Whoo hoo! I dig her voice, so I’m happy…

LeJuene Thompson has announced her plans to release her next project, titled The Evolution of Me, this Spring. Her lead single, “Let God Do It,” hits radio this month.

A dynamic vocalist, LeJuene is well-known for her work with John P Kee and Donald Lawrence’s Tri-City Singers. She’s also got a couple of solo projects under her belt– Soul Inspiration (2001) and Metamorphosis (2008).

Produced by hubby and Grammy Award-winning producer-to-the-greats Cedric Thompson (Marvin Sapp, Donald Lawrence, Vanessa Bell Armstrong), The Evolution of Me will be showcased in just a few days during Stellar Award weekend in Nashville.

If you’re town, see her on January  12th at the Urban Soul Café event, on January 13th at the Preacher Kid Production’s “Friday Night Live” event, and on Saturday, February 14, at the Stellar Award After-Concert event at Hopewell Baptist Church.

2011 is just about over. Don’t enter 2012 without checking out our Top 10 Favorite Albums of the Year. And get ‘em!

In no particular order…

1. Andraé Crouch – The Journey
He’s not a legend just because of his pleasing personality. He has consistently made phenomenal music for the entire Body of Christ, across the globe. This project is just the latest in his sprawling catalog of must-have music. You must… have it.

2. Donald Lawrence – YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
It’s no secret that we love D. Lawrence at GospelPundit.com. He just does gospel music RIGHT. And with this album, he continues in excellence. Great music, great messages.

3. Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
This trendsetter and tastemaker of gospel music didn’t push the envelope as far as he has in the past, but he still gives us plenty to chew on and enjoy.

4. Mary Mary – Something Big
It’s almost like this sister duo knew how monumental their year would be, with award after award and a reality show in the works. The title is almost prophetic… it’s their soundtrack, and ours, too.

5. Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
The looooong-awaited solo debut of this “man of standard” debuted at #1 and has experienced great sales for months. It’s not just cuz he’s hilarious– it’s cuz his album rocks.

6. Kim Burrell – The Love Album
To the chagrin of many, one of gospel’s most recognized and celebrated voices delivered her much-buzzed about “secular” album. It’s still gospel… and she sang the daylights out of every single track.

7. Dorinda Clark Cole – I Survived
With this project, we got Dorinda doing what she does best– a well-produced and current sound laced with traditional influence and familiarity.

8. Lecrae – Rehab: The Overdose
He may be Christian music’s most well-known hip-hop artist at this point, and rightfully so. His music cuts, inspires, educates and equips. Get on board.

9. Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
This long-awaited debut album offered a more soul/R&B vibe than many might have predicted, but her vocal performance and passion on each track is undeniable.

10. Claude Deuce – Wanna Be Winans mixtape
This was both creative and incredibly well-done. And, perhaps best of all, free for downloading!

The nominees for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards were announced tonight during a live telecast on CBS.

In the gospel categories, the nominees are–

Best Gospel/CCM Performance
“Do Everything”
Steven Curtis Chapman
Track from: re:Creation
[Sparrow Records]

“Alive (Mary Magdalene)”
Natalie Grant
Track from: Music Inspired By The Story
[WOW Joint Venture/EMI CMG]

“Your Love”
Brandon Heath
Track from: Leaving Eden
[Reunion Records]

“Jesus”
Le’Andria Johnson
Track from: The Awakening Of Le’Andria Johnson
[Music World Gospel]

“I Lift My Hands”
Chris Tomlin
Track from: And If Our God Is For Us…
[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords]

Best Gospel Song
“Hello Fear”
Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin)
Track from: Hello Fear
[Verity Gospel Music Group/Fo Yo Soul Ent.; Publisher: Aunt Gertrude Music]

“Sitting With Me”
Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell, Gerald Haddon & Tammi Haddon, songwriters (Mary Mary)
Track from: Something Big
[Columbia Records; Publishers: Precious Baby Music/T Bella Music/EMI April Music, It's Tea Tyme, That's Plum Song]

“Spiritual”
Donald Lawrence, songwriter (Donald Lawrence & Co. Featuring Blanche McAllister-Dykes)
Track from: YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publisher: Quiet Water Entertainment]

“Trust Me”
Richard Smallwood, songwriter (Richard Smallwood & Vision)
Track from: Promises
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publishers: Universal-Z Tunes/T.Autumn Music]

“Window”
Canton Jones, songwriter (Canton Jones)
Track from: Dominionaire
[Cajo Records; Publisher: CAJO Music]

Best Gospel Album
The Love Album
Kim Burrell
[Shanachie Entertainment]

The Journey
Andraé Crouch
[Riverphlo Entertainment]

Hello Fear
Kirk Franklin
[Verity Gospel Music Group/ Fo Yo Soul Ent.]

