And the nominees for the 27th Annual Stellar Awards are…

Artist of the Year
Earnest Pugh
Kirk Franklin
Mary Mary
VaShawn Mitchell

Song of the Year
“Nobody Greater” | Darius Paulk
“Well Done” | Deitrick Haddon
“I Smile” | Kirk Franklin
“I Choose To Worship” | Wess Morgan
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Male Vocalist of the Year
Earnest Pugh
Israel Houghton
Smokie Norful
VaShawn Mitchell
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Female Vocalist of the Year
Beverly Crawford
Kim Burrell
Martha Munizzi
Yolanda Adams
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Group/Duo of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA
Mary Mary
Rance Allen Group
Trin-i-tee 5:7

[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

New Artist of the Year
Greater Mt. Calvary Church Choir
Preashea Hilliard
Todd Dulaney
Y’Anna

CD of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA – I Believe
Kirk Franklin – I Smile
Mary Mary – Something Big
VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant

[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Choir of the Year
Chicago Mass Choir
Mississippi Mass Choir
Ricky Dillard
Shekinah Glory Ministry
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Producer of the Year
Aaron Lindsey, Tommy Sims & Israel Houghton for Love God. Love People.
Kirk Franklin for Hello Fear
VaShawn Mitchell, Daniel Weatherspoon & Rick Robinson for Triumphant
Warryn Campbell/Mary Mary for Something Big

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
James Fortune & FIYA
Mary Mary
Trin-i-tee 5:7
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Spiritual Voices
Rance Allen Group
The Soul Seekers

Contemporary Male of the Year
Deitrick Haddon
Earnest Pugh
Israel Houghton
VaShawn Mitchell

Traditional Male of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson
John P Kee
Rance Allen
Smokie Norful

Contemporary Female of the Year
Kim Burrell
Preashea Hilliard
Y’Anna
Yolanda Adams
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Traditional Female of the Year
Beverly Crawford
Evelyn Turrentine-Agee
LaShun Pace
Twinkie Clark

Contemporary CD of the Year
Deitrick Haddon | Church on the Moon
Kirk Franklin | Hello Fear
Mary Mary | Something Big
VaShawn Mitchell | Triumphant

[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Traditional CD of the Year
John P Kee | The Legacy Project
Mississippi Mass Choir | Then Sings My Soul
Ricky Dillard | Keep Living
Smokie Norful | How I Got Over…
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Urban Inspirational Performance of the Year
Deitrick Haddon | “Well Done”
Kirk Franklin | “I Smile”
Mary Mary | “Walking”
VaShawn Mitchell | “Nobody Greater”

Music Video of the Year – Short Form
Martha Munizzi | “Excellent” (Martha Munizzi)
Christian Heuer | “Walking” (Mary Mary)
Canton Jones | “God” (Canton Jones)
VaShawn Mitchell | “Nobody Greater” (VaShawn Mitchell)

Music Video of the Year – Long Form
Deitrick Haddon | Church on the Moon
Jerry Parries | Bishop Morton Celebrates…
Mississippi Mass Choir | Then Sings My Soul
Ricky Dillard | Keep Living

Traditional Choir of the Year
Chicago Mass Choir
Greater Mt. Calvary Church Choir
Mississippi Mass Choir
Ricky Dillard

Contemporary Choir of the Year
Lonnie Hunter & Structure
Shekinah Glory Ministry

[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Instrumental Gospel CD of the Year
Harold Rayford | I Am the Instrument
Moses Tyson Jr | Music Remastered & Sacred Organ
Todd Ledbetter | Meditations: Hymsn in the Key of Jazz
Winston Stewart | Season
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Special Event CD of the Year
Bishop Paul Morton | Still
John P Kee | The Legacy Project
Shekinah Glory Ministry | Refreshed By Fire
VaShawn Mitchell | My Songbook

Rap, Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
Flame | Captured
Lecrae | Rehab
Lecrae | Rehab: The Overdose
Viktory | Birth of a Legacy
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Children’s Project of the Year
Teen Pure N Heart | Pure N Heart Live
Santiago & Claude Deuce | My Destiny Place – My Imagination
The Velasquez Singers | Ten
T-Rep The Young Prayzr | Let’s Go

