Category: general

Billboard Magazine announced the Year End Charts for 2017. The below are Top 5 Gospel Artists of the Year and their positions in other charts.

Tamela Mann
1 – Top Gospel Artists
1 – Top Gospel Albums – One Way
2 – Gospel Album Artists
2 – Hot Gospel Songs – Change Me
2 – Hot Gospel Songs Artists

J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise
2 – Top Gospel Artists
1 – Hot Gospel Songs Artists
1 – Hot Gospel Songs – You Deserve It
9 – Gospel Album Artists

Travis Greene
3 – Top Gospel Artists
3 – Top Gospel Albums – The Hill
3 – Hot Gospel Songs Artists
4 – Gospel Album Artists

Tasha Cobbs Leonard
4 – Top Gospel Artists
1 – Gospel Album Artists
5 – Top Gospel Albums – Heart. Passion. Pursuit

Kirk Franklin
5 – Top Gospel Artists
3 – Gospel Album Artists
4 – Top Gospel Albums – Losing My Religion

Best Gospel Performance/Song

WINNER: God Provides
Tamela Mann; Kirk Franklin, songwriter
Track from: One Way
Label: TillyMann Music;
Publisher(s): Second Half Music Publishing

It’s Alright, It’s Ok
Shirley Caesar featuring Anthony Hamilton; Stanley Brown & Courtney Rumble, songwriters
Track from: Fill This House
Label: Light Records/Entertainment One;
Publisher(s): Stan Brown Music/Courtney Adrianna Rumble

You’re Bigger [Live]
Jekalyn Carr; Allundria Carr, songwriter
Track from: The Life Project [Live]
Label: LUNJEAL Music Group/Entertainment One;
Publisher(s): ALJELUN Publishing

Made A Way [Live]
Travis Greene; Travis Greene, songwriter
Track from: The Hill [Live]
Label: RCA Inspiration;
Publisher(s): Greenelight International

Better
Hezekiah Walker; Jason Clayborn, Gabriel Hatcher & Hezekiah Walker, songwriters
Track from: Azusa: The Next Generation 2- Better
Label: Entertainment One/Azusa;
Publisher(s): JayClay Publishing/Luv-Ki/Phat Chordz Productions

Best Gospel Album

WINNER: Losing My Religion
Kirk Franklin
Label: Fo Yo Soul Recordings/RCA Records

Listen
Tim Bowman Jr.
Label: Lifestyle Music Group/Motown Gospel

Fill This House
Shirley Caesar
Label: Light Records/Entertainment One

A Worshipper’s Heart [Live]
Todd Dulaney
Label: Entertainment One/Worship

Demonstrate [Live]
William Murphy
Label: RCA Inspiration

32nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Nominees

Central City Productions announced today the nominees in 26 categories for the 2017 Stellar Awards. Hailed as an “epic night in gospel music,” this year’s Stellar Awards will return to the Las Vegas Orleans Arena on Saturday, March 25, 2017. The hosts will be Anthony Brown and Erica Campbell. The telecast will premiere on TV One Sunday, April 9 at 7 p.m. ET with encores at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET. In addition, the Stellar Awards will air in national broadcast syndication on 170 stations in over 150 markets around the country from April 14 – May 7, 2017.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
JEKALYN CARR, THE LIFE PROJECT, LUNJEAL MUSIC GROUP/eONE MUSIC
KIRK FRANKLIN, LOSING MY RELIGION, FO YO SOUL/RCA RECORDS
TAMELA MANN, ONE WAY, TILLY MANN
WILLIAM MCDOWELL, SOUNDS OF REVIVAL, DELIVERY ROOM MUSIC/ eONE MUSIC

SONG OF THE YEAR
“YOU’RE BIGGER”, ALLUNDRIA CARR & ALLEN CARR, THE LIFE PROJECT (JEKALYN CARR)
“GOD PROVIDES”, KIRK FRANKLIN, ONE WAY (TAMELA MANN)
“MADE A WAY”, TRAVIS GREENE, THE HILL (TRAVIS GREENE)
“YOU DESERVE IT” (SINGLE), JJ HAIRSTON & YOUTHFUL PRAISE

