September is Gospel Music Heritage Month!

To celebrate, this site will… well, there’s going to be a conference on… wait, no… an awards show will honor…

Nevermind. September is Gospel Music Heritage Month and, every year, very little is done to celebrate it. I’m chiefly guilty of it– I think I may have attempted to begin thinking about doing something a couple of years back.

A bit of background… the country has been celebrating Gospel Music Heritage Month since 2008, after Congress passed legislation acknowledging September as the month to honor gospel music. The initiative was spearheaded by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) and the National Recording Academy for Arts & Sciences, Gospel Music Channel (now known as gmc) and the Gospel Music Association.

But did you even know it was Heritage Month? Do you support or celebrate it?

I bet you’re not among the 864 people who “like” its official Facebook fan page, nor are you among the 37 people who follow its official Twitter profile (don’t feel bad, I just learned of it as I wrote this). And I know you don’t visit the GospelMusicHeritage.com website, which now simply redirects to the homepage of gmc, the organization that hosted the web address as the movement grew.

Ok, it’s not completely as desolate as I’m making it seem.

At the top of this month, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosted its 3rd annual “Evolution of Gospel” celebration in honor of Heritage Month. With a “Kennedy Center Honors…” type of vibe, the night honored the contributions of Dr. Bobby Jones, Cathy Hughes and First Lady Michelle Obama, who was unable to attend. The evening featured performances by Kirk Franklin, Richard Smallwood, Marvin Sapp and more.

And Heritage Month’s social media properties are hinting at some OFFICIAL event taking place in Houston, TX this month, though they haven’t announced a date or location.

My thought is that, because the gospel music community does not have an official, unified trade organization representing it, there is no group charged with really celebrating anything in it, including Heritage Month. Plenty of organizations– from SAGMA to GMWA, GMA to BMI, NARAS to various acronyms in between– have done their part to honor the music and culture, but these groups are often overworked and understaffed, with other primary corporate objectives. Their celebrations are splintered across the country and across the calendar year. Who can plan a month’s worth of unified gospel music activities?!

Again, this is not a knock against anyone– GospelPundit.com hasn’t exactly been the hub of Heritage Month features, trivia and giveaways. I tend to tell myself “ahhh, next year!”

But my observations do raise the question– we don’t really celebrate Gospel Music Heritage Month, do we?

If you agree, fine. If you disagree, tell me where the party is and let’s have at it.

Either way, I think we all need to do a bit more.

Fred Hammond’s new album, titled God, Love & Romance, will hit stores on January 31, 2012, according to a message he sent on Twitter.

The project’s first single, “I Feel Good,” should be ready soon.

I’m enjoying some of the genre-broadening music that Fred has been recording lately. He’s an excellent musician with tons of ideas, so I’m looking forward to this new project!

This week, James Fortune announced on Twitter that his new single, “Still Able,” is available NOW on iTunes!

His full album will hit stores in early 2012, but you can check out “Still Able” and buy it right here, right now:

Mary Mary is inviting fans to an exclusive tour rehearsal in Los Angeles, CA tomorrow night, January 28, 2011, at 7pm PT.

It’s only available for LA-area fans, but if you’re out that way, I encourage you to email and enter to win.  It’s probably going to be a really dope opportunity.

Details are available at Mary Mary’s official website.

Anyone entering???

For the past few days, Mary Mary has been announcing that, once they reach 75,000 followers on Twitter, they would release a new song from their new project.

Last night, they blew right past that mark and, true to their word, they’ve released a new song– “Something Bigger” from their upcoming album, titled Something Big.

It. Is. Simply. Dope.

Take a listen–

Something Bigger by Mary Mary Music

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.

Word has it that Montell Jordan is retiring from R&B to pursue full-time ministry.  According to Twitter messages sent from his account today, he will be the new Worship Pastor at Victory World Church in Norcross, Georgia.

Well, alright then!  I guess THIS is how we do it.

Praise God for ya!

Word has it that Myron Butler and his wife, Timberlyn, are expecting another child!  Myron made the announcement yesterday afternoon on Twitter.

The couple already has two beautiful children, Mya and Myles.  Their new “addition” should be arriving in early summer of 2011.

Let’s thank God for this blessing, as well as pray for a safe and healthy pregnancy!

Word has it that Kierra Sheard is getting married, with news of her engagement spreading across the web on Saturday evening.  The blessed beau is Pastor Welton T. Smith IV, of Detroit, MI.

Even cousin J Moss sent a congratulatory message, sending a photo of her ring via Twitter (niiiiice!).

Mega congrats to Kierra & Welton.  Let’s pray for a beautiful, lasting and God-glorifying union!

Full disclosure– I love tons of new artists, but rarely get excited about ‘em.

It’s just that the concept of “longevity” in the gospel music industry is becoming increasingly foreign (maybe I’ll do a blog post about that later), so I rarely put my eggs of excitement into any new artist’s basket.

Immediately after listening to track 3 of More Than I Ever Had, the new album from developing group Rashad McPherson & Divine Purpose, I chucked away a few worshipful tears and immediately went to call Rashad McPherson’s team.  My sentiments: I am more passionate about this group’s raw ability and potential than ANY new artist I have seen in gospel music in a while.

Why?  A couple of reasons.

The artist format– frontman with an ensemble behind him– is familiar, but fresh because each of the singers with him can sing the walls DOWN (I’ve already got a personal fave from among them!).  The music is beautiful.  Just downright beautiful– lyrically, melodically, instrumentally.  McPherson has captured the sound of authentic “gospel,” and gives just enough to stir up nostalgic nuances of Kirk Franklin, Donald Lawrence or Hezekiah Walker, while still taking us on a musical journey into new terrain.

Rashad McPherson is a Berklee College of Music grad, as evident in the superb musicality you’ll hear in the tunes.  Standout tracks for me are “Everything You Are,” “The Promise,” “You’re My Reason For Breathing,” “I Would Be Lost Without You,” “He Made Me Well” and “More Than I Ever Had.”

I kid you not, nor do I intend to deceive and waste your money– if you adore contemporary gospel music by ensembles, you will not be disappointed by this project.  I endorse it wholeheartedly.  Big time.

To prove my point, I convinced Rashad McPherson to let me stream three tracks (I’m too excited) for you guys to listen to!

CLICK HERE to launch the PunditPlayer and Check ‘Em Out on the tracks ”Everything You Are,” “I Would Be Lost Without You” and “More Than I Ever Had.”  Geez… I also kinda wanna add “The Promise,” but I’ll wait… I believe you’ll still get a dose of what this phenomenal group has to offer.

And if you like what you’re hearing, listen to more and grab a copy of your own at CDBaby.com.  Also, make sure you connect with them on Facebook (click here) and on Twitter (click here).

Okay, folks– what do you think of what you’ve heard so far???