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It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of legendary drummer, musician Marvin McQuitty on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 in Houston, TX.
Drummer Marvin McQuitty, collaborated with everyone from the gospel artists Fred Hammond and Israel & New Breed to the pop stars Stevie Wonder and Jessica Simpson, passed away this week at age forty-six.
McQuitty, a true talent, made an indelible impact on music and his loss is felt throughout the industry. His humble spirit, kindness and generosity will be missed. Here is a clip of McQuitty playing with Aaron Spears, Teddy Campbell, and Gerald Heyward at the 2006 Modern Drummer Festival http://youtu.be/d8DmUPZWmKA (Marvin is at far right.)
Messages of condolences from all musicians and artists have poured in. Below is a tribute clip of McQuitty put together by Hudson Music:
The Memorial Service for Marvin McQuitty will be held Monday, September 17th at 11:00am. The service will take place at Grace Church of Humble located at 7224 North Sam Houston Parkway East, Humble, TX 77396
There will also be a “Celebration of Life” Service held in Marvin’shometown of Detroit, MI next Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 11:00am at Straight Gate International Church. Straight Gate is located at 10100 Grand River, Detroit, MI 48204
In lieu of flowers and other gifts the McQuitty Family is requesting that donations be made in honor of Marvin to support his daughter’s college education.
GMA Dove Award nominated The City Harmonic releases today its third music video, “Mountaintop,” which became the fastest-rising song ever for the band at radio and is featured on the band’s highly acclaimed and first full-length album, I Have A Dream (It Feels Like Home). Uniquely filmed in one continuous take on location near their hometown of Hamilton, ON Canada, “Mountaintop” also incorporates videos sent to them by fans and artists from all around the world, including clips from Michael Tait (Newsboys), Aaron Gillespie, Daniel Bashta, AJ Cheek and more.
“Mountaintop” follows the release of The City Harmonic’s “I Have A Dream (It Feels Like Home)” and “Manifesto” videos, the latter receiving more than 1,600,000 views on YouTube. For the new video, the aforementioned artists and music fans sent to the band video of themselves, friends or church groups, etc., singing along with the song. The resulting video can be seen below.
Receiving a 2012 “New Artist of the Year” GMA Dove Award nomination, followed by wrapping up a 65-city tour with Newsboys and appearances on main stages across the US in front of tens of thousands during the summer festivals, The City Harmonic now launches its’ first headline US tour next week in Sacramento, CA Sept. 20 with the bulk of the dates in November. The tour hits both coasts and much of Middle America before wrapping up Dec. 2 in Waco, TX. Featuring special guest artist Daniel Bashta, writer of the hit song “Like A Lion (God’s Not Dead),” and nationally recognized author/speaker Bob Lenz, the tour also introduces Eric Brandon and will be in partnership with Compassion International and Life Promotions.
The City Harmonic “I Have A Dream Tour” tour itinerary follows: 20-Sep Sacramento, CA 21-Sep Santa Barbara, CA 23-Sep Glendale, AZ 8-Nov Bluefield, VA 9-Nov Elizabeth City, NC 10-Nov Lancaster, PA 11-Nov Winston-Salem, NC 15-Nov Colorado Springs, CO 16-Nov Aurora, CO 28-Nov Elk City, OK 29-Nov Abilene, TX 30-Nov Tyler, TX 1-Dec Spring Branch, TX 2-Dec Waco, TX * Tour dates subject to change
The controversial Florida Pastor Terry Jones is defending himself after his promotion of an anti-Islam film deemed offensive by some Muslims prompted protesters to attack U.S. embassies in Cairo, Egypt and in Benghazi, Libya on Tuesday.
“The fact that angry protesters climbed the wall at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, today, ripped down the American flag and tore it apart further indicates the lack of respect that Islam has for any other religion, any other flag, any freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of religion. It further illustrates that they have no tolerance for anything outside of Mohammad,” Jones said in a statement shared Wednesday with The Christian Post.
“Islam is a religion that is totally incompatible with Western free society. It is a religion that cannot be criticized because of their extreme fear and knowing that if the religion of Islam is criticized and examined it will be revealed for what it is, a total deception,” he added.
Over 2,000 Muslim protesters reacted violently to the film, entitled “Innocence of Muslims,” which was previewed online by Jones on Sept. 11 as a part of his annual “International Judge Mohammed Day.” The film was written and directed by Israeli-American filmmaker San Bacile, who is based in San Diego, Calif., and is reportedly in hiding. Bacile, 52, told the Wall Street Journal that “Islam is a cancer.”
“Innocence of Muslims,” which allegedly insults the prophet Muhammad, caused angry protesters to storm the U.S. embassies in Cairo and Benghazi. Four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, were killed at the Benghazi Embassy as a result of a firebomb.
U.S. political leaders and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo have issued statements reacting to the attacks and the film.
“The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions,” the consulate has stated.
The statement drew criticism from GOP candidate Mitt Romney, who told reporters in a press conference Wednesday morning that the U.S. Embassy at Cairo’s statement was “akin to [an] apology” and a ”severe miscalculation.”
“I’m outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt,” the Republican presidential candidate said in an earlier statement released Tuesday evening.
“It’s disgraceful that the Obama administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks,” Romney added.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also issued a statement saying that the “inflammatory material posted on the Internet” does not justify “violent acts of this kind.”
Click here to read the full Story on Christian Post.com
Over the last half dozen years, Earnest Pugh has established himself as Gospel Music’s Leading Man with soul stirring, #1 radio smashes such as “Rain On Us” and “I Need Your Glory” that also hit the Adult R&B Airplay charts. Now, he’s joining the ranks of Johnny Mathis, Mahalia Jackson and Nat “King” Cole by creating a holiday album, “Christmas with Earnest Pugh & Friends” (EPM Music Group/$15.98 MSRP), due in stores on October 16th that is sure to become an annual yuletide listening treat.