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
TODD DULANEY, A WORSHIPPER’S HEART, eONE MUSIC
TRAVIS GREENE, THE HILL, RCA INSPIRATION
DONNIE MCCLURKIN, THE JOURNEY (LIVE), RCA INSPIRATION
HEZEKIAH WALKER, AZUSA THE NEXT GENERATION 2: BETTER, AZUSA / eONE MUSIC

ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
BRI (BRIANA BABINEAUX), KEYS TO MY HEART, MARQUIS BOONE/TYSCOT RECORDS
SHIRLEY CAESAR, FILL THIS HOUSE, LIGHT RECORDS/ eONE MUSIC
JEKALYN CARR, THE LIFE PROJECT, LUNJEAL MUSIC GROUP/ eONE MUSIC
TAMELA MANN, ONE WAY, TILLY MANN

GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
MYRON BUTLER & LEVI, ON PURPOSE, MOTOWN GOSPEL
LIVRE’, TRIBE OF JOSHUA, GLORY 2 GLORY/RAL A SONY COMPANY
VIRTUE, FEARLESS, MIXED BAG ENTERTAINMENT
BRYAN ANDREW WILSON RODERICK GILES & GRACE, OVERFLOW, BRYAN’S SONGS/CE MUSIC/MRI/SONY RED

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BRI (BRIANA BABINEAUX), KEYS TO MY HEART, MARQUIS BOONE/TYSCOT RECORDS
ENON TABERNACLE, ALYN E. WALLER PRESENTS ENON TABERNACLE: THE EXPERIENCE, ENON MUSIC GROUP
LIVRE’, TRIBE OF JOSHUA, GLORY 2 GLORY/RAL A SONY COMPANY
DEBORAH JOY WINANS, GREENLEAF SOUNDTRACK, MALACO RECORDS

CD OF THE YEAR
A WORSHIPPER’S HEART, TODD DULANEY, eONE MUSIC
LOSING MY RELIGION, KIRK FRANKLIN, FO YO SOUL/RCA RECORDS
THE HILL, TRAVIS GREENE, RCA INSPIRATION
ONE WAY, TAMELA MANN, TILLY MANN

CHOIR OF THE YEAR
CHARLES BUTLER & TRINITY, MAKE IT, ANOINTED SOUNDS/ eONE MUSIC
CHICAGO MASS CHOIR, WE GIVE YOU PRAISE, NEW HAVEN RECORDS
ENON TABERNACLE, ALYN E. WALLER PRESENTS ENON TABERNACLE: THE EXPERIENCE, ENON MUSIC GROUP
HEZEKIAH WALKER, AZUSA THE NEXT GENERATION 2: BETTER, AZUSA INC./ eONE MUSIC

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
KIRK FRANKLIN,RON HILL, MONICA COATES, SHAUN MARTIN & MAX STARK, LOSING MY RELIGION (KIRK FRANKLIN), FO YO SOUL/RCA RECORDS
GEO BIVINS, TRAVIS GREENE & VICTOR NAVEJAR, THE HILL (TRAVIS GREENE), RCA INSPIRATION
MYRON BUTLER, TAMELA MANN, KIRK FRANKLIN, TIMBERLAND, ERIC DAWKINS, KING LOGAN, SHAUN MARTIN & DAVID MANN, ONE WAY (TAMELA MANN), TILLY MANN
DONALD LAWRENCE FOR QUIET WATER ENTERTAINMENT & HEZEKIAH WALKER FOR HEZHOUSE ENTERTAINMENT, AZUSA THE NEXT GENERATION 2: BETTER (HEZEKIAH WALKER), AZUSA INC./ eONE MUSIC

CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR
MYRON BUTLER & LEVI, ON PURPOSE, MOTOWN GOSPEL
GI, PRAY AND DON’T WORRY, BGA MUSIC GROUP
LIVRE’, TRIBE OF JOSHUA, GLORY 2 GLORY/RAL A SONY COMPANY
VIRTUE, FEARLESS, MIXED BAG ENTERTAINMENT

CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
TRAVIS GREENE, THE HILL, RCA INSPIRATION
CHARLES JENKINS, THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS, INSPIRED PEOPLE
JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS, SESSIONS, eONE MUSIC
HEZEKIAH WALKER, AZUSA THE NEXT GENERATION 2: BETTER, AZUSA INC./ eONE MUSIC

TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
LUTHER BARNES, THE FAVOR OF GOD, SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT
FRED HAMMOND, WORSHIP JOURNAL LIVE, RCA INSPIRATION
DONNIE MCCLURKIN, THE JOURNEY (LIVE), RCA INSPIRATION
BRYAN ANDREW WILSON, OVERFLOW, BRYAN’S SONGS/CE MUSIC/MRI/SONY RED

CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
BRI (BRIANA BABINEAUX), KEYS TO MY HEART, MARQUIS BOONE/TYSCOT RECORDS
LATICE CRAWFORD, DIARY OF A CHURCH GIRL, LATICE CRAWFORD MUSIC
JANICE GAINES, GREATEST LIFE EVER, MOTOWN GOSPEL
TIFF JOY, TIFF JOY, WALWAY ENTERTAINMENT/TYSCOT RECORDS

TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
LEMMIE BATTLES, WE GIVE YOU PRAISE, NEW HAVEN RECORDS
SHIRLEY CAESAR, FILL THIS HOUSE, LIGHT RECORDS/ eONE MUSIC
JEKALYN CARR, THE LIFE PROJECT, LUNJEAL MUSIC GROUP/ eONE MUSIC
TAMELA MANN, ONE WAY, TILLY MANN

CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR
A WORSHIPPER’S HEART, TODD DULANEY, eONE MUSIC
LOSING MY RELIGION, KIRK FRANKLIN, FO YO SOUL/RCA RECORDS
THE HILL, TRAVIS GREENE, RCA INSPIRATION
MASTERPIECE, DEITRICK HADDON, eONE MUSIC

TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR
FILL THIS HOUSE, SHIRLEY CAESAR, LIGHT RECORDS/ eONE MUSIC
WE GIVE YOU PRAISE, CHICAGO MASS CHOIR, NEW HAVEN RECORDS
WORSHIP JOURNAL LIVE, FRED HAMMOND, RCA INSPIRATION
ONE WAY, TAMELA MANN, TILLY MANN

URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE Or PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
THE ANTHEM: A WORSHIPPER’S HEART, TODD DULANEY, eONE MUSIC
YOU DESERVE IT (SINGLE), JJ HAIRSTON & YOUTHFUL PRAISE, JAMESTOWN MUSIC/ eONE MUSIC
GOD PROVIDES, ONE WAY, TAMELA MANN, TILLY MANN
BETTER, AZUSA THE NEXT GENERATION 2: BETTER, HEZEKIAH WALKER, AZUSA / eONE MUSIC

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
ROCK JACOBS, “WANNA BE HAPPY” – LOSING MY RELIGION (KIRK FRANKLIN), FO YO SOUL/RCA RECORDS
WILL THOMAS OF SPACE CHERRY FILMS, “INTENTIONAL”, THE HILL (TRAVIS GREENE), RCA INSPIRATION
DEREK BLANKS, “THE WAY THAT YOU LOVE ME”, SESSIONS (JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS), eONE MUSIC
MARK CLEMENT, “BETTER”, AZUSA THE NEXT GENERATION 2: BETTER (HEZEKIAH WALKER), AZUSA INC./ eONE MUSIC

TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR
LUTHER BARNES & THE RESTORATION WORSHIP CENTER CHOIR, THE FAVOR OF GOD, SHANACHIE ENTERTAINMENT CORP
CHICAGO MASS CHOIR, WE GIVE YOU PRAISE, NEW HAVEN RECORDS
ENON TABERNACLE, ALYN E. WALLER PRESENTS ENON TABERNACLE: THE EXPERIENCE, ENON MUSIC GROUP
HOWARD GOSPEL CHOIR OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY, GLORIOUS GOD, HOWARD GOSPEL CHOIR

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR
CHARLES BUTLER & TRINITY, MAKE IT, ANOINTED SOUNDS/eONE MUSIC
BISHOP ANDREW MERRITT & STARLIGHT GATE MASS CHOIR, SATURATE US, BAJADA RECORDS
SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS FEATURING HSRA, ROYALTY, SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS/ATOMIC K RECORDS
HEZEKIAH WALKER, AZUSA THE NEXT GENERATION 2: BETTER, AZUSA INC./EONE MUSIC

SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR
GLORIOUS GOD, HOWARD GOSPEL CHOIR OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY, HOWARD GOSPEL CHOIR
ROYALTY, SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS FEATURING HSRA, SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS/ATOMIC K RECORDS
GREENLEAF SOUNDTRACK, VARIOUS ARTISTS, MALACO RECORDS
WOW GOSPEL 2016, VARIOUS ARTISTS, RCA INSPIRATION

RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR
SURRENDER, BIZZLE, GOD OVER MONEY RECORDS
IT’S COMPLICATED, DA’ TRUTH, NEXT MUSIC/MIXED BAG
THE GLORY ALBUM, CHRISTON GRAY, FO YO SOUL RECORDS/RCA RECORDS
I AM JUSTICE, CANTON JONES, CAJO INTERNATIONAL

YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR
CHOIRBOI CAM, THE DESTINY PROJECT, INDEPENDENT
JOSHUA’S TROOP, IT’S MY TIME, NEW HAVEN RECORDS
KINGDOM KIDS WORLDWIDE, AFTERSCHOOL PARTY REMIX, HEADSTRATE ENTERTAINMENT
PURE-N-HEART, ALPHAEUS ANDERSON PRESENTS PURE-N-HEART YOUTH PSALMS HYMNS & SPIRITUAL SONGS, MUSIC2CHANGEU

QUARTET OF THE YEAR
DA CHOZEN BROTHAZ, THE BLUEPRINT OF D.C.B., D.C.B. INC.
KEITH “WONDERBOY” JOHNSON, TIMELESS MUSIC MOVEMENT VOLUME 1, WONDERSPIRIT PRODUCTIONS RECORDS
SHAWN JONES AND THE BELIEVERS, VICTORY, HUMILITY MUSIC
LIL’ JAY AND THE SPIRITUAL BOYS, RATED R*, T.S.B. MUSIC GROUP

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR
JEFF GILLIGAN, LOSING MY RELIGION (KIRK FRANKLIN), FO YO SOUL/RCA RECORDS
PAUL GROSSO, FILL THIS HOUSE (SHIRLEY CAESAR), LIGHT RECORDS/eONE MUSIC
D LACEY MAYSON MINOR & KESTON MCKINNON, ONE WAY (TAMELA MANN), TILLY MANN
ANNIE STOLL, THE HILL (TRAVIS GREENE), RCA INSPIRATION

PRAISE & WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR
THE LIFE PROJECT, JEKALYN CARR, LUNJEAL MUSIC GROUP/eONE MUSIC
A WORSHIPPER’S HEART, TODD DULANEY, eONE MUSIC
THE HILL, TRAVIS GREENE, RCA INSPIRATION
SOUNDS OF REVIVAL, WILLIAM MCDOWELL, DELIVERY ROOM MUSIC/ eONE MUSIC

Billboard Magazine announced the Year End Charts for 2016. The below are Top 5 Gospel Artists of the Year and their positions in other charts.

