The Coko Video Hunt has ended and the winners’ names have been selected.  They are:

Kira Riley of Newport News, VA
Silas Kezengwa of Montclair, NJ
Jason Greaves of Oklahoma City, OK
Keith Hatter of Moundville, AL
Juan McKnight of Sacramento, CA

Again, each winner will receive a copy of Coko’s latest album, The Winner In Me, courtesy of GospelPundit.com and Light Records!

Congrats to each of ya!

Make sure you let me know how the album is!

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!!!

JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise boldly return to the gospel scene with their fifth album, Resting On His Promise, due in stores this Tuesday, September 1st.  From this 12-track project, two things are abundantly clear to me– the choir is establishing itself as the contemporary choir standard, and it’s only getting better with time.

There’s plenty to love on this album– from the great songwriting to the talented band and excellent production.  What I appreciate most, however, is that JJ Hairston & YP are able to significantly contribute to the progression and development of the choral genre, while respecting the foundation upon which it is based.

It’s clear in the varied, but cohesive, styles of songs on the project.  YP easily navigates the rock-infused “Hear Me Lord,” the staggering worship ballad “Awesome Wonder,” and the jazz-laced “Still Mighty, Still Strong,” with vocals from powerhouse Dorinda Clark-Cole.  But they remind us that they’re more than capable of mastering the traditional “High Praise,” featuring the legendary Pastor Shirley Caesar, and the downright churchy “You Can Make It.”

Other stand-out tracks are “Great Expectation,” a timely single-worthy song of encouragement featuring Myron Butler, “Powerful God,” with jaw-dropping ad libs from YP’s own David McClure, “Lord You’re Beautiful,” with the boundless Lorraine Stancil leading the vamp, and the title track (and current single), “Resting On His Promise” featuring Bishop Eric McDaniel.

More than catchy songs, the album’s message of trusting in God is timely, encouraging and full of life.  I urge readers to not regard this project as “just another choir album.”  Resting On His Promise is definitely worth a listen (and probably a purchase) from any lover of gospel music.

The project is available everywhere on September 1st, but you can pre-order it NOW by clicking on the image to your right. >>>

She’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Coko has debuted her latest single, “Wait,” which will be featured on her sophomore gospel album, due this summer on Light Records.

I LOVE the track.  Coko is one of those singers that can kinda do EVERY style of gospel– from the urban (after all, SWV helped to define the sound of modern R&B) straight to the churchy (cuz she can kill a vamp like NOBODY’S business with her soaring soprano).  This track is closer to the latter, as she ad libs all over, up and through the vamp’s refrain.  Encouraging and powerful!

It’s already on its way to radio, but y’all can head over to her website, http://www.cokosplace.com to listen to it RIGHT NOW!

Just make sure y’all bring your hindpots back here and lemme know what you think after you’ve heard it!

Coko is back in the studio RIGHT NOW (maybe, even, at the very moment that you’re reading this), recording songs for her new album, to be released on June 9, 2009!

The project, to be released on Light Records, is not yet titled, but uhhh… it’s Coko.  It’s gonna be hot!

Details to follow, and maybe even some exclusive goodies for my peeps.  (What was that?!  I don’t even use the word “peeps.” )

Y’all as excited as I am?!?!