Something Big
Mary Mary
[Columbia Records]

Angel & Chanelle Deluxe Edition
Trin-I-Tee 5:7
[Music World Gospel]

Best CCM Song
“Blessings”
Laura Story, songwriter (Laura Story)
Track from: Blessings
[Fair Trade Services; Publishers: New Spring/Gleaning Publishing]

“Hold Me”
Jamie Grace Harper, Toby McKeehan & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Jamie Grace Featuring Tobymac)
[Gotee Records; Publishers: Universal Music, Brentwood Benson Tunes, Songs of Third Base/Chriscendo Music, Meaux Mercy/Achtober Songs]

“I Lift My Hands”
Louie Giglio, Matt Maher & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)
Track from: And If Our God Is For Us…
[Sparrow Records/sixstepsrecords; Publishers: sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Vamos Publishing/Thankyou Music/spiritandsong.com Publishing]

“Strong Enough”
Matthew West, songwriter (Matthew West)
Track from: The Story Of Your Life
[Sparrow Records; Publishers: External Combustion Music/Songs For Delaney/Songs of Southside Independent Music]

“Your Love”
Brandon Heath & Jason Ingram, songwriters (Brandon Heath)
Track from: Leaving Eden
[Reunion Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing/Big Skwawka Music, Sony/ATV Timber Publishing/Windsor Hill Music]

Best CCM Album
Ghosts Upon The Earth
Gungor
[Brash Music]

Leaving Eden
Brandon Heath
[Reunion Records]

The Great Awakening
Leeland
[Essential Records]

What If We Were Real
Mandisa
[Sparrow Records]

Black & White
Royal Tailor
[Essential Records]

And If Our God Is For Us…
Chris Tomlin
[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords]

If you recall, NARAS significantly revamped the awards categories this year, chopping down 7 categories to 5, and crunching all of it into either “gospel” or “Christian contemporary music (CCM)”… it’s cleaner, though it may unfairly treat some very significant sub-genres (like Christian hip-hop).

*shrug*

A full list of nominees in all categories can be viewed here.

What do you think of the nominees???

This Saturday, December 3rd, at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm ET, gmc will air the finale of the Verizon Wireless How Sweet the Sound choir competition, which took place last month.

The event, taped at the Staples Center, will feature co-hosts Donald Lawrence and CeCe Winans, judges Marvin Sapp, Israel Houghton and Shirley Caesar, Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton (singing a tune from their upcoming movie, Joyful Noise) and, of course, some of the nation’s best church choirs.

Tune-in!

The 13th annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, held during Stellar Awards weekend each year, will honor Kirk Franklin and Hezekiah Walker at this year’s event on Friday, January 13, 2012 in Nashville, TN.

No word yet on who is slated to perform, but we’re hoping Donald Lawrence will, as always, arrange the musical tribute.

The invite-only tribute luncheon has become one of the most well-attended, highly anticipated events of the weekend. In recent years, the event has been later broadcast on gmc.

Folks, I don’t know if you’re in the Los Angeles area, on your way there, or can get there this evening, but the Staples Center is THE PLACE to be tonight for the finale of Verizon Wireless’ How Sweet the Sound.

In addition to incredible performances from the best church choirs across the country, the audience will be treated to live performances from hosts Donald Lawrence and CeCe Winans, as well as Marvin Sapp and more.

Judges for the evening are Sapp, Shirley Caesar and Israel Houghton.

Plus, Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton will perform a song from their upcoming film, Joyful Noise.

Doors open at 6pm, the show starts at 7:30pm and there are still a few tickets left. Tickets are only $10 and $15, and you know you can’t REMEMBER when you paid so little for a gospel show.

Visit www.HowSweetTheSound.com to get ‘em.

And be there!!!

Shirley Murdock’s new album, The Journey, is a 17-track collection of music with an underlying theme of encouragement running through them. It’s solid, though perhaps not astounding, as a demonstration of great vocals and heartfelt ministry.

With Grammy Award winner Cedric Thompson at the helm of production (Donald Lawrence,Karen Clark Sheard, LeJuene Thompson), The Journey is the culmination of the first live recording of Murdock’s career. And it’s packed with powerhouse vocals from favorites in gospel and mainstream music, including Kelly Price, Beverly Crawford and Regina Belle.

