Live in London…Again!

        
  
Live in London - 20th Anniversary

Donnie McClurkin will be back in London for the concert and live recoding as he marks the 20th anniversary of the inconic “Live in London” album.

It will be held at New Wine Church on October 18th and 19th, 2019.

For more detail, visit the official event page or his official website for those who are planning the trip from the U.S.

34th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards

        
  

(LAS VEGAS) – The winners of the 2019 Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards have been announced at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room, Entertainment One
– Jekalyn Carr, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group
– Maranda Curtis, Open Heaven, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
– Todd Dulaney, Your Great Name, Entertainment One

SONG OF THE YEAR
WINNER:
Not Lucky, I’m Loved , Jonathan McReynolds, Terrell Demetrius Wilson & Anna B. Warner, Entertainment One
Nobody Like You Lord, Maranda Curtis & Anthony Rachel, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
Won’t He Do It, Makeba Riddick, Richard Shelton & Loren Hill, RCA Inspiration
You Know My Name (Live), Tasha Cobbs Leonard & Brenton Brown, Motown Gospel

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER:
Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room, Entertainment One
– Brian Courtney Wilson, A Great Work, Motown Gospel
– Kelontae Gavin, The Higher Experience, MBE/Tyscot
– Tye Tribbett, The Bloody Win, Motown Gospel

ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER:
Jekalyn Carr, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group
– Koryn Hawthorne, Unstoppable, RCA Inspiration
– Maranda Curtis, Open Heaven, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
– Tasha Page-Lockhart, The Beautiful Project, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings
– Tori Kelly, Hiding Place, Schoolboy/Capitol
* A tie in the Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year category resulted in having 5 nominees

GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
WINNER: The Walls Group, The Other Side, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings
– Donald Lawrence & Tri-City, Goshen 432 Hz, RCA Inspiration
– Isaiah D. Thomas and Elements of Praise, Still Here, Murchison Motion Pictures
– Judah Band, Gone Fishin’, Light Records

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Jabari Johnson, Day of Redemption, Entertainment One
– Cheryl Thomas Fortune, Simply Cheryl, LuDawn/Tyscot
– Phil Thompson, My Worship, Phil Thompson Worship/JamesTown
– PJ Morgan, The Transparency Project, IDMV Music Group

CD OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Make Room, Jonathan McReynolds, Entertainment One
Bible of Love, Snoop Dogg, RCA Inspiration
Open Heaven, Maranda Curtis, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
Your Great Name, Todd Dulaney, Entertainment One

CHOIR OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir, Run to the Altar, JH/Tyscot
– Dexter Walker & Zion Movement, Hope, IndieBlu Music
– The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, I Am Reminded: Live!, Brooklyn Tabernacle Music
– Vincent Tharpe and Kenosis, Super Excited, Empty Me Entertainment

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Jonathan McReynolds & Darryl “Lil Man” Howell, Make Room, Entertainment One
– Kirk Franklin, Ronald Hill, Phil Thornton, Clifton Lockhart, Tasha Page Lockhart, Myron Butler, Dontaniel Kimbrough, Zeek Listenbee, Cordell Walton, Edward “6Mile JP” Page, Charles “Ollie” Harris, Daniel Bryant, Bryan Popin & AyRon Lewis, The Beautiful Project, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings
– Kirk Franklin, Ronald Hill, Warryn Campbell and Phil Thornton, The Other Side, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings
– Todd Dulaney & Dontaniel Jamel Kimbrough, Your Great Name, Entertainment One

CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
WINNER: The Walls Group, The Other Side, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings
– Donald Lawrence & Tri-City, Goshen 432 Hz, RCA Inspiration
– God’s Chosen, God’s Chosen, Dream Label Group/Dream Gospel/GFavored Entertainment/Capitol Christian
– Judah Band, Gone Fishin‘, Light Records

TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Keep Pushin, Wonder Spirit/SRT/Shanachie
– Gospel Legends, Resting Easy, Humility Music Group
– Jarrell Smalls & Company, A New Season, Southern Wave/Get Ready/SRT
– Nu Tradition, Nu Tradition, Altmo Productions

CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room, Entertainment One
– Kelontae Gavin, The Higher Experience, MBE/Tyscot
– Todd Dulaney, Your Great Name, Entertainment One
– Tye Tribbett, The Bloody Win, Motown Gospel

TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: VaShawn Mitchell, Cross Music, Tyscot
– Earnest Pugh, Survive, EPM/Black Smoke
– Jarrell Smalls, A New Season, Southern Wave/Get Read/SRT
– Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Keep Pushin‘, Wonder Spirit/SRT/Shanachie

CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Tasha Page-Lockhart, The Beautiful Project, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings
– Benita Jones, The Evolution, IndieBlu Music
– Koryn Hawthorne, Unstoppable, RCA Inspiration
– Tori Kelly, Hiding Place, Schoolboy/Capitol

TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Jekalyn Carr, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group
– Maranda Curtis, Open Heaven, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
– Shana Wilson-Williams, Everlasting, Shana Wilson Ministries/IndieBlu
– Tammi Haddon, Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir – Run to the Altar , JH/Tyscot

CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Make Room, Jonathan McReynolds, Entertainment One
Bible of Love, Snoop Dogg, RCA Inspiration
The Higher Experience, Kelontae Gavin, MBE/Tyscot
Your Great Name, Todd Dulaney, Entertainment One

TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
WINNER: One Nation Under God, Jekalyn Carr, Lunjeal Music Group
A New Season, Jarrell Smalls & Company, Southern Wave/Get Ready/SRT
Run to the Altar, Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir, JH/Tyscot
The River, Keion D. Henderson, Eye Light Productions

URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE Or PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Not Lucky, I’m Loved, Jonathan McReynolds, Entertainment One
Forever, Jason Nelson, RCA Inspiration
Never Alone ft. Kirk Franklin, Tori Kelly, Schoolboy/Capitol
Reckless Love, Israel Houghton, RCA Inspiration

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Won’t He Do It, Casey Cross, RCA Inspiration
A Great Work, Matt Reed, Motown Gospel
For My Good, G. Randy Weston, Light Records
My Life; Grateful, Patrick Tohill, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings

TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir, Run to the Altar, JH/Tyscot
– Demetrius West & Jesus Promoters, ChoirOlogy: The Study of Choir Music, Blacksmoke Music Worldwide
– Dexter Walker & Zion Movement, Hope, IndieBlu Music
– The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, I Am Reminded: Live!, Brooklyn Tabernacle Music

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
WINNER: New Direction, When All God’s Children Get Together, New Haven Records
– Brent Jones & the Waco Community Choir, Open Your Mouth and Say Something, JDI Records
– Dr. Alyn E. Waller Presents Fresh Anointing, Totally, Enon Music Group
– Vincent Tharpe and Kenosis, Super Excited, Empty Me Entertainment

INSTRUMENTAL CD OF THE YEAR
– CATEGORY OMITTED

SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
WINNER: The Best of Fred Hammond, Fred Hammond, Verity/Sony Music
Bible of Love, Snoop Dogg, RCA Inspiration
Evidence, Elevation Collective, Elevation Worship Records
WOW Gospel 2018, Various Artists, RCA Inspiration

RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
WINNER: God Knows, Flame, Clear Sight Music
BLSD, Jor’Dan Armstrong, Seaq Management
I Ain’t Preaching to the Choir, Miz Tiffany, Digistoric Music
PRAISE, Emcee N.I.C.E., Gypsy City Music

YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Pure N Heart, “Be You” 15 Years Unplugged, Music2ChangeU
– Christian Bolar, Speak It, BGA Music Group
– Personal Praise, We are Personal Praise, RoBabies Records
– The Children Speak, Hey Young World, HOLYwood Records

QUARTET OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Keep Pushin‘, Wonder Spirit / SRT/Shanachie
– Gospel Legends, Resting Easy, Humility Music Group
– Jarrell Smalls & Company, A New Season, Southern Wave/Get Ready/SRT
– The Wardlaw Brothers, Stand There, TWB Records

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Israel Houghton, Road to DeMaskUs, RCA Inspiration
– Justin Foster, Open Heaven, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
– Keemon Leonard, Make Room, Entertainment One
– Octavious Holmes, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group

PRAISE & WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Your Great Name, Todd Dulaney, Entertainment One
Everlasting, Shana Wilson-Williams, Shana Wilson Ministries/IndieBlu
Open Heaven, Maranda Curtis, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade
The Higher Experience, Kelontae Gavin, MBE/Tyscot

GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

MAJOR MARKET OF THE YEAR
WINNER: WPZE Praise 102.5, Atlanta
– WGRB Inspiration 1390AM, Chicago
– WNAP 1110 AM, Philadelphia
– WYCA 92.3 FM WPRS-FM, Hammond/Chicago

LARGE MARKET OF THE YEAR
WINNER: WFMI-FM 100.9 FM, Virginia Beach
– WJXY 103.5 FM/93.7 FM, Myrtle Beach
– WOKB 1680AM, Orlando
– WXHL 89.1FM, Wilmington

MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR
WINNER: WCGL AM 1360/FM 94.7, Jacksonville
– WPZZ 104.7 FM, Richmond
– WREJ 101.3FM, Richmond
– WTJZ Praise 104.9FMj, Chesapeake

SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR
WINNER: WIMG 1300AM, Ewing
– WDJL-AM 1000, Huntsville
– WEHA GOSPEL 88.7 & 100.3 FM, Egg Harbor
– WHBT 1410 AM & 98.3 FM, Tallahassee

INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR
WINNER: uGospel Radio, http://uGospel.com
– GH3 Radio – “God’s House of Hip Hop,” http://www.gh3radio.com
– Gospel Central Radio, http://www.thegospelcentral.com
– SOAR Radio, http://soarradio.com

GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Dwight Stone, WPZE Praise 102.5, Atlanta, GA
– Linda Greenwood, WNAA 90.1 FM, Raleigh, NC
– Randi Myles, WDMK-HD2, Detroit, MI
– Sherry Mackey, WHAL 95.7, Memphis, TN

Aretha Franklin (1942 – 2018)

        
  

“Precious Lord, Take My Hand” at Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral (1968)

Yolanda Adams

“Amazing Grace” w/ Rev. James Cleveland

“Climbing Higher Mountains” (1972)

Donnie McClurkin

“Precious Lord, Take My Hand” (1984)

“Surely God Is Able” for Nelson Mandelas (1990)

Karen Clark Sheard

“The Impossible Dream” at Rosa Parks’ funeral (2005)

At Albertina Walker’s funeral (2010)

Travis Greene

McDonald’s GospelFest (2013)

“Rock Of Ages” at the New Bethel Baptist Church (2016)

Bernice King

“Precious Lord, Take My Hand” at Mahalia Jackson’s funeral (1972)


The 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards

        
  

Best Gospel Performance/Song

WINNER: Never Have To Be Alone
CeCe Winans; Dwan Hill & Alvin Love III, songwriters
Track from: Track from: Let Them Fall In Love

Too Hard Not To
Tina Campbell; Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters

You Deserve It
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise feat. Bishop Cortez Vaughn; David Bloom, JJ Hairston, Phontane Demond Reed & Cortez Vaughn, songwriters
Track from: You Deserve It

Better Days
Le’Andria Johnson
Track from: Greenleaf Soundtrack – Season 2

My Life
The Walls Group; Warryn Campbell, Eric Dawkins, Damien Farmer, Damon Thomas, Ahjah Walls & Darrel Walls, songwriters

Best Gospel Album

WINNER: Let Them Fall In Love
CeCe Winans

Crossover: Live From Music City
Travis Greene

Bigger Than Me
Le’Andria Johnson

Close
Marvin Sapp

Sunday Song
Anita Wilson

 

Edwin Hawkins (1943 – 2018)

        
  

NEW YORK — Edwin Hawkins, the gospel star best known for the crossover hit “Oh Happy Day” and as a major force for contemporary inspirational music, died Monday at age 74.

Hawkins died at his home in Pleasanton, California. He had been suffering from pancreatic cancer, publicist Bill Carpenter told The Associated Press.

Along with Andrae Crouch, James Cleveland and a handful of others, Hawkins was credited as a founder of modern gospel music. Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and numerous other singers had become mainstream stars by adapting gospel sounds to pop lyrics. Hawkins stood out for enjoying commercial success while still performing music that openly celebrated religious faith.

An Oakland native and one of eight siblings, Hawkins was a composer, keyboardist, arranger and choir master. He had been performing with his family and in church groups since childhood and in his 20s helped form the Northern California State Youth Choir.

Their first album, “Let Us Go into the House of the Lord,” came out in 1968 and was intended for local audiences. But radio stations in the San Francisco Bay Area began playing one of the album’s eight tracks, “Oh Happy Day,” an 18th century hymn arranged by Hawkins in call-and-response style.

“Oh Happy Day,” featuring the vocals of Dorothy Combs Morrison, was released as a single credited to the Edwin Hawkins Singers and became a million-seller in 1969, showing there was a large market for gospel songs and for inspirational music during the turbulent era of the late 1960s.

“I think our music was probably a blend and a crossover of everything that I was hearing during that time,” Hawkins told blackmusic.com in 2015. “We grew up hearing all kinds of music in our home. My mother, who was a devout Christian, loved the Lord and displayed that in her lifestyle.

“My father was not a committed Christian at that time but was what you’d call a good man,” he said. “And, of course, we heard from him some R&B music but also a lot of country and western when we were younger kids.”

In 1970, the Hawkins singers backed Melanie on her top 10 hit “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” and won a Grammy for best soul gospel performance for “Oh Happy Day.”

Meanwhile, George Harrison would cite “Oh Happy Day” as inspiration for his hit “My Sweet Lord,” and Glen Campbell reached the adult contemporary charts with his own version of the Hawkins performance. Elvis Presley, Johnny Mathis and numerous others also would record it.

Hawkins went on to make dozens of records and won four Grammys in all, including for the songs “Every Man Wants to Be Free” and “Wonderful!” In 2007, he was voted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame. He also toured on occasion with younger brother Walter Hawkins, a Grammy winner who died in 2010.

Edwin Hawkins is survived by his siblings Carol, Feddie, Daniel and Lynette.