Marvin Sapp’s Song of The Year

 

The Black Gospel Blog has released their list of the top ten Gospel records of 2008. Are you surprised that Marvin Sapp’s "Never Would Have Made It" is #1? lol Is there anybody on Earth that has not heard it?

Whenever it comes on the radio my little ones start groaning, "Oh, no, not again!", and then they start singing along. The song has been a bit overexposed, but it’s an awesome song that has captured the hearts of many people.

Blind Boys Of Alabama Receive Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Recording Academy^® has named Gene Autry, the Blind Boys Of Alabama, the Four Tops, Hank Jones, Brenda Lee, Dean Martin, and Tom Paxton as recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The special invitation-only ceremony will be held during GRAMMY Week on Saturday, Feb. 7, and a formal acknowledgment will be made during the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast, which will be held at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, and broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

GRAMMY winners the Blind Boys Of Alabama (Clarence Fountain, George Scott*, Johnny Fields, Jimmy Carter, Eric "Ricky" McKinney, and Joey Williams) have spread the spirit and soul of traditional and contemporary Gospel music for more than seven decades. Originally formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939, the Blind Boys have recorded more than 60 albums, performed in numerous churches, auditoriums, and stadiums across the country, and received various awards throughout their illustrious career. They have recorded or performed with such artists as Peter Gabriel, Ben Harper, John Legend, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, and Kanye West.

Links:

Blind Boys of Alabama Website
Blind Boys of Alabama MySpace

 

Sunday Gospel!-Cover Me-21:03 Barack Obama Tribute

Gospel Music tribute to Barack Obama with 21:03’s chart-topping single "Cover Me".

Purchase the single for your Ipod or Itunes:

Purchase the CD for the perfect Christmas gift for a friend or loved one:

Kurt Carr-Just The Beginning

BlackGospel.com has a very interesting interview with award-winning Gospel music artist Kurt Carr that gives a great inside look into his world. In the interview Carr talks about his start in Gospel music and the big influence that Rev. James Cleveland had on his career.

I remember having lunch in the early/mid 80s. It was in New York City at Madison Square Garden. I was having lunch with a Pastor and singer, Richard “Mr Clean” White . In walks Rev. James Cleveland right into the restaurant and he sits down at the table with us. Rev. Cleveland and Pastor White were really great friends. I had never met Reverend Cleveland before this moment. My group travelled to the GMWA convention for years, hoping Rev. Cleveland would discover us and every time, he was never there to see our set. And it just so happened this year, the convention was in New York, and I’m from Connecticut so it was right up the street. This particular year, I did not bring the group or anything. I just waited for a couple of days to pass, join the workshop and then head right back home because I had to be at choir rehearsal.

That afternoon, I met Reverend Cleveland. We sat at the table with ‘Mr. Clean’ and we talked for hours. Mr. Clean said to Rev. Cleveland, “He’s a great musician. You should hear him play.” That afternoon, we had a youth service. Rev. Cleveland said “Come on. Join the youth service with us”. So I walked over to the convention center. Mr. Clean shoved me over to the organ. Rev. Cleveland said, “You know we want to hear you play.” So of course, when the King of Gospel asks you to play, you play (laughter). Little did I know that he needed a director at that time and Calvin Bernard Rhone had given his letter of resignation as the Music Director because he started a new church ministry.

I really enjoyed the part of the interview where he spoke about 89 year old Narcissus Hinton Brown. She was the star soloist of his first church and had never been recorded. With the prompting of God he put her on the Just The Beginning CD and took her to the White House to sing for President Bush for a concert celebrating Gospel music. Be sure to read the article to get her reaction to Kurt’s kindness.