Congrats are in order to Joann Condrey (née Rosario) and her hubby, Cory “CoCo Brother” Condrey– they’re 8 weeks pregnant with their second baby!
The couple already has one daughter, Arianna, born in February of 2010. On Joann’s blog, she asked her web family for prayers to get through the morning sickness.
Let’s keep the entire Condrey fam in prayer, cool?
Word has it that singer/songwriter/worship leader Joann Rosario Condrey has launched a new blog for women– RoyalSisterhood.com.
She’s dubbed it “a place online where women can grow in their christian faith.” Apparently, in Joann’s prayer time, God has really been laying women on her heart– this blog is an effort to share what God has been showing her.
Add it to your bookmarks and make sure you check it out. In fact, I’ll prolly visit from time to time (even though I’m a dude), cuz Joann’s an incredibly gifted minister and I don’t want to miss out, in case she does a “for the brothers” post. 
Check it out and let me know what you think!
New Associate Editor Troy Lilly interviewed Fred Hammond for you guys…
In this chat, he talks with Fred about Life in the Word (the new album that hits stores TODAY), Fred’s new relationship with Universal Music Christian Group, and plans for the future.
It’s a great read, so I won’t delay things any further… here’s Troy with Fred Hammond.
* * *
Troy: How are you doing this morning, man?
Fred: Good, man. How you feel?
Troy: Good, good. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me.
Fred: I appreciate you, doc, for talking to me.
Troy: First off, I want to congratulate you on the new label, fHammond Family Entertainment, and your joint venture with Universal Music Christian Group.
Fred: Yeah.
Troy: Everyone’s really excited about it. Some people are so excited they’ve let their imaginations run wild about what’s going to happen next. I mean really, really wild!
So, tell me how this partnership came about and what exactly this means for future Fred Hammond projects?
Fred: Well, uh, the label is not as new as is kind of being said. It’s fHammond Music, basically, which was on the Verity/Zomba label.
Troy: Ok.
Fred: Verity and Zomba both gave me an opportunity to learn the inside of executive producing …there’s other levels… marketing, and not just finding the talent, but motivating and molding the talent. Verity taught me to do that.
But when we got to the end of our run, Verity wanted to concentrate on less secondary projects and more primary projects. Fred Hammond is a primary and fHammond is a secondary.
Troy: I see.
Fred: Basically, I got dropped! Naw…I’m just kidding! (laughs)
Troy: (LAUGHS)
Fred: And I didn’t really get dropped. We both mutually agreed, you know, it was time to go. It was a good run. We got Joann Rosario [Condrey] out of it, I had the Singletons and Shea Norman … Joann really shined out of that… but I got a chance to learn at each step.
Troy: Right, right.
Fred: But Universal came along. And see, because Universal is not a label – they’re distribution – they can help develop a label, you know.
Troy: Right…
Fred: They don’t have artists to compete with. They were looking for some talented young labels and people who had music and they said, ‘we can help you.’ And when we met up with each other I felt really good about it. I went there and sat down and I felt like this was the place to be.
They allow me, as a businessperson, to say, “this is the plan and this is the direction we’re going.”
Troy: Wow.
Fred: Sometimes I’m almost asking them permission to do something as a label…
Troy: (Chuckles)
Fred: And they’re like… ‘uh, that’s your label. You tell us what to do.’ And I’m like, “oh, ok!” It’s almost like Eddie Murphy in the movie Trading Places when he walked into the house and said, ‘oh, so this vase is mine …so that means I can just throw it down on the ground,’ – POW! You don’t really believe it at the end of the day.
Troy: The first project on the fHammond Family Entertainment label hits stores on July 27th and is titled Life in the Word. What’s the significance of the title?
Fred: It’s interesting that the first CD that comes out is Word-based. It’s what the whole foundation of the company and the label will be based on – life in the Word. So the actual CD itself is a praise and worship devotional.
There’s little narrated scriptures in between most of the music. Some of them are comedic, some are dramatic. But if you just hear them it’ll remind you… that we should go over into the land because we can certainly take it. Whatever your promised land is, go get it.
Troy: Yeah.
Fred: And like I said, some of them are comedic. I play a preacher on one of ‘em, from a store front church, and I scream, “READ!” (Laughs)
Troy: (Laughs)
Fred: And they start reading and I change the words up on ‘em. So they’re reading, ‘for this’ and I say, “No, for that,” then, “no, for this…” (laughs)
Troy: (Laughs)
Fred: It’s funny, but it’s still reading the Word of God.