Quartet of the Year
Keith Wonderboy Johnson & Spiritual Voices
Rance Allen Group
The Soul Seekers
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Christina Jones for Dominionaire (Canton Jones)
Denise Trotman & Greg Gilligan for Hello Fear (Kirk Franklin)
Martha Munizzi for Make It Loud (Martha Munizzi)
Tanner Gary for Triumphant (VaShawn Mitchell)

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Earnest Pugh | Earnestly Yours
Israel Houghton | Love God. Love People.
Shekinah Glory Ministry | Refreshed By Fire
VaShawn Mitchell | Triumphant
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Spoken Word CD of the Year
Marco the Poet | Marco the Poet EP
Michael Diallo McLendon | The Diallo Experience
Selah | Look At You Loving Me
Trupoetry | Trupoetry

The following are the recipients of this year’s special awards:
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

John P. Kee will receive the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award
Vy Higgensen will receive the Thomas Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award
Dorothy Norwood will receive the Dr. Bobby Jones Legend Award

Radio Station of the Year Finalists:

Major Market (3M+)
WPZE 102.5 FM (Atlanta, GA)
WPRS 104.1 FM (Washington, DC)
KJLH 102.3 FM (Los Angeles, CA)
WGRB 1390 AM (Chicago, IL)
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]

Large Market (1-3M)
WHAL 95.7 FM/1460 AM (Memphis, TN)
WFMI 100.9 FM (VA-Norfolk-Newport, VA)
KCAO 600 AM (Baltimore, MD)
WMBM 1490 AM (Miami, FL)

Medium Market (500,000-1M)
WLOU 1350 AM (Louisville, KY)
WPRF 94.9 FM (New Orleans, LA)
WENO 760 AM (Nashville, TN)
[list courtesy of GospelPundit.com]
WPZK 102.5 (Little Rock, AR)

Small Market (under 500,000)
WDJL 1000 AM (Huntsville, AL)
WJNI 106.3 FM (Charleston, SC)
KOKA 980 AM (Shreveport, LA)
WIMG 1300 AM (Trenton, NJ)

The awards show takes place on Saturday, January 14, 2012 in Nashville, TN. It will be hosted by Marvin Sapp and Dorinda Clark Cole.

Word has it that Promises, the upcoming release from musical mastermind Richard Smallwood, has been pushed back to March 1, 2011.

*wipes tears away* I know, folks… we’ll have to wait a little longer.

But this I know– it’s gonna be good.  He and Donald Lawrence were tweetin’ about a tune that Donald wrote, called “Facts Are Truth Is,” for the new project.  Daniel Weatherspoon mentioned that he was working on the album, too.  I can only imagine who else is involved.

Excited???

We’re back with another album review in the Purchase Or Pass series, from contributing writer Mia Paylor.

This time, Mia’s helping you make an informed decision about buying Triumphant, the new album from VaShawn Mitchell, which hit stores TODAY.  And what I love most about her review is that she gets some help from one of the most unlikely of interns– her 6-year old son, Jordan.

Hear what Mia (and Jordan) have to say about VaShawn’s new project in this installment of Purchase Or Pass, titled “Jordan Says…”

* * *

Based on the many positive conversations I’ve had with folks about it, I believe that the first single alone, “Nobody Greater” (produced by VaShawn Mitchell and Daniel Weatherspoon), has placed VaShawn Mitchell’s EMI Gospel debut, Triumphant, on plenty “must buy CD” lists…including mine!

So, I was especially excited when I received my copy. And, like many of you, I prefer to listen to new music in the car first.  However, during this particular car ride and CD listening experience, my music loving, 6-year-old son, Jordan, was in the car too. Jordan’s comments about Triumphant were not only funny, but dead-on in my opinion. So much so, that I had to share them with my GospelPundit.com family!

Here’s how it went down…

“Mom,” Jordan says, “can we listen to the iPod?”

“No. We have a new CD. We’re gonna listen to it now.”

“Who is it?”

“VaShawn Mitchell.”

“Who’s that?!”

“You don’t know him, Son.”

About halfway through the first song, the Rocky-esque “Conqueror”, Jordan says…

“Mom, can we listen to something else?”

“Why? You don’t like it?”

“It’s okay, but I still wanna hear something else.”

“Wow. I actually feel you on that, Jordan. But, we have to listen to the whole CD.”

Once he recognizes the musical intro to “Nobody Greater”, Jordan says…

“Hey!” He’s smiling.

“Yup, it’s what you think it is. You love this song, huh?”

“Yeah, I do!” He sang his little heart out…stumbling all over the words! LOL!

