More details are surfacing about the upcoming Stellar Awards Mother’s Day Gospel Music Festival I mentioned last year, hosted by Central City Productions.

The 3-day celebration will take place in Orlando, FL from Friday, May 7th through Sunday, May 9th.  Hosts for the weekend will be Vickie Winans and comedian Akintunde.

Featured performers include Byron Cage, Deitrick Haddon, James Fortune, Kierra Sheard and Jonathan Nelson on Friday; Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Vickie Winans and Crystal Aikin on Saturday; Karen Clark Sheard, Kevin LeVar and Endurance on Sunday.

In addition to your travel and hotel, you’ll have to buy tix for the big gathering.  A 3-day pass to all events can be purchased for about $162.50 from Ticketmaster.  Click here for more info on the event.

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?

The Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) is gearing up for its 102nd Annual Holy Convocation, perhaps the last go ’round in Memphis, TN, where it’s been held since Jesus ascended to Glory.

Most folks get EXTRA excited for the musical component– it’s always star-studded and full of great performances.  This year should be no different.

From Vickie Winans, Melonie Daniels and Sheri Jones-Moffett to Israel & New Breed, God’s Image (G.I.) and Kevin LeVar, this year’s celebration has a little something for everyone.

Dates for the week-long event are November 2-9, 2009.  Visit http://www.cogic.com for more detailed info about who’s singing when and what not.

Anyone already planning to go?  I KNOW I’ve tons of COGIC folks here…

Some streets in Nashville are confusing.  I drove RIGHT past stuff so frequently… but by the time we made it to the swank, reception-style gathering at the ASCAP offices, all was well.  Gospel industry powerhouse, Neily Dickerson, coordinated the event and it was great.  I grabbed some hors d’oeuvres and got ready for the showcase, hosted by Darlene McCoy.

First up was Darrel Petties & Strength In Praise.  They did a great job.  The choir was tight and Darrel Petties was rather engaging.  I don’t own any of his stuff, but I may have to make a quick purchase.  This one song they sang, “Down At the Cross”… good Lawd!

After that, we were blessed by Jessica Greene (multiple Stellar Awards nominee and, ultimately, winner of the Best New Artist award).  Though she’s a “new artist,” she gave it to us like a seasoned professional.  She commanded the attention of that whole room– yes, folks, put your sushi down and gather ’round.

Finally, mega-producer Tommy Sims got up with an acoustic guitar and, with Daniel Weatherspoon on keys, performed “Sinner’s Prayer,” which he wrote for Marvin Winans’ recent solo release.  An amazing performance!

Also in the house were artists Andraé Crouch, Darwin Hobbs, Isaac Caree, Kevin LeVar, David Ivey and industry folks Sheilah Belle, Teresa Hairston, and Monica Coates.  There were tons of other folks, too, but I can’t name ‘em all.  Great job, ASCAP and Neily!

No time to waste, though, cuz I had to run to the Red Carpet event.  Stay tuned!

And look for photos SOON in the 2009 Stellar Awards Weekend Photo Gallery!

The winners of the 2008 Gospel Music Channel Video Awards will be announced this Saturday, December 27th, at 8pm ET/PT on the Gospel Music Channel.  Nominees include: 21:03 (“You”) for pop gospel video; Marvin Sapp (“Never Would Have Made It”), Dewayne Woods (“Let Go”) and Kevin LeVar (“You Are Not Alone”) for soul gospel video; Kirk Franklin (“Declaration (This Is It)”) for contemporary gospel video; Lecrae (“Prayin’ For You”) and Tye Tribbett (“Good In The Hood”) for hip hop gospel video.

Go to Gospel Music Channel’s website for more info!

Got a nice surprise over the weekend… some really good music from a really good new artist: Let’s Come Together by Kevin LeVar & One Sound on the Habakkuk Music label.

First, I need to say that 2008 has been a REALLY good year for Habakkuk Music.  Their artists collectively got a truckload of Stellar Award nominations (particularly Isaiah D. Thomas & Elements of Praise and Jessica Greene)… they’re pummeling through a bunch of the other indie gospel labels and firmly placing themselves in the game.

Now, on to Kevin LeVar… this dude has a GREAT voice.  And it’s not about riffin’ or anything like that– he just has this boundless, pure, smooth, pleasant and controlled tone… and a soaring range.  He’s the type of worship leader that you WANT at your church.  And this album has the type of songs you want sung there.

His music has that cross-genre, mega-church appeal.  It’s sincere, inviting, and relevant for a bunch of different types of folks.  He wrote all of the tracks but one, and that one is a traditional track that he arranged for the album.  Good stuff.

It’s hard to pick standout tracks.  The entire album is pretty solid and can play through.  Faves for me, though, are “Here I Am,” an intense and sincere worship cry to God, the title-track “Let’s Come Together,” a REALLY good, well-arranged praise song, ”Heaven Have Your Way,” ”Atmosphere of Faith,” and “Such An Awesome God.”  I could go on, but you really just need to go’n ahead and get it!

Listen to “Here I Am” here:

And visit his MySpace page: http://www.kevinlevar.com.

What do you think???