Root Magazine

BMI TRAILBLAZERS EDITION

Issue 18

PLUS+

MIKE O’NEILL, WARDELL MALLOY, DONALD LAWRENCE

& MORE!

Feb/Mar 2015

THE BOSS

CATHERINE BREWTON

BRINGS HER “BABY” BACK HOME

ISRAEL HOUGHTON TALKS “ALIVE IN ASIA”, DIVERSITY IN WORSHIP, & WHY HE ALMOST PASSED ON HIS BMI HONOR

Alsoble la avai DVD! on

Features the year’s best songs from

Donnie McClurkin featuring Tye Tribbett Tamela Mann • The Walls Group • Erica Campbell Lecrae • Ricky Dillard & New G Plus many more!

2 CD SET! AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE 2.3.15 C 2015 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.

In This Issue Israel Houghton: The Hybrid ..........6 Coming back home .....................…..10 the director’s chair .……................12 Must be the music .….................……13 The Conductor ................................14 The other side of the game ......…..15 Through the years..........................20 7,300 days and counting...........................................23 In my own words ............................24 Top 20 Power Players of 2015.............................................29 U-Know .............................................31 The benediction...............................34 Editor-In-Chief: Hasan James Senior Art Director Fatima Williams-Burke www.LURmarketing.com Contributors Devanté Arbet T’Mil Curtis Torin Derek Shawn Gibbs Torrence Glenn Michael Gordon Nicole Heyward Gerald Jones Roudy Michel Racquelle Proctor J.S. Williams Martin Williams Adrian Warren

Photography Raymond Alston Derek Blanks Joe Henderson

Management Shawn Gibbs for The Firm Artist Management Shawn.TheFirmManagement@Gmail.com

Sales Larif Hamm

Sales2@RootMagazineOnline.com

Printing Shweiki Media

Visit Us On The Web at: www.rootmagazineonline.com

Editor's Note I will never forget the first time I attended my very first BMI Trailblazers Luncheon. It was January 2009 and CeCe Winans, Twinkie Clark and Donald Lawrence were the honorees. I had always heard about this event, but for whatever reason, my first experience took place after they were already ten years in! From the moment that I walked in, the energy was unlike anything I had ever felt. This was different than other award shows that I had been to in the past. In this industry, it is a rarity to see artists cheering for their fellow artists, but at BMI Trailblazers, everybody was a fan and lovers of Gospel music! To see the likes of Israel Houghton and Tommy Simms pay homage to CeCe Winans on “I Am”, Lalah Hathaway serenaded Donald Lawrence barefoot while singing “Don’t Forget To Remember” and “When Your Life Was Low” or Kierra Sheard singing “Jesus Is A Love Song” like she lost her mind; was something that I had never experienced in my life! This was the type of energy that you wanted to bottle up and take home with you.

For me, that experience was like a piece to a puzzle because some month’s prior my pastor, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, was doing a series entitled “Go After It” and it really resonated with me. So after hearing those messages, attending my first ever Trailblazers Luncheon and the Verity Records Stellar Awards post party the next day; featuring Donald Lawrence and Company performing the “Law of Confession” album in its entirety, a light bulb went off. Five months later the very first issue of Root Magazine was released.

True story.

Fast-forward six years, and Root Magazine has partnered with BMI to produce the first ever BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Edition. God is simply amazing! I want to thank Catherine Brewton for trusting me with this project, as I know BMI Trailblazers is near and dear to her heart. Catherine, you rock!

Issue #18 of Root Magazine is dedicated to all things BMI Trailblazers and beyond! The BMI Trailblazers of Gospel brand is highly coveted in the industry and they have honored some of Gospel Music royalty year after year, such as: Andrae Crouch, The Hawkins, Hezekiah Walker, Kirk Franklin, Pastor Shirley Caesar and countless others. This year, Grammy Award winner Israel Houghton, the legendary LaShun Pace and The Anointed Pace Sisters will be honored in song and in story. We also have some feature articles that will keep you on the pulse of what is going on in the gospel music world and beyond the music.

There is so much more for you to enjoy in this issue, so keep reading and stay ROOTED! Love, Live, Life!

Hasan

E-mail: Hasan@RootMagazineOnline.com Instagram & Twitter: @ROOTMAGAZINE Facebook: ROOT MAGAZINE

I

srael Houghton is one of the most successful Gospel artists of all time. But is he a Gospel artist or a Christian artist, and why is there a difference between the two if both genres are singing about the same Jesus?

Whatever the case, Israel Houghton has positioned himself to be all things to both genres with his style of worship. Simply put, his music has no color. - Hasan James

The

ROOT: What was the experience like doing a LIVE recording in Asia?

Israel Houghton: The experience was amazing. The process was grueling. Of course, we’ve done recordings before in other countries, but instead of going to one place, we went to six different cities, recorded in all of the places and compiled everything from the different places. It was very rewarding. When you look at the scope of Gospel Music and how far it has been able to reach, when you look at Muslim countries like Indonesia and Malaysia and see thousands of people praising God, it’s unbelievable! We hit Singapore, Jakarta, Indonesia, Kula Lumpur, Malaysia, Tokyo, Japan, Korea and Manila in the Philippines.

ROOT: How can you capture something like that on CD? Israel Houghton: We knew it was going to be a pretty epic scalable thing, so we filmed everything for a concert film. It was a lot of behind the scenes, a whole lot of telling the story of New Breed because we’re celebrating 15 years of being together as a group. For us, it was bigger than just a CD. Obviously we want to put new music out and we were excited that we were able to do brand new music in all these places, as well as our regular show, for people who like our music and follow what we do, it’ll be 12 brand new songs for them.

On top of that, it’s a whole concert film that tells a story.

If we were on stage for two hours, an hour of that would be stuff that they’ve come to know us for and the other hour was geared with new material. So we were able to capture new material in almost every city.

ROOT: Many people don’t know that you used to play with Fred Hammond.

Explain how that time was working with him.

Israel Houghton: I was already recording as a recording artist since 1995 and I hooked up with Fred in 1999.

He asked me to become apart of the RFC tour they were doing and for the “Purpose By Design” video.

That was a great honor and Fred definitely introduced me to a lot of people in the industry. About a year later, that’s when Aaron Lindsey and myself started New Breed.

ROOT: What does it mean now to be honored by BMI? Israel Houghton: First of all, it is an honor and it is very humbling. At the same time, I told Catherine when she called me about it that it was ridiculous! I’m a young man. In my opinion, I haven’t blazed any trails yet. She said that this is not an “Old Man’s award,” but it’s for someone who has made an impact in Gospel Music. She basically said, “You don’t have a choice, we’re honoring you”; because I politely declined when she asked me initially.

I understand that I’m a Gospel artist and the creative aspect of that, but I’m also a Worship Leader. The dichotomy between those two is heavy, because my job as a Worship leader is to point everyone to Jesus and not to be looked at but to be looked to. As an artist, I have a responsibility to my brand. As a label owner and a production company, I have a responsibility to elevate the music that we do. It’s always a very delicate

balance for me. I do understand when people say, “Hey we recognize your music has impacted this genre”; it’s an honor. I don’t know how to put it. I feel like I’m just getting started. I’ve been at this for 15 years in this particular space, but I’ve been in full time ministry for 24 years. Yet I feel like I am just now catching my stride.

I love honoring people, but I am not good at being honored. This will be weird, I’m sure.

of what God allows us to carry as songwriters.

When I look at Lakewood and speak about how to take my responsibility in being a part of setting the atmosphere every Sunday, I think about what this is going to say to young and old alike. How is this going to fuel that person to get them back here next Sunday? It’s a heavy honor to be called upon to do that, but it’s also a heavy responsibility.

ROOT: Is being a hybrid something you set out to be in your music?

ROOT: After the success of “I’m In Love with a Church Girl,” are you working on any other movie scripts?

Israel Houghton: It was all along. I was raised in a White family as a Black kid in a Hispanic church and community. I was thrust into a hybrid. I wasn’t even around people of color nor did I know my biological family until I was 17 years old. So most of my upbringing was White and Hispanic. As I became an adult, I met my biological father and connected with my family on that side. The musical influences all kind of contributed to what people hear now. Sometimes it’s been to our own hurt, because it’s never fully categorized in the sense of saying “they are strictly a Gospel act.” Part of that reflects what I do at Lakewood church. I’ve been leading Worship at Lakewood church for almost 15 years now. Lakewood is such a diverse church. It’s 40% Black, 30% Hispanic and 30% White and the music and the expression reflects that. Early on when we started to define what New Breed was going to be, it was defined in a way where we wanted to be intentionally cross-cultural, cross-denominational, and cross-generational. In other words, we wanted to reach young, old, black, white and various denominations.

When I stand on a stage in Manila and 18,000 screaming Filipinos are singing these songs, I’d like to think we’ve made a good choice. Music, songs and lyrics can translate everywhere. I never wrote songs for the community unless we’re talking about the global community.

I always felt like the songs I heard Andre Crouch do when I was 5 years old listening to Live at Carnegie Hall on vinyl and just mesmerized by the kind of stuff he would put together, I realized then, almost 40 years ago, that I was going to do that. The light came on for me back then. I think it was because the music was so broad and it connected with everybody. It was always very intentional of us to be inclusive and well versed.

Israel Houghton: We have three in development right now. What’s crazy is I was asked to try my hand at writing movie scripts. I’ve been a movie buff my whole life. There’s something in me that says if I’m not good at a certain thing then I’m not going to put it out. We tested a couple of things, worked on a couple scripts and handed it to some real writers. They asked, “Who wrote this?” I said “I did,” then they said “No, who wrote this?” I’m always intrigued by new horizons and challenges. There is one script in particular where I’m involved from top to bottom, as far as story line, how to produce, how to bring it to the screen and of course I love being involved on the music side of anything we do. We used “I’m in Love with a Church Girl” to teach us the business side and distribution. We spent a year and half putting those things in place.

I’m excited about where we’re going. The last story was based on a true story. We’ve also got some movies that are more fiction. Hopefully people will get to see some of those projects in 2015. We are definitely a faith-based film company and believe that’s how we are going to continue. However, we have a desire to change the face of what faith-based looks like. They are all great stories that may not have anything to do with Christian faith, but it has to do with the human spirit and overcoming the odds. We’re looking at all kinds of stories, but we just want to make sure that we firmly establish our intellectual property first and set a base of how we’re going to move forward. We’ve been approached to take on production and distribution for other films that are being done and we’ll consider that in the coming years.

ROOT: What’s it like to set the atmosphere for over 40,000 people every week at Lakewood Church?

Israel Houghton: It’s an amazing experience and responsibility. I was doing a Songwriters class a number of years back and someone asked me, “How important is scripture in your writing?” I remember saying without trying to sound more important than I am, the scripture I learned growing up was not someone getting behind the pulpit and saying that scripture. The scripture I learned growing up was based on music, it was put to song. I feel like some of the new theologians are these songwriters who are writing for the next generation that will sing along with and believe about themselves.

When I wrote “Friend of God,” I remember finishing the chorus and I started sobbing. It’s an up tempo song, I was sitting there writing the chorus and when it says, “He calls me friend” I just lost it. I realized a bit later that there is something powerful about someone having to sing over themselves- “I am a friend of God.” Most of us don’t believe that, some of us have seen friendship as a temporary thing. When somebody is given the opportunity to give voice to something that God wants us to know about ourselves, it’s powerful.