After recognizing the musical intro to the recent hit, “Chasing After You”, Jordan says…

“Ooh, Mom!”

Then, after hearing VaShawn singing the lead on it, Jordan shouts…

“MOM!” He looks confused and offended.

“What, Jay?”

“This is the fake one! Where’s the lady?!”

“This is VaShawn Mitchell’s version of the song, Jordan. You won’t hear the lady on this one.”

“Well, it’s still the fake one.” He reluctantly sang along anyway.

While listening to the church-funky cut, “His Blood Still Works” (featuring Lisa Page-Brooks), I start yelling at the radio…

“Sang it, Lisa! SAAANG!”

“MOM! Mo–”

“Quiet, Jordan! “ I continued to SHOUT at the radio. I have no clue what Jordan said about the song. “His Blood Still Works” is too hot! I repeated the song more than once.

We finished the CD in the car over the next few days. I absolutely loved the reprise to “Nobody Greater” (featuring William Murphy). It’s a “must-hear” and a welcomed idea for worship teams already singing the single.

Triumphant has a familiar sound. It has pleasant vocals, church-friendly arrangements, and uplifting lyrics to raise the spirit of any downtrodden believer. I will say that I expected a bit more triumph…more hard-hitting, “gotta get my dance on” songs on a CD titled Triumphant. Was I wrong for that?!

Overall, I think our final exchange sums up what Jordan and I think about the CD:

“That’s it, Jordan. What’d you think of the CD?”

“It was nice,” Jordan says passively. “Can we listen to something else now?”

“Absolutely.”

* * *

Okay, first of all– Jordan is HILARIOUS to me.  Thanks for the review, Mia!  And please tell Jordan that his GospelPundit fam appreciates him!

I hope that helps, folks.  Anybody already grab it?  Anyone planning to?  Anyone thinking they’ll wait a while???

As a heads-up, you can listen to snippets AND buy it right now– the digital version is just $7.99 at Amazon.com.

Talk to me!

Lemme tell you somethin’… this here Mia Paylor… she can write a meeeaaaan review (and by that, I mean “great”).  She’s cranks ‘em out before I can even get ‘em published good (pardon my grammar), but I don’t mind it.

And I know you don’t either!

No delays… Mia’s back to tell you about her experience with Champion, the new album from Darwin Hobbs…

*     *     *

Sometimes, extreme situations are both good and bad. For instance, if I win an extremely high amount of money, it’ll be ALL GOOD to me! However, I may have difficulty planning the best way to spend it. It’s not a bad problem to have… but, it’s a nerve-wrecking issue nevertheless.

Well, I declare and decree that the new Darwin Hobbs CD, Champion, is one of those extreme situations, creating both good and bad circumstances. Good circumstances for Darwin and bad circumstances for me. Let me explain…

First of all, Champion was released on June 22nd, the Tuesday before Payday Friday. Needless to say, my plan was to wait ’til payday to download it. But, my budget was almost destroyed by the buzz of those who were able to purchase the CD before my payday– “Get it NOW!”… “The very Spirit of ‘Godt’ will creep out of your speakers and send you to the floor in worship!”

Good for Darwin because I wanted the CD… Bad for me because I had to wait.

So, I downloaded it after the stroke of midnight on payday (praise God for direct deposit) and listened to it at work. As I listened, it began to usher me right into the very presence of God. But, I couldn’t enter into worship like I wanted to in my cubicle! WARNING: DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS AT WORK OR WHILE OPERATING HEAVY MACHINERY.

Good for Darwin because the CD blessed me… Bad for me and others who ran lights (or worse) while listening, worshipping, and driving.

Champion, with production headed by Daniel Weatherspoon, is EXTREMELY GOOD! It’s jam-packed with church-friendly praise & worship tunes. There is a wonderful balance of songs that influence vertical worship and songs that serve as pep talks for believers. The lyrics are simple enough for congregations to pick up quickly, as well as thoughtful enough for mature worshippers to connect with them.

This CD is not stylistically confused. The instrumentation and arrangements flow seamlessly from song to song. Darwin sounds confident and comfortable during this live praise & worship experience… like he’s found his stride. Plus, those background singers are singing the glory cloud DOWN!

More than anything, every song is relevant to some segment of a worship service, which is the cause of my final problem– which song do I teach first?!

