In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Hammond Organ Company, Hammond USA initiated a Hall of Fame to honor and recognize musicians who have perpetuated and advanced the legacy of the electric organ. Among the 26 inaugural honorees are Twinkie Clark, chief musician and the driving force behind the famous Clark Sisters and the late Billy Preston, whose credits include playing with the Beatles as well as getting his start in the church recording with James Cleveland, Andrae Crouch and Mahalia Jackson. Over 100 candidates were nominated and voted on via the Hammond Organ Facebook page. A special induction ceremony and concert will be held during the 2014 Winter NAMM trade show in January.
Hear Preston’s masterful rendition of Amazing Grace from his 1980 Universal Love LP
For a number of years, Baylor University’s Robert Darden has led the charge on preserving music from Gospel’s Golden Era via the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project. Baylor and his team have sought to identify, record and catalog both well known and obscure recordings that make up the gospel music tradition. To date,more than 8,000 tracks have been digitized. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture announced via social media that the collection will be a part of the museum’s Musical Crossroad’s exhibition.
North Carolina boasts of being the home of great Gospel singers including Luther Barnes, Pastor Shirley Caesar and Pastor John P. Kee . Adding to that roster is Damion Murrill and Siloam. Damion shouldn’t be too unfamiliar to the music scene; he hails from the other family group, the Stellar Award nominated Murrills, spent time honing his craft in the Tri City Singers and counts Donald Lawrence as one of his musical mentors. With six musical siblings and preachers for parents, Damion Murrill’s future was already laid out for him. Accompanying him on this musical journey is 16 handpicked singers from the NC area that comprise the group Siloam. Murrill believes God will use this music ministry to open the eyes of others who have been blinded from God’s truth. Look forward to a single, Kingdom Come as well as a full project in 2014.
In the 80s, Andrae Crouch gave us I’ll Be Thinking of You and introduced the world to the song stylings of Kristle Murden. AND THE WORLD HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE. Kristle would go on to record I Can’t Let Go, her solo debut for Light Records and continue a long association with the Andrae Crouch Singers (Just a Matter of Time, Jesus, Come Lay Your Head on Me, Come Closer to Me, He’s the Light) . While we were consumed with the unexpected release of another female phenom, Howard Smith (another Andrae Crouch alum) informed us that Kristle has new music in the marketplace. Turn it Over is the new single and it is available via digital outlets. Especially for the GOSPELflava family, here’s a snippet:
Billboard Magazine released in Best of 2013 charts and included are the most popular Gospel songs as determined by Nielsen BDS. Anthony Brown’s Testimony takes the top spot, followed by Israel and New Breed’s Its Not Over, Tamela Mann’s Take Me to the King, Tasha Cobbs’ Break Every Chain and Bishop Paul S. Morton’s Your Best Days Yet.
Tamela Mann took the top spot in the Gospel Songs Artists, Gospel Artists and Gospel Albums Artist Categories.
In time for the gift giving season, Retroactive Records delivers a limited edition release of Walter Hawkins’ I Feel Like Singing album for the first time on CD. Originally released by Light Records in 1982, the disc has been digitally remastered and relives the glory days of the Hawkins sound . The CD is available exclusively via Amazon and ebay.
In its ongoing efforts to provide quality Gospel Music programming, the Word Network announced the addition of a new show hosted by Grammy winning choir master Bishop Hezekiah Walker.
“Hezekiah Walker Presents Choirfest” will spotlight gospel choir’s from across the United States and the world as they lift their voices in song. The show will be a part of the Word Network’s Saturday program schedule. Check your local listings for time and station information in your area.
Ten-Time GRAMMY Award Winning Producer Kevin Bond is set to release a tribute single to the late great Nelson Mandela. The Former President of South Africa passed away on Friday December 5th after a long battle with a lung infection. Compelled by the life of this great man, Kevin Bond has composed a personal musical tribute that will be included in the SABC’s home going festivities for the great leader. The single will be played on South African TV and radio stations and is a a rousing uptempo presentation featuring original music by Bond, speech clips by Mandela, and to engage the youth, Kevin’s 16 year old son Alex Bond III is rapping on the single.
The nominations are in for the GRAMMY Awards. The 56th Annual GRAMMY® Awards will be held at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS on January 26, 2014. In the Gospel category, the nominees are: (more…)
For over 10 years, Dorinda Clark Cole has hosted her annual Singers and Musicians Arts Conference in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan. This year, she decided to package the conference and “take it on the road”. On Decmeber 5th, all roads will lead to Los Angeles, California as SMAC makes its way to the Bishop Craig Worsham’s Peoples Independent Church. The three day confab features a musical extravaganza, new artist showcase and workshops featuring some of the top names in gospel including Tasha Page Lockhart, Teddy Campbell, David Daughtry, Damien Sneed, Neily Dickerson, Eric Dawkins, Asaph Ward, Gerald Haddon, Jason White, Shep Crawford and many more.
e 80th anniversary of the Hammond Organ Company, Hammond USA initiated a Hall of Fame to honor and recognize musicians who have perpetuated and advanced the legacy of the electric 
organ. Among the 26 inaugural honorees are Twinkie Clark, chief musician and the driving force behind the famous Clark Sisters and the late Billy Preston, whose credits include playing with the Beatles as well as getting his start in the church recording with James Cleveland, Andrae Crouch and Mahalia Jackson. Over 100 candidates were nominated and voted on via the Hammond Organ Facebook page. A special induction ceremony and concert will be held during the 2014 Winter NAMM trade show in January.
