Help us wish Troy Lilly, Associate Editor of GospelPundit.com, a big ol’ HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Besides writing a bunch of great articles for the site (read some of his work right here), Troy is a gifted photographer (check him out at http://www.urbansophistic.com). And he does about 8,724 other things at once.

Most importantly, Troy loves Jesus and is a man of integrity and grace. He’s a great guy to know and work with.

Leave a birthday message in the comment section below and check him out on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/UrbanSophistic.

The last time Kim Burrell chatted with GospelPundit.com, she spoke of her No Ways Tired album, her desire to work with Prince and lots more.  If you missed it, click here to read it!

This time, Kim is BACK to talk with Associate Editor Troy Lilly. He sits with her to discuss her new project, The Love Album and the backlash that the mere notion of it received from the church community last year (including the COGIC church’s response).  She also chats about her favorite remake on the album, her friendship with Whitney Houston and much more!

Without any delay, here’s Troy’s chat with Kim Burrell…

*     *     *

Troy: Thank you for joining me this morning to talk about the album and… everything else that’s going on with you. I’m excited.

Kim: I really am too, thank you.

Troy: Great, so let’s get started.

Kim: Ok!

Troy: How did you come up with the concept for The Love Album?

Kim: Well, the concept for the album is strictly trying to get the church folks to have a different language of love outside of John 3:16 because it kind of balances things out.

And I’m hoping and praying that the message of love will be interpreted from my heart to those who will hear it … that it will be nothing opposite of God’s love and our ability to love one another. And that’s just my desire.

Troy: It’s no secret that people adore the unique, jazzy characteristics of your voice. How has the hallmark of jazz translated into the sound of The Love Album?

Kim: You know, I think it’s a misconception that I either trained that way or intentionally sounded like jazz. I think my direction – that is expressing myself through music – has caused me to include a lot of notes I felt were missing in instrumentation or accompaniment, and that caused me to sing in a jazzy way.

I can’t deny that it’s reflecting the jazz influence, and I can’t deny that… but it was so not intentional to be that way.

Troy: Wow.

Kim: Folks say, “You know the notes you’re about to hit, and you know whether they’re jazzy or not.” Well, no, I didn’t know it would classify itself as that. But with that in mind, when I sing I sing to tell the story of whatever the words are, and whatever those notes end up being for me to tell that story is just what it is. It’s never an intentional sound.

People ask me to scat, you know, and I hate that almost because I’m like ‘Geesh… I’m so not the scatter…’

Troy: (Chuckles)

Kim: I mean I probably would do it as a fun thing, but you know… it’s not a part of my art form.

Troy: Well, that’s a revelation even for me! Kim Burrell’s not jazzy. Who knew?!

Kim: Well… (chuckles).

Troy: So since you haven’t included jazz as an influence of your sound – at least not intentionally – what do think about the fact that many people consider you to be the premier song stylist of our time, even outside of gospel?

Kim: It’s extremely flattering, and I’m very, very blessed to have this gift that has drawn so much attention, mainly because I have great interest in letting everybody know that it’s a gift from God.

I didn’t train under anybody, I just developed this gift and I’m very grateful for it because of what it has done for people… it’s brought a lot of joy and fun for a lot of singers and musicians. And I enjoy having it because of the good that it is doing for others.

Troy: I noticed you worked primarily with Asaph Alexander Ward, who produces nearly every song on The Love Album. Why do you work so well together?

Kim: Alex and I have at least a 15-year relationship, and we were going to take cameras in for our studio moments, but we’re so much like family that even some of our outfits we wouldn’t want people to see them (laughs). We’re so laid back and we do a lot of work.

Alex… he holds my voice in the highest regard, as I hold his ability to document it the way that he does with his talent. Working with Alex is always a treat because of our long relationship and what our chemistry brings.

Troy: I was going to say, the chemistry is definitely tangible. Anyone who really listens can hear it.

Kim: Thank you.

Troy: On this album you also covered two songs by R&B royalty, Earth Wind & Fire and DeBarge, as well as a classic by the Clark Sisters. Which was your favorite to record?

Kim: For me, “Jesus is a Love Song” by the Clark Sisters. I’ve spent all my life in gospel and to be able to pay homage to someone as valuable as Twinkie Clark… I think if musicians who have great talent were to take songs that she did over 25 and 30 years ago, they would really see the value in her songs.

And that’s one of the reasons I did it, because Earth Wind & Fire are renown all over this world and I felt they have received their just due, as you can see, because I’m still covering their tunes to this day.

And the DeBarge tune is an endearing song to me, but my favorite was ‘Love Song’ by the Clark Sisters.

Troy: Personally, I have to say, I was raised on the Clark Sisters and I absolutely love them. But what you did with DeBarge’s “Love Me in a Special Way,” was special to me. It’s probably because the song already had a gospel vein starting off with the keyboards.

Kim: Yeah, it did!

Troy: It was kind of Pentecostal already. But I especially love what you did with that one, just to let you know.

Kim: Thank you so much.

Troy: So you mentioned that the concept of the album was to show people about God’s love and loving one another. Is that why some songs specifically mention God while other songs don’t?

