Micah Stampley’s new EP, Release Me, debuted at #3 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart last week.  Congrats to ya!

Also, the latest project from the Soul Seekers, Soul Seekers II, made its entrance at the #11 spot.  Kudos to you guys, as well!

The full top 10 shakes out as follows…

#1 | LeCrae – Rehab
#2 | Israel Houghton – Love God. Love People.
#3 | Micah Stampley – Release Me
#4 | Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir – A Brooklyn Tabernacle Christmas
#5 | Tye Tribbett – Fresh
#6 | Marvin Sapp – Here I Am
#7 | Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love
#8 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
#9 | William McDowell – As We Worship: Live
#10 | WOW Gospel 2010

Did you grab the new Micah Stampley project?  What do you think of it?

What about the Soul Seekers album?

Some good new projects hit stores TODAY and I wanna make sure you guys are aware, so you can grab ‘em if you wanna–

1.  Soul Seekers II, from Soul Seekers
This highly-anticipated sophomore album from today’s modern-day quartet group features some of the greatest musicians in the music biz. That, alone, could make you wanna buy it. The fact that their lead single, “It’s All God,” features Pastor Marvin L. Winans is icing on the cake.

2. Bishop Morton Celebrates 25 Years of Music: A Live Celebration, from Various Artists (Light Records)
This CD/DVD project features musical tributes to Bishop Paul Morton from some of the greatest vocalists in the gospel community, including CeCe Winans, Shirley Caesar, Mary Mary, Sheri Jones-Moffett, PJ Morton, The Williams Brothers and more. It’s a must-have for your gospel music collection.

3. The Master Plan (Special Edition), from David & Tamela Mann
This jumbo pack of Mann family goodness includes Tamela’s latest CD, The Master Plan, David’s Mr. Brown’s Good Ol’ Time Church CD, footage from a “Cooking with The Manns” television special, as well as interviews and music videos.  The couple is so gifted– great power couple, plenty of products.  Grab it!

4.  Release Me, from Micah Stampley
This 7-song EP is Micah’s first release on the recently reformed Music World Gospel label headed by Matthew Knowles.  It features a dope song, “Heaven on Earth” (originally by David & Nicole Binion) that you simply have to hear.

What are y’all gettin’???

Hey folks, just a quick heads-up to let you know that you can download “I Believe,” the new single from Micah Stampley, for FREE by clicking the following link and entering a little info: http://musicworldent.com/promo/ibelieve.

The song is from Micah’s upcoming EP, Release Me, due in stores on November 16.

Anyone grabbin’ it???

Just one of those cool TV tributes– this one’s to Aretha Franklin a few years back. It features BeBe Winans, Karen Clark Sheard, Kierra Sheard, Micah Stampley, Twinkie Clark on one organ, Warryn Campbell on another, capped off by Mary Mary.

EVERY ONE OF ‘EM delivered great vocal performances. And all the while, the Queen of Soul bopped her head in approval.

Peep the video here–

Dope, right?!

Is it just me, or is Music World Entertainment, the music and entertainment corporate conglomerate founded by Mathew Knowles, up to a lil’ somethin’?

Not necessarily somethin’ bad, just somethin’… The latest news on the homefront is that Music World Entertainment has announced the launch of a new gospel label– Music World Gospel (kudos on the consistent branding, by the way!).  The new label will succeed its predecessor, Spirit Rising Music.

This news is on the heels of the recent signings of Juanita Bynum and Micah Stampley, who joined the then-Spirit Rising family of Brian Courtney Wilson  and Trin-i-tee 5:7 among others.  Music World Gospel will even be home to a special gospel compilation released by ESSENCE Communications (yes, the folks who put out the magazine, have the awards show and do the hot music festival– read: major mainstream opportunities for Music World Gospel artists).

This is not to say that Music World hasn’t already been successful in gospel– Michelle Williams debuted at #1 with her first solo project, and at #2 with her follow-up album.  Trin-i-tee 5:7 has experienced great sales and opportunities under Knowles’ direction.  And Brian Courtney Wilson has gone from relative newcomer to a Billboard top 10 mainstray since his release last year.

All I’m sayin’ is that, after laying juuuuust under the radar for some time, we’re gettin’ press release after press release about a bunch of new signing and new endeavors…

Could 2010 be the year that Music World took a big ol’ slice of the gospel industry pie?  I’m thinkin’ maybe…

Thoughts???

On Wednesday, I recapped my great trip to the McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour on its Chicago, IL tour stop.  While I was there, I caught up with songstress Regina Belle and chatted about a few things.  What initially stood out to me was how cool and down-to-earth she is (I think I may have dubbed her my auntie in my head).