I wrote that song on a Tuesday with a friend of mine and on Wednesday night I introduced the song at Lakewood, just literally on the fly. I watched grown men and women cry their eyes out. I realized then the gravity

ROOT: How do you juggle all of this and still keep your family intact and grounded?

Israel Houghton: That is an ensemble award; it’s everybody in our family making that work. If it were left up to me to balance it, I would have failed a long time ago. I have an amazing wife and children who help keep it all together. We understand up front that we have to define our definition of normal. Although everyone has the “picket fence” dream of normal being family dinner every day at 5:30 p.m. at one place, that hasn’t been our normal. Our normal is often in a hotel room or on a tour bus or on a plane somewhere. We have an extremely close family. I don’t travel many days in a row without someone in my family being with me .

ROOT: Where do you keep your Grammys?

Israel Houghton: They’re in the bathroom cabinet under the sink. I’m just kidding. I used to have a couple of them set on the piano. When we won Grammy number five, my wife Meleasa made it a point to get a nice case for them. The Grammy Awards, Dove Awards, Stellar Awards and the Soul Train Awards are all in the case.

ROOT: What’s your guilty pleasure?

Israel Houghton: It’s hard to say. I can easily go to a theater and watch three and four movies in a day. I’m fascinated with filmmaking. My mind is still in that creative mode, but I love watching movies. As hard as I work I love to chill and relax as well. I love to be on the lake. We live on the lake here in Houston, Texas and on the Pacific coast in Santa Monica, California. We split our time between both locations and we love it!

7 | ROOT

SHINE -Fatima Burke

“I’m not a singer who Pastors; I’m a Pastor who God has anointed to sing and compose music.” Those are the words of new singing sensation Pastor Marlon Lock. The Milwaukee native has been preaching and singing since the age of five and his mission in life is to sing the gospel- his way. Pastor Marlon is a 30 something year old husband and father of five, whose influences range from Marvin Winans to R. Kelly. His debut “Good Seed Project” is a smorgasbord of Contemporary Gospel, R&B and Quartet music. From the heartfelt title track “Good Seed” to the Reggae infused “Life Line of Love” to the Hand Clapping, Foot Stomping “He Delivered Me,” Lock is someone that the Gospel music genre is missing.

The smoothness and vulnerability in his voice is refreshing.

Over the last year, Pastor Marlon has introduced his style of music to thousands of people at coveted events like “I Hear Music,” “GMWA” and at “Root Magazine’s 5th Anniversary Celebration”, where his performance of “The Heavenly Choir” and “He Delivered Me” left the crowd in amazement, asking the question: “Who is Pastor Marlon Lock”?

Presently impacting Radio, Pastor Marlon Lock is coming to a city near you! We would love to include your event on our tour!

For more information on booking contact: alexander1bookings@gmail.com

For radio and PR, contact Tammy Taylor, One EnTiTy: www.oneentity.com 615-876-9886

8 | ROOT

COMING BACK HOME

BY HASAN JAMES

CATHERINE BREWTON IS THE BRAINCHILD

BEHIND ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED EVENTS IN GOSPEL MUSICBMI’S TRAILBLAZERS OF GOSPEL AWARDS. NOW IN ITS 16TH YEAR, THE EVENT IS ONE OF THE MOST COVETED AND WELL RESPECTED EVENTS IN GOSPEL MUSIC HISTORY, HONORING THE LIKES OF ANDRAE CROUCH, HEZEKIAH WALKER, THE HAWKINS FAMILY, COMMISSIONED, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS. FOR YEARS, BMI TRAILBLAZERS WAS A PART OF STELLAR AWARDS WEEKEND; THIS YEAR, BREWTON CHOSE NOT TO GO TO LAS VEGAS AND LET THE “CLIVE DAVIS GRAMMY PARTY OF GOSPEL” SPEAK FOR ITSELF, BRINGING THE BMI TRAILBLAZER AWARDS BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, IN ATLANTA!

10 | ROOT

Root: Last year you were bestowed the honor of being one of Billboard Magazine’s top women in music. What did receiving that honor mean to you?

Catherine Brewton: To be acknowledged by the industry as a leader, is always humbling.

I was amongst so many great people in music that night. Both Pink and Janelle Monae were honored that night as well, so to be honored amongst so many incredible women, who are leaders in their own right and have contributed so much to the entertainment industry, I count it a major blessing. It’s like you get that nod and then it’s on to the next, so it certainly does not give you a pass to put your chest out and say “I’ve arrived.” It just means that I have to keep it moving because there is still work to be done.

Root: The year 2013 was a huge year for you as you, along with eOne produced “BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Live,” a first for a performing rights organization. How proud of that project are you?

as an honor. I know it’s been favored and well received. I’ve tried to be extremely integral in terms of not honoring who’s popular, but what makes sense for that season. Somehow God has given us that favor year after year.

hour ride to work, I am on the phone handling a yearly Thanksgiving event at my late mom’s facility in Charlotte, NC while simultaneously rebuilding an entirely new Trailblazers event here in Atlanta. In the midst of all of that, I’m dealing with lawyers, mangers, artists and Root: One of the best things about BMI preparing for staff meetings. It gets a little Trailblazers are the tributes. How do you choose overwhelming, but I try to stay focused on the who will perform? mechanics of what’s priority and sometimes that gets pushed throughout the day. I generally Catherine Brewton: If you could be a fly on never leave desk until it’s time to go home. the wall with some of the banter that goes on between myself, Wardell, Joe and Donald, it Root: You started an initiative “How I wrote can be comical sometimes. Sometimes people that song.” Why did you decide to extend that solicit and it makes sense and other times it initiative to Gospel Music? doesn’t. It’s a process of us throwing names in, but at the end it all makes sense. We try to Catherine Brewton: If you think about it, the make sure the person who performs that song faith-based repertoire represents stories that can do it justice. There are certain songs you are life changing. I’ve talked about doing a gospel just don’t want to touch because they are big version for years. Ms. Cathy Hughes reached out songs. I am a big fan of Israel, so I spent a lot to me to do a conference in Philly and I felt as of time on his tribute. It’s a collaborative effort. though that was the perfect platform. When I We can all agree to disagree, but at the end we tell you it was life changing! Isaac and I said end up in agreement. Sometimes I have to come that we have to take this on the road. To see the room filled to capacity, we needed three hours.

When you have a body of work like an Israel, Donald, Warren and Erica, you speak of the evolution in a person’s life. I think it’s a point for people who aspire to pursue careers in music to understand the journey. People see the end ...We needed to figure result, but people don’t see what happens in the out a way to honor those process. My hope is to impart and share people people in music that like Donald and Israel in front of the consumers fans to say what has to happen if certain we felt needed to be and components are not in place, you probably need acknowledged. For me, it to get a day job. Most people tend to look at was about those who have music as recreation, because you’re going out paved the way, so that’s to dinner and to these great events but what where the “Trailblazers” they don’t see is that at 12 Midnight you’re on calls with lawyers and artists about came from. I woke up late conference different things. It’s just as important that they at night and kept saying know what goes on behind the scenes and what “Trailblazers” and the it takes to be successful.

“

Catherine Brewton: I have a team under my tutelage who understands if you’re going to be a trailblazer, then you’re not going to do things that are not written on a piece of paper in terms of what your responsibilities are. To be able to put that record out and then sit at the Dove Awards and watch Anashya be nominated for the Best Traditional Gospel Song with “Holy One;” was a full circle moment. It really felt good for that to be a launching pad for her to now have a record deal and work with Wardell Malloy on her solo career. So I know it’s all God-ordained.

Going back to when you have a vision and when really you understand that there’s some greater purpose for what you do, God will make room.

I think that’s what happened with that Live Recording. It’s still a fresh body of work and connotation of that, so I then we’re giving new life to old copyright. For trademarked the name. the 20’s and 30’s, that’s Anashya’s song; but to those of us who know better, that’s Tramaine’s song. for Wardell, because he and Donald sometimes have these side pocket conversations and Joe Root: The BMI Trailblazer’s Awards has become is excluded (Laughter). I would say to Joe “I just bigger than I bet you would have ever imagined… want you to know that they left you out of the loop on this one… They tried it honey.” It has Catherine Brewton: I had no idea. I had two major certainly been humorous and a lot of back and initiatives. The first initiative was to produce forth. To build a show of this caliber, sometimes the R&B/ Hip Hop Awards. The second initiative it’s not about the best names; but it’s about who was because BMI represented about 80% of the has the best voice for that particular song. repertoire in Gospel Music and something that was obviously near to me by being a church kid Root: What’s a normal day at BMI for Catherine and a person of faith, we needed to figure out Brewton? a way to honor those people in music that we felt needed to be acknowledged. For me, it was Catherine Brewton: It’s nothing normal. My about those who have paved the way, so that’s day usually starts with prayer and a scripture; where the “Trailblazers” came from. I woke up then I take a few minutes before I look at any late at night and kept saying “Trailblazers” and device outside of reading my scripture just to the connotation of that, so I trademarked the meditate and process the day. By the time I look name. It initially started with 200-250 people at my phone and leave my house, I am getting in attendance, but now it’s being compared to calls and e-mails. Once I sit at my desk, I have the Clive Davis Grammy event and I count that a laundry list of things. Sometimes on the half

Root: Why do you think a songwriter should go with BMI as opposed to the other Performing Rights Agencies?

Catherine Brewton: It’s all about the relationship. It’s a personal choice. What I often say to an artist, writer or producer that comes to the office, it isn’t for me to bash the competition. That’s not what I do. How they operate is on them. What I tell them is if you have a relationship with somebody in a building that you believe share the same beliefs and interests that you do, then I think that’s where you need to be. I don’t take it personal. Erica and Tina, James Fortune and VaShawn Mitchell are not BMI writers, they’re all ASCAP and I don’t care about that. VaShawn is one of my dearest friends but I don’t play that game. Just because you are on the other side, that doesn’t mean that I can’t book you. There are good people at ASCAP and SESAC. I just pride myself with building relationships with people that are like-minded.

11 | ROOT ROOT | 11

The

Director’s Chair

IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW, WARDELL MALLOY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SIGNING SOME OF THE WORLD’S TOP SONGWRITERS ACROSS ALL GENRES. DO THE NAMES CHRIS BROWN, TREY SONGZ AND KIERRA SHEARD RING A BELL? THE BRONX, NEW YORK NATIVE HAS BEEN A PART OF BMI TRAILBLAZERS FOR WELL OVER A DECADE AND HAS BEEN AN INTRICATE PART OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS. MR. MALLOY TOOK TIME OUT OF HIS BUSY SCHEDULE TO TALK ABOUT THIS BUSINESS WE CALL MUSIC AND OF COURSE, THE BMI TRAILBLAZERS. –TORIN DEREK Root: Explain your involvement with the BMI Trailblazer’s Awards?

Wardell Malloy: I am pretty involved from beginning to end, from coming up with the honorees, song selection and talent line-up.

Root: You have a background in A&R. What is the most exciting thing about planning an event of this magnitude?

Wardell Malloy: Pairing the artist with the song is the fun part for me. You have songs and you say, “I would love to hear this person sing it.” It gets the juices flowing and we’re able to play around with different ideas. Kim Burrell said “Wardell, you just pick the person for the song to make the moment.” A lot of the people whom we have honored, such as: The Hawkins Family, The Clark Sisters, Daryl Coley and John P. Kee, these people have extensive catalogues.