Kim: I have a range of lyrics because we need to learn to speak about love without having to preface it with a scripture. I feel like our lives ought to have a sense of love. Church people work hard to prove their love and sometimes they choose to use their gift to say ‘this is my way of loving you.’

But I feel if you have this God in your heart, you can have a conversation without mentioning Jesus and God and the Trinity and all that, and people will know that there’s love in you. I just feel like I don’t have to go and be extreme to get a point across.

Troy: Ok.

Kim: During the campaign for this album, I would like to interview a lot of church officials and church goers and ask them: when they decided to get married and have children and they shared those “magic nights,” was it to ‘The Greatest Hits of Mahalia Jackson?’ (Laughs)

Troy: Oh my goodness! (Laughs)

Kim: I’ll prepare myself for whatever [answer I may get]. But I just feel like at some point in their dating lives theyenjoyed soft music that didn’t have C.L. Franklin doing a prayer, you know?

Troy: Uh huh!

Kim: You know what I mean?!

Troy: Oh, I understand completely.

Kim: Have they ever said to their spouse, “Love me in a special way … or love me like none other?’ Or what did they say in their vows? “I vow to love you as long as the Holy Ghost quickens me?” I think not!

Troy: (Laughs)

Kim: (Laughs)

Troy: Well, the saints enjoy fried chicken too, but we don’t sit down and discuss how it was fried in Virgin Olive Oil, we just eat the chicken. I think it’s good to enjoy music, too, and love between people without being [so] deep.

Kim: Yeah (Laughs).

Troy: Since we’re talking about how rigid folks can be, I want to ask you about the controversy that surrounded the initial announcements about this album. People were all over the Internet saying, “Kim Burrell is doing a secular album, she’s doing a jazz album, and she’s leaving gospel.

Kim: Ok

Troy: Was there ever a time when you considered recording an album that was mainstream or secular music and not necessarily a “gospel” album?

Kim: Everything you hear on this album is what I was trying to tell the world I was going to do. But they took” secular” and made it a vulgar term. They limited it to what they’ve known it to be.

And I felt like I’m not going to spend my life trying to break that down. It’s unfortunate that the people of the church thought I was turning my back on God… just because the word secular was mentioned in my bio, by my team, on the ‘Backstage with Kim Burrell’ website.

Troy: Ok.

Kim: I have a 92-year-old grandmother, a 67-year-old mother, and a 73-year-old father who raised me in the church. As long as they have breath in their bodies, I’m never going to do anything to disrespect the value and deposit they’ve made in my life.

Think about it; even if I tried to sing “Baby, baby, come on meet me in the sex room,” it’s going to sound like I’m having a revival. It’s in my voice. I can’t even convey words that represent that type of thing.

Troy: Yes.

Kim: I’m a pastor of a church. I don’t promote that.

Troy: After the uproar, the Church of God in Christ’s International Music Department released a statement exonerating you and your music. Did you feel it was necessary and appropriate at the time?

Kim: I accommodated what they asked me for and I gave them as much as I could. And it was released based on my agreement to let them release whatever was going to make them feel better.

Troy: So that was something of a concession on both sides?

Kim: Sure.

Troy: Ok, I understand.

Kim: Yes.

Troy: Let’s move past the controversy to the BET performances.

Kim: Indeed!

Troy: Your tribute to Whitney Houston at the BET Honors is probably your most publicized performance ever. What was it like to sing about your love for her?

Kim: It was fulfilling, mainly because I was singing to a person who God has blessed me to spend time with… Godly time, friendship time. I first became acquainted with Whitney when her father died, which was a terrible time, and when she went into rehab for the first time.

We share over a 13-year relationship. And it was my goal to be there to celebrate her new album and return to let her know (publicly) that I’m that ride-or-die friend behind the scenes, but I’ll also come out to let people know I’m not judging her for the rough times.

Troy: Right.

Kim: I was singing to my friend. That’s really what that moment was about. If you notice at the end, I had to remember to blow a kiss to everyone else because that moment was about her.

Troy: Yes, you and her.

Kim: I believe that the world felt that.

Troy: I do too.

Kim: Yeah.

Troy: How has your work life balance shifted now that you’re officially pastoring the Love and Liberty Church down in Texas, in addition to your many other endeavors?

Kim: Pastoring is the greatest agreement with God that I’ve [ever] made, because it is motivating, fulfilling… taxing on areas of my life that needed to be challenged. It has helped me to see people in a whole other light and has given me a lot more patience than I knew I had.

I’ve met a lot of pastors who kind of wipe their forehead and say, “Oh, Lord, what have I done?” But, fortunately, I don’t see myself getting there. I’m proud of the fact it’s one of the greatest that I could have ever agreed with God to do.

Troy: Good.

Kim: It’s not a Kim-Burell-meet-the-stars type of situation. It’s wholesome, it’s balanced with old people and younger people. It’s a glorious thing.

Troy: Awesome. Can I ask you one last question? (Laughs)

Kim: Oh, sure!

Troy: If you weren’t a singer or minister of the gospel, what’s the one thing you’ve always wanted to do?

Kim: I’d be a lawyer.

Troy: A lawyer, really? Wow.