Regina Belle says that the experience with McDonald’s and the Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour has been great.  Incidentally, her first job was at a McDonald’s, so she’s kinda having a full-circle moment.

We chatted briefly about the success of her radio hit, “God Is Good,” at which time she shared that it was the last song to make her debut gospel album, Love Forever Shines.  Her brother wrote the tune after hearing her full album and remarking that it didn’t have anything from their childhood, their roots, on it… and it needed to.  She had no idea how incredibly successful it would be at radio and in churches every Sunday morning!

She also shared some of a recent testimony with me– how she was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year (though it had been growing since childhood), in the midst of promoting her album.  “It was one of the most ‘alone’ moments I had ever had in my life,” she recounted.  “That’s when I had to make the things that I talk about and sing about… that’s when I had to make them work for me.  I had to exercise my own relationship with God.”  Even now, after having recovered from the grueling multiple surgeries, she is clinically deaf in her left ear.  Her joy and commitment to her calling, though, remains unfettered– she’s not stopping!

Of course, we touched on the whole “R&B turned gospel artist” issue that seems to plague anyone who records a gospel album after experiencnig even a modicum of success in mainstream music.  Belle set the record straight: “I could make waaaay more money, with no hit record– actually, with no record out at all– by continuing on in R&B.  I am here because of a calling and, trust me, I fought God tooth and nail.”  She is grateful for the road she traveled, especially because she gets to go back to areas that other church people aren’t able to go– and she takes the gospel message with her.

Before we parted, I had to prove to her that I was a bona fide Regina Belle fan from back in the day by bringing up her soundtrack work from the movies Tap and Leonard 6 (y’all don’t know nothin’ about that).  She certified me a “for real” fan.

Regina Belle is working on a new gospel album, which will incorporate musical discussions about some serious social issues facing the world today.  The project will feature assistance from J Moss, Chris Walker, her brother Bernard Bell, and Micah Stampley, among others.

And that’s about it!  Regina Belle was a delight to chat with and I’m excited for what she’s doing and for what’s to come!

How about you???

On the heels of the increasingly discussed signing of Juanita Bynum to a management/recording-joint-venture deal, Mathew Knowles’ Music World Entertainment announced Friday that it has just signed Micah Stampley to a management and joint-venture recording deal (Interface/Spirit Rising Music) as well.

A new release is in the works, but there has not been an announcement as to its title or expected release date.

A lot of you didn’t like the Juanita Bynum business move… is this one more to your liking???

One of the most widely discussed events of the Stellar Awards weekend was not really planned at all; rather, it came suddenly, in response to the earthquake in Haiti.  Kirk Franklin successfully brought together the gospel and Christian music communities to record a new song that he wrote, the proceeds from which will be donated directly to the relief efforts in Haiti.

Though Franklin wrote and produced the track, entitled “Song For Pain,” he’s not getting a cut, nor are any of the dozens of artists and musicians who participated.  And I mean DOZENS.  Some of the artists and musicians who rolled through the session include Mary Mary, Natalie Grant, Donnie McClurkin, J Moss, CeCe Winans, Kierra Sheard, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Marvin Winans, Micah Stampley, Karen Clark Sheard, Smokie Norful, Shirley Caesar, Amy Grant, BeBe Winans, Brian Courtney Wilson, Stephen Hurd, Nicole C. Mullen, and MORE.  Every penny is going to Haiti.

Over the course of several recording sessions throughout the weekend, Kirk (who also co-hosted and performed at the Stellar Awards, and had to attend rehearsals and run-thru’s for the same) spent every moment of his “spare time” in Nashville’s Quad Studios, generally until around 6am.  I don’t think he got any sleep all weekend.

Let’s continue to pray for Haiti, that the offering of our music community would be used greatly to take Christ and His healing power to that nation.  And, let’s pray for our own artists and musicians, especially Kirk Franklin, who selflessly gave of their time and energy for this cause.

AAAAND, when the single hits the internet stores this week, BUY IT.  I’ll be sure to let you know when and where.  Deal?

Aside from the actual taping of the Stellar Awards, folks eagerly anticipate the BMI Trailblazers Awards each year.   In fact, people often say that the BMI event features greater and more memorable performances than the Stellar Awards taping, though, this year… that MIGHT not be the case… I’m gonna call it a TIE!