The fourteen-track set marks Pugh’s first time sitting in the producer’s chair and he shares the mic with some of his best and most talented friends in the music biz. The initial radio single, “Ring Dem Bells”, a rousing mid-tempo ballad features impassioned backing vocals by Charles Butler & Trinity. A soulful “Silent Night” features the smooth tenor of Quadrius Salters. Baritone Keith Williams joins Pugh on “Holy 2 U” while powerhouse soprano Chrystal Rucker does a majestic rendition of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” with a simple piano arrangement. Lisa Knowles of the Brown Sisters and Pugh trade adlibs on a churchy rendition of “O Come All Ye Faithful”. Vincent Tharpe & Kenois create a warm and cozy groove on “Go Tell It” while newcomer Martha Buries brings a jazzy vibe to Ann McCrary’s “Remember Not 2 Forget”. Veteran vocalist Nikki Ross sits us down on the front pew of a Sunday morning church service to deliver a dramatic version of “Walk in the Light”.
Christmas music has always been a staple In Pugh’s home. “With very little money and twelve kids – music was all we had when I was growing up,” he remembers. “Our household was filled with love, music and good food during the holidays. This CD is near and dear to my heart because it was one of the final requests that my mother made just prior to passing away on New Year’s Eve 2006, that I make a Christmas CD. The concept of the CD catches me interacting with some kids during a choir rehearsal to prepare them to go caroling throughout the neighborhood”. There are currently plans in the works for a 10-city Christmas with Earnest Pugh Tour that would also feature EPM Music Group artists such as Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis, Chrystal Rucker and Keith Williams. For more info on EPM and it’s various projects, visit www.epmmusicgroup.com.
It’s been over 3 years and Dontavies Boatwright is still one of the most memorable finalists from BET’s Sunday Best. And now, the time has finally come for the Season 2, top 5 finalist as he releases his debut single “Glory to Glory-Sunday Best Medley”.
The song, a blend of two Fred Hammond classics: ‘Glory to Glory’ and ‘Blessed’, was arranged by Boatwright while on season 2 of the hit gospel program.
“I decided to let this be the song I start with because it would be what many will remember about me from Sunday Best”, Boatwright says. “I am grateful for the opportunity and platform that the show gave me, and releasing this first song is in part tribute and thanks to the show and all the viewers, and a salute to one of my favorite artists, Mr. Fred Hammond”!
Glory to Glory-Sunday Best Medley, the first single from Dontavies Boatwright’s self-titled debut project on the PEInc Gospel label, is due out in the winter of 2013.
“GLORY TO GLORY-Sunday Best Medley” by Dontavies Boatwright will be available everywhere online starting Tuesday, September 25th.
About PEInc Gospel: Pronounced ‘pink’, PEInc Gospel is a division of Parriscope Entertainment Inc., in Jacksonville, Florida, and was established in 2011 by Executives Elisha Parris and Robin Williams. The pair tapped Elder Dwight Follins and radio personality Wanda Patterson, as President and Vice President of the label. Dontavies Boatwright is the first artist signed to the PEInc Gospel label.
Brandon Heath returns to his roots, while creating new ones, with his fourth full-length album Blue Mountain releasing October 9. The first single “Jesus In Disguise” is climbing radio charts and its music video premiered on VEVO this week.
Heath, a Nashville native, merges ancient tones and modern music-making on Blue Mountain, a 12-track journey full of heart and back-porch ease. He fleshes out characters created for, and residing in, the fictional Appalachian setting called ‘Blue Mountain,’ which, as is frequently the case with great art, are slices of the storyteller himself. “Through the characters on ‘Blue Mountain,’ I’m more outside of myself, but maybe more true to myself than I’ve ever been. Funny enough, by the time I had finished this record, I realized that ‘Blue Mountain‘ is me.
Jono Davies of louderthanthemusic.com, notes, “Sometimes being creative can mean being unusual, but not with Brandon, he basically lets his songs grow into interesting pieces of musical art.” “These aren’t just good songs, they are also great stories about how Brandon feels about life, love, God, hurt and everything else in-between.” Read the entire review here: http://bit.ly/OlEPWp.
Teaming again with producer Dan Muckala, Heath aims for a rootsier musical space with Blue Mountain, crafting tracks that are a hybrid of the driving acoustic music of both his youth and this project’s imagined locale, together with the loops and beats that have become part of Heath’s signature sound.
Heath will celebrate Blue Mountain‘s street day by taking center stage for his debut performance on the Grand Ole Opry — a childhood dream. “For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to perform on the Opry. The fact that it’s on my album’s release day is even bigger! For a kid from Nashville, it’s a dream come true.”
Later that week, Heath will team with label-mate Matt Maher for the 24-city “Blue Mountain Tour” which kicks off on October 11 in Milwaukee, Wis. For tour information, please visit www.brandonheath.net.
About Brandon Heath Since Brandon Heath’s debut on Reunion Records with Don’t Get Comfortable (2006), he has become one of Christian music’s most beloved and respected artists and songwriters.
Heath has twice been honored as GMA Male Vocalist of the Year (2009 and 2010), additionally garnering an Emmy Award, five GRAMMY nominations, an American Music Award nomination and multiple GMA Dove Awards and songwriting honors. His award-winning songs and signature vocals reflect a soaring radio career that includes four No. 1 hits: “I’m Not Who I Was,” “Wait and See,” the 2009 GMA Dove Award-winning Song of the Year, “Give Me Your Eyes” and the eight-week chart topper, “Your Love.”
Heath, a Nashville native, first began writing at age 