Kim: Yeah, because people are my thing. They are God’s creation. The birds and the lions have the natural instinct and know how to take care of each other. Everything else that God made knows how to replenish and protect itself.

When it comes down to mankind, I have an interest. And if I hadn’t gone this route, Iwas going to be a lawyer.

Troy: Amazing answer! I love to get to the heart of ‘you the person’ because I know you so much more than a performer, and I’m glad I asked. Hope you enjoyed our time…

Kim: I really did, Troy!

Troy: I’m excited about the release of the album. I send my love your way, to the church, and everything else you’re doing.

Kim: I appreciate you. Thank you.

Troy: You’re welcome.

*     *     *

Kim Burrell’s latest project came out THIS week and was already #1 at iTunes on its first day.  You can hear the project’s lead single, “Sweeter,” on the Pundit Player’s playlist.

And, check out our review of the album right here… then, make sure you grab your copy. It’s one of her best works to date!

Associate Editor Troy Lilly reminds us about an oldie but goodie…

Back in 1996, a CD player was something you had installed at a Circuit City or Best Buy. I mean lots of people had Walkmans, but in the car, we were still listening to cassette tapes – one side at a time. Boy how the times have changed.

Anyway, that same year a guy named Keith Staten released an album called Worship in the House as part of Integrity Music’s “Urban Praise” series. You may (and should) remember Keith as one-fifth of a successful male ensemble during the late 80s and early 90s: Commissioned.

But this time the concept was a little different. Keith isn’t just singing with the guys, he’s out front. And instead of featured the cutting-edge studio production value of earlier Commissioned albums, this project was recorded live at Lifeline Christian Center Church to capture an organic worship atmosphere.

With songs like “Praise Looks Good on You,” “Awesome in This Place,” “Healing Grace” and “Lord I Thirst for You,” Worship in the House is essentially a collection of contemporary praise and worship songs recorded in a more urban and soulful vein.

Fred Hammond, who handled the production for his former Commissioned group member, adds just enough rhythm to make the 12 tracks groove-worthy, but not so much that they lose the authenticity of original versions by Don Moen, Gary Sadler, Hillsong and Alleluia Music. And now, more than 14 years later, the integrity of the sound and music still stands. However, the cassette tape I bought back in ’96 is long gone.

Thankfully, advances in technology have provided us with the compact disc and mp3 downloads, which means if you’ve never heard Worship in the House before, there’s a new, shiny copy waiting for you on iTunes and Amazon.com.

If you have heard the album before, feel free to chime in.  Either way take a(nother) listen. It’ll bless your life, I promise.

EJ’s note: According to Twitter reports, Keith Staten was JUST in the studio with Donald Lawrence– he’s making a guest appearance on Donald’s upcoming album, YRM (Your Righteous Mind), due in stores in the Spring of 2011.

Associate Editor Troy Lilly recaps the finale of this year’s Verizon Wireless How Sweet the Sound nationwide choir competition, held in Washington, DC this past Saturday, November 13th…

Verizon Wireless’ How Sweet the Sound 2010 came to a dramatic close in Washington, D.C. over the weekend, with my favorite co-hosts Donald Lawrence and CeCe Winans. And don’t misconstrue my use of the word dramatic… I’m just talking pure, theatrical drama and performance.

I’d like to dedicate a new word – choir-ography – to this year’s finalists because I don’t know if I’ve seen that much “organized” movement by a choir on stage before. But lest we forget, regardless of how much jumping and swaying is going on, the vocals still have to be tight.

That’s where this year’s judges, Marvin Sapp, the beautiful Karen Clark-Sheard and part-time comedian Fred Hammond, came in. They had the unenviable task of picking a winner from the talented pack of singers. If you were there, you’ll remember that Karen was quite “appreciative” for each choir! (inside joke)

But on to the winners…

Out of more than a dozen choirs from 14 cities across the nation, Voices of Destiny from Greater Zion Church Family from the Los Angeles region was the National Overall winner of $40,000 in cash and prizes and the title of Best Church Choir in America. Not to mention, as the winning choir, Voices of Destiny will perform at the 26th annual Stellar Awards and travel to sing during the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration in 2011.

The Compton-based chorale roused the sold-out crowd in D.C. with a dynamic reinterpretation of Byron Cage’s “The Presence of the Lord is Here.” If you hadn’t heard the song before (shame on you) you probably wouldn’t have recognized it that night.

Showing impressive musical acumen, the choir led us through a series of movements that included major, minor and diminished inversions under the guidance of their director – who also happens to be the pastor! Their set wrapped with a breakout file-and-shuffle dance number (think season 5 opening of the Cosby Show). They even synchronized a dramatic “fall”. Yes, they laid out on the stage. It was very West Side Story and “grand,” as one might say. Nice job Compton. I’m sure they made the choir director Ricky Dillard, who was in the audience that night, more than proud.

Second place honors went to the Greater First Church “GFC” Chorale out of the Chicago region. They walked away with a not -to -shabby $15,000 prize. Secretly, GFC Chorale was my favorite to take the top prize, and although they didn’t, I was still pleased that they were recognized.  GFC Chorale gave us a lesson in musical genres over the last century as they performed the traditional hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” What began as opera, turned into Negro spiritual, and then to jazz, ragtime, salsa and contemporary gospel before concluding in a full-out praise break. In a word, their rendition was accomplished. I mean these folks really know music, period.