I grew up on most of this stuff and sometimes it is years since the last time I listened to some of the music. The fact that I can dig into a catalogue of music and re-live my youth is always great.

Root: BMI has thousands of writers, how do you pick who gets honored? Do you think that you guys will run out of honorees at some point?

Wardell Malloy: The reality is that there are a lot of people that have contributed to Gospel music and who have blazed the trail. I don’t think we’re going to run out because there are so many people who we have not honored yet. We try to pick artists who really mean something to the Gospel world. A trailblazer is

ROOT | 12

someone who’s done it first; someone who has created a movement where other people follow.

We want to make sure that the people that we honor are leaders and that they have done something that has never been done before in the genre. Those are the kind of people we like to celebrate. In the past we’ve honored Kirk Franklin and he’s been around for years, but he hasn’t been around as long as Rance Allen.

However, Kirk is a Trailblazer because he has done things in gospel music that no one else has done. So it’s not about tenure, but it’s about the work you’ve done and your leadership in Gospel music. There are plenty of people in Gospel music like that.

Root: Do you think artists today have a better understanding of the music business versus a decade ago?

Wardell Malloy: I do, but I think they still have a long way to go. I find that you have some genres that are more educated than others. I would have to say that the Gospel community is not as knowledgeable as they should be and that bothers me. As much as it is about the music and God, it is still about the business. You have to understand where your money comes from and you have to have an understanding about publishing. Many Gospel artists don’t understand the different mechanics. That’s the good thing about BMI, as we offer many of services where our writers can attain that knowledge.

Root: Has the current state of music had a direct effect on performance rights agencies?

Wardell Malloy: We’ve definitely been in a good place in terms of performance rights agencies.

We do have a little issue with the digital rights withdrawal, as we don’t know how that’s going to play out. If the publishers withdraw from the PRO’s the digital rights will impact our revenue.

We don’t know if that’s going to happen as of yet.

Root: Who are some of your more popular songwriters at BMI? Wardell Malloy: Donald Lawrence, John P. Kee, The Clark Sisters, Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Anthony Hamilton, Claude Kelly, Miley Cyrus, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Pink, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Adele and Jamie Foxx, just to name a few.

Root: What do you love most about working at BMI? Wardell Malloy: I love discovering new talent.

That excites me and it’s something that I think I am really good at. When I signed Chris Brown and Trey Songz to the company, they had nothing going on and no records out in the market place. I heard something in them and I was a part of bringing their talent to the table. Those kinds of things are exciting to me.

Anybody can look at and chase a chart, but it’s when you’re able to hear and watch it come into fruition that makes it exciting. When I signed Claude Kelly, he didn’t have any placements and was ready to give up song-writing. Now he’s one of the biggest songwriters in the game. That’s rewarding!

PLATIN U M RECORDING A RT IST R ICK R O S S AN D D EL BRYANT

Must Be The Music

DEL BRYANT IS THE FORMER CEO OF BMI PUBLISHING AND HAS LITERALLY GROWN UP IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS. HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH EVERY GENRE OF MUSIC IMAGINABLE. SO WHY DOES HE MAKE IT HIS BUSINESS TO ATTEND THE BMI TRAILBLAZERS OF GOSPEL AWARDS EVERY JANUARY, POST RETIREMENT? WE’LL LET HIM TELL YOU. ~HASAN JAMES Root: Before your retirement, what are your most memorable BMI moments over the years?

Del Bryant: There are so many. It’s more than just the moments. I am just amazed at the things that I would have never seen had I not been involved with this event, and if Catherine had not brought this event to BMI. I would have never seen Yolanda Adams go into heavy praise and bounce up and down and speak in tongues. I would have never heard music nearly as beautiful coming from afar had I not been at the Trailblazers every January, watching Donald Lawrence conduct the choir like an angel and with each member responding by the slightest motion, the slightest eye twitch or the slightest thing Donald is doing. It’s amazing to watch a master conduct a choir of angelic voices. I would have never seen that at that level. People like to think they’ve seen a lot of choirs or heard a lot of music and I certainly think that; but until you become a regular attendee of the BMI Trailblazers Awards, you haven’t seen what you thought you have. You thought you’ve seen the best; but you haven’t until you come to stuff like this. I would have never been exposed to an artist like Beverly Crawford. I would have never seen that. That is something to see and hear. Gosh, to see her take off and wail like a possessed angel! I’m not so sure if she was happy on that day, but she knew how to get happy! To hear and watch a person like Rance Allen, you can’t tell if the voice is coming out of him or coming straight from God. I would have been blind to all of these things and that knowledge is more present in my mind when you ask me what my favorite memories are.

Shirley Caesar, I’ve been aware of her my entire musical career. If you ever meet some of these

people, visit with them, hear them still perform and hear what the people they influenced have to say about them and realize the music we have today, it’s so rich because of these Trailblazers. To really see them and watch the people that are influencing the world today with the Trailblazers message, style and art in the next generation is just amazing. To see people like Shirley, Andre Crouch, The Hawkins Family, The Winans and all these people close up with their brothers and sisters was just an amazing experience for me.

Root: In your mind, what makes Gospel music different from other genres of music?

Del Bryant: It’s so many things. If the lyrics are not right, the artists are not going to sing it. You’re starting from a premise that has to coincide with your faith. It has to have a healing, soothing, guiding and uplifting message. That in it of itself is so unique because technically the music business in general just puts out good songs. They don’t care if it crosses this line or that line or if it’s a depressing song or happy song or if the message is going to lift people up or bring them down. If it sounds like a hit, then they want a hit song that does not necessarily have the best message. They are basically hit songs because they were well put together. Gospel just doesn’t allow that. The song has to be right in every way. Not just tight, not just polished, not just well written, not just musically, but it has to have a message.

Root: How is retirement for you, do you miss working in the industry?

Del Bryant: After being raised in the music

business and working for one company for 42 years, I can honestly say it’s going to take me a while to detox. Not because it was poisonous, but because it was so demanding. I find myself not exactly sure what to do every day, but knowing I don’t want to do anything until it’s the right thing to do. I have a 10 year-old son, which is kind of amazing. My family and I have a farm out in Franklin, Tennessee and looking out over the hill is kind of rejuvenating. I’m not sure that I want to do much more than to be a part of this family of mine and enjoy life at a different pace. I’m just not sure where I go from here. Even though it’s uncomfortable in a sense, because I feel like I am supposed to be doing something, it’s comfortable not doing something and being right here in this space.

I’m getting used to this. However, I never miss the BMI Trailblazers Awards in January.

I brought my wife last year and she was just blown away! She and I both are going to come this year and I may bring my little boy as well.

He’s a very spiritual individual and this event is all about the spirit. It really is capital A, capital M, capital E and a capital N. The Black Gospel Music culture and those who are involved in it, the truth is, when everybody gets in that room, you have a sense that it is their first time ever in that space experiencing those exact feelings, so they are not strangers. It’s something that’s so original every time an event like this takes place. Down through the years I’ve noticed that this event is truly different than so many other events in other areas of music. I always thought of it as just the ideal way to start your year off. If you want to say that January is the beginning of something, then the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards is the best way to start your year.

13 | ROOT

The ConDuctor

onald Lawrence is the quintessential musician, Grammy Award-winning producer and one of the best songwriters of our time. As a previous BMI Trailblazers of Gospel honoree, he knows first hand what it feels like to smell your flowers while still being in the land of the living. As one of the producers of said show, he also knows how important it is that the song connects with the audience, creating those magical moments that are spoken of long after we leave the room. For well over a decade, Donald Lawrence and Company have literally created the soundtrack for BMI Trailblazers, and that sound can never be duplicated.

By Hasan James

Photography: Dominick Guillemot

When Catherine initially asked you to be apart, did you think it would turn into this highly coveted event?

I didn’t, I don’t even know if I thought about it at all. I think I thought more about the tributes and the people they were honoring. I just wanted to be a part of making sure the tributes were well done.

Over the course of time, I talked to Catherine about bringing in some background vocals and tightening up some things and that’s how my group “Company” got involved. It wasn’t planned. It just turned out be that way. I come from a background vocals school where we really studied background. I am an avid fan of Luther and his team, Andrae Crouch and his team, The Hawkins and their team, and when it comes to choirs, The Whitfield Company and their team. I just understand the different dynamics in background vocal style.

ROOT | 14

What are some of your most memorable moments of BMI Trailblazers?

It’s been quite a few. Definitely for me, it was fun to do the Andrae Crouch tribute. It was fun to re-introduce the song, “Quiet Times.” I loved when Tommy Sims sang “I Am” in tribute to CeCe Winans; that was so amazing! Anthony Hamilton when he did “The Question Is.” It’s been so many amazing moments, especially the tribute that we recorded when we did Edwin, Tramaine and Kurt Carr. That has to go down as one of the tightest ones we’ve done. Just getting to cover that music was so special. Then Anashya singing “Holy One” was just a great moment.

However, my favorite tribute would probably be the Andrae Crouch Tribute, but I think the tightest shows we’ve done was the Kurt Carr, Tramaine Hawkins and Edwin Hawkins tribute. When they told me they wanted to pay tribute to me, I was trying to talk them out of it. I told them that it was too early and to pick someone else. They had to talk me into it.

Who would you like to see honored in the future?

We haven’t honored any posthumous people, but if it were up to me, it would be Thomas Whitfield. I’ve also been trying to get Catherine to do a salute to trailblazing choirs. They could just celebrate The Tommies, The Whitfield Company, L.A. Mass, and Mississippi Mass.

What are your thoughts on Catherine Brewton and the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel brand?

I just think Catherine Brewton is a brilliant woman. It’s so amazing to see an African American woman do what she does. She’s smart, beautiful, sophisticated and she just does her thing. She’s a good friend and a great person. She’s just a great staple for African American women in business, period.

YOLANDA ADAMS “BMI has always been at the forefront of pioneering innovation for Gospel Music songwriters and artists. I believe that since the inception of the Trailblazer Awards, BMI has raised the bar in celebrating Gospel Artists.”

ERICA CAMPBELL “Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards has been the highlight of the Stellar Awards weekend for years. I believe it was the first luncheon when they honored the Clark Sisters, and Tina and I (terrified) sung in tribute to them. That is a moment we’ll never forget!

To receive love from your peers is wonderful, but to see people you’ve admired forever smile while you minister is priceless! I think all artists, whether signed to BMI or not, leave the event proudly saying, “Yes I do love Gospel Music.” Thank you Catherine for celebrating this most powerful genre!!”

“Helping Songwriters avoid desk jobs since 1939.” #WriteOn

Mike O’Neill MR. PRESIDENT

As President and CEO of BMI, you directly and indirectly work with thousands of songwriters.

Who do you consider to be prolific songwriters in the gospel music field?

We work with the biggest and best songwriters and composers spanning all genres. From Taylor Swift and Adam Levine dominating in pop, to our leading film & television composers John Williams, Mike Post and James Newton Howard, and our foremost classical composers John Adams, Joan Tower and Aaron J Curtis, I have the pleasure of working with these individuals both directly and indirectly. When it comes to the gospel genre, we have the esteemed honor of representing the likes of Kirk Franklin, Dorinda Clark Cole, Isaac Carree, Fred Hammond and Donnie McClurkin. The list of prolific songwriters BMI’s represents goes on and on.

