EXCLUSIVE from Associate Editor Troy Lilly…

I love good music and good food. And boy did I get an overdose of both at the NABJ Gospel Brunch during convention for the National Association of Black Journalists in San Diego, California on Saturday.

CeCe Winans was this year’s featured artist, and she dropped by to feed our souls with her music as we feasted on a delicious brunch assortment. She started by revisiting the upbeat singles “Hallelujah Praise,” “Pray” and “Waging War” from her three most recent albums.  But then there was a change of pace a bit because, as CeCe put it, she “gets really excited about the slow songs.”

Just before she moved on, though, she revealed that her son Alvin Love III had traveled with her and was actually singing backup with her on stage. How cool is that? He did an awesome job, by the way, and she praised him just enough to make him blush – the way only a mother can.

She sang “He’s Concerned” next, a song recorded right after her oldest brother, Ronald, passed away in 2005. It was clear that this song had a deeper meaning for her. For nearly ten minutes, she talked about God’s concern for each of us, his children, and asked everyone in the audience to place a hand on our hearts. As you can imagine, tears began to flow around the room.

After everyone recovered from “He’s Concerned,” she closed the set with “We Welcome You (Holy Father),” the beautiful worship ballad from her Thy Kingdom Come album. Although I love to eat, I’m sure you understand that the music was the most satisfying treat at the brunch. This was also her second invitation to NABJ; she graced the Gospel Brunch in 1996 when the conference was in Nashville, Tennessee.

Following the performance, I spoke with CeCe briefly.  Here’s what she had to say:

What are your thoughts on the gospel music industry at the moment?

CeCe: I think we have a lot of great talent – we’ve always had great talent in gospel – but I think we’ve got to come up with more platforms for some of the newer artists. And I wonder if the next generation will recognize and heed the wisdom of the gospel greats.

You just released a compilation album, Songs of Emotional Healing. What’s next for you?

CeCe: Well, we’re taking the “Always Sisters, Forever Brothers” conference on the road – nationwide and maybe international, possibly Africa. So far it’s been held in Tennessee at Belmont University, but we want to expand.

What memories can you share of the late Bishop Walter Hawkins?

CeCe: Wow! Well, I will never forget the first time I saw Walter, the first thing that I thought was, ‘what kind of perm does he have in his head?’ I really did! But also, the Winans, we started out by emulating the Hawkins family. We wanted to be like them and I truly miss Walter very much.

Well, who keeps you looking so put together all the time?

CeCe: I’m actually a licensed cosmetologist, and I don’t have anyone on the road with me, so I use what I know to help myself out, you know what I mean? I know a few things.

You’ve always recorded music with a contemporary and R&B sound. What has kept you from crossing into secular territory like some gospel artists have decided to do?

CeCe: When you know what your purpose is, and what you’re here to do, it’s not hard. It’s never been a hard choice for me. And I’m not passing judgment on any gospel artists that have. However, there have been things that we [Bebe & CeCe] have done where I look back and say, ‘Lord, why did we do that?’ Like when we appeared on the Martin show back in the 90s. We got on the set and it was really a mess. I was said “God if you can use this to bless, then please do.”

I’ve always been a fan of CeCe’s music, but I can truly say now that I love her as a person, too.

Folks, if you don’t have cable, don’t get gmc, or just plain ol’ missed the Walter Hawkins Tribute Concert altogether, you can watch it at gmc’s official website by clicking RIGHT HERE.

Love it!

The Walter Hawkins Tribute Concert airs THIS SUNDAY at 8pm ET on gmc, but someone from the balcony recorded Ledisi’s performance and posted it a tad EARLY!

Peep it here–

Who else is lookin’ forward to SUNDAY?! YESSSSSS!

It’s just about 11am PT, which means you can now visit KTVU’s website for streaming footage of the homegoing service for Walter Hawkins:

http://www.ktvu.com/video/24333743/index.html

The homegoing service for Bishop Walter Hawkins will be streamed LIVE today at 11am PT/2pm ET, from Oakland, CA, on www.ktvu.com.

