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coming book titled, “Why Can’t I Sing,” and his CD is slated for release in April. PJ also has a joint venture as an artist with KOCH and Light Records. In the meantime the gifted musician continues to travel with his father and support dad’s music and preaching ministries.
By Faye Truth theinspiredco@aol.com
Integrity Music recording artist Stephen Hurd is writing a book. Speaking of books, Yolanda Adams’ The Points of Power is expected to be published this year.
BeBe and CeCe Winans continue to heat up the charts with their smash hit “Close To You” showing up on both Gospel and Urban music charts. And did you stay up late and see them recently on BET’s The Monique Show? Not only were they fabulous, but host Monique, treated them with the utmost respect and loves their music.
BEBE AND CECE WINANS
Dottie Peoples has a new make-up line that will be available in malls. Pastor Shirley Caesar has a new video to look out for, “Heaven’s Playground.” And, she says she will join The Caravans and sing with them on their next CD which will be in the works soon. By the way, word is Pastor Caesar may be giving up her duties as a pastor this year.
Kudos to Kirk Franklin for writing and producing the fund raising single, “Are You Listening?” to benefit the people in Haiti who suffered insurmountable loss as a result of the devastating earthquake back in January. It is an awesome song that features a who’s who list of Gospel and Christian music recording artists, including MaryMary, Dorinda Clark Cole, Karen Clark Sheard, Kierra Sheard, J Moss, Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, Bishop Paul Morton, and more.
Earl Bynum is working on both a choir and solo project. And he’s getting all of this done in between his gig as an International Booking Agent. He just completed a world tour with stops in places like Italy and Switzerland. The BMI Trailblazer Awards saluting gospel legends Andrae Crouch and Donnie McClurkin debuts Sunday, February 21s, 8p.m. EST on GMC. Hosted by Byron Cage, the show was taped in Nashville during Stellar Awards week and features soul stirring performances by some of Gospel’s best, including Pastor Marvin Winans, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Dorinda Clark Cole, Micah Stampley, Yolanda Adams, TaTa Vega, Latice Crawford and MaryMary.
The star-studded song was recorded during Stellar Awards week in Nashville. UN’s Lin. Woods says she KIRK FRANKLIN was at the Industry and Artist Prayer Service hosted by Kirk and CeCe Winans at CeCe’s home church, Born Again, where Kirk requested all the artist in the house to come and record that night and subsequent nights that week. “There were no egos, just complete cooperation and comradery between everyone there,” says Lin. The song has received immediate radio airplay and is available for purchase on iTunes. The video is airing on Gospel Music Channel (GMC).
Central City Productions’ Stellar Awards is airing in syndication. This year’s show is hosted by Vickie Winans, Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin and features performances by Donald Lawrence, Marvin Sapp, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin, MaryMary and more. Check your local TV and cable listings and tune in.
ON THE MOVE… Licia Shearer has exited her position as producer of Serving Up Soul with Dorinda Clark Cole. Erin DeVeaux who moved up from the Production Coordinator position has been promoted to producer. Andy Giner has stepped in as Production Coordinator of the Pasadena, CA-based national syndicated radio show.
Kirk is currently holding national auditions for the third season of BET’s gospel talent competition show, Sunday Best. The show will host its first time ever international auditions in Lagos, Nigeria in Africa. MaryMary will return this season as judges. Joining them will be first time judges, Donnie McClurkin and Yolanda Adams. Sunday Best premiere’s on BET in April.
YOLANDA ADAMS
PJ MORTON
Music Entertainment Executive, Alvin Williams, who spent the last five years building up music programming featuring all forms of Gospel music, from Blue Grass to Contemporary Christian to Tradition Gospel to Hip Hop, at Atlanta based music TV network, Gospel Music Channel, has vacated his position as Senior Director of Music Industry Development.
Lonnie Hunter has a new project in the works. Meanwhile, his radio program, The Lonnie Hunter Show continues to add markets, most recently, Cleveland (WJMO-AM).
Gospel star Tye Tribbett reportedly has moved from his east coast digs to sunny Los Angeles. I guess he’s making a fresh start since he is said to be starting another group/choir. Where does this leave his choir, Greater Anointing?
Alvin was instrumental in bringing diverse Gospel shows to the air at GMC like Hometown Gospel, Hype and Glory, BMI Trailblazer Awards, Front Row Live and more. Without him, many of the African American themed Gospel music shows and artists might not have gotten the invaluable exposure they received on the network which is available to 46 million homes. He says he will soon let it be known what his next big thing is.
According to our sources, Tonéx will be recording Urban music and there is no certainty that he will continue with gospel. We express our continued support in whatever this talented young man does in the future.
Entrepreneur/Attorney and former President of Verity Records, Max Siegel is said to have label projects in the works which will bring him back into the Gospel recording world.
Bishop Paul S. Morton is super busy with congregations in both Atlanta and home base, New Orleans. And to add to his good deeds, he’s set up the Paul S. Morton Scholarship to help deserving young people out there who want to further their education. Speaking of the Morton’s PJ Morton, Bishop Morton’s son, a talented writer, producer and artist, has multiple projects we can look forward to. He has a forth-
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VOLUME 19 NUMBER 8