DONNIE MCCLURKIN “As I look back over my life and celebrate over 50 wonderful years, my hope is to continue to make a lasting impact on people in need. I am honored to be a part of this organization’s efforts. To be acknowledged alongside Andrae Crouch was an honor.”

VASHAWN MITCHELL The BMI Trailblazers Awards remains an exclusive event that embraces the legacy of Gospel music by honoring those who paved the way and others who impact within the genre is worth commending.

I am honored to host such a prestigious event along with the incomparable Kim Burrell!

How do you plan on taking BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards to the next level?

Stepping out of Catherine Brewton’s way and letting her do what she does best. The Trailblazers Awards has become the prestigious event that it is because Catherine knows exactly what she’s doing. When an event runs as seamlessly as our Trailblazers of Gospel Awards, there’s no reason for me to interject.

KIM BURRELL “I believe that the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards is important to the gospel community simply because it highlights the talents of those who have contributed to gospel music on an internationally successful level. It also encourages and highlights artists and songwriters who rarely get honored. With other award shows giving us limited recognition, BMI puts us in the forefront and gives us our just due. I believe that the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards is relevant now and will always be. I pray for its years of continuance.”

JONATHAN NELSON The BMI Trailblazer Awards is a must attend event. Not only is it a networking event, but a refreshing retreat for all artists. Catherine Brewton and her team work tirelessly to ensure that this is the MAIN EVENT of the year and it never disappoints! There are some moments that last forever. A lifetime memory for me was when I had the opportunity to stand in front of a room filled with my peers and I performed with my twin brother Jason, as we saluted the great Edwin Hawkins. That’s a moment that I will never forget. I’m forever grateful for that experience.

15 | ROOT

BC: It’s an honor to have you take time out of your schedule to sit down with us. How have the last few months been for you?

JN: I’ve been very busy. We recorded “Jesus Revealed” and the new single, “I Am,” is doing very well at #2 on the charts. We have been working hard in support of everything that leads up to the release date of the album on January 20th, in addition to maintaining my family life and life as a pastor.

BC: We are coming up on the release of your highly anticipated record, “Jesus Revealed.” I am trying to complete a record right now as an Independent Artist and the biggest challenge for me is finances and trying to reach a level of excellence with quality and sound. Is there a way to conquer this challenge when you don’t necessarily have all the resources?

JN: First and foremost, the key to doing it in excellence is not rushing it. One of the biggest things young indie artists do is focus on getting the product out instead of getting the product right.

Sometimes getting it right simply means you have to take a little more time to put out a good product, rather than settle for mediocrity and ultimately stand behind something that you don’t believe in. That’s kind of how I felt with my first album, “I Shall Live.” It was good for the moment, but we cut corners when we shouldn’t have. So sonically, it wasn’t as good as it could have been. By the next project, “A Place of Worship,” I wanted to slow down the process, even though I knew it would cost me more money out of pocket. Even still, my main focus was the album being done in excellence. I was also more open to asking questions and asking for help from outside sources. What I find is that young artists are too proud to ask for help. Just take your time and ask for help.

BC: I am inspired by your decision to put Jesus at the forefront on your latest project “Jesus Revealed.”

What made you choose to dig into that topic versus writing what you think would appeal to the masses?

JN: The answer to the question is actually in the question itself. For me, making that decision was easy. I’ve always gone against the grain; it’s a part of my personality. I’m a trendsetter, so I don’t like when people try to tell me that I must conform to a thing. Following the leading of the Lord, my instruction from the Lord was that this is something I needed to do. The Pastor in me would not allow me to go against what God wanted me to do, as that is counter intuitive. If God is saying this is what I want, then that’s where his grace is. So I am not going to work when I can operate in grace. It becomes laborious when you do it because this is what you want, versus what you’re assigned to do.

So, from that perspective, it was easy for me to do.

My producer Dana Sorey and I were both on one accord with what God was saying, so once we both had a yes in our spirit, we moved full speed ahead. I mean how representative are we of Gospel music if there is no Gospel in it? It’s counter intuitive to call yourself a gospel singer and you don’t represent the gospel of Jesus Christ. If Christ is not at the center of your music, then it’s not really Gospel music. At the end of the day, it was a matter of obedience for me. It may not be the popular thing to do, but I think it’s necessary in this day and time. You should

never write a song to conform to the ideology of the listener because they don’t know what they like until they hear it. If you’re trying to write according to the latest hit, you’re behind and just repeating what’s already on the radio.

BC: This is your second project on a major label and I was wondering if you could speak to the waiting period before you got to this point. What were some of the struggles you had to face?

JN: Initially my intent was not to be signed to a label. I really enjoyed the level of amenity I lived in, as I am an introvert by nature. I also enjoyed the fact that I was in complete control of my music and I thought that going with a label meant relinquishing that control. But when RCA came to me, they told me that I did not have to change who I was as an artist and that was a selling point for me. I don’t ever want to water down who I am or be someone that I am not. When the label approached me, their approach was very simple: “Remain authentic and your platform will get bigger.” From there, I had to do a self-inspection of my life to find out if there was anything that was counter intuitive to a larger platform. A larger platform doesn’t change a person; it merely reveals the truth about that person. As an up and coming artist, if you truly desire to be picked up by a major label, you must figure out your truth and then clean it up. Make sure you are not offending anyone on your social media pages or causing people to look at your character differently.

Ultimately, I used the waiting period as time to make sure Jason was good and that my family was taken care of, because once you reach a larger platform everything you do is criticized and you have to be mentally and spiritually ready to handle it.

BC: How do you balance church, family and being a major recording artist?

JN: My family takes precedence over everything.

The first instruction God gave man was about family when he said, “Be fruitful and multiply….” He didn’t give them instruction about the garden until he told them to be fruitful and multiply. I think the first ministry anyone has to follow is family, so my family comes first and then the ministry. God has graced me with a talented staff and team who allow me to do the music piece uninterrupted. I also have a wife who is adamant about me not taking every gig that comes along and keeps me focused on what I need to be focused on. I’ve also learned not to chase the money. It can be very alluring in this day and age, but I’ve learned, money is not everything.

BC: There are some artists who tend to chase the money. What advice would you offer to someone who is reading this?

JN: The Bible is clear; money answers all things and can easily become a God to people. It can become the reason why you do certain things. We can’t serve God and man at the same time. There has to be a limit and you have to know when enough is enough.

Something is terribly wrong when you are away from your family for seven days out of the week just to make a dollar. Do I want a nice bank account? Of course, but there has to be a cut off point. Going to my kid’s games and spending quality time is so much more valuable.

BC: When did you realize you wanted to become an artist?

JN: I still haven’t had that epiphany. I still have not come to the place where I want to be an artist. To me, being an artist says, “I want to be a part of the industry” and that’s not my desire. I just like being a worshipper who just so happens to have a record out. Donald Lawrence helped me realize I had a voice. It was around 2004 where God used me during a recording and Donald came to me afterwards and gave me very good advice about my gift and he told me that the world needed to hear it.

After that conversation, I took heed to what he said and recorded with my brother Jonathan. From there, I fell in love with sharing and worshipping with the world and it just grew from there…. “I Shall Live,” “A Place of Worship,” then “Shifting the Atmosphere.”

BC: With regards to the industry and the things that go on in the industry, being a family man and a man of the cloth, how do you keep yourself from certain things that are assigned or attached to the industry?

JN: What a very crafty way to ask this question (Laughter). You painted a picture without actually using a paintbrush. First, you are whom you say you represent. So for me, I recognize that I represent God, as well as the kingdom of God. Knowing whom I represent and what the expectation is of me, there are just some elements that are counter intuitive to what the kingdom stands for. You can’t be crooked and kingdom. You can’t be a whoremonger and kingdom. You have to choose. There are certain things that do not represent what the kingdom is and I would rather be unpopular and integral as it pertains to my assignment and the kingdom, and I am ok with that.

BC: Do you separate Kingdom from Industry?

JN: Absolutely, you have to! No person in their right mind wouldn’t.

BC: The reason I ask is because the industry has its way of doing things. If you don’t fit into that normal format, your music won’t go far. I’ve watched your career and you have been into places where normal people would be, but you stand out as “that guy!”

Does it come natural for you or do you have to pick and choose or watch what you say in certain environments?

JN: It’s all of the above. Some of it is natural and some of it is God’s favor. You can’t argue with favor.

I’m a living witness that when God decides to open a door, it’s open and nothing is going to reshape it.

I live my life based on the premise that God’s favor is on my life and I’m grateful for it. I try my best to live my life his way, so I’m not interested in trying to stick out in the industry. If I complete my kingdom assignment, there are certain platforms that are required and God will open that door when the time is right. If it’s not right, it won’t open and I have to be ok with that closed door for now. Everybody celebrates open doors, but very few people know how to celebrate the door that God did not let open.

16 | ROOT

BRANDON CAMPHOR INDIE

the

Other

of Sidethe

game

BY MICHAEL GORDON WHEN YOU SAY THE NAME JASON NELSON, DEPENDING ON WHO’S IN THE ROOM, YOU WILL GET A DIFFERENT RESPONSE. BISHOP, FATHER, SONGWRITER, SINGER AND WORSHIPPER ARE SOME TITLES THAT COME TO MIND. JASON NELSON HAS FOUND A WAY TO BALANCE ALL OF HIS MANY HATS AND DOES SO WITHOUT COMPROMISE. I WAS AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT WITH JASON AT THE RCA INSPIRATION OFFICES (HIS LABEL) IN MANHATTAN, ALONG WITH UP AND COMING INDIE ARTIST AND FELLOW MARYLAND NATIVE, BRANDON CAMPHOR. I WANTED TO CREATE DIALOGUE BETWEEN JASON (THE MAJOR ARTIST) AND BRANDON (THE INDIE ARTIST), PARTICULARLY TO HELP OTHER UP AND COMING ARTISTS WITH THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE A LASTING PRESENCE IN THE GOSPEL MUSIC INDUSTRY. WE WANTED TO GET AN INSIDE LOOK INTO WHAT MOTIVATES JASON AND KEEPS HIM MOVING. DURING THIS EXCHANGE, JASON ENCOURAGES BRANDON AND ALL INDIE ARTISTS TO KEEP LEARNING AND GROWING. JASON ALSO GIVES INSIGHT ON HOW HE MAINTAINS RESPECT IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, AS HE PREPARES FOR THE RELEASE OF HIS SOPHOMORE ALBUM, “JESUS REVEALED.”

JASON NELSON MAJOR

2006

We Miss You! The legendary Walter Hawkins and Kurt Carr having a moment at the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards in 2006

Multiple Grammy Winner Andrae Crouch, Del Bryant, Catherine Brewton and Wardell Malloy

2013

The Hawkins Family singing as they receive their awards at the 7th Annual BMI Trailblazers Awards in Nashville, TN

Donnie McClurkin poses with his BMI Trailblazer of Gospel Award

2010

2007

Tamela Mann sings the Most Performed Song of 2013, “Take Me to the King”

Edwin Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins and Kurt Carr

Back in the day! Fred Hammond and Catherine Brewton strike a pose.

