Quick heads-up, folks– Bishop Hezekiah Walker will be co-hosting gmc’s Joyful Noise Café tomorrow, March 12th, from 11am to 1pm ET.

Tunin’ in???

Is it just me, or is gospel the only genre that allows (maybe expects, and even demands) artists’ names to follow the format of “So-And-So” & “Such-And-Such”?

Think about it… Jonathan Nelson & Purpose, Myron Butler & Levi, DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet…

But it didn’t just start happening… there was Israel & New Breed, Kirk Franklin & The Family, Fred Hammond & Radical For Christ…

And before them, Richard Smallwood & Vision, Walter Hawkins & The Hawkins Family, Andraé Crouch & The Disciples…

And let’s not forget the choirs– Hezekiah Walker & LFC, Ricky Dillard & New G, John P Kee & New Life, Milton Brunson & The Tommies, O’landa Draper & The Associates…

Understand this– my absolute ALL-TIME FAVORITE gospel artists are mentioned above, so I’m not mad at their names at all.  Love you guys and you KNOW it!

I definitely think the the name choices make sense– ours is the only genre with the artist format of frontmen backed by an ensemble or a choir.

But I’d be lying if I said it isn’t refreshing when I hear creative names like Mary Mary, Excelsior, 21:03 and Mali Music.

In short, it’s not a good or bad thing, just… a thing.  A gospel thing.

Anyone noticed???

I needed some workin’ music yesterday and I didn’t feel like pulling up iTunes on my computer… it can get a little temperamental when I’m doing too much at once and I wasn’t in the mood.

SO, I went to YouTube and landed on an oooooold favorite of mine– it’s Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Crusade Choir (back when they had that “Crusade” in the name!) featuring Kervy Brown on “The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow.”  After I had played it 14 times, I figured “I may as well just go ahead and post it.”

Now, I know some of you are partial to the remake with Kim Burrell from the Family Affair II: Live At Radio City Music Hall album, but don’t sleep on the original.  She definitely made it her own, but she had a melodic foundation from which to do it… that’s all I’m sayin’.

Back when I was a member of Love Fellowship Tabernacle (didn’t know that, did ya?), there was NOTHING like hearing Kervy Brown sing on Sunday morning… and here’s one of the reasons why:

A little piece of trivia I like to tell every time this song is mentioned– did you know that Benjamin Jeffrey Grant Clark (VP of Radio Promotions & Artist Relations at Verity Gospel Music Group, and one of the funniest dudes around) wrote this arrangement?

Choirs just aren’t singin’ like they used to!  Whatd’ya think???

The charts have such little activity right now, I nearly didn’t wanna look at ‘em.  And I definitely didn’t feel like typing it… but I shall.

The top 7 albums are in precisely the same spots that they were in last week…

WOW Gospel 2010 is #1, BeBe & CeCe Winans are #2, James Fortune & FIYA’s Encore is #3, Tamela Mann’s The Master Plan is #4 and Fred Hammond is #5 with Love Unstoppable, Mary Mary sits at #6 and Hezekiah Walker & LFC at #7.

Brian Courtney Wilson’s Just Love gets bumped up to #8 from its #9 spot last week.  And Vickie Winans makes a huuuuge leap, from #22 to #9 this week.  I’m assuming that’s from her appearance last week on The Mo’Nique Show on BET.

The next album to shake things up will be Marvin Sapp’s Here I Am, hitting stores in just 3 weeks, on March 16th.  But, stay close to me, folks… some of you are gonna receive it before then…

The nominees for the 41st annual Dove Awards were announced on Thursday.

Natalie Grant and Bart Millard will host the awards show on April 21st.  Unlike last year, the awards will not be broadcast live– they will air on gmc on Sunday, April 25, 2010 from 8pm-10pm EST.

There are 43 categories and you guys don’t know most of the names in ‘em, so I’m not typing it all… sorry.  BUT, you can visit http://www.gmclife.com/41st-dove-award-nominees for the full list.