Troy: Now, I have to say this: the spoken scriptural interludes on the album are a treat and really take me back to the “Inner Court” days with Radical for Christ… stuff like “The Communion Song” where there’s actual reading during the song,
Fred: Yeah!
Troy: And then like “Hear My Cry”…man! That stuff is just ripped from scripture, kind of like hearing people sing the Bible.
Fred: That’s just my style, man.
Troy: You’re credited with creating the sub-genre Urban Praise and Worship, but you described the Life in the Word project as “the other side” of your style. Do you feel this style and sound will appeal to a new, wider audience, or…?
Fred: On this one… it’s a little departure, but it’s not theeeee departure, you know what I’m sayin’? I didn’t wanna shock people too bad. But if they got to listen to “You Are My Dwelling Place” – which I sing on – they’re gonna hear a little alternative and rock edge to it.
Troy: The album features an ensemble of gifted singers such as Lowell Pye, Ericka Warren, Candace Laster, Michael Bethany, and Faith Anderson. What caused you to choose this particular group of singers?
Fred: Man, it’s like these cats…they can really sing! I reached out to Lowell because he’s a friend of mine. I think Lowell has an [amazing] voice. Some people I sit there and like everything they do. Lowell, when he sings, that’s me. He reminds me of John P. Kee, who’s my favorite male vocalist.
Troy: Yeah, probably for a lot of us. (chuckles)
Fred: So at the end of the day, Lowell was a no brainer. And when I asked him he was like, ‘yeah, man, yeah…I’ll do it.’
And then the rest of them kinda sing with me. They go out on the road with me, except Faith, who sings with Kirk [Franklin]. But it was an opportunity and they all jumped at the opportunity. I’ve always had a heart to help people
Troy: How much will we hear you, Fred, vocally on this new record?
Fred: I’m actually singing two songs on there. One of them is a remake, the full version of “Just to Be Close to You” with the verses and everything.
Troy: Yeah, I saw that. So, it sounds like this new album is really similar to the In Case You Missed It… project, which primarily featured and introduced a plethora of guest artists.
Fred: Absolutely. It’s just the same concept. I may even do an In Case You Missed It 2… on this label. I may take some of my old music that people didn’t’ really catch onto, songs that I thought were great and nobody really listened to…
Troy: (Laughs)
Fred: And let somebody else do it. Folks will hear it and say, “Wow! I didn’t hear that song that way when he sang it.” So there’s an In Case You Missed It 2… coming, a Life in the Word 2 coming.
Troy: Should we expect to see solo projects on this new imprint by some of the guest artists you’ve introduced over the years…perhaps even solo work from Fred Hammond in the future?
Fred: Well hopefully, all of them. Hopefully all of them will get a chance to be able to do their own projects from this – especially in my camp.
And I’m looking to expand this into different voices and different topics.
Troy: Ok.
Fred: My daughter, BreeAnn, is a great vocalist, but I don’t think I should put her out there in the way where she has to go to churches and stand up, and do this and do that. But she can go to youth groups and sing to other 18- and 22-year-olds about what it feels like to be in love and lose love.
They don’t necessarily have to hear it from all from Rihanna, you know what I’m sayin’?
Troy: Yeah!
Fred: But they can hear it from a woman with “this” instead of that perspective.
Troy: Wow.
Fred: So I want to have new voices. Then I have another guy who’s been out there, another brother. He has a great album. His name is Steve Huff.
Troy: Oh, yeah man! Steve, definitely.
Fred: That’s my dude. We just hooked up and I’m putting him out. He’s got a great album and I believe in it. He’s super urban. – I mean he’s got like 10, 12 songs of “God in Me,” and they’re all killin’! I mean they’re all killin’.
And then there’s another younger guy I got named Silas. He has another sound with another voice, and he’s talking about life. It sounds like a mixture of Hootie and the Blowfish meets…somebody else.
Troy: (Chuckles)
Fred: Honestly, it’s just different sounding music, and it may not all get radio, but there’s a way to get it out. People are getting 50 million hits on YouTube, and you’ve got Pandora radio and Fred radio…
Troy: Yeah, the game is definitely changing.
Fred: Right, the game is changing, and I love gospel radio but I understand that they just don’t have all the room to put everybody out there, so…
Troy: That’s true.
Fred: I’m gonna put out different forms of music.
Troy: Ok.