My good friends over at Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church didn’t leave empty handed either. The Greater Mt. Calvary Men of Valor nabbed the V CAST People’s Choice Award which was good for a $5,000 prize and plenty of hometown pride for the large DC-area showing in the audience.

As if the 14 choirs weren’t enough, Marvin, Karen and Fred each performed songs from their most recent albums. I don’t think it hurts to say yet again, either, that my adopted auntie Karen looked absolutely amazing, even if she got stuck using the word appreciate during judging.

It was truly an evening of great music. And for me, it was also full of great conversation. I was fortunate enough to be seated next to Brandon Frazier, the hilarious director of West Atlanta Pentecostal Choir, last year’s winner of How Sweet the Sound. From what he told me, in between making me laugh unstoppably, ensures that Voices of Destiny is in for the ride of their lives.

Congratulations again to all the choirs, and I can’t wait to see Voices of Destiny at the Stellars and the Super Bowl next year. Speaking of the Super Bowl, who’s buying my ticket??? Just joking.

Did anyone else attend the finale???

Just a quick post to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to GospelPundit.com’s Associate Editor, Troy Lilly!!!

Join me in showing him some birthday love, folks.  Leave a quick note in the comment section.

Happy Birthday!

New Associate Editor Troy Lilly interviewed Fred Hammond for you guys…

In this chat, he talks with Fred about Life in the Word (the new album that hits stores TODAY), Fred’s new relationship with Universal Music Christian Group, and plans for the future.

It’s a great read, so I won’t delay things any further… here’s Troy with Fred Hammond.

*     *     *

Troy: How are you doing this morning, man?

Fred: Good, man. How you feel?

Troy: Good, good. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me.

Fred: I appreciate you, doc, for talking to me.

Troy: First off, I want to congratulate you on the new label, fHammond Family Entertainment, and your joint venture with Universal Music Christian Group.

Fred: Yeah.

Troy: Everyone’s really excited about it. Some people are so excited they’ve let their imaginations run wild about what’s going to happen next. I mean really, really wild!

So, tell me how this partnership came about and what exactly this means for future Fred Hammond projects?

Fred: Well, uh, the label is not as new as is kind of being said. It’s fHammond Music, basically, which was on the Verity/Zomba label.

Troy: Ok.

Fred: Verity and Zomba both gave me an opportunity to learn the inside of executive producing …there’s other levels… marketing, and not just finding the talent, but motivating and molding the talent. Verity taught me to do that.

But when we got to the end of our run, Verity wanted to concentrate on less secondary projects and more primary projects. Fred Hammond is a primary and fHammond is a secondary.

Troy: I see.

Fred: Basically, I got dropped! Naw…I’m just kidding! (laughs)

Troy: (LAUGHS)

Fred: And I didn’t really get dropped. We both mutually agreed, you know, it was time to go. It was a good run. We got Joann Rosario [Condrey] out of it, I had the Singletons and Shea Norman … Joann really shined out of that… but I got a chance to learn at each step.

Troy: Right, right.

Fred: But Universal came along. And see, because Universal is not a label – they’re distribution – they can help develop a label, you know.

Troy: Right…

Fred: They don’t have artists to compete with. They were looking for some talented young labels and people who had music and they said, ‘we can help you.’ And when we met up with each other I felt really good about it. I went there and sat down and I felt like this was the place to be.

They allow me, as a businessperson, to say, “this is the plan and this is the direction we’re going.”

Troy: Wow.

Fred: Sometimes I’m almost asking them permission to do something as a label…

Troy: (Chuckles)

Fred: And they’re like… ‘uh, that’s your label. You tell us what to do.’ And I’m like, “oh, ok!” It’s almost like Eddie Murphy in the movie Trading Places when he walked into the house and said, ‘oh, so this vase is mine …so that means I can just throw it down on the ground,’ – POW! You don’t really believe it at the end of the day.

Troy: The first project on the fHammond Family Entertainment label hits stores on July 27th and is titled Life in the Word. What’s the significance of the title?

Fred: It’s interesting that the first CD that comes out is Word-based. It’s what the whole foundation of the company and the label will be based on – life in the Word. So the actual CD itself is a praise and worship devotional.

There’s little narrated scriptures in between most of the music. Some of them are comedic, some are dramatic. But if you just hear them it’ll remind you… that we should go over into the land because we can certainly take it. Whatever your promised land is, go get it.

Troy: Yeah.

Fred: And like I said, some of them are comedic. I play a preacher on one of ‘em, from a store front church, and I scream, “READ!” (Laughs)

Troy: (Laughs)

Fred: And they start reading and I change the words up on ‘em. So they’re reading, ‘for this’ and I say, “No, for that,” then, “no, for this…” (laughs)

Troy: (Laughs)

Fred: It’s funny, but it’s still reading the Word of God.

