Mary Mary released their highly anticipated new project titled “Go Get It” on May 8th, but they also appeared on Good Morning America (ABC) to millions of viewers this morning . They also informed viewers that their popular reality tv series “Mary Mary” has been picked up for a 2nd season by Wetv. Congratulations to them as they continue to “Go Get It” and spread the Gospel to even more people. Let’s continue to support these ladies by picking up their new project and tuning in their reality television series Thursdays at 9pm EST on Wetv.

James & Cheryl Fortune will be featured in the May/June issue of Gospel Today talking about relationships and sharing some of their own experiences. Cheryl Fortune also released new music that will be featured on her upcoming EP. Earlier this year James Fortune & FIYA released a hot new project on Light Records titled “Identity”,  and James Fortune launched his new label FIYA World Music in partnership with EOne Entertainment. Cheryl Fortune will be the first featured artist on the FIYA World Music label.

Arrow Records announced the appointment of a new general manager,Cappriccieo M. Scates. The Arrow Records label is an affiliate of Creflo Dollar Ministries and Pastor Taffi Dollar serves as CEO of the label. Scates brings over 20 years of experience in the music industry to his new position. Having spent time as Senior Director of the Atlanta SESAC division and serving on a number of prominent music industry boards, he is poised to make great contributions to the growth and further development of the label. Congratulations to him and we’re looking forward to what’s forthcoming from Arrow Records.

Pastor Jason Nelson is set to release his upcoming project “Shifting The Atmosphere” on May 22nd, 2012 on the Verity Gospel Music Group label. His single, the title track, is doing well on the Christian and Gospel charts and is a wonderful ballad that definitely displays why Gospel music listeners need to add his project to their collection. It is now available for pre-order. Let’s support good Gospel music.

Light Records and Tehillah Music Group presents new recording artist Jonathan McReynolds. He’s a singer and songwriter and his debut project titled “LIFE MUSIC” will be released in the Fall. McReynolds released his first single off of the forthcoming project titled “I Love You”. It’s available on Itunes and will be a great addition to your collection. Jonathan emerged on the scene in 2010 independently with an EP titled “The Very Unofficial EP of Jonathan McReynolds“. A standout track on his independent release is “No Gray“.

These are some of the highlights of the past few weeks in the Gospel music industry. You can check in on our news section on the main page of our site, and our Facebook and Twitter pages for more industry news!

This is the tour that you don’t want to miss! Kirk Franklin, Israel Houghton, Pastor Donnie McClurkin, and Pastor Marvin Sapp live on one stage! 4 of GOSPEL’s leading men are hitting the road in September, hitting 15 cities across the United States. Combined and individually these artist have received numerous awards and sold millions of albums worldwide.  Each artist have given the GOSPEL community timeless worship and praise anthems. The idea of them all coming together on one stage…one word… ELECTRIFYING!

The tour kicks off September 16th in Phoenix Arizona, and tickets go on sale May at Ticketmaster May 8th! You definitely want to be in the building for this!

Gospel recording artist Deitrick Haddon in partnership with Tyscot Records, Releve Entertainment, and his own production company Manhaddon Entertainment released a new music project today titled ”Deitrick Haddon Presents the Voices Of Unity: A Beautiful Soul“. The music is inspired by the motion picture “A Beautiful Soul”, which is coming to select theaters across the country on Friday May 4th, 2012. The project features one of the best voices in R&B and some of the most well known voices in Urban & Contemporary Gospel. Faith Evans, Kierra Sheard, Nikki Pots, Jor’el Quinn of 21:03, Jasion Champion, Candy West, and Canton Jones are some of the wonderful talent featured on the project. It’s definitely worth the purchase! You can check in on Deitrick’s Facebook and Twitter pages for details about theaters that will be showing “A Beautiful Soul” this weekend. After the success of Deitrick’s first feature film “Blessed And Cursed“, which was a straight to DVD release that was later picked up by the Gospel Music Channel and Showtime Networks. Deitrick is continuing to blaze a trail as a Gospel recording artist starring in and producing a major film. Let’s support this effort and show up this weekend in theaters to see “A Beautiful Soul”.

Is this is where I declare that I am a dyed-in-the-wool Lowell Pye fan (as in fanatic)??????

I loved the Finally Lowell CD (was that the title?).  It was an expression of the music in his soul, the very definition of his inner being, all that he had pent up for so many years finally getting a chance to be released and expressed.  AND IT WAS GOOD.   Don’t leave out the opportunities to sing with Rance Allen, Marvin Winans and Sheri Jones Moffet.  It was just a wow moment, a selah if you will.