Standout tracks on The Journey include the urban soul-tinged groove “It’s In Your Hands,” ”Upward Way” featuring Regina Belle, and “Lord You Reign,” a building and beautiful worship chorus.

Also, look out for “He Is the Rock,” on which Beverly Crawford outright shines with Murdock, the piano-driven “Keep Lovin’ Me,” which features the incomparable Kelly Price on guest vocals, and the project’s inspiring first single, “Dream.”

Given her success as a touring mainstream artist, it seems that a live set like this would’ve come earlier. Murdock is a natural as she interacts with the audience. Her sweet and genuine personality translates beautifully to this album and leaves you just plain old enjoying her.

My only qualms with the project are that some of the songwriting could have been a bit stronger and, at the height of some of the singers’ ranges, there was audio distortion in the mix. Still, Murdock’s vocals do a great job of making a lot of the songs work well and it’s a pretty good offering.

The Journey hits stores on October 18, 2011 (Tyscot Records), but you can listen and pre-order it right now, right here–

LOTS of changes to Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week, starting from the top… the highly anticipated album from Jessica Reedy, From the Heart, has debuted at #1 on the gospel chart! Congrats!

Le’Andria Johnson, who had been at #1 for 3 consecutive weeks, still sells well, landing at #2 this week.

Reach Records also had a great sales week, with 116 Clique’s Man Up debuting at #3 and Lecrae’s history-making Rehab jumping to the #4 slot. That’s a good week for holy hip-hop!

The Journey, the new project from gospel legend Andraé Crouch , debuts at #6 (read my review here… I love this album), and the Gospel Mix V compilation from radio personality CoCo Brother debuts at #8 on the chart.

Now, the entry of 4 new albums into the Top 10 means that 4 albums have been bumped out of it… the casualties were Mary Mary’s Something Big, Dorinda Clark Cole’s I Survived, and the latest albums from Earnest Pugh and Deitrick Haddon.

Still, it was a fun sales week, with plenty of changes!

The full top 10…

1 | Jessica Reedy – From the Heart
2 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
3 | 116 Clique – Man Up
4 | Lecrae – Rehab
5 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
6 | Andraé Crouch – The Journey
7 | WOW Gospel 2011
8 | CoCo Brother – Gospel Mix V
9 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
10 | Donald Lawrence – YRM (Your Righteous Mind)

I’m not aware of any big releases this week that could upset this list, so it will be interesting to see how sales are next week, now that pre-orders and anticipation have been accounted for.

Which of these albums do you NOT have yet, but are planning to get SOON?

Go, Le’Andria, go!

For the third straight week, the season three winner of BET’s Sunday Best is in the #1 position on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart. If you still don’t have her debut project, The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…, read our review and buy it!

Here’s this week’s Top 10 in Gospel…

1 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
2 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
3 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
4 | WOW Gospel 2011
5 | Donald Lawrence – YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
6 | Da’ T.R.U.T.H. – The Whole Truth
7 | Mary Mary – Something Big
8 | Trin-i-tee 5:7 – Angel & Chanelle
9 | Dorinda Clark Cole – I Survived
10 | Deitrick Haddon – Church on the Moon

I am EAGER to see next week’s chart, where we’ll see how this week’s new releases from Jessica Reedy, Andraé Crouch and CoCo Brother’s fare in stores.

Gospel hip-hop fave Da’ T.R.U.T.H. lands at #2 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week with his new album, The Whole Truth.

Still reigning at #1 is winner of last season’s Sunday Best on BET, Le’Andria Johnson, with her debut album, The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson. I expected a bit of a sales dip, but I’m quite proud of her for that staying power!

Trin-i-tee 5:7 also experiences a notable sales bump, moving from #19 to #5 this week with their latest album, Angel & Chanelle.

Here’s a glance at the full Top 10 in Gospel…

1 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
2 | Da’ T.R.U.T.H. – The Whole Truth
3 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
4 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
5 | Trin-i-tee 5:7 – Angel & Chanelle
6 | WOW Gospel 2011
7 | Donald Lawrence – YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
8 | Dorinda Clark Cole – I Survived
9 | Mary Mary – Something Big
10 | Earnest Pugh – Earnestly Yours

I’m not expecting to see any big debuts on the charts in the coming week, but the following week, I think we’ll see strong showings from Jessica Reedy, Andraé Crouch and CoCo Brother’s Gospel Mix V compilation, all of which hit stores on the 27th of September.