The Winans and The Campbells striking a pose at the 11th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon honoring Donnie McClurkin & Andrae Crouch

2014

2014 Honoree Richard Smallwood, Catherine Brewton and Donald Lawrence hit the red carpet

Lalah Hathaway singing ”When Your Life Was Low” in tribute to Donald Lawrence at the 2009 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon

2009

Kim Burrell, Eric Dawkins and Isaac Carree all smiles at the 11th Annual BMI Trailblazers Awards Luncheon

The legendary Daryl Coley overcome with joy as he accepts his award at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards

BMI Trailblazers Through theYears...

Situated at the top of each calendar year, the BMI Trailblazers Awards kicks off the Gospel Industry’s year with a power-packed lineup of the very best and brightest in Gospel and in music. The event is the hottest ticket in the industry and gathers lovers of Gospel from all corners of the country to experience a uniquely unforgettable musical epiphany.

Here are some special “Kodak” moments that were captured over the past decade.

By Racquelle Proctor

Commissioned and Shirley Caesar honored at the 12th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Luncheon pictured along with Del Bryant, Marvin Sapp, Catherine Brewton and Wardell Malloy

2012 Honorees Hezekiah Walker and Kirk Franklin

2011

Doctor Love Collaborators, Faith Evans and Jessica Reedy on the red carpet

2012

The Clark Sisters serenading Commissioned with one of their classics “I’m Going On”

Yolanda Adams, Del Bryant, Catherine Brewton, Amber Bullock and Le’Andria Johnson

21 | ROOT

20 Years…what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about that?

[Laughing] I am old…I’m old and I’m talking about me. 20 years is like having an entire child grow up – that’s how long that span of time is; so I feel like having done the same thing for 20 years is partly insane, yet partly impressive.

What were the first five years like?

Exhilarating. I had the honor of working for Terri Williams, an innovator in our field, the premier black publicist in entertainment in her heyday [Eddie Murphy, Janet Jackson, Diddy, Johnnie Cochran & more]. She was exceptionally hard on me, having me compile and print monthly media books; checking people in at the events, etc. I hated it! Being young, I felt like I wasn’t learning anything. Then an incredible thing began to happen, all of the core NY media and photographers began to know my name. I had everybody’s contact, which as you know is gold in PR. Oh yeah, it sure is! And that wasn’t gospel, correct? That was all sides of entertainment, right?

Yeah, my first project was the first ever Essence Music Festival in 1995. Working the Press Room, I remember thinking, “Look at where I am, just one year out of college!” I was with Terri Williams for about three years and then I was hired as in house PR for the newly formed, Motown Café.

Motown Café is legendary! I always hear people talking about it. I’m sad that I was too young to be a part of that era; tell me about it!

If we are talking about eras, the years that I worked for Terri was the most exciting time, but Motown Cafe was the BEST time for me. I was in charge of the NY Restaurant for celebrity events. We were competing with the likes of Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Café, and others; fighting to book the best celebrity events. We opened Motown Café’s in Las Vegas & Orlando also. If Terri Williams Agency taught me how to learn and talk to media…Motown Café taught me how to do events.

So all of this is going on while you are in your twenties, right? What was your work/life balance like?

Oh girl, we were those girls. We were like, “We’re gonna make it in the big city.” It was the peak of 90’s and the New York music scene was the best! The Bad Boy era was hot; it was a good time…[laughs] and that is all I have to say about that!

So let’s go backwards for a second…before you started with Terri Williams, you actually majored in PR at USC? Yes! I’m probably one of the few publicists left in America that studied it! While I think 75% of what we do is experience and common sense, learning how to do PR helped me immensely.

Who are you telling! I have a PR degree too, but I rarely, if ever, run into folks who do as well. So back to Motown Café, how long were you there and what came after that?

I was there for about three years. While I was there, I did a gospel event for Jazzy Jordan. When it came time for the show, folks were telling me that they didn’t know if the featured artist could perform on our stage because he was coming off the biggest record ever. I said “I don’t care who that *** is; Diana Ross has performed on this stage, the original Temptations have been on this stage, I kind of don’t care what your beef is at this moment.” Jazzy worked it out and the featured artist Kirk Franklin, along with Fred Hammond and Virtue, launched the first ever WOW Gospel series that night.

Hilarious! So when did you switch to working solely with gospel artists?

The Cafe’ closed and I was out of a job. I was looking through my Rolodex of contacts and when I got to Jazzy, it turned out his publicist had just left. I told him I would give him three months at Verity and he promised he would try to get me over to the Jive side.

We all know you were there much longer than that!

Yeah…Truthfully, I loved the beginning of Verity; I believe our time was responsible partially for helping the growth of gospel. Jazzy allowed me to be free and work outside of the box. Almost immediately, I locked in CNN and Ebony Magazine features for our artists. Right at the time when I had planned on leaving, the label picked up a new signee that they begged me to stay on to work. I was like I’m going to Lil Kim’s party tonight, I don’t care who this is, so I went to welcome the talent and a tall bald headed man comes off the elevator, it was Donnie McClurkin. I said, “Hi, I’m Jojo I’m the publicist for Verity” and he said, “Oh, hi, you’re so cute I could put you in my coat pocket” and I said, “You’re on your own now.” [Laughs]. Donnie was signed to Verity and ultimately became one of my closest friends, as well as the person to lead me to my relationship with Christ. I ended up at Verity Records for seven years.

When you were doing all of this, I was in high school, I used to read liner notes of CD jackets and your name was on everything. I knew who you were before I ever met you. I was very inspired by your work.

I can’t even believe that! Wow, you never know who you affect, especially for us who work behind the scenes in an industry that caters to individuals in the forefront. The incredible thing is that you never know how big something is when you are in it. As I look back, it was innovation, but we sure didn’t think that’s what it was when we were there. We were just trying to do a good job and sell a lot of records.

Tell me about how you started Ignition PR. That was the best decision I’ve made without question, I’ve never looked back on it with regret. When I left Verity, everyone was up in arms about me leaving. At the time it had gotten extremely top heavy – Four Senior Vice Presidents, several top directors, and it was incredibly tough to get things done. You know when you know that your time is up? They offered me more money and better conditions, but I knew it was time for me to go. Ignition PR was birthed in 2007.

Any tips for publicists?

Maintain good relationships. Prioritize your day. Don’t call someone right in the midst of a deadline. Balance what you are able to accomplish with “Pie in the sky” ideas. While you’re shooting for Good Morning America and The Tonight Show, don’t ignore the new gospel websites and local newspapers; it all matters.

What’s the biggest difference in the industry that you see now?

We completely stopped caring about building artists. What we didn’t do well as an industry was curtail our spending during our surplus to ensure something was left for those coming after us.

From a PR side, how do you keep your contacts organic and natural?

Remain in touch whether you have a big project or not, and whether it’s an easy booking or a tough one. Keep the lines of communication open.

The Next 20 Years…

Oh honey… in 20 years I want to be retired, but I want Ignition to be remembered.

I want it to have an impact and this is why I always try to connect to you Gabby because I gotta see that person who’s next in line. That’s what I’m concerned with. We were saying 20 years in the industry is pretty special, but it is special more so because no one person should be doing this for much longer than 20 years. It is a very competitive industry. You shouldn’t be in the same place for so many years, so I’m trying to see what’s next for me; and it doesn’t necessarily mean PR. In 20 years I hope to be retired, on a beach, “Livin’ La Vida Loca.”

About Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes is a NYC based publicist. As Founder of Brydge Media Collective, Gabby has worked with gospel artists such as Mary Mary, Jonathan McReynolds, Joshua Rogers, Music World Gospel, BeBe Winans, Plan A Media, LLC and others. Follow her @GabbyCWilkes on all Social Media outlets.

7,300

DAYS COUNTING...

AND

JOJO PADA CELEBRATES HER 20TH YEAR IN THE INDUSTRY

ON THIS BEAUTIFUL FRIDAY AFTERNOON, MARCUS SAMUELSON’S HARLEM RESTAURANT, RED ROOSTER, IS BUSTLING ON NEW YORK CITY’S FAMED 125TH STREET AS IF IT WERE THE WEEKEND. THOUGH COLLEAGUES, THIS TIME AROUND, MY HEART WAS POUNDING WITH INTENSITY, AWAITING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR SOMEONE I’VE HAD THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR BEFORE WE EVEN MET! JOJO PADA WALKS IN, AND SAYS, “GABBY, WHY AM I NERVOUS…I NEVER TALK ABOUT ME”! WE BOTH CHUCKLED, HAVING BEEN IN HIGH- PRESSURE MOMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF OUR CAREERS, BOTH TOGETHER (WHEN WE EACH WORKED MARY MARY’S PR) AND APART. TWO PUBLICISTS SAT DOWN TOGETHER AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AGES, BOTH PUBLICISTS WERE FOCUSING ON THEMSELVES… AS TOLD TO GABBY CUDJOE- WILKES | IMAGES: QLICK PHOTOGRAPHY

IN MY

OWN WORDS

How befitting it is that the legendary LaShun Pace is being honored as a BMI Trailblazer in her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia? Some 40 years prior, LaShun and her sisters began embarking on history, as they ultimately became one of the best female Gospel groups of all time. Her lone journey began in 1988 when she recorded In the “House of the Lord” with Dr. Jonathan Greer and the Cathedral of Faith Church of God in Christ Choir for Savoy Records. The label ultimately signed Pace as a solo artist, and in 1990 she issued her debut “He Lives”, which reached the number two spot on the Billboard Gospel charts and featured her signature song “I Know I’ve Been Changed” and the rest, as they say, is history.

BY TORIN DEREK

“People always ask me when did I realize I had a voice to sing.

I realized I had the voice to sing after I graduated from High School. I sang in High School, but I didn’t know anything about my voice being a gift. I started traveling with my uncle, Gene Martin, who was A.A. Allen’s psalmist. I realized then that I was born for the road. All I needed was a suitcase and a microphone.

After so many years of being in the industry, you don’t really realize the impact that you’ve made. With all of the testimonies that I hear, I am amazed, humbled and thankful for my journey. I am so thankful to BMI for this recognition, as it gives me a sense of what Heaven will feel like when the Lord honors us for the work we did here on earth. I feel like this is sort of the introduction to our Heavenly rewards. It’s no secret that I have been through many trials and tribulations, from dealing with illness to divorce to the death of my daughter. All of those experiences have made me fall to the feet of Jesus. That’s the best way I can put it. If I was anywhere else, I would be lost. With the love and support of my family and at the feet of Jesus, is where I gain all of my strength.

That’s why I sing the song “I Know I’ve Been Changed” with so much passion because it’s my true testimony. When I gave the Lord my heart at the age of 8, and was filled with the Holy Spirit at 12, I knew then that a change had taken place in my life. My mother’s former pastor, Rev. C.J. Johnson, would sing that song when I was a child, and it has followed me until now. The night I recorded that song LIVE, God put it in my spirit on how I should sing it- by laying on that “I.” Milton Biggham (Executive Producer/

Savoy-Malaco Records) came running out of the recording truck screaming “It’s a hit.” There has also been speculation as to why I chose to go solo, but I didn’t choose to go solo. My husband at the time, Edward Rhodes, asked me to do a solo project. Initially I was hesitant, but the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “If you allow your sisters to record first, then I will bless your career.” I did what the Lord said and he has indeed blessed my career and my sisters are the jewels in my crown. I have been through a lot in my life but one thing I know for sure is that through Christ, I can conquer anything. I know for sure that I am a strong black woman who has endured much but I still have a sound mind. I especially want other women to know that no matter what you are facing, with Christ on your side you can be strong too.”