Troy: Now, I have to say this: the spoken scriptural interludes on the album are a treat and really take me back to the “Inner Court” days with Radical for Christ… stuff like “The Communion Song” where there’s actual reading during the song,

Fred: Yeah!

Troy: And then like “Hear My Cry”…man! That stuff is just ripped from scripture, kind of like hearing people sing the Bible.

Fred: That’s just my style, man.

Troy: You’re credited with creating the sub-genre Urban Praise and Worship, but you described the Life in the Word project as “the other side” of your style. Do you feel this style and sound will appeal to a new, wider audience, or…?

Fred: On this one… it’s a little departure, but it’s not theeeee departure, you know what I’m sayin’? I didn’t wanna shock people too bad. But if they got to listen to “You Are My Dwelling Place” – which I sing on – they’re gonna hear a little alternative and rock edge to it.

Troy: The album features an ensemble of gifted singers such as Lowell Pye, Ericka Warren, Candace Laster, Michael Bethany, and Faith Anderson. What caused you to choose this particular group of singers?

Fred: Man, it’s like these cats…they can really sing! I reached out to Lowell because he’s a friend of mine. I think Lowell has an [amazing] voice. Some people I sit there and like everything they do. Lowell, when he sings, that’s me. He reminds me of John P. Kee, who’s my favorite male vocalist.

Troy: Yeah, probably for a lot of us. (chuckles)

Fred: So at the end of the day, Lowell was a no brainer. And when I asked him he was like, ‘yeah, man, yeah…I’ll do it.’

And then the rest of them kinda sing with me. They go out on the road with me, except Faith, who sings with Kirk [Franklin]. But it was an opportunity and they all jumped at the opportunity. I’ve always had a heart to help people

Troy: How much will we hear you, Fred, vocally on this new record?

Fred: I’m actually singing two songs on there. One of them is a remake, the full version of “Just to Be Close to You” with the verses and everything.

Troy: Yeah, I saw that. So, it sounds like this new album is really similar to the In Case You Missed It… project, which primarily featured and introduced a plethora of guest artists.

Fred: Absolutely. It’s just the same concept. I may even do an In Case You Missed It 2…  on this label. I may take some of my old music that people didn’t’ really catch onto, songs that I thought were great and nobody really listened to…

Troy: (Laughs)

Fred: And let somebody else do it. Folks will hear it and say, “Wow! I didn’t hear that song that way when he sang it.” So there’s an In Case You Missed It 2… coming, a Life in the Word 2 coming.

Troy: Should we expect to see solo projects on this new imprint by some of the guest artists you’ve introduced over the years…perhaps even solo work from Fred Hammond in the future?

Fred: Well hopefully, all of them. Hopefully all of them will get a chance to be able to do their own projects from this – especially in my camp.

And I’m looking to expand this into different voices and different topics.

Troy: Ok.

Fred: My daughter, BreeAnn, is a great vocalist, but I don’t think I should put her out there in the way where she has to go to churches and stand up, and do this and do that. But she can go to youth groups and sing to other 18- and 22-year-olds about what it feels like to be in love and lose love.

They don’t necessarily have to hear it from all from Rihanna, you know what I’m sayin’?

Troy: Yeah!

Fred:  But they can hear it from a woman with “this” instead of that perspective.

Troy: Wow.

Fred: So I want to have new voices. Then I have another guy who’s been out there, another brother. He has a great album. His name is Steve Huff.

Troy: Oh, yeah man! Steve, definitely.

Fred: That’s my dude. We just hooked up and I’m putting him out. He’s got a great album and I believe in it. He’s super urban. – I mean he’s got like 10, 12 songs of “God in Me,” and they’re all killin’! I mean they’re all killin’.

And then there’s another younger guy I got named Silas. He has another sound with another voice, and he’s talking about life. It sounds like a mixture of Hootie and the Blowfish meets…somebody else.

Troy: (Chuckles)

Fred: Honestly, it’s just different sounding music, and it may not all get radio, but there’s a way to get it out. People are getting 50 million hits on YouTube, and you’ve got Pandora radio and Fred radio…

Troy: Yeah, the game is definitely changing.

Fred: Right, the game is changing, and I love gospel radio but I understand that they just don’t have all the room to put everybody out there, so…

Troy: That’s true.

Fred: I’m gonna put out different forms of music.

Troy: Ok.

Fred: I have a jazz CD I’m putting out, but I’m not gonna do “Lord, Help Me to Hold Out” over a piano solo. No, I’m doing a straight-up smooth jazz album. It’s a musician album. I got a group and it’s a jazz CD, just with a Christian guy who happens to be playing jazz.

We’re going to talk about some regular stuff AND still have God and the gospel going in, because believe it or not, God cares about all of that.

Troy: He does.

Fred: He said “cast all your cares,” not your “gospel” cares or your “Christian cares,” but he said every care that you have cast on me, because I care for you.

Troy: After almost 30 years in the business producing, arranging – playing – are you ready to focus on something other than music, or is it still “all about the music?”

Fred: Music is the base, but man, I’m writing books. I figure the world has enough self-help books, so my books are fictional. They’re stories that I’ve met and seen in my lifetime – people dealing with childhood issues, murder. These are things that I’ve seen. Several of my friends have been killed, executed.