In the meantime, a quick recap of some of the folks you’ll find there:

Donnie McClurkin, Israel Houghton, Melinda Watts, Freddy Washington, Brian Courtney Wilson, Mali Music, Vickie Winans, Smokie Norful, Mary Mary, Crystal Aikin, Bishop Paul Morton, Hezekiah Walker, Heather Headley, Mandisa, B. Reith, Fred Hammond, Group 1 Crew, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., BeBe & CeCe Winans… see, there are just too many to name!

Ok, more Dove Awards info and discussion as the time draws nigh.  Until then, tell me what you think about the nominee list!

No movement whatsoever in Billboard’s Top 5.  AT ALL.

WOW Gospel stays at #1, James Fortune & FIYA’s Encore is #2, BeBe & CeCe are #3, Tamela Mann’s The Master Plan is at #4 and Fred Hammond rounds it out again at #5.

In fact, #6 and #7 stay the same, too, with Mary Mary and Hezekiah Walker holding fast, respectively.

Props to Brian Courtney Wilson for jumping from #12 to #8.

The charts may look the same for a while, at least until Marvin Sapp’s Here I Am comes out next month.  Then, it’s all over. LOL

Whatd’ya think??

In a couple of weeks, Dr. Teresa Hairston (Gospel Today) will be hosting her annual Gospel Heritage Praise & Worship Conference in Jacksonville, FL.  It’s gonna be a two-day event that you do NOT wanna miss, featuring worship services, musical offerings, workshops and panels that’ll inspire, encourage and equip you.

Check out the flyers below to see just a SAMPLE of some of the folks participating– from Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker and Kirk Franklin to Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Jonathan Nelson and Paul Morton… on and on and on.

During the conference, I’ll be speaking on two panels geared toward young adults (peep my lil’ photo on the second flyer, top right… LOL).  One panel discussion will focus on what the “new” music industry looks like, the other talks about careers opps in that new music industry.  My panel peers will include some of the best and brightest in the gospel game and I’m excited to be a part of it.

Anyone ever attended one of the annual conferences?  Anyone planning to attend THIS one?  Talk to me!

I’m saddened to report the passing of Pastor Shawn Brown, former co-director of the dynamic gospel choir Youthful Praise, and writer of hits like “Awesome God” (Youthful Praise) and “Grateful” (Hezekiah Walker & LFC).  He was also known for his work with gospel group Key Of David.

The industry mourns his passing but celebrates his life.  Please pray for his family, his church, the members of Key Of David, and for JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise.

Bishop Hezekiah Walker is holding a MAJOR prayer vigil for Haiti on Thursday, February 4th, from 5pm to 7pm, in the world-famous Times Square, NYC.  Joel and Victoria Osteen are expected to join him in the time of prayer, as well as NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, and many others.

The prayer will extend from 46th Street to 48th Street in Times Square.  Amid sooo many Haiti relief efforts, Bishop Walker says that “this is the one thing that everyone can participate in.  During a time that the economy is still suffering for some, prayer is free and available to everyone.”

Makes me wish I still lived in NYC a lil’ bit.  Anyone planning to attend?

We could be on the brink of a fun little industry moment… and, since I’m an industry nerd, that excites me!

James Fortune & FIYA’s last project, The Transformation, still rests at #10 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart.  With the release of their newest album, Encore, this past Tuesday, James Fortune & FIYA stand a really good chance of having TWO projects in Billboard’s Top 10.  That will be quite cool for him.  Rootin’ for ya, James! LOL

Other than that, same ol’ deal… little movement in the top 5 spots– BeBe & CeCe Winans, Fred Hammond, Tamela Mann rest at #1, #2 and #3, respectively.  This past week, Mary Mary and Hezekiah Walker switched spots, with Bishop Hez landing at #4 and the Marys at #5.

In addition to James Fortune’s record, we can expect WOW Gospel 2010 make some significant sales… we’ll probably see that high on the charts next week, too.

Whatd’ya think???