Fred: I have a jazz CD I’m putting out, but I’m not gonna do “Lord, Help Me to Hold Out” over a piano solo. No, I’m doing a straight-up smooth jazz album. It’s a musician album. I got a group and it’s a jazz CD, just with a Christian guy who happens to be playing jazz.
We’re going to talk about some regular stuff AND still have God and the gospel going in, because believe it or not, God cares about all of that.
Troy: He does.
Fred: He said “cast all your cares,” not your “gospel” cares or your “Christian cares,” but he said every care that you have cast on me, because I care for you.
Troy: After almost 30 years in the business producing, arranging – playing – are you ready to focus on something other than music, or is it still “all about the music?”
Fred: Music is the base, but man, I’m writing books. I figure the world has enough self-help books, so my books are fictional. They’re stories that I’ve met and seen in my lifetime – people dealing with childhood issues, murder. These are things that I’ve seen. Several of my friends have been killed, executed.
Troy: Man! (gasps)
Fred: That’s the kind of life I’ve dealt with, you know. I’ve been in the church and in the streets, so I’m gonna tell the story. But, I’m going to tell you where God shows up, how God heals that moment!
Troy: Right!
Fred: And it doesn’t have to sell a billion books. But it’s going to be unique.
Troy: I’m excited.
Fred: It’s a start, you know? One day, Commissioned had a record called “I’m Going On,” and people were excited. But, we also heard the other side: “it’s not as good as the Winans,” and “you guys aren’t big time…” I heard all of that.
But you still put something out, and you do another one and another one, until you look up and you’ve sold millions of records and you’re doing an interview talking about your first label. (Laughs)
Troy: (Laughs) That’s how it happens.
Fred: That’s it.
Troy: I want to say congratulations again. I hear the vision and I see that you are really taking the reigns, creating opportunities, not only for yourself, but for other people as well. I enjoyed the talk, man, and I hope you did as well.
Fred: Yes sir. Yeah, I appreciate you, man. Keep doing what you’re doing and anything you need to ask, just hit me up. We gotta work together.
Troy: Definitely.
Fred: Very good, man. Thanks.
Troy: You’re welcome. Take it easy.
* * *
Niiiiiiiiice!
Glad to hear, officially, what all the fuss is about over Fred and Universal Music. And, I’m glad to know more about the direction he’s heading, musically– some of those projects (especially that jazz one)… I want them NOW!
So, what did you guys think of Troy’s interview with Fred Hammond?
TWO top 5 debuts this week!
CoCo Brother’s Stand album has debuted at #3 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart this week. Click here for more info on the project and to listen to the lead single from it– “Moving Forward,” featuring Joann Rosario Condrey and Tye Tribbett.
AAAaaand Ashmont Hill… I TOLD y’all about sleeping on one of my favorite groups! Seriously, they’re no joke. Click here to open the PunditPlayer and listen to their new single, “Your Masterpiece.” It’s incredible to me.
The full top 10 breakdown looks a lil’ somethin’ like this…
#1 | Marvin Sapp – Here I Am
#2 | WOW Gospel 2010
#3 | CoCo Brother – CoCo Brother Live: Stand 2010
#4 | BeBe & CeCe Winans - Still
#5 | Ashmont Hill – Your Masterpiece
#6 | Juanita Bynum – More Passion
#7 | CeCe Winans – Songs of Emotional Healing
#8 | Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love
#9 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC – Souled Out
#10 | Fred Hammond – Love Unstoppable
Okay, who’s got the new projects from CoCo Brother or Ashmont Hill? Who’s planning to check ‘em out now???
This Tuesday, May 25th, CoCo Brother will release a compilation album, CoCo Brother Live presents Stand 2010 on Tyscot Records. It’s available for pre-order now by clicking here.
One of the songs featured on the project is a cover of the popular song, “Moving Forward,” featuring Joann Rosario Condrey and Tye Tribbett. And I love it!
Aside from the fact that Joann is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated female vocalists and worshippers in gospel music, I’m liking the pairing with Tye Tribbett on this and the arrangement is tight. You don’t have to take my word for it, though… for your listening pleasure, I’ve just added the single to the PunditPlayer.
Just click here to take a listen and lemme know what you think!!!
Heads-up, good folks… Popular radio personality and host of BET’s Lift Every Voice CoCo Brother is releasing a compilation album on Tyscot Records, entitled CoCo Brother Live presents Stand 2010.