Troy: Man! (gasps)

Fred: That’s the kind of life I’ve dealt with, you know. I’ve been in the church and in the streets, so I’m gonna tell the story. But, I’m going to tell you where God shows up, how God heals that moment!

Troy: Right!

Fred: And it doesn’t have to sell a billion books. But it’s going to be unique.

Troy: I’m excited.

Fred: It’s a start, you know? One day, Commissioned had a record called “I’m Going On,” and people were excited. But, we also heard the other side: “it’s not as good as the Winans,” and “you guys aren’t big time…” I heard all of that.

But you still put something out, and you do another one and another one, until you look up and you’ve sold millions of records and you’re doing an interview talking about your first label. (Laughs)

Troy: (Laughs) That’s how it happens.

Fred: That’s it.

Troy: I want to say congratulations again. I hear the vision and I see that you are really taking the reigns, creating opportunities, not only for yourself, but for other people as well. I enjoyed the talk, man, and I hope you did as well.

Fred: Yes sir. Yeah, I appreciate you, man. Keep doing what you’re doing and anything you need to ask, just hit me up. We gotta work together.

Troy: Definitely.

Fred: Very good, man. Thanks.

Troy: You’re welcome. Take it easy.

*     *     *

Niiiiiiiiice!

Glad to hear, officially, what all the fuss is about over Fred and Universal Music.  And, I’m glad to know more about the direction he’s heading, musically– some of those projects (especially that jazz one)… I want them NOW!

So, what did you guys think of Troy’s interview with Fred Hammond?

I am honored to announce that I have just named contributing writer Troy Lilly an Associate Editor of GospelPundit.com.

Troy is a freelance writer and journalist, affiliated with the National Association of Black Journalists and the Washington Association of Black Journalists.  He also participates in the Urban Journalism Workshop, a partnership between NPR and the Washington Post, in which Troy mentors high school students in the DC-metro area.  In addition to all of that, Troy is a very gifted freelance photographer, with a more-than-impressive portfolio (click here).

Around these parts, we know Troy well by now… not only did he provide thoughtful weekly recaps of this season’s episodes of Sunday Best, he memorialized his experiences at the live recording of Jason Nelson and, most recently, provided an in-depth interview with San Franklin.  Plus, he’s got another major interview ready to run for you guys very soon.

In just several months, he’s proven himself to be an extraordinary asset to the team.  Not only have you all shown your respect and appreciation for his writing via comments, tweets and emails to me, I have witnessed, first-hand, his integrity and excellence in journalism.

I think the world of Troy’s ability.  And I’m blessed to know a guy with such a great heart of humility, coupled with a quiet confidence in his calling.  I am thrilled to have him on-board– and I do believe this website, and your enjoyment of it, will be even greater because of him.

Folks, will you help me congratulate Troy?  And follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/UrbanSophistic.

Congrats, man!

Troy Lilly, one of your favorite writers at GospelPundit.com, had a little chat that he wanted to share with you folks… I’ll let him tell you aaallll about it… Take it away, Troy!

~ ~ ~

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure to spend an afternoon with a new friend. Many of you know her by face and name. Even more of you know her by voice. She’s been featured in a couple recent Goodies posts right here on GospelPundit.com.

I’m talking about the one and only San Franklin.

She was in the Washington, D.C.-area as a guest vocalist, and we talked about friends, music, and ministry for quite a while. In reality, though, “the interview” lasted only a few minutes.  We spent the majority of the time catching up and clowning, as if we were old friends.

I came away from our meeting energized, having experienced a person who is both a dynamic singer and anointed minister with a contagious warm spirit. Some of her words will jump right off the screen.

*     *     *

Troy: It’s great to get to talk with you. I know you’re very busy, but I’m thankful you took a few moments of your time to talk with me today – I really appreciate that.

San: I appreciate you having me…I’m not that busy (laughs)

It’s great to even be considered to sit down and talk to the audience, talk to you. It’s an honor and privilege.

Troy: So, what brings you to the Maryland/DC area?

San: I was here for Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries. Bishop Johnson in Baltimore, Maryland had a family and friends week – it was all week long and yesterday was the outdoor festival with Vanessa Bell-Armstrong, Lisa Page Brooks, Angela Spivey, myself, Bernard Harris…a lot of people.

Troy: The greats (laughs). Cool. I saw you tweeting because I do follow you on Twitter…

San: (Laughs)

Troy: And I know there are a few people who weren’t here. Tell me about some of your other friends, people that you’re close to in the area, who you didn’t get to see.

San: Oh, I didn’t get to see Jason Nelson, Pastor Nelson; I was supposed to go by his church this morning – he’s a very dear friend of mine…

Troy: Wow, love him!

San: Holla Walla, I didn’t get to see him. Who else? Well…Richard Smallwood (laughs) is a good friend of mine. He actually was in my hometown, Chicago, Ill., at the Edwin Hawkins Love Fellowship Conference.

I’m actually a native of that conference and of that church. You know, I spent 12 years with Bishop Hawkins and that whole movement, and I didn’t get to go to the conference this year because I’m in this area working, so…it’s been great, though, even though I didn’t get to see my friends here, the ministry opportunity was absolutely phenomenal.