After a three-year hiatus, Lashun Pace recorded a LIVE set with Kevin Lemons and Higher Calling, last summer. She anticipates the album to be released this summer.

ROOT | 24

04

03 3. Holly Davis- Carter

4. Deitrick Haddon

Artist/Reality TV Star/Producer This outspoken “Son of a Preacher Man” had his share of controversy and drama over the last few years, but the man we affectionately call D. Haddy has turned that drama into dollars and cents, when it comes to his business model. Aside from the release of League of Xtraordinary Worshippers on Tyscot Records, and the group appearing on every show from “The Wendy Williams Show” to “The Real,” Haddon also witnessed Season 2 of Preachers of L.A. soar in the ratings. 2014 also saw the debut of another show, “Fix My Choir,” hosted by Haddon and one-third of the platinum selling group Destiny’s Child, Michelle Williams. Haddon is Executive Producer of both shows airing on the Oxygen network.

Uncle Reece The “Until I Pass Out” singer is more than meets the eye. The newlywed is not only a Stellar Award nominated artist, he is also an astute businessman with a T-shirt line and a website withoutjesusisuck.com Kymberlee Norsworthy This veteran public relations strategist launched her own PR firm, Worth Ink PR and in a little over a year, has signed Tasha Cobbs, Jessica Reedy, Zie’l, Byron Cage, Ricky Dillard and Global United Fellowship as clients.

Dana Sorey He is a Grammy Award nominated and Stellar Award winning producer with two Gold albums to his credit.

His work on L. Spenser Smith’s “Unstoppable” and Jason Nelson’s “Jesus Revealed” is nothing short of amazing.

President, Relevé Entertainment Hate it or love it, Holly Davis Carter has figured out a way to infuse faith and reality television and make it bankable. As President and CEO of Relevé Entertainment, Holly Davis- Carter’s company is one of the premiere management and production companies for family and faith inspired content. Relevé Entertainment television credits include “Preachers of L.A.” (Oxygen), “The Sheards” (BET Networks) and “L.A. Hair” (second season WE tv).

Relevé also created and executive produced BET’s “106 & Gospel.”

Season 2 of “Preachers of L.A.” continued to soar in the numbers, further expanding the brand to Detroit and Atlanta in 2015. In addition to her management duties for artists like Kierra Sheard, Michelle Williams and Mali Music (who is nominated for two Grammy Awards), Dr. Carter is also Founder of The Merge Summit, an annual event that helps creative men and women of faith get into the entertainment industry. In 2014, The Merge Summit featured heavy hitters from the worlds of television and film.

The likes of Laurence Fishburne, Derek Luke, Terrence Jenkins, Common, Erica Campbell, Deitrick Haddon, Tracee Ellis Ross, Pastor Paula White and many others ascended upon Hollywood to partner faith with media.

Gerald Jones He is the President and CEO of Da Gospel Truth and his relationship building and business savvy has put him in a position to relocate from Los Angeles to Atlanta and become the A&R/Marketing Director for Earnest Pugh’s EPM Music Group.

02 2. Phil Thornton

VP and General Manager, eOne Nashville 2014 was a huge year for Phil Thornton.

Not only did he get promoted to Vice President and General Manager of Urban Inspirational at eOne, he watched another season of R&B Divas LA (which he is Executive Producer), skyrocket in the ratings. Another show he is Executive Producer of, It’s a Mann’s World -starring David and Tamela Mann, will premiere on BET this month. One thing is for sure; Thornton has his finger on the pulse of both the television and music industry and brings a valued amount of creative influence to everything that he touches. On the Gospel side, Erica Campbell’s “Help,” Ricky Dillard’s “Amazing,” Michelle Williams “Journey To Freedom,” and JJ Hairston’s “I See Victory,” all debuted at the top of the Billboard Gospel Charts. Ricky Dillard’s “Amazing” from the album of the same name was the #1 played gospel song in America for an astounding 44 weeks at Root press time. Michelle Williams’ single “Say Yes” was one of the hottest songs of the summer and featured former band members Kelly Rowland and the biggest star in the world, Beyonce, both on the song and in the music video. Couple that with a plethora of Grammy nominations from Erica Campbell, Ricky Dillard, William McDowell and Karen Clark- Sheard and I’d say that Thornton continues to lead eOne in one direction- up!

Vaughn Alvarez This young PR guru’s 135th Street Agency has become a force to be reckoned with as it relates to public relations. His clients include everyone from Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network to J. Moss to Jagged Edge; displaying versatility within his company.

01 1. Lecrae

Artist/Co-owner, Reach Records Where do we even begin? Lecrae had one of the best years of any artist in 2014. He witnessed his seventh studio album Anomaly top both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Gospel Album chart, marking the first time that any artist has ever topped both charts simultaneously; selling 88,000 units in its first week. In March of 2014, Lecrae and his imprint Reach Records, parted ways with Central South Distribution, bringing their label to SONY Red/New Day Records. Lecrae also appeared on both Power 105.1’s Breakfast Club with controversial hosts Charlamagne “The God,” DJ Envy and Angela Yee, and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, a first for any Christian artist.

However, it was his Anomaly Tour that shocked the nation, selling out venues all across America complete with topnotch production and an audience from all walks of life. Finally, Lecrae finished an already incredible year by being added to the highly anticipated “Christmas in Brooklyn” concert at Brooklyn’s Barclay Center, featuring Run DMC and LL Cool J.

08 8. Kirk Franklin

Artist/Label President/Executive Producer, Fo Yo Soul Entertainment For well over 20 years, Kirk Franklin has been at the top of the charts with his music. Songs like “Why We Sing,” “Melodies from Heaven,” and “Stomp,” helped changed the way we hear gospel music. In 2014, Franklin made major moves, lending his name to the House of Blues for a very successful tour featuring Tye Tribbett, Tasha Page Lockhart and The Walls Group. The 12-city tour SOLD OUT in major cities across the country such as: New York, Philadelphia, Houston, Los Angeles, and an added a date in Chicago. If that wasn’t enough, Franklin became the co-host of The American Bible Challenge, which is Game Show Network highest rated show.

The Hot List!

Carlos Hale He has successfully supported and created a platform for major and upcoming Gospel artist. Whenever there is a major event or conference in gospel music he brings his “Urban Soul Café” brand to that city and creates showcases so that people are on the pulse of what’s happening in music.

6. Ken Pennell & Aaron Lindsey

7. Geo Bivins/Joseph Burney

06

07

As President of Motown Gospel, Ken Pennell is responsible for overseeing some of gospel music’s most elite artists. CeCe Winans, Myron Butler, Micah Stampley, Kierra Sheard, Anita Wilson, Smokie Norful, Tasha Cobbs, Tye Tribbett and many others call Motown home. At the top of 2014, Motown was already on the wining side as both Tye Tribbett and Tasha Cobbs won Grammy Awards for music that Pennell executive produced. By the end of 2014, Motown Gospel was still winning, as Anita Wilson and Smokie Norful were both nominated for Grammy awards.

Geo Bivins, General Manager, and Joseph Burney, Vice President of A&R, lead the sound of direction of one of the most respected labels housing Gospel artists, RCA Inspiration (formerly Verity Records).

RCA Inspiration boasts a label roster which includes a Who’s Who of Gospel Music like: Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, Marvin Sapp and Le’Andria Johnson (to name a few, as well as new comers Travis Greene and the Grammy –nominated Walls Group.

RCA Inspiration is an industry sales leader that produces chart-topping music.

Label President/ VP of A&R, Motown Gospel

General Manager/VP of A&R, RCA Inspiration

Geo Bivins has had a successful career in music that has helped to propel the hits of the late Notorious B.I.G., Alicia Keys and R. Kelly to name a few. Burney, who reports to Bivins, previously served as Senior Director of A&R and has acted as Executive A&R on many CD and DVD releases receiving R.I.A.A. Platinum and Gold certifications.

Sarah Jakes She is a take-charge businesswoman, writer, and media personality who expertly balances career, philanthropic outreach and family. As a multi-level communications brand Sarah’s work can be found everywhere from bookstores, to online, and even on the big screen. The daughter of “America’s Preacher,” Bishop T.D. Jakes, is also a bonafide fashionista!

Aaron Lindsey, the multi-talented writer, producer and musician, has already made a mark at the iconic label, by signing one of the greatest male voices in gospel musicBrian Courtney Wilson. One of the Lindsey’s biggest moves came when he orchestrated one of the most amazingly diverse Christmas albums ever. A Motown Christmas compilation album had not been delivered in over 40 years, so it must have been difficult to produce a follow-up to a classic Christmas record that featured the likes of The Jackson 5, The Supremes, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder.

But with songs and collaborations that featured Grammy winning/ nominated Gospel and R&B artists like Chrisette Michelle, Kem, Tasha Cobbs, Joe, India Arie, Anita Wilson Ne-Yo, Smokey Robinson, Toni Braxton and Tye Trbbett, the set is indeed a future classic and at Root press time was the #1 Gospel album in the country.

05 5. Jerry Smith

Inspirational Content Director Radio One For 28 years, television and radio veteran Jerry Smith has proven to be a leader in his field. Throughout his illustrious radio career, Jerry has worked in a number of music formats, such as: Top 40, Classic Rock, AC, Gospel, Urban Contemporary, Hip Hop, Urban AC and Old School. At the height of his career, Smith was awarded The Drummer Award for Program Director of the Year by BRE Magazine. He was the first Gospel Program Director to ever win the award in the awards 25year history.

In April of 2014, the Danbury, CT native was promoted to Inspirational Content Director, a position that was previously held by Elroy Smith for five years. Before getting promoted, Jerry Smith was program Director for The Light 103.9 in North Carolina, where he resides, and is still an OnAir personality. In 2010, he was even nominated for a Stellar Award for Radio Personality of the Year. In his current position, Smith has diversified programming by managing format and program decisions on a national level. Smith made it his mission to add more independent artists, quartet and choir music to all Praise stations that he oversees.

ROOT | 26

12

11 11. Clyde Duffie

12. Dorinda Clark- Cole Artist/Talk Show Host/Clothing Designer

Called “the Rose of Gospel,” Dr. Dorinda Clark-Cole is a three time Grammy award winner and a great example of maximizing the power of influence for greater impact. ClarkCole is positioned as a lead cast member of the Oxygen’s Preachers of Detroit scheduled for 2015 on the Oxygen Network. She is host of the TCT Network’s Dorinda Show, The Gospel According to Dorinda on the Word Network and Serving Up Soul, a music and lifestyle syndicated Gospel radio show. Cole, a recent spokesperson for Tim Hortons’ US, is also a former spokes model for Donna Vinci Clothing. She now has a “Rose Collection” line that is distributed by TerraMina Fashions and has partnered in creating The Bloom Collection, a couture collection of hat adorning accessories. She is also the Founder and CEO of Lifeline Productions Inc., which present an annual Singers & Musicians Conference along with chapter events held throughout the country. A licensed evangelist, Cole is the Assistant Elect Lady of the Evangelism Department of the Church of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. – the largest Pentecostal organization in the United States. She previously served as a Vice President in the International Music Department of the same organization - a department her famed mother, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, is credited with propelling.

