I wanna take a quick moment to feature a cool new artist, Josiah “Jojo” Martin.  He’s actually been writing and doing background vocals behind the scenes for quite some time, but he’s just now stepping out on his own as a solo artist.

In addition to offering BGV’s for PJ Morton and Fred Hammond, Jojo is currently producing an album for Stephanie Mills, as well as writing and providing vocals for the long-awaited album from Dalon Collins (former member of Kirk Franklin & The Family).  You’ll also find his work on the latest releases from James Fortune & FIYA and, soon, on the newest album from VaShawn Mitchell.

At age 25, Jojo’s voice is incredibly reminiscent of the great crooners from the old skool.  He’s got a gritty tone that reminds me of someone like David Ruffin or Jason Nelson, but a vocal delivery that definitely has some modern, urban flavor to it.

He’s anticipating a full album release later this year.  In the meantime, I’ve just added his first single, “Always,” to the PunditPlayer.  I’m REALLY diggin’ it.

Click here to take a listen and lemme know what you think!!!

On Thursday, MySpace Music pulled a series of April Fools’ jokes, one of which included the posting of a fake interview with hip-hop artist T-Pain.  In the hoax conversation, he “shared” that he would be recording a Christian pop album.

The blogosphere immediately began buzzing about the rapper, whose lyrics are rather raunchy and notoriously… *ahem*… “not safe for kids.”

While this particular report was merely a hoax, T-Pain did stir a bit of controversy in the gospel community last year, when he sampled Kirk Franklin & The Family’s classic tune, “Silver and Gold,” in a song that has now been dubbed an “alcoholic anthem.”

Glad it was only a hoax cuz I couldn’t IMAGINE the hateful backlash he would have received from us loving Christians.

That’ll be for another blog entry…

Is it just me, or is gospel the only genre that allows (maybe expects, and even demands) artists’ names to follow the format of “So-And-So” & “Such-And-Such”?

Think about it… Jonathan Nelson & Purpose, Myron Butler & Levi, DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet…

But it didn’t just start happening… there was Israel & New Breed, Kirk Franklin & The Family, Fred Hammond & Radical For Christ…

And before them, Richard Smallwood & Vision, Walter Hawkins & The Hawkins Family, Andraé Crouch & The Disciples…

And let’s not forget the choirs– Hezekiah Walker & LFC, Ricky Dillard & New G, John P Kee & New Life, Milton Brunson & The Tommies, O’landa Draper & The Associates…

Understand this– my absolute ALL-TIME FAVORITE gospel artists are mentioned above, so I’m not mad at their names at all.  Love you guys and you KNOW it!

I definitely think the the name choices make sense– ours is the only genre with the artist format of frontmen backed by an ensemble or a choir.

But I’d be lying if I said it isn’t refreshing when I hear creative names like Mary Mary, Excelsior, 21:03 and Mali Music.

In short, it’s not a good or bad thing, just… a thing.  A gospel thing.

Anyone noticed???

I was in a nostalgic mood this morning and I stumbled upon this video of a classic Kirk Franklin & The Family performance…

Figured I can’t possibly be the only person for whom this song/video brings back memories!  I listen to this song and can remember being a member of the Soul Children of Chicago, riding on a bus to some performance, and hearing members of the choir singing this song in the back of the bus… freestyling like choir folks do. LOL

Here’s “Let Me Touch You (See If You Are Real)” from Kirk’s Whatcha Lookin’ 4 album.  What memories does it stir up for you?

CLASSIC (of course)… it’s Kirk Franklin & The Family.  It would HAVE to be classic.

Here, on “Don’t Take Your Joy Away,” (from the Whatcha Lookin’ 4 album… remember THAT?), Tamela Mann takes lead and does her part in pioneering the sound of soloists in contemporary gospel ensembles.  You’re gonna have to BRING it!

Is it just me, or don’t you still miss The Family sometimes?