Troy: Speaking of ministry, just talking with you earlier, that was something I actually got to hear more about – your opinions and your knowledge. So share a little bit more about what you know and your experiences in ministry versus just singing.

San: Well, something that probably most people don’t know is I’m an evangelist. I’ve been preaching for almost 20 years.

Troy: Wow!

San: Of course I started singing first.

Troy: Right.

San: And most people who minister or pastor, you start with the singing or the musicianship, and then you move on. But, I have found a way – thanks be unto God – to combine both. So when I sing I’m ministering Word, and when I’m ministering Word I end up singing, so they’re one in the same to me.

Whereas, you have some people who separate them – singing ministry and preaching ministry – they’re just one in the same for me, and it’s just ministry, period. So I try to make it an everyday part of who I am and not just when I get before the people or before an audience, but just a part of who I am everyday.

Troy: As it relates to the industry, with you having a ministering background, and with you blending the two pretty easily, what do you think of the state of the gospel music industry and do you feel everyone is able to do that as effectively as you are?

San: I believe in this season we are slowly but surely gearing the industry back to ministry, because I think we had taken the focus off of ministry. We were so focused on our look and so focused on our sound, and our riffs and runs, and the talent moreso than what’s behind the person who’s singing.

Troy: Yeah.

San: We have so many people who are behind the scenes, who are on the underground side of the industry that are really ministering to God’s people, you know, and they’re not always the ones who are elevated or celebrated necessarily.

Troy: Right.

San: There are people on the underground circuit that are laying hands and people are being healed and they’re ministering to people’s mental states and their emotional states and restoring people spiritually, but they don’t get the visibility that some “in the industry” get.

And so I think God is having to switch us back to ministry-minded people because we focus too much on talent which doesn’t destroy any yokes, it doesn’t break any bondages, you know what I’m saying, which doesn’t bring us to a state of wholeness, which is where I believe God wants his people.

Troy: Wow, yeah.

San: I think God has to shift us back to that because we’re losing…we’re…what do we say out on the Internet, “epic failing” (laughs)…

Troy: (Laughs) Yeah, that’s a Twitter thing!

San: When it comes to ministry, you know what I’m saying, we #EPICFAIL (laughs)

Troy: (Laughs)

San: So I think God is trying to get us back to a place in ministry where we’re effective and relevant.

Troy: What’s going on at home for you, back in Nashville?

San:  Back in Nashville I’m Minister of Music at a church called Perfecting Faith Ministries with Pastor Dale Jones. It’s a great church.  In this season it’s a great place for me to call home. It’s always good to have somewhere you can come and be settled.

Other than that…I’m working on my project. Everyone says, “when is your project coming out, when is your project coming out?”

Troy: Yes, we want to know.

San: And I want it out just as much as everybody else does. I told God years and years ago, if I cannot produce a project where someone puts it on and is instantaneously healed of a disease, or a worry or broken relationship, then I don’t wanna record. Everybody’s making music…everybody’s putting out a cd…I want to be able to minister and make a difference in somebody’s life.

God spoke to me and said that “every song on your project will speak to you” relating to somewhere I’ve been in my life. Like the single “Arise”… I was listening to that song after coming out of a divorce, thinking I had failed…I remember the words of the song ministering to me: “Today is the day of a new horizon, there’s new life.”

Troy: Yes.

San: For my project, for me, I want to meet the needs of God’s people. I want to be relative and transparent. People are looking for someone to say “I’ve been where you are and I understand, I feel your pain, and I can get down there with you.” Because that’s what I want to do, it’s taking me a little longer produce than I would like.

Troy:  Well, it sounds like it will be worth the wait.

San: I hope so.

Troy: We appreciate that. Sometimes with people coming out with stuff back to back, we question the consistency…

San: Yes, yes (laughs).

Troy:  We appreciate you letting it be a slow, churning process for the better end result.

San: I think it’s like ice cream…

Troy: (LAUGHS)

San: (Laughs) You know what I’m saying – I love sweets! But I say that because you can get ice cream, but if you know anything about homemade ice cream, old time, down South…

Troy: Grandma’s ice cream (laughs) mmmm.

San: Grandma’s ice cream where you have to put it down in the bucket and put the salt on the ice, and you have to churn that thing, and sometimes your arm gets tired from turning, but when it comes out it’s the best thing you’ve ever tasted in your life.

Troy: I can’t think of a better analogy than that. Last thing.

What advice would you give to someone who’s trying to nurture their ministry and let that lead, and avoid being persuaded by the pressure of the industry to just put something out?

San: To anyone in the industry…that’s been in the industry for years waiting on God to move, or just came in the industry waiting on God to move (laughs), it goes back to the old formula. Seek you first the kingdom of God and [all] of his righteousness, and everything else will be added unto you.

Troy: That’s right!

San: And I think transparency is the key. Being true first to yourself. As long as you remain transparent to yourself, it’s easy for you to be transparent to others. I think transparency brings about GREAT ministry.

Troy: With that I’ll say I was blessed to be in your presence for this short period of time…

San: Aww. Thank you.

