just getting lost in Celebration of Gospel-ness.
And make sure you check out The Gospel According to Torrence for his take on all that went down that weekend– he’s got the inside track on all of it.
Visit http://www.bet.com/celebrationofgospel to get in on the action.
And make sure you tune in this Sunday for the show– check my recap to be reminded of how good it was.
Sister duo Mary Mary are gearing up for the March 29 release of their sixth album, titled Something Big.
The project, produced by Warryn Campbell, features the hit single “Walking,” which has already climbed to the #6 position on radio this week. The single can be purchased digitally now, or buy it at your local WalMart and receive a bonus track with it– “Something Bigger.”
The ladies will also be on BET’s Celebration of Gospel this Sunday, January 30 at 8pm ET, performing “Something Big,” the catchy call and response anthem and title track from their upcoming project.
I took a minute before writing my thoughts about this year’s Stellar Awards, held in Nashville, TN this past Saturday. Aside from being utterly exhausted by Monday morning, I also wanted to reflect a bit before I penned my thoughts. Having so reflected, here we go…
The 26th Annual Stellar Awards program was hosted by Donnie McClurkin– the first time that only one person has had hosting duties. It had to be a bit exhausting for him, but he’s a great host who keeps the energy high both on and off-camera.
For me, one major highlight of the show was that newer artists (or those that we don’t see often on national TV) were given performance slots– the Soul Seekers, forever Jones, the Nevels Sisters, Joshua’s Troop… I think the overwhelming consensus has been that the “same people” get booked for the Stellars, the Celebration of Gospel, etc. This year, I feel like the mold was broken a bit. And that’s good.
Similarly, some non-”regulars” won in a few categories– Lucinda Moore for Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year, Darwin Hobbs for Praise & Worship CD of the Year… it seemed like, for a lot of categories, one could not predict the winner. That’s fine, until one also cannot explain the winner, and there were quite a few head-scratching moments as it relates to the winner’s list.
I’m not going to dig too deeply into how I feel about who won an award and who didn’t– what’s done is done. But I will say that the Just James from J Moss was career-defining and one of the only albums in the past decade that I have allowed to play without skipping a track. That he didn’t win one of the many awards for which he was nominated is more than unfortunate. I also think that forever Jones had the greatest eligible song of last year with “He Wants It All,” but the family band wasn’t even nominated in the “Best Song” category.
You’ll see the edited show in various markets beginning this weekend (check your local listings) and on gmc on March 5th at 8pm. But I’ll tell you my fave moments now–
Key performances for me came from JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, who opened the show with “Lord, You’re Mighty,” as well as Beverly Crawford who simply does not disappoint on stage, and VaShawn Mitchell with his unstoppable hit “Nobody Greater.” I also loved the Nevels Sisters (they whipped their “hair back and forth”) and the quartet moment, which featured INCREDIBLE vocals from The Rance Allen Group, the Soul Seekers and the Williams Brothers. Deitrick Haddon commanded the stage like few can on his set. But at the end, it was Marvin Sapp, in a moving tribute to his wife MaLinda, who had the entire audience on their feet (and nearly in tears) before Donnie McClurkin had us all pray for Pastor Sapp– hope they show that on TV.
Fairly or unfairly, the Stellar Awards really needed to meet or exceed the performance success of last year’s 25th Anniversary Stellar Awards. While this year’s show was not bad, it’s hard not to knock it down a few pegs in comparison to the incredible show from last year, with its once-in-a-lifetime collaborative performances.
But then the question becomes “should they be considered ‘once-in-a-lifetime’?” As the show did this year with the quartet collabo, is there not a way to creatively combine performances each year in such a way that the Stellar Awards consistently features unique performances that you cannot see elsewhere?
If I’ve seen an artist perform his or her song at the Gospel Heritage Conference, then GMWA, then COGIC Convocation and, finally, Celebration of Gospel over the past year, what’s so special about seeing them do it again on the Stellar Awards? The suits and dresses? The lights and house band? The audience? It’s not enough. We need more than a performance of the song– we need a moment. Last year, the Stellars gave us hours of moments. This year, we also got a couple. But we need more. I get that last year’s show was special– but I do believe that the gospel community wants it to be the norm.
In any case, kudos to Central City Productions and the Stellar Awards– it’s not an easy task and, for all the commentary I’m giving, I still wouldn’t miss a taping for the world. Here’s to a good 26th, and a great 27th.
If you haven’t already grabbed Better Days, the latest project from Jonathan Nelson, you need to do so TODAY– it’s only $5, but it’s only for today (Tuesday, December 7).
To get it, you have to order it directly from the online store of his label, Integrity Music, at integritydirect.com. Shipping is FREE.
Also, FYI– Jonathan is slated to perform his single, “Expect the Great,” on BET’s Celebration of Gospel, which tapes this Saturday in Los Angeles.
Who’s getting a copy (or two)? 
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?
Marvin Sapp’s new single, “The Best In Me,” is proving to be a huge hit in the marketplace, and the full album’s release is still over a month away!
Aside from being the #1 gospel song at iTunes and the #1 Christian/Gospel song at Amazon.com, “The Best In Me” is #3 with a bullet at radio.
