Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers Release “The Beginning” on October 28th
New York, NY (BlackNews.com) - Internationally renowned and celebrated, Kurt Carr is one of the brightest jewels in the crown of Gospel music. He has penned numerous #1 songs, including the ubiquitous "In the Sanctuary" - which has been translated into nine different languages, re-recorded by 20 different acts and is a Sunday morning favorite at churches around the globe. Since his 2005 release One Church, Carr has helmed numerous projects including I Never Lost My Praise, the critically acclaimed "comeback" CD for the legendary Tramaine Hawkins; and Bishop Paul Morton’s powerful "Still Standing." On October 28, with the release of his 7th CD JUST THE BEGINNING, Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr singers reunite to deliver a powerful opus of good ‘ole church music with Carr’s trademark cross-generational, cross-cultural appeal.
"The last album was a thematic album; it was a stretch," says Carr. "We had bagpipes, accordion–sounds that have never been associated with Gospel music," Carr says. "The songs on Just The Beginning are very singer-friendly, very congregational. This time, I’m going back to my roots."
JUST THE BEGINNING offers Carr’s unique brand of Sunday-morning liturgies and soaring choir-friendly melodies. The first single "Peace & Favor Rest On Us" is a clarion call that points listeners to the essence of life in Christ. The song is destined to be an enduring classic. Another high energy track is "Don’t Let Your Light Go Out," which is preceded by a musical treat from 89-year-old Narcissus Hinton-Brown, a traditional soloist from Carr’s hometown in Hartford, Connecticut and one of his mentors. "As a kid, she was a star soloist at my church," says Carr. I didn’t start going to church until I was 15 and God used people like Narcissus to inspire me in my musical journey. I just always wanted to do something special for her because she never received great national acclaim, yet she remained steadfast and faithful to her calling.
"I feel like this CD is for people like Narcissus because people need to be reminded that age nor circumstance matter when it comes to God’s blessings. God also touched my heart to take her to the White House, and she tore that place up! So no one should ever stop believing God has great things in store for them."
"Psalm 23 — I Don’t Have To Want For Anything" features Kurt Carr and the dynamic vocals of contemporary christian vocal group Avalon. It is a pure praise and worship song that musically interprets one of the most well known scriptures in the bible. "Right Time, Right Place" is at once rousing and reassuring and beautifully demonstrates Carr’s penchant for complex, neo-classical arrangements, while "Spiritual Makeover Extreme" is powerful with its never ending hook declaring ‘I don’t look like what I’ve been through.’
"This CD represents the beginnings of many new horizons for me," says Carr. "New adventures, new business relationships, I’m excited about what the Lord has in store.
"More importantly, God has called me to preserve and perpetuate the music of the church so that there’s substance to feed seasoned saints, and new converts once we catch them. That summarizes my calling, and these songs are those that God has given for such a time as this."
For Bookings Contact:
Kurt Carr Ministries - 281-835-5731
For More Information, Contact Zomba Gospel Publicity:
Kymberlee Norsworthy/212-833-6640/Kymberlee.Norsworthy@sonybmg.com
Jamie Clark/212-833-6649/Jamie.Clark@zomba.com
Learn to Play All your Favorite Christmas Songs by this Holiday Season!
Gospel Music News-Tyler Perry, Israel & New Breed
1. Congrats to Tyler Perry on being the first African-American to launch his own major TV and film studio! Oprah Winfrey, along with Will Smith, Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Cicely Tyson, Louis Gossett, Jr., Holly Robinson Peete, Tracey Edmonds, music mogul L.A. Reid, Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, and many other impressive guests were in attendance to help celebrate. The multi-million dollar facility located in Atlanta, contains studios named after screen legends Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee and Cicely Tyson.~Bossip
2. Israel Houghton & New Breed will be going on tour with Chris Tomlin on the "Hello Love Tour 2009” beginning January 22, 2009.
3. Dave Hollister was once a R&B star, but now he is a Gospel singer and preacher. My entire family loves Dave Hollister-this mini-bio was a great read.~Crossrhythms
4. Evangalist Juanita Bynum sings at Madison Square Garden. Says her divorce and tax woes gave her a deeper love for God.~AJC
5. Be sure to sign up for the Paul Porter Walk in the Light CD giveaway. Deadline is October 10th.~Prayze Hymn
Learn to Play All your Favorite Christmas Songs by this Holiday Season!
CeCe Winans Launches The Kingdom Tour
In spite of a busy schedule, CeCe Winans has embarked on the long-awaited Kingdom Tour. The tour started on October 1st and will last through December 21st. The seven-time Grammy Award winner will visit churches in Indiana, Baltimore, New Jersey, DC, Detroit, North and South Carolina, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, as well as other markets.
The tour kicked off in Atlanta’s Elizabeth Baptist Church to coincide with the grand opening of The Light at Brookhaven . Visit cecewinans.com for the tour schedule. I see she is coming to Houston on December 11th. I can’t wait!
If you haven’t seen Cece on Real Life Diva’s you can watch it below:
Thank God Joe Ligon Was Never Tempted By R&B
Joe Ligon, leader and founder of the Los Angeles based Mighty Clouds of Joy is sold out on Gospel music, and has never been tempted by the allure of singing R&B. Ligon has been singing Gospel for 50 years, and even though he has been asked to sing secular, he has always refused.
Most, however, believe that singing songs that often end up being the soundtrack for sin will undermine the message of the gospel music the performers sing, as well as the devout lives gospel artists strive to live. Many gospel artists even refuse to listen to secular music.
I applaud the Gospel artists that have such dedication to their faith and Gospel music.
When my husband and I had our music store we knew a young man that was promoting his Gospel CD. He had a track on the CD that he would flip around depending on what audience he was performing the song for. If he was singing at a church the song was "Whatever You Want God’s Got It" and if he was singing at a club or whatever, the song became "Whatever You Want I Got It". Sounds unbelievable, but true story.
What do you think? Should Gospel artists be given a pass to sing secular? Can the two mix?
The Mighty Clouds of Joy will be performing Sunday at the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts.