Kirk Franklin
1 – Top Gospel Artists
1 – Gospel Albums Artists
1 – Gospel Albums – Losing My Religion
1 – Hot Gospel Songs Artists
1 – Hot Gospel Songs – Wanna Be Happy?
5 – Hot Gospel Songs – 123 Victory

Travis Greene
2 – Top Gospel Artists
4 – Gospel Albums Artists
5 – Gospel Albums – The Hill
2 – Hot Gospel Songs Artists
4 – Hot Gospel Songs – Made a Way
6 – Hot Gospel Songs – Intentional

Anthony Brown & group therAPy
3 – Top Gospel Artists
3 – Gospel Albums Artists
4 – Gospel Albums – Everyday Jesus
3 – Hot Gospel Songs Artists
3 – Hot Gospel Songs – Worth

Tasha Cobbs
4 – Top Gospel Artists
2 – Gospel Albums Artists
3 – Gospel Albums – One Place: Live
4 – Hot Gospel Songs Artists
2 – Hot Gospel Songs – Put a Praise on It

Hezekiah Walker
5 – Top Gospel Artists
8 – Gospel Albums Artists
10 – Gospel Albums – “Better”: Azusa – The Next Generation 2
5 – Hot Gospel Songs Artists
7 – Hot Gospel Songs – Better

The founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joe Ligon, moved on to be with the Lord on December 11, 2016.

Ligon was born in Troy, Alabama on October 11th, 1936.

At the age of 14, Ligon visited his uncle in California where he would enroll a local high school. Due to his ability of singing, he received the attention from other students including Johnny Martin, Richard Wallace, and Elmo Franklin, with whom he would eventually form a gospel quartet. The group, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, was dicovered by a local DJ and sign with Peacock Record. They made their recorded debut in 1960 with “Steal Away to Jesus.”

The Mighty Clouds of Joy became the first gospel act ever to appear on “Soul Train.”  The legendary group has remained active to this day.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT REGARDING THE DEATH OF WILLIE JOE LIGON
We are heartbroken to share the news that the World’s Greatest Male Gospel Singer – Willie Joe Ligon, Founder and Lead Singer of the three time Grammy Award winning group – The Mighty Clouds of Joy of Los Angeles, California passed away today Sunday, December 11, 2016.

Joe was a loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Cousin, Uncle, Mentor, and Friend to so many who loved him dearly.

As much as Joe cherished his privacy, he always appreciated the expressions of good will from people around the world and from all walks of life.

While we mourn the loss of a very good and humble man, we also celebrate his remarkable life as one of the most successful Artist in Gospel Music History and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves.

For those who may ask what they can do to honor Joe, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a stormy day think of Joe and get comfort in knowing that he is no longer in the storm.
Additional information about the final arrangements will be released to the General Public pending Mr. Ligon’s Family’s approval.

We kindly ask everyone to please respect the Family’s privacy during this time of bereavement.

Thank you!

Best regards,

Pastor Isaac Lindsey
Manager
Joe Ligon & The Mighty Clouds of Joy

In the midst of racial tensions in Charlotte, an African-American church in Greensboro, North Carolina, is transitioning to become the newest campus of The Refuge, a predominantly white multi-campus church aiming to have more multicultural diversity in its pews.

It was announced last Sunday that the predominantly black House of Refuge in Greensboro will become the fourth campus of The Refuge, a 2,200-member non-denominational church with campuses already established in Kannapolis, Salisbury and Brazil.

While the merger won’t be complete until Nov. 6, when the House of Refuge officially becomes The Refuge of Greensboro, the announcement of the merger came just two days before riots broke out in the streets of Charlotte last week after the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

Read more at The Christian Post.

BET’s “Bobby Jones Gospel” premiered on January 27th, 1980.

After 35 years as the longest-running original cable show, the BET program aired its finale on July 31st, 2016, featuring performances by Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Vickie Winans, Hezekiah Walker, Yolanda Adams, and the Chicago Mass Choir.

Click here to watch the full episode (cable television account required).