President, D3 Entertainment Group Clyde Duffie, has an extensive background in Radio, Retail and Television Promotions. A 15- year veteran as Director of Promotions for Verity/Jive Records (Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, R. Kelly, Britney Spears, etc.), he went on to found D3 Entertainment, a full service Gospel promotions, marketing and PR consultation firm, with his twin brother Kendall and sister Michelle. Clyde has created and directed promotional plans, tours, directed time buying, radio and television interviews, book store signings and in-store displays, road management and artist development are his areas of expertise and is known has having the most Number 1 singles in Gospel Music.

In 2014 Clyde led the Motown Gospel radio promotions team on the successful campaigns with Smokie Norful and Tasha Cobbs. He also achieved a top 10 single with VaShawn Mitchell’s current hit, “God My God.”

10 10. Catherine Brewton

VP, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI Catherine Brewton is one of the most powerful women in music, period! As Vice-President of Writer/Publisher Relations, Brewton manages and cultivates relationships with a myriad of songwriters and composers throughout the Atlanta region and beyond, creating and participating in educational, networking and showcase events specifically designed to inform and elevate up-and-coming and established songwriters alike.

The start of 2014 presented the 15th installment of the BMI Trailblazers Luncheon and honored legendary acts, Richard Smallwood and Daryl Coley. Ever the innovator, Brewton decided to bring BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” panel to a gospel platform in Philadelphia at the Praise 103.9 Inspiration and Music Conference; which was one of the most attended panels of the entire conference. In addition, Anayasha Figueroa- Cooper’s “Holy One,’ from BMII Trailblazers of Gospel Music LIVE CD, was nominated for a GMA Dove Award.

Jason Hardy continues to build his boutique agency, The J Hardy Agency, to heights unknown. In 2014, he added films like “The Identical,” “The Remaining” and “Alone Yet Not Alone” to his client roster, which already includes Motown Gospel, Committed, Stephen B. Steward and Virtue.

09 9. Warryn Campbell & Erica Campbell Producer/Artist/Reality TV Star, My Block Grammy Award Winning, Super Producer Warryn Campbell, proved in 2014 exactly why he is a giant in the music industry. He successfully produced his wife Erica Campbell’s solo project, “Help”, which spawned two Top Ten hits, “Help” and “A Little More Jesus,” of which the latter scored a Grammy Award nomination for Best Gospel Song. The album Help” went on to debut at #1 on the Billboard Gospel chart and #6 on the Billboard 200 chart. As if he wasn’t busy enough, he and Mrs. Campbell became church leaders and formed The California Worship Center, an unorthodox church of sorts not bound by tradition. Campbell was also featured on the hit TV One reality series “R&B Divas: LA,” where he produced a track for the Puerto Rico project that featured Chante Moore, Lil Mo, Chrisette Michelle, Leela James and Claudette Ortiz.

In addition to headlining a massive promo tour in support of her album, Erica also won a GMA Dove award for Traditional Gospel Song of the Year for “A Little More Jesus.” She did all of this while taping Season 3 of her hit WE tv reality show, “Mary Mary.”

Erica also continues to raise the bar and expand her brand with the recent launch of ECxCC (EC by Color Club), her new nail polish line. But it was the simple white dress that Campbell innocently posted on her Instagram page that sent shock waves through the blogosphere, proving that the world was close paying attention to the brand that is Erica Campbell.

16 16. E.J. Gaines

Editor-In-Chief, Gospel Pundit/ Attorney/Artist Manager Many people may know E.J. Gaines as the founder of Gospelpundit.com, one of gospel music’s most popular websites for all things gospel, but Eric Gaines is more than meets the eye.

Gaines is a Renaissance man in every since of the word, and as an Attorney, Artist Manager and Editor-In-Chief, he keeps himself very busy. Not only does he manage the careers of Jonathan McReynolds and William McDowell, one of his biggest power moves was getting his wife, Janice Gaines, signed to Motown Gospel, where she is working on her debut album and landed a duet with R&B crooner Kem on Motown’s first Christmas album in over two decades.

15 15. Monica Bacon

President, Sovereign Agency Monica Bacon is the founder and President of the L.A.-based Sovereign Agency, a full-service marketing, promotions, record label, management and consulting firm. Bacon launched the Sovereign Agency in 2009 bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and over 20 years experience in the music industry. Having worked in all aspects of music, Bacon is a visionary leader and creative force who has been an integral part in the growth and rise of the gospel genre.

Always the pioneer, Bacon continued to take her company to new levels in 2014. She has gone on to work with corporate clients including Chrysler’s Financial Initiative Rising Stars Tour and Live Nation’s The King’s Men Tour. Bacon recently expanded Sovereign Agency into the film and television world. She provided national marketing and tour management for RGM New Breed (a multi-media film and music company headed by Israel Houghton and Galley Molina). Their first theatrical release “I’m In Love With A Church Girl,” was released in October 2013. She also currently provides national marketing and consultation to the Game Show Network (GSN) and WE tv for their emerging line of faith-based TV programs.

14

13 13. April Washington- Chandler

14. Gina Miller

VP, National Promotions, eOne Nashville At Root press time, Ricky Dillard’s “Amazing” was still the number one gospel song at radio for a record 28 weeks. The person largely responsible for that feat is Memphis, Tennessee native, Gina Miller. As VP of National Promotions of Light/eOne, Miller has worked in Radio & Retail promotions, Sales & Label Relations, Label Product Management and Marketing.

Gina Miller is not a novice, as she is the liaison between the artists, their music and the radio stations (programmer/music director). Her duties primarily encompass planning promotions and garnering airplay for their artists and their music, but you will also see her working in the trenches planning special events in the marketplace, creating promotional tours, and making sure that all eOne artists are properly promoted in the marketplace. She even keeps gospel music enthusiasts aware of what’s going on in the industry on all of her social media outlets, proving that she is committed to the industry outside of the four walls of an office. Gina Miller is truly “Every Woman.”

Benita Bellamy Many of her clients had an outstanding 2014. Earl Bynum and The Mount Unity Mass Choir won the Stellar Award for Contemporary Choir of the Year, as well as Best Church Choir at the Ford Neighborhood Awards, Bre’ly Evans stars in the BET hit series “Being Mary Jane,” Ethan Kent became a breakout underground sensation with his debut “Work In Progress” and The Wardlaw Brothers wowed audiences across the country, appearing on America’s favorite game show “Family Feud,” which has over 9.3 million viewers.

President, Habakkuk Music, Inc

In an era where music is sales have plummeted, Gospel music is always at the bottom of the totem pole as it relates to record sales. April Washington Chandler figured out a way to distribute gospel music in an unconventional way with her partnership with Cracker Barrel Old Country stores nationwide with the Gospel Legacy series. The year 2014 was a huge year for WashingtonChandler, as she married longtime partner and astute businessman, Mike Chandler. In the latter part of last year, the second installment of the Gospel Legacy series was distributed at select Cracker Barrel locations in 42 states and online. The compilation includes a plethora of Gospel and R&B stars such as Patti Labelle, Charlie Wilson, James Fortune, Monica, VaShawn Michell, Yolanda Adams, Smokie Norful and many more.

In addition to her deal with Cracker Barrel, she sits at the helm of her label, Habakkuk Music, an independent label distributed by Universal Music Group and his home to Lisa Page Brooks, Papa San, and Stellar Award winners, Cheneta Jones and Earl Bynum and The Mount Unity Choir. Habakkuk Music, Inc. (d/b/a HBK Media) has also successfully formed marketing relationships with organizations such as the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, Chick-fil-A and Rejoice Radio Network, among others.

20

Here we go again! The Top 20 Power Players of the year. The esteemed list of people and entities that helped keep this engine we call Gospel moving. Every year, “The Committee,” works tirelessly to pick the individuals who will land these 20 highly coveted spots. Naturally the stakes were high as we discussed, argued and ultimately decided who made the biggest impact in 2014. Simple and plain, who was necessary to Gospel music in 2014? We were very passionate while compiling this list, as are all who are featured in Root Magazine’s 2014 Top 20 Power Players list. Shout out to all of those who made it. For those who didn’t, continue to hustle hard to make the list next year.

The Committee: Devanté Arbet T’Mil Curtis Shawn Gibbs Torrence Glenn

Nicole Heyward Hasan James Gerald Jones Roudy Michel

20. Sheila Jackson Lee

Congresswoman, 18th District of Texas/Gospel Music Enthusiast The mission: To educate and celebrate the art form and rich heritage of all genres of Gospel music through word and song. The visionary: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Jackson Lee introduced the historic resolution (HJ Res 64) and played a significant role in its passage in both the United States House and Senate with bi-partisan support.

Last year for the second year in a row, the entire nation celebrated the national observance of “Gospel Heritage Month” during the month of September. The observance honors “Gospel music” for its value and longstanding contributions to the culture of the United States, and featured a bevy of nationally renowned and local gospel artists in a special concert at The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. The Congresswoman was also honored with the Thomas A. Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award at the 29th Annual Stellar Awards as a result of her efforts.

Words by: Adrian Warren Martin Williams

Hot Shots!

19. Rick Robinson Producer

19

2014 was a great year for producer, Rick Robinson. He produced the critically acclaimed sophomore album for Anita Wilson with “Vintage Worship,” a collection of songs that marries uplifting Sunday morning gospel with elements of lush 1970s-era soul, mid-tempo 80’s R&B, funk, jazz and Go-Go. However, one of his biggest production hits came courtesy of fellow Chicago native, Ricky Dillard, who garnered his first #1 Billboard album and single with the song “Amazing.” At Root press time, “Amazing” was still the #1 gospel song in the United States and shows no signs of slowing down.

This year, Robinson’s production credits will include two Clark Sisters, Karen and Dorinda.

18. Earnest Pugh

Artist/Label President, EPM Music Group

18

Since he burst onto the scene with his smash hit “Rain On Us,” Earnest Pugh has not been able to sit still. He signed major distribution deals for himself and his artist on his EPM Music Group label, and has also taken the time to cultivate upcoming artists, helping in showcasing the next generation of talent. That said, he released three projects that all debuted in the Top 20 (two in the top 10).

Pugh’s own “Just Worship,” “Top Praise Breaks 2014” and “Gospel’s Rising Stars, the latter were specialty compilation projects, a feat that had never been done before. in gospel music. Pugh also co-starred in two critically acclaimed stage plays: “Danger at my Door,” alongside Vivica A. Fox and “Ain’t To Proud To Beg.”

17. Jawn Murray

Journalist/CEO, AlwaysAList.com

17

Jawn Murray is a multi-media Journalist, Pop Culture Expert and Editor-In-Chief of AlwaysAList. com – a thriving entertainment and lifestyle website he launched in 2012. He is a respected media personality who offers national and international coverage of Gospel music and artists. Jawn has been recognized by Ebony magazine as one of the “30 on the Rise” to watch in the industry, and by the NAACP as one of “40 Power Players Under 40.” As an entertainment and pop culture commentator, Jawn regularly appears on both CNN and its sister channel HLN and has appeared on “The View,” “Wendy Williams Show,” “Access Hollywood,” and NBC’s “Today Show.” Jawn has also worked as a casting judge for the last five seasons of BET’s music competition series “Sunday Best.”

Thomasina “Goo Goo” Atkins has proven that she’s more than just a celebrity stylist and reality star. After 13 years in the business “Goo Goo” expanded her reach and brand’s net worth with the opening of her first showroom, The Style Suite, located in the heart of Los Angeles, CA. The younger sister of Erica and Tina Campbell also began acting and grew her client roster to an impressive array of sports figures, actors and artists like Laila Ali, Darren Sproles (New Orleans Saints), Neicy Nash, Laz Alonzo, her Grammy winning sisters, Mary Mary, to name a few.

television was on and she began watching our show.