Should I teach the party starter, “Power in Praise”? Maybe I should teach “He is God,” since folks are always complaining about modern churches not singing hymns anymore. Should I teach “God Restores” (featuring Sheri  Jones-Moffett)? It’s perfect to be sung during the Call to Discipleship. Or, do I teach “Champion” first? We all need to be reminded that God, our Champion, lives within believers… and “To the Lamb” is already on the list for Resurrection Sunday 2011.

Good for Darwin because many of these songs will be favorites in church…Bad for me because I can’t decide which song to teach first.

Then again, I’ve got lots of new material to teach now. Maybe this isn’t so bad for me after all.

*     *     *

Love this review and love the new Darwin album!

Who else has it and what do you think of it?  And what do you think of Mia’s review?  I’m thinking she’s pretty dead-on?

Talk to us!

Word has it that DeWayne Woods is prepped to release his new album, entitled My Life’s Lyric, on June 22nd (Quiet Water Entertainment/Verity Gospel Music Group).

He describes it as “more mature and sophisticated,” but don’t fret– it’ll still have a mixture of ballads, praise & worship cuts and more.  Production assistance comes from Aaron Lindsey, Daniel Weatherspoon and PJ Morton (who wrote the radio hit “Let Go” on Woods’ last album).

Many consumers thought the project would come sooner, due to earlier reports and the release of Woods’ first single, “Living On the Top,” several months ago.  I’m glad to have an official release date that we’re stickin’ to!

Verity will soon be sending a new single to radio– “I Won’t Be Afraid.”

In the meantime, the album is available for pre-order here.  Check it out!

Sounds like it could be a really great album.  Anyone else excited to hear it?

Talk to me!

I have a feeling that this song is going to be HUUUUUUUGE at radio, in churches and on stages across the U.S. of A.  It’s just got that vibe.

I’m talkin’ about the newest single from VaShawn Mitchell, titled “Nobody Greater.”  It’s from his upcoming album, Triumphant, which will be released via EMI Gospel on August 10, 2010.

The production is tight (Daniel Weatherspoon!), the vocals are tasteful and just right… the song is beautiful.  Love it.

And for your listening pleasure, I’ve added it to the PunditPlayer.

Click here to listen!!!

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!!!

Word has it that Benita Washington is in the studio now, putting finishing touches on her new album, to be released on Shanachie on June 29th.  One of my favorite producers, Daniel Weatherspoon, is spearheading production, so I’m thinkin’ it’ll be hot.

And, SHANACHIE!  I keep saying it, but I see you… Kim Burrell, Ted Winn,Vicki Yohe, Soweto Gospel Choir… BENITA… on the come up!

I haven’t really seen/heard of Benita Washington lately, so I’m excited to see what she comes with this time.  Talk to me– y’all like Benita Washington?

Sooo, if you follow me on Twitter, you know that the 25th annual Stellar Awards weekend was ACTION PACKED.

Throughout the week, I’m gonna try my best to give recaps of the events that I attended (there were SEVERAL), but before I do, I wanted to post the full list of winners at this year’s award show…

Artist Of The Year – Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir, Souled Out (Verity)

Song Of The Year – “God In Me” by Mary Mary, The Sound (Columbia)

Male Vocalist Of The Year – Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live (EMI Gospel)

Female Vocalist Of The Year – Vickie Winans, How I Got Over (Destiny Joy)

Group/Duo Of The Year – Mary Mary, The Sound (Columbia)

New Artist Of The Year – Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin (Verity)

CD Of The Year – Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir, Souled Out (Verity)

Choir Of The Year – Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir, Souled Out (Verity)

Producer Of The Year – Donald Lawrence & Daniel Weatherspoon, The Law Of Confession Pt. 1 (Quietwater/Verity)

Contemporary Group/Duo Of The Year – Mary Mary, The Sound (Columbia)

Traditional Group/Duo Of The Year – Lee Williams & The Spiritual QCs, Fall On Me (MCG)

Contemporary Male Vocalist Of The Year – Smokie Norful, Smokie Norful Live (EMI Gospel)

Contemporary Female Vocalist Of The Year – Crystal Aikin, Crystal Aikin (Verity)

Traditional Male Vocalist Of The Year – Donnie McClurkin, We All Are One (Verity)

Traditional Female Vocalist Of The Year – Dottie Peoples, Do It! (DP Muzik Group)

Contemporary CD Of The Year – Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir, Souled Out (Verity)

Traditional CD Of The Year – Shari Addison, Shari Addison (Verity)