In any case, BMI annually honors folks in gospel who’ve made significant contributions to the genre.  This year, Donnie McClurkin and Andraé Crouch were honored.  The celebration consists of a great lunch and some incredible tribute performances.  It went a lil’ something like this…

Before the honoring went down, Dorinda Clark-Cole came to the stage to perform her hit single “Take It Back,” which received a BMI Song Of The Year award (songwriter, Derrick Starks).  You already know that Dorinda brings it like none other and I was on my feet before I could even finish my salad.

Following that, we got a surprise performance from Jessica Reedy, who sang “God Has Smiled On Me” like a seasoned professional.  She really holds her own in this game and it’s great to see how welcoming the industry is of her.

The vocal production for the afternoon came from the incomparable Donald Lawrence and DeWayne Woods.  In the background– Tobi Darks, Dawn Jordan, San Franklin, Latrice Pace, Blanche McAllister and Anita Wilson.  YES!  The band– Joe Wilson on keys, Stanley Brown on organ, Kevin Stancil on bass, Jonathan DuBose on guitar, Marvin McQuitty on drums and Lloyd Barry on horns.  GOOD LORD!

The formal program began with the tribute performances to Donnie McClurkin, hosted by Byron Cage.  The background vocalists did a snippet of “That’s What I Believe” before Latice Crawford came to deliver her rendition of “I Call You Faithful.”  After that, Micah Stampley sang his heart out on “Speak To My Heart.”  McClurkin’s best friend and pastor, Marvin Winans, set the room ablaze with his performance of “Stand” (for which he also brought up BeBe Winans) before Yolanda Adams came to the stage to perform “We Fall Down.”

The McClurkin tribute performances were great, but I wish they had done some more songs for him– they could’ve dug a little deeper into the New York Restoration Choir days, pulled some more tracks from the Live In London album, or even focused a little more on songs that he’s written for other artists (like, “This Is The Gospel Of Jesus Christ” for Hezekiah Walker or “It Is To You” by Byron Cage).  Still, awesome job and I’m glad he was honored for his great contributions to the game.

After McClurkin accepted his award, it was on to the Andraé Crouch tribute, which was hosted by Yolanda Adams.  First, Donald Lawrence led the singers in a mindblowing medley of classic Crouch tunes including “Right Now” (led by Blanche McAllister), “Quiet Time,” “Soon And Very Soon”… it was just incredible.

Up next was the one and only Táta Vega, a longtime friend of, and singer with, Andraé Crouch.  She did an intro of “Speak Lord,” (which she recorded for The Color Purple decades ago) before transitioning into a soul-stirring performance of “Oh It Is Jesus.”  It was at THAT moment that the atmosphere of the entire room shifted from tribute to worship, and the event wasn’t the same again.

After that, Yolanda Adams couldn’t even regain her composure to introduce the next performance– BeBe & CeCe Winans singing “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power.”  They just came on stage and took us to new heights, followed by Mary Mary’s staggering performance of “We Are Not Ashamed.”

Finally, Marvin Winans returned to the stage and shared some great stories about how instrumental Crouch was to the career of The Winans, even down to changing their stage name from “The Testimonial Singers” to simply, “The Winans” (thank God!).  He wrapped his segment with a performance of “Jesus Is Lord,” for which he simply had to call the legendary Karen Clark Sheard to the stage!

Andraé Crouch accepted his award and shared how he had been recently diagnosed with diabetes.  His doctors wanted to amputate his toe after discovering a large hole in it, but he shared that he had been miraculously healed!  He asks for continued prayer from the industry… great speech.

Finally, Marvin Winans led an impromptu segment of EVERYONE singing some classic Crouch songs that weren’t even on the program.  He called up Shirley Caesar, J Moss, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin… there are no words!

That’s that, essentially.  Dunno how much of it will make the edited televised program, but look for it on February 21st on Gospel Music Channel.  I’ll remind you as the time comes closer!

Soooo… whatd’ya think?!

Word has it that Yolanda Adams and Byron Cage will be co-hosting BMI’s annual Trailblazers Awards this weekend in Nashville, during Stellar Awards weekend.

According to my buddy, Torrence Glenn at BET.com, the performers slated to honor Donnie McClurkin and Andraé Crouch at the event have also been announced.  They include Yolanda Adams, CeCe Winans, Micah Stampley, Latice Crawford, Marvin Winans, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Mary Mary, Tata Vega… WOWWWWZERS.

Can you tell that this luncheon is gonna be BANANAS?!  Tryna figure out if I’m gonna tweet from the event… I think I may be too distracted. LOL

Fortunately for all of you can’t attend, I think they’re taping it for TV again, so you can probably catch it later on Gospel Music Channel or something.

What do you think of the list of performers?