After seeing the show, she had the will to live one more day.

How does it feel being honored by BMI as Trailblazers in the industry?

Melonda: I think it is a wonderful thing. After receiving the news, I heard a lot of people say that it is about time. I understand what they were saying, but my first thought was that God’s timing is perfect.

I would have never imagined that this would come at this appointed time. Most of us wanted an honor like this years ago, but it didn’t happen. So for me, I see it as the perfect timing of God. Dejuaii: God has called us to be remembered. As Melonda said, we wanted this 15-20 years ago. When you’re doing things and you’re in the zone, you want everything to happen right at that moment. You want the accolades, awards and money when you are in the zone. This recognition has come at a time when I can ask what is next on my bucket list? For God to call us to be remembered now is phenomenal and I am so grateful. Most of the people in the bible days got rewarded in their latter years.

Latrice: I have served others on this platform for so long and now to be able to sit in the audience is surreal. It’s not because of the work that I have done, but it is because of the work of my older sisters.

It’s almost like I am catching the overflow because they’ve laid the groundwork. I remember as a child, I would hear the van pulling up after they returned from an engagement and they would tell me all about the adventures; both good and bad. Hearing

these stories growing up, you have a certain image of the industry and you don’t want any part of it. For me to have lived through it with them and see them finally receive this honor, it’s just amazing.

Phyllis: I am very elated and humbled by it. I know Latrice wanted this for us. She would talk about all of the work that we’ve done over the years and she just wanted us to feel appreciated. I want to personally that my sister Latrice for everything she has done. I am not caught up with a time limit; I’m caught with God making it happen.

Was there ever any competition between The Anointed Pace Sisters and other female groups of your era?

Dejuaii: From my perspective there was never any competition, although people kept trying to put that out there. I believe that all of the other groups at that time had a different flavor and their own identity.

It was the enemy behind the scenes trying to plant those seeds of competition. I’ve personally told members of other groups that I admired them. For me, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark and The Clark Sisters were people I idolized growing up. Dr. Clark paved the way for me as a female drummer. I had a total different perspective regarding competition. During my prayer time, it was their music that ushered me into worship and praise.

President of the convention and her daughters would be up singing. We’ve definitely followed voices like The Clark Sisters, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, James Moore and others who were in COGIC at that time.

We do riffs and runs and we have our own individual sound. What people don’t realize is that our sound is The Pace Sisters sound, but it’s cultivated by a COGIC sound. I’ve been given a position in the COGIC as the President of the children’s ministry called “The Sunshine Band.” Twinkie came and sang “You Brought The Sunshine,” so there is no competition. When I was working for “Disney’s The Lion King”, they told me “We want you to drive this song in a particular way.” They brought me this CD and it was Twinkie singing on Michael McDonald’s CD. I told them that I knew her and they asked me if I could do what she did. I said “Yeah I can do that; she taught me how to do some of things you hear me doing.” Competition doesn’t come from the artists themselves, it comes from the people who are around the artist. We as artists realize that if it were not for grace and God’s gift, we would not be where we are today. When you have a goal in mind, you don’t have time to be trivial; questioning whether or not if someone is doing your riff. If what you’re doing is effective and God gives you the strength to do it, souls are going to be won for Jesus. We are grateful to BMI and everyone associated with this honor, but God didn’t send us here to win awards; He sent us here to win souls!

Leslie: We’ve never been in competition with anyone.

We grew up in the Church of God in Christ. The direct influences in our home were The Davis Sisters and The Clara Ward Singers. As we started going to music conventions, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark was the

UKnow COMPRISED OF ANYWHERE BETWEEN SEVEN AND EIGHT SISTERS, DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT, THE ANOINTED PACE SISTERS BEGAN SINGING IN TALENT SHOWS WHILE THEY WERE TEENS IN HIGH SCHOOL. THEY BEGAN MAKING A NAME FOR THEMSELVES IN THE EARLY 1970’S AFTER WINNING BEST GOSPEL GROUP HONORS AT THE ANNUAL COGIC MUSIC CONVENTION. THEY SPENT THE LATTER HALF OF THE DECADE SERVING IN THE ACTION REVIVAL TEAM HEADED BY THE REV. GENE MARTIN, AND THAT IS WHERE PEOPLE REALLY BEGAN TO TAKE NOTICE. THE ANOINTED PACE SISTERS DEBUT ALBUM, U-KNOW, APPEARED ON SAVOY RECORDS IN 1992, AND REMAINED ON BILLBOARD’S GOSPEL CHARTS FOR OVER A YEAR. ALTHOUGH IT TOOK OVER 20 YEARS FOR THEIR SOUND TO REACH THE MASSES, THE ANOINTED PACE SISTERS WILL FOREVER BE A STAPLE IN GOSPEL MUSIC. -BY HASAN JAMES Where did the name “The Anointed Pace Sisters” come from?

Phyllis: A man by the name of Caresser Murrell gave us that name. They called him the “Happy” preacher.

We were singing at an appreciation service in our honor and when he got up to give his remarks, he said “Now Jesus, y’all singing. The Lord said, ‘The Anointed Pace Sisters’” We were originally The Pace Singers and my brother used to sing with us, but he said “I’m just gonna let you all do it.” The next day, they were going to name us “The Silver Stars,” but that Sunday our name became “The Anointed Pace Sisters.”

Who influenced your sound?

Latrice: Our dad influenced our sound. He sang in a quartet group back in the day and that music influenced our sound a great deal.

Phyllis: The Davis Sisters also influenced our sound.

My sister Niecey (Duranice) loved Ruth Davis and that’s who she patterned her sound after. Other influences were The Lovette Sisters, The Clara Ward Singers and Rev. Gene Martin. My dad would line

THE ANOINTED PACE SISTERS us up every night before we went to bed and make us sing for him.

How did you all begin singing as a group?

Phyllis: One summer afternoon, my mother had put us three down for a nap. Shortly thereafter we began to sing the Church of God In Christ song “Yes Lord.”

Niecey began, and then I joined with the low part and Shun did the middle part. My mother walked back into the bedroom and stood at the door. We were back there singing and crying and my mother said that the Lord told her to put us together and teach us the Davis Sisters, The Clara Ward Singers and the songs we would sing in church. She would tell us to sing it in three- part harmony. One day my dad came in and she said “Baby you got to listen to these girls.” My father then began teaching us quartet music and he had us slapping our hips and stomping our feet. My mother said, “Daddy, they are not men, they are girls and they’re supposed to clap their hands.” He was trying to make us a male quartet (Laughter).

What memories do you have of recording your first album “U-Know”?

Latrice: That was my first professional debut and my very first album with the girls. They had already done two albums on an independent label that was produced by Walter Hawkins. I broke my foot at a Commissioned concert the night before, so I ended up doing the entire recording sitting down.

Phyllis: My memories are very mixed. When we took pictures for that particular photo shoot, we didn’t know that we were going there to do an album cover. We took the pictures and the next thing we know they were asking us which picture we wanted to use for the album cover. We were not prepared. Nonetheless, with it being a professional recording it was just as exciting. I didn’t understand the magnitude of what was happening. All I knew is that we loved singing and when they told us we were doing an album, we said “Ok, let’s do this!” When you go out and people call your name, you wonder, “How do you know me?” I would look in the mirror and say, “Girl, you’re famous!” It’s very humbling and I thank God for it.

Who’s the best singer in the group?

Latrice: I feel like everybody has their own unique sound but I would say hands down, it would be Duranice!

Phyllis: Duranice’s voice is like butter.

Dejuaii: I agree! I think Duranice is hands down one of the best singers in the group. She literally sings in her sleep. She wakes up and it is pandemonium. She has a verse and three choruses on her voicemail. If you ever call her, don’t be in a hurry and don’t have an emergency!

A few years ago, you all appeared on OWN’s “Iyanla, Fix My Life.” Do you think that after all of those days of sitting with her helped put you all in a better place?

Latrice: I’m very savvy on Social Media, so the main reason I would say that it did help is because we have been getting so much great feedback. So many people have been thanking us for telling our story because they have either dealt with the same issues of being a Preacher’s Kid or their family has gone through most of what we went through. So, if putting myself on a national or international platform is helping someone overcome, that’s Kingdom. We’re influencing a “Christ-like” culture so that others can overcome.

Lydia: It helped us as a group and I know it has definitely helped me personally. I really wanted to go back to school and being on that show actually gave me the push to enlist back in school. I am happy to say that on December 13, 2014, I graduated with my degree. The appearance on “Iyanla, Fix My Life,” really put me in a better place because I was able to release it and grow from there.

Dejuaii: It was a positive experience for me. I’ve received so many responses via e-mail and social media from people saying it has helped them to talk and get the courage to release some things.

One of the most touching stories was from a young man who said he was on the brink of committing suicide until he saw the show. There was also another instance when a mother had sent her two boys to the store and she had a loaded gun next to her bed ready to kill herself and right at that moment, the

31 | ROOT

The Benediction The title, Gospel Trailblazer, is so befitting for someone like Marvin McQuitty because he is just that. I was friends’ with Marvin for years and we first met while he was playing for Fred Hammond.

Marvin was not only Fred’s drummer; he was also the production manager and tour bus driver. I’ve never met anyone in my life that would drive the bus, be the production manager, get on stage to tear up the drums, keep it going, pack up the drums, get everybody on the bus and then drive the bus all over again. How can one person do that? This guy had so many lives in his hand, but he always delivered. One thing about Marvin was he never complained about anything. He always talked about God and his love of people. He was a man of integrity, morals, principles and values. I never saw him live contrary to what he preached or talked about.

As a musician, he was my drummer during our S.O.P days. Myself, Marvin and Gerald Heyward have been best friends for a long time. Gerald and I toured with GUY, New Kids on the Block, Silk, SWV, Mary J. Blige and Beyonce, just to name a few. Gerald is one of the industry’s top drummers and he would always talk to me about Marvin with the utmost respect. Every year Marvin and I would get on the phone and coordinate this Gospel Trailblazers event. In the beginning, Marvin would do the same thing. He would make sure his drums were tin place, be the production manager, make sure my keyboard was there and everything. He was just that kind of guy. He didn’t ask questions, he just jumped into it and executed. It’s just unexplainable.

Marvin McQuitty is a legend in my eyes and the epitome of a Trailblazer. The things he’s done, other drummers will never ever be able to accomplish.

JOE “FLIP” WILSON REMEMBERS HIS DEAR FRIEND MARVIN MCQUITTY

There should be a template of what drummers should be because of Marvin McQuitty. We haven’t even found a drummer that can replace him. It’s not about skill set, but it’s about the energy and the spirit that he brought to the Trailblazers. That’s what the Trailblazers were all about. From when we first began until now, the event has always been about spirit and energy. We all decided that this is how the room should build. It shouldn’t build with people being conceited or stuck up; it had to be a free room. We didn’t want it to be someone having to be number one or top dog to be in the room. We just wanted to get good artists in the room who can appreciate each other’s gifts. That’s what Marvin McQuitty was all about.

BMI TRAILBLAZERS EDITION

Issue 18

Feb/Mar 2015

TOP 20 POWER PLAYERS OF 2014

U-KNOW

LASHUN PACE IN MY OWN WORDS

THE ANOINTED PACE SISTERS