Urban/Inspirational Single Of The Year – “God In Me” by Mary Mary, The Sound (Columbia)

Music Video Of The Year – “How I Got Over” by Vickie Winans, How I Got Over (Destiny Joy)

Contemporary Choir Of The Year – Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir, Souled Out (Verity)

Traditional Choir Of The Year – Bishop Paul S. Morton & The FGBCF Mass Choir, Cry Your Last Year (Light)

Special Event CD Of The Year – The Clark Sisters, J. Moss & Kierra Sheard, Silky Soul Music – A Tribute To Maze (Barantera Music Group)

Instrumental CD Of The Year – Ben Tankard, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Verity)

Rap/Hip-Hop Gospel CD Of The Year – Da’ T.R.U.T.H., The Big Picture (Cross Movement)

Children’s Performance Of The Year – Rev. Dr. Emory Andrews & Oxon Hill High School Choir, Amazing (Yrome)

Quartet Of The Year – Lee Williams & The Spiritual QCs, Fall On Me (MCG)

Praise & Worship CD Of The Year – Stephen Hurd, Times Of Refreshing (Integrity)

Recorded Music Package Of The Year – Denise Trotman for Donald Lawrence’s The Law Of Confession Pt. 1 (Quietwater/Verity)

Stellar Radio Awards:

Internet Radio | http://www.ishoutforjoy.com
Small Market | WEUP 1700 AM – Huntsville, AL
Medium Market | Hallelujah FM – Little Rock, AR
Large Market | WTLC 1310 AM – Indianapolis, IN
Major Market | WLIB 1190 AM – New York City, NY

Lonnie Hunter of Praise 103.9 in Philadelphia was awarded with the Announce Of The Year Award. And the Central South Distribution REACH Awards were awarded to Vickie Hill (Saginaw, MI), Willie Mae MacIver (Dallas, TX) and Michael A. Davis (Memphis, TN).

I was surprised only by about two of these wins– I thought that Praise & Worship CD Of The Year would go to Israel Houghton.  He really got shafted this year, because The Power Of One was one of the best albums to come out in 2009.  The fact that he was only nominated in three categories, one of which was for packaging… c’mon.  But, kudos to Stephen Hurd anyhow.

Second, I didn’t think Hezekiah Walker & LFC would walk away with Artist Of The Year.  I really figured it would go to Donald Lawrence.  Either way, I’m thrilled.  I have loved Pastor Walker for YEARS and I couldn’t be more excited for him… he definitely deserved to be recognized and that album is an absolute favorite from the past year.

So, that’s THAT.  If you get Gospel Music Channel, the show airs on February 28th at 8pm ET/7pm CST.  BUT, it will likely air in your region before that… I’ll post the local dates and times when the Stellars post it… I can’t type all of that! LOL

And check back here throughout the week for my recaps– I went a lot of places, chatted with a lot of folks, and I’ve got LOTS to tell you.  Deal?  DEAL!

In the meantime, TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK of the winners!!!

Word has it that Darwin Hobbs is just about ready to release his newest album, titled Champion.  The project, his seventh, is the musical result of the first live recording in his 12-year career as a solo artist.

Darwin is aiming for a May 2010 release, with the single (and title track) hitting radio as early as January (now, THAT’S how you work an album!).  Co-production comes from Hobbs, with the super-gifted Daniel Weatherspoon (Donald Lawrence, Shekinah Glory Ministry) taking the lead on production work.

I’ll let you guys know more details as I get ‘em, but word on the streets is that the recording was INCREDIBLE.  I can only imagine how great the mixed and mastered project is gonna be!

How many Darwin Hobbs supporters are out there?  Which of his album(s) are your faves?

Soooo, if you were followin’ my tweets, you got up-to-the-minute results of the nominees.  My fingers HURT from typing so quickly on that BlackBerry!

For those of you who missed it, click here for a full list of nominees.

I’m disappointed that Sheri Jones-Moffett, Coko, 21:03, Melinda Watts, Damita Haddon and Kevin LeVar’s names are not anywhere among the nominees.  Each had great projects and should have been recognized.  Majorly not okay.

I’m very happy, though, for artists like Donald Lawrence (one of my faves this year), Kierra Sheard, Mary Mary, Hezekiah Walker, Israel Houghton, Daniel Weatherspoon, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Bishop Paul Morton…

Geez.  I just dunno.  Some of the names on there…

What do you guys think of the nominees?