Troy: I want to thank you again for sitting and talking with me candidly and openly.

San: Aww, thank you for having me.

*     *     *

I really enjoyed that interview!  Shout-out to Troy for makin’ it happen and for doing an impeccable job on it!

Were you familiar with San’s ministry? (you should be– I featured her last month!)

Here, I’ll help… peep this video–

Talk to me! What do you think?!

Troy Lilly has HELD IT DOWN for the past several weeks, writing awesome recap after awesome recap of BET’s nationwide talent competition Sunday Best.  What better way to discuss the season finale at GospelPundit.com than in Troy’s own words?  Without any delay, here’s Troy Lilly…

*     *     *

It’s official – the people have spoken and the results are in.

LeAndria Johnson is the winner of BET’s Sunday Best for season three. Thousands from around the country auditioned, but in the end there could be only one. She won the title after viewers like you took to the Web and phone lines, casting votes online and via telephone and text.

She will receive a national recording contract and a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO.

But she didn’t have time to get caught up in celebrating. Immediately after she was named the winner, LeAndria debuted her first original song, “I Shall Leap Into My Destiny.” Sounds like she’s ready to leap forth into her new recording career.

LeAndria beat out the unlikeliest Sunday Best contestant yet, 79-year-old Elder Goldwire McLendon. Elder McLendon defied the myth that you have to be young to win a singing competition, and that age works against you. He showed that his seven decades of experience only helped him. That, and the anointing.

The show was awesome, too. The theme for the evening was “seasons.” Host Kirk Franklin said there’s a time for weeping. “A time to weep a time to laugh and a time to sing.” 

Representing the East Coast, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir opened the finale with their ubiquitous choir-favorite “Souled Out.” Choir members appeared in the audience and ran up on stage with Hezekiah Walker. They really got the house rockin’.

Each of the contestants performed a medley of songs that comprised their best showing during the competition. 

LeAndria Johnson sang, “I Love the Lord,” “He Was There All the Time,” and “In the Midst of It All.” 

Asked why she sings they way she does, LeAndria simply answered, “pain!” Before coming to Sunday Best she lost her house. In the audition she wore flip-flops and socks because that’s all she could find. She said at one point she had chosen death over life. But one song got her through: Yolanda Adams’ “In the Midst of It All. How ironic that she also sang it during the show. Yolanda was honored and said she feels the pain, but more importantly, the victory of LeAndria.

 Elder Goldwire McLendon began singing a few bars of  “Yes, Jesus Loves Me” with barely any music, and moved right into “The Battle Is The Lord’s,” another Yolanda song. He finished up with a characteristically energetic rendition of “He’s Keeping Me Alive.”

 One week before Elder McLendon auditioned for Sunday Best he heard God say he was moving into a new season of his life. “God will set you up if you stay in His will,” Elder McLendon said. Throughout the competition, it seemed like Elder McLendon had been set up by God to win. And he was certainly a worthy contender. Judge Tina Campbell said, “every time I experience you I experience the God that you love and live for.

Season Two mentor Donald Lawrence returned with a few special guests to showcase his quintessential hits. Season two contestants, Jessica Reedy and Latice Crawford, sang “Seasons,” and “Encourage Yourself” respectively. And Season Two winner, Y’Anna Crawley, sang a stripped-down version of “The Blessing of Abraham.” Together, they did a few bars of “Let the Word Do the Work.”

 But no one could have prepared for the special treat that came next.

God answered my personal prayer and this year’s mentor, Kim Burrell, FINALLY performed. And the wait was so worth it. She remixed “Oh, Lord” from her Everlasting Life album, freestyling the words up to recognize Sunday Best contestants Martha Buries, Dathan Thigpen, Tiffany Carlin-Laird and Orlando Wright. Her musical acumen is undeniable and reaches across so many genres. I would go as far to say she’s the finest gospel-jazz singer of our time.

In addition to the prizes given to the winner and runner-up, Kirk presented a generous donation of $30,000 on behalf of BET to the New Orleans’s Ellis Marsalis Center for Music. New Orleans native and saxophonist Calvin Johnson was the featured local musician this week. 

Season three of Sunday Best will go down in the books as a competition that redefined what a contestant should look like. It also showed, yet again, that the power of gospel music has no limit, and the healing power can often touch the person who sings it as much as those who hear it.

LeAndria Johnson’s win this year was a triumph over the competition, but equally a triumph in her personal life. As Kim Burrell warned her, she’ll have to start preparing for life as LeAndria “after the fact.”

*     *     *

Great recap, Troy.  Thanks!

NOW, what are we gonna do on Sunday evenings?!

Leave a comment and lemme know what you folks liked/disliked about the season finale!  And what do you think about how it all turned out?!

JUST IN!!!

LeAndria Johnson has just been announced the winner of this season of BET’s Sunday Best. After a season of really impressive vocal performances from an unlikely cast of contestants, LeAndria has triumphed as the people’s pick for this year’s nationwide competition!

GospelPundit.com contributing writer Troy Lilly is going to give you guys a FULL recap of the finale first thing in the morning, but in the meantime, let’s hear your thoughts on LeAndria’s win!