Perhaps most impressive is the song’s success relative to other songs in the music industry right now. The track has jumped from #78 to #14 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hot Songs Chart. Billboard says that his jump represents the largest position jump by a gospel track since the chart began using Nielsen SoundScan data 18 years ago. So… like… EVER. It’s also the largest jump in 4 years across all genres of music.
“The Best In Me” is the debut single from Marvin Sapp’s upcoming album, Here I Am, a live project hitting stores on March 16, 2010. It’s available NOW at iTunes for pre-order.
The momentum of “The Best In Me” has been incredible since the live recording. Then, it was boosted by the BET’s airing of Celebration Of Gospel…
Are y’all still loving this single?
I will admit that I was skeptical– if you remember last year’s Celebration Of Gospel, there were just a bunch of moments that left us wondering… “WHY?!”
But this year, for its 10th anniversary, BET seems to have taken time and done things well and with purpose. I honestly thought it was a GREAT show.
My quick comments about each song, in order:
Fred Hammond featuring Kelly Price and Shirley Caesar – “Awesome God”
I loved the album version of this song (and wondered if it should’ve been the single) for months now. For me, the addition of Kelly Price to the performance made this song a great opener.
Yolanda Adams – “Victory”
It’s a great song, and Yolanda always gives an incredible live performance, but I didn’t necessarily NEED it. Just seemed a bit random.
Anthony & Tarsha’ Hamilton – “Better Is One Day”
One of the best performances of the night for me. It was an awesome arrangement of a CCM favorite, it was heartfelt and simple. And Tarsha’ can SING! Geeeeeeez.
Bobby Jones & The Nashville Super Choir featuring Y’Anna Crawley – “The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow”
Dunno what was up with Dr. Jones’ costume in the beginning (it was creative, but the bubble wrap thing threw me for a loop), but by the time the singing started, I was all in. Y’Anna sounded & looked great, the Nashville Super Choir went hard, and it was a solid performance.
Kelly Price & Ledisi – “How Great Thou Art”
From what I hear, BET edited some of the best parts of this performance from the TV broadcast. No matter… even as an edited shadow of itself, the performance was one of the night’s best. These are two of the most gifted female vocalists in the music biz right now. Loved it.
BeBe & CeCe Winans – “Close To You”/”Grace”
I sent a tweet last night that, though I love them, BeBe & CeCe could’ve done a throwback tune for me and I would’ve been thrilled. From a business standpoint, I get it (and they still did a great job)… I’m just even more eager for that reunion tour!
City Of Refuge P.S.A.L.M.S. Choir – “Shout”
I’m not a huge fan of the choir, but they did a great cover of this classic Milton Brunson tune. Lots of energy and a clean look make them stand out. Nice job.
Shirley Caesar – “Celebration”
The First Lady of Gospel always delivers a solid performance. Performing her newest single, she remained consistent and demonstrated that traditional vocals will NEVER go out of style.
James Fortune & FIYA – “I Trust You”
A bit underwhelmed by the use of background vocal tracks instead of live bgv’s until the vamp, but the song is powerful and so was the performance. This group is solidifying itself as a mainstay in the gospel landscape.
Fred Hammond – “They That Wait”
Actually, I wasn’t as interested in this song without John P. Kee being there. Makes me wonder if, in the end, it wasn’t the collabo that made the song so popular. I didn’t necessarily need to see this performance, especially given that he did the opener…
Fantasia & Diane Barrino – “He’s Done Enough”
From the moment she hit the stage, Fantasia’s shoes were off and she was jumpin’. It’s how she does gospel and I LOVE it. I also loved seeing her mama lookin’ like an artist herself… they performed together at the 2009 Chicago GospelFest and on Bobby Jones last season– I could get used to this!
Rance Allen Group – “Something About The Name Jesus”
Watching Rance Allen perform is always an adventure– you never know where the riffs & squalls are gonna come from, but you know they’re coming! It was great to hear him sing this classic tune, but I’m beginning to see less of a need for the “Group.”
Tye Tribbett & G.A. – “So Amazing”
It’s been said that this is the last we’ll see of G.A., as Tye is reportedly disbanding the group (per in-the-know journalist Jawn Murray, who attended a “farewell concert” on New Year’s Eve). If so, this was a nice performance to end their run. The song is good, the energy was what we’ve come to expect… cool deal.
Donnie McClurkin – “We Fall Down”
Donnie continues to demonstrate why there is no substitute for a good song and a solid vocal performance. No frills or gimmicks– just a 10-year-old tune and a vocalist who never really misses. Excellent.
Marvin Sapp – “The Best In Me”
This song was a hit from the moment he sang the first note at his live recording. And you all have been listening to it here for a while now, and lovin’ it. Another dynamic performance from an incredibly gifted singer. Chalk up another one for Marvin Sapp.
Donald Lawrence – “Back II Eden”/”The Best Is Yet To Come”
An awesome finale performance, with the incredible Floyd Wilkinson on the vamp, from the man with the Midas touch. The only thing missing for me was Donald’s group of singers, but I’m just spoiled.
All in all, this show was really great. The tribute to Steve Harvey was heartfelt and touching. And I’ll say this– if some of the greatest ministers of music in our industry come together annually, and interact with non-believers, we’re SUPPOSED to see a change in people. What that says for other annual televised gospel programs, I’m not sure… but it’s encouraging to see what God’s been doing in Steve’s life through Celebration Of Gospel.
Now… WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE SHOW?!
