I will never forget my first real introduction to LaShun Pace’s solo artistry. I was watching the 1999 Stellar Awards and she won an award for her album, Just Because God Said It.

The music they played from her album as she walked to the stage was the album’s opener, “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder),” a clever Christian remake of Maxwell’s mainstream tune.

I was so captivated by the tone and harmonies on it that I went and purchased it from my favorite Chicago music store, Dr. Wax. And I wore that CD out.

Tunes like the title track, her remake of Walter Hawkins’ “Be Grateful,” and the “Prophetic Medley,” showcased a soprano so soaring that she can reach the rafters, and vocals so strong that they can shake them once she gets up there.

My absolute favorite tune on the project is “Where I Am,” a heartfelt believer’s declaration of the joys of being saved and sanctified: “I can’t remember how it felt to be anywhere but where I am.”

Take a listen to snippets of it here:

Just wanted to write a quick post to let you guys know that, as some predicted, BeBe & CeCe Winans won the NAACP Image Award on Friday night for “Outstanding Gospel Album,” for their reunion project, Still.

Also, as I joked but didn’t really EXPECT to happen, Mary Mary won “Outstanding Song” for “God In Me.”  The chart-topping single was up against Maxwell’s “Bad Habits” and “Pretty Wings,” Jamie Foxx’s “Blame It” and Jay-Z’s “Empire State Of Mind.”  And the Marys won.  That’s HUGE for them.  Whoo hoooo, ladies!

Side note–  Tamela Mann gave an awesome performance of her single, “Joy Of The Lord,” in tribute to Tyler Perry, who was honored with the Chairman’s Award.  She looked great and sounded great.

I’m more than a little miffed that the dude from the movie Precious arrograntly refused to stop speaking when they kept giving cues to do so– it meant that the LIVE telecast was cut off, and we only got to see the first verse and chorus of Mary Mary performing “God In Me,” which was the show’s finale, of sorts.

It’s like… this ain’t the Oscars, buddy.  The network isn’t gonna delay their scheduled programming for your speech or, as much as I love it, for the NAACP Image Awards.  And, as my wife pointed out, you made the Marys have to stand in position while you gave your lil’ speech– one is 8 months pregnant and the other had laryngitis.  Don’t mess with our Marys, dude!

*glaring at him, then realizing that I’m too invested in this*

Oh well.  Maybe he’ll send them a lil’ written apology for that move– maybe I’ll start a petition to encourage it. LOL  Kidding.  I’m sooooooo not writing anything else about this… I’m just sayin’.

Who else watched?  What did you think?