The project features tracks from Israel Houghton, Joann Rosario Condrey, Tye Tribbett, James Fortune, BeBe Winans, Canton Jones, Smokie Norful and more!
The project hits stores on May 25th, but is available for pre-order starting NOW. Click here to purchase!
Anybody gonna grab it? Sounds like it could be really great.
EXCLUSIVE!!!
CONGRATULATIONS to Joann Rosario Condrey, who gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl– Arianna Christian Elise Condrey. Baby Arianna was born on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 and is doing very well!
I heard from the happy new mom last week… she and hubby, Cory “CoCo Brother” Condrey are excited for this new blessing!
Let’s pray for continued health and blessed future for the family, cool?
One of my faaaaavorite folks in the industry is Joann Rosario Condrey. Aside from her passion for ministry and her great voice, she’s just a great person.
Though I haven’t actually SEEN her since her wedding in Chicago this past New Year’s Eve (when she wed popular tv/radio personality Cory “CoCo Brother” Condrey), we keep in touch.
Dunno if you knew, but she and Cory are expecting their first child. And that’s not all they’ve got going on! I recently emailed Joann with a handful of questions to get some quick answers for you. I wanted to know “what’s new”… the answer, in short, is QUITE A BIT! 
I’ll let her tell you all about it…
* * *
EJ: How have you been and what have you been up to lately?
JRC: Honestly, I have been doing very well! Adjusting to a whole new life in a new city is a new experience for me. I am still traveling singing and preaching, as I was before.
It has also been awesome to support my husband with his Radio ministry and we are on the air every night M-F 7pm-11pm EST. Live stream is available on the internet at www.praise1025.com. We are getting ready for our Youth outreach event EXODUS (www.thisisexodus.com) Nov 20th in Atlanta.
Most of the events I minister at are organized by someone else. Now I get to expand and stretch out behind the scenes as we organize our own events.
PLUS!!! We are expecting our 1st child and we are extremely excited. Its a dream come true for me! Family and Ministry all rolled up in one!
EJ: How’s the pregnancy going and when are you due?
JRC: Well, it was very rough at first because I was getting sick ALOT, but I am doing great now. Our little angel is due on February 25,2010, which is actually my brother’s birthday so we will see what day she decides to arrive.
EJ: Between you and Cory, who’s the most giddy and excited about the baby?
JRC: We are actually tied! If I let him, he would probably decorate her entire room in PINK!!! I think she is gonna be cute but still have an edge (kinda like her mommy), so I say lets go with PURPLE! LOL…
EJ: You don’t have to tell me specifics, but do you already have some names in mind for the baby?
JRC: I believe I have a final name for her. I heard the name in a dream. When I looked up the meaning, it means “very holy” so I believe it came from the Lord.
EJ: Can we expect some new music from you in the future, or are you taking some time to focus on family for now?
JRC: Since I was released from Verity last year, I have been praying and trying to figure what is His plan for me. I am releasing a new song on a compilation that will be released early 2010 called CoCo Brother Live Presents STAND, but I think an entire solo project will have to wait until after the baby is born.
I think as a Godly woman and wife it is important to prioritize. I was single until 34, traveled the world and had the opportunity to do some amazing things in my career and work with some amazing people. At 35, I think its important to slow down and establish my family and marriage. I would hate to wake up 30 years from now and have an amazing career, but be alone! Family is very important to me. So now, as a family, my husband and I are growing together in love and ministry while still respecting each other as individuals.
* * *
And there you have it. Make sure you guys check out Cory & Joann in their ministry endeavors. And pray for a continued healthy pregnancy and safe delivery for their little girl. Amen?
Lemme know what you think!
CLASSIC.
Fred Hammond leads the people in worship on this classic track, featuring a verse from Joann Rosario. Timeless.
Makes me eager for that new album, Love Unstoppable. Do it like THAT again, Fred!
This is it, folks… PART FOUR (the final segment) of the Gospel A&R Series of And Now You Know. As a reminder, this series is all about getting some of the top industry professionals to give us an EXCLUSIVE peek into the inner workings of the gospel music biz. Be sure to POST COMMENTS — we can create a great dialogue!
We welcome back Monica Coates, our A&R expert, who has worked at the top Gospel labels (EMI Gospel, Verity) and with a variety of artists, including Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker and Joann Rosario.
As a reminder, her first book, The Beginner’s Guide To The Gospel Music Industry, is available NOW at http://www.monicacoates.com, as well as at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Folks are already raving about the book– it is a must-have.