KTVU is a local FOX affiliate in the San Francisco Bay area.  I sure hope they’ve got good bandwidth…

And don’t forget– you can catch the musical tribute to Bishop Hawkins, which was held last night at the Paramount Theatre, exclusively on gmc this Sunday, July 25th, at 8pm ET.

From the family and friends of Walter Hawkins, to Shawn McLemore and Darwin Hobbs, there have been PLENTY of folks to pray for lately.

Today, we’re back with another addition to The Prayer List at GospelPundit.com– this week, I’m adding Jacky Clark Chisholm.

Nothing’s wrong, that I know of– this is just what we do!

As one of the eldest members of the famed Clark Sisters, Jacky is known for her smooth and subtle tone, and as the spokesperson for the female gospel group.  She does a lot beyond the group, as well, and I think we need to edify her through prayer.  Join me, fam?

Father, thank You for the life of Jacky Clark Chisholm.  Thank You for her heart of servanthood, for her humility and for her grace.  Thank You for equipping her with every good gift that she would need to fulfill Your purposes, and to glorify You through her life.

Lord, I pray for peace in her life.  I pray that Your peace, that surpasses all understanding, would guard Jacky’s heart and mind through Christ Jesus.  I pray that she wouldn’t be anxious for anything, but that she would rest in You for all things.  I pray that You would guide her with wisdom and clarity as it relates to any decisions she needs to make.  I pray that she continues to trust in You as her anchor.

God, continue to anoint Jacky for ministry, whether it’s on stage, in her church, or in her day-to-day life.  Please continue to reveal aspects of her being, as You created it, that will be used for bigger and greater things for Your Kingdom.  Shower blessings of love down on her in a way that’s almost tangible.

Father, bless Jacky’s family– from her husband and children to her siblings and extended family.  Draw them even closer to one another, that You would be glorified by their testimonies and be exalted.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Okay, folks… post your prayers here, in the comment section!

Unfortunately, there have been LOTS of erroneous reports about the musical tribute to Walter Hawkins, which will be taking place tonight at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre. I have heard from a COMPLETELY reliable source about how it’s all going down–

Sorry to tell ya, but word has it that THE TRIBUTE WILL NOT STREAM LIVE tonight.  The homegoing service, however, likely WILL stream tomorrow morning at 11am PT.  Details about that may be at Love Center’s site, but are not presently posted.

So, how will you see the tribute, you ask?!

Word has it that gmc will be airing it this Sunday, July 25th from 8pm to 10pm ET…

Tunin’ in???

If you know me, you probably know that this is my favorite gospel song ever, in the history of any and every gospel song ever written or recorded.  This is it.  It’s “Thank You,” by Walter Hawkins, featuring Yvette Flunder on lead.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Is it just me, or does anyone else reeeeeallly hope the powers-that-be at BMI will honor Walter Hawkins at their annual BMI Trailblazers Awards during Stellar Awards weekend in Nashville this January???

The only problem– BMI honored The Hawkins Family in 2006.  In that tribute, they included music from both Walter & Edwin… too much to do a repeat?

I dunno.  But oooh, it’s just such a PERFECT fit.  Then, broadcast that bad boy on gmc again?!  Whaaat?!

Come on, somebody… is it just me?!

Nothing monumental to report, though Forever Jones, Fred Hammond and Brian Courtney Wilson all experienced sales increases that pushed them higher in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Gospel Albums charts.

In fact, Forever Jones had the greatest sales gain of any gospel album last week… g’head guys!

The full rundown looks like this…

#1 | Marvin Sapp – Here I Am
#2 | WOW Gospel 2010
#3 | Trip Lee – Between Two Worlds
#4 | Fred Hammond – Love Unstoppable
#5 | Forever Jones – Get Ready
#6| Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love
#7 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC – Souled Out
#8 | BeBe & CeCe Winans – Still
#9 | DeWayne Woods – My Life’s Lyric
#10 | Juanita Bynum – More Passion

What I’m kinda hoping for is that something from Walter Hawkins’ catalogue will pop into the top 10 next week… I’ll be taking down the playlist I made for him this weekend– maybe you’ll make a coupla purchases???

What do you think of the charts this week?  Of the projects listed above, whose albums do you NOT have?