So at the announcement there would be new music, I must say I was kinda excited.  Then the wait was over and I heard Alright.   I was somewhat perplexed.  Upon hearing the beginning, I feel compelled to get 4 other guys and form a line and run through our Temptations/Five Heartbeats dance routine.  Memories of Soul Train on Saturdays came to mind.  Then I woke up.  Now, to say that the song is heavily Motown influenced is an understatement.  Luckily for me, I kept listening, and beyond all the Motown-ery, there is a message, and that is this: no matter what you’re going through.  I believe God WILL make everything (feel free to substitute whatever you’re going through here) alright.  That is good enough for me.  (And trust that Lowell brings his A game to the session, so he hollers just a little bit).

Let’s look for a response from the Mothers Board when they sing this on Sunday.

Earnest Pugh recently announced the signing of Gospel powerhouse Chrystal Rucker to his EPM Music Group roster.  Chrystal Rucker, a preacher’s kid from Kansas City, Missouri  has been building a solid base of fans across the country for nearly two decades.  Her distinctive vocals have been  featured on several projects from the likes of the  Edwin and Walter Hawkins Music and Arts Seminar Mass Choir, Myron Williams,  Jonathan Nelson, Bishop Paul Morton and Ricky Dillard and New G.  Chrystal’s  unforgettable covers of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Changed coupled with ministry opportunities at the annual midnight musical of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) established her as a pièce de résistance artist.

The CD, produced by industry veteran Michael Bereal (Earnest Pugh, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary) drops June 26th with the first single, You Deserve being serviced to national radio in mid April.

The ladies are lighting up reality television on Thursday nights on  their self titled show on WeTV, but they’ve gotten something even better for you, a NEW Album! Get ready for  Mary Mary’s new album, “Go Get It”, in stores May 8th! The new music video for the title track will debut April 19th and was directed by industry veteran Darren Grant.

 Here are some locations where you can attend a free screening of ”A Beautiful Soul” prior to the May 4th national release:

Chicago, IL – April 16th 6:30pm

Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church

4543 S. Princeton Ave.

Chicago, Il. 60609

Detroit, MI- April 17th 6:30pm

Christian Tabernacle Church

26555 Franklin Road Southfield, MI 48033

Baltimore, MD – April 24th 6:30pm

Manifest Wonders Christian Center

3600 EDMONDSON AVE. BALTIMORE, MD 21229

Indianapolis, IN – May 1st (check in on Deitrick Haddon’s FB site for time)

Mount Carmel Church

9610 East 42nd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46235

Dallas, TX – May 2nd (check in on Deitrick Haddon’s FB site for time)

Address: 1400 N. Hampton Road

Desoto, Texas 75115

Los Angeles-May 3rd (check in on Deitrick Haddon’s FB site for time)

Director’s Guild of America

7920 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Dates and venues for NYC and Philadephia TBA, so check in on FB/twitter for more details. Support this great endeavor in theaters May 4th, 2012.

Do you have the #1 Gospel album in the country? If not, what are you waiting on! Congratulations goes out to JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise, their latest album “After This” debut at #1 on Billboard, making it the groups biggest debut to date. The new album features guests Bishop Hezekiah Walker, Tye Tribbett, Pastor John P.Kee, James Fortune, and more. When asked about how he feels about the debut,  with a grateful heart Hairston says,”Thank You all for the support and continue to spread the word”.

#AfterThis is available online and in stores nationwide on Light Records .

On March 27th, 2012 Gospel duo Mary Mary (Erica & Tina Campbell) hosted a pre-screening event of their new reality TV series “Mary Mary”  is set to premiere on Thursday March 29th, 2012 at 10pm on the WETv cable network. The event included a cocktail hour, screening of the first episode, and a Q&A session after the screening. Some major and smaller media outlets were in attendance, and there was a broad scope of media entities–not just Gospel. Mary Mary are the first Gospel artists to have a feature reality TV series on a non-faith based network. This is groundbreaking and exciting. The event was a wonderful coming together of mediums to celebrate and get a sneak peak into the lives of  the ladies behind the dynamic group, Mary Mary.  WEtv executives were present and very excited about this new show. The show definitely supports the mantra of WEtv, whose slogan states “life as WE know it”. Tina and Erica Campbell both serve as executive producers of the show.  The ladies are opening up their lives, homes, hearts, and families to America through this platform. We have seen some of this with the recent success of “The Braxton Family Values” series. Tina and Erica Campbell are representative of the Gospel music world on television through this series, and WEtv seems committed to be apart of introducing the world to this difference.

      Mary Mary w/ WEtv Executives

During the Q&A session the ladies talked about a myriad of topics. They discussed their commitment to their families and their craft. This also shines through on the series. They talked about the importance of supporting, loving, and esteeming their husbands in what is considered the traditional Christian way– as the head of their households. Their goal is to bring a different perspectives of marriage, business, and family. They hope to inspire with their lives. Below are some photos from the event:

Light Records/eOne Entertainment recording artist Jessica Reedy is set to appear on 106 & Park on BET tonight at 6pm. Tune in to hear her talk about her debut project “From The Heart “, her performance on BET’s “Celebration of Gospel” broadcast (which is set to air April 1st, 2012), and more. Check her out this evening and support Gospel music!