If you need a refresher from Parts 1, 2 and 3, click here now. Otherwise, here’s the wrap-up of the Gospel A&R Series, entitled “A&R And The Future Of Gospel Music”…
* * *
PART FOUR: A&R AND THE FUTURE OF GOSPEL MUSIC
In our previous discussion, we took a look at the short-term implications of the shift in the A&R process in the Gospel music industry over the past two decades. We discovered that, largely as a result of the music technology boom of the early 1990s, producers gained financial and creative power throughout the music industry, while A&R reps began to fade from the creative process. So what does all of that mean for Gospel music in the long term?
To develop a more accurate forecast for all of you GospelPundit devotees, I dropped in for coffee with one of my mentors, EMI Gospel President, Ken Pennell. For those of you who don’t know, Ken has been a consistent creative and executive presence in the Gospel music marketplace for nearly 30 years, contributing to the development of such legendary artists as Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, Smokie Norful, Kierra “KiKi” Sheard and Donald Lawrence’s Tri-City Singers. His vision for artistry and firm grasp of the business of Gospel has produced some of the most creatively exciting and profitable music ventures in Gospel music history.
I began our chat by asking Ken to expound upon a profound statement I heard him make several weeks ago at a conference for aspiring and independent artists. He opened his comments that evening with this declaration: “We’ve officially entered the age of the independent artist.”
Although you might have expected a room full of aspiring and independent artists to rejoice at that announcement, I watched instead as confusion and, I think, a bit of fear began to seep into the hearts of those in the room. The hopes of anyone expecting to gain insider hints on how to get a record deal with a major label, instantly evaporated. I, on the other hand, took notes.
Here’s what I heard: As a result of all of the elements we’ve been discussing over my past three columns on this site—-the influence of big corporations on Gospel labels, the lack of A&R development at the major labels, the rise of the Gospel producer—along with the huge decline in music sales worldwide over the past 10 years, the music industry as we know it has experienced a sharp, forceful restructuring.
But what may seem like a death toll for anyone trying to break into Gospel right now is, in fact, the sound of opportunity.
Although the historic structures of the music industry have begun to shatter, new doors have opened allowing aspiring artists, songwriters and producers to take their work directly to consumers. Through home studios, digital recording technology and the Internet, there have never been more chances for people to create and share their gift around the world…instantly.
“There are more opportunities for artists to make music and be heard then ever before,” Ken explained to me. And that’s when I caught a mental picture of the future.
When we can no longer rely on record labels to discover and develop our next generation of artists, when recording contracts are in fact NOT the key to big music sales and broad touring opportunities, where does that leave us? For the first time in the modern music age, the responsibility for creative development rests undeniably in the hands of the artists themselves.
“People have to take the responsibility to build their own careers,” Ken told me, and I agree.
Toward the end of my new book, The Beginner’s Guide To The Gospel Music Industry, I made a prediction regarding the future of Gospel:
“…Gospel artists will have to rethink CD sales as a source of revenue and put more time and attention into discovering and developing a relationship with their audiences through live concerts, direct marketing and internet promotions.
Now more than ever, the artist has to know who he is, who his audience is and what his albums should sound like in light of that audience. The majority of the work to answer those questions is going to be done by the artist and management, not the record labels.”
For years we’ve let the industry become too much a part of our goal. For those of you who are artists, songwriters and producers, this is the perfect moment to hone your craft. Rather than to look toward a marketplace to affirm and define you, take responsibility for your gifts and talents and use them to pursue your God-given calling.
The news throughout the music industry may sound a bit scary, but for those of us committed to the music of the Gospel, this is a wonderful moment. In this new age, more and more, the bend of technology is to find new ways to connect people. Consider the reality: The marketplace is wide open and we’ve got all the resources we need to connect with people.
With great opportunity comes great responsibility. So let’s seize this moment. Let’s be wise. Let’s be excellent.
Copyright © 2009 Monica A. Coates.
* * *
I love that! It’s incredibly inspiring, I think, because it seems as if some tremendous opportunities are at hand for those who are IN POSITION and PREPARED to capitalize on them.
SPECIAL thanks to Monica Coates for her four-part series educating the GospelPundit readers about Gospel A&R. I’m also thrilled that we were able to gain insight from someone like Ken Pennell, who has so much experience in, and wisdom about, the industry! Thanks!
What do you guys think? If you’re an aspiring artist, are you inspired or dismayed? If you’re a consumer, how do you think the changing industry might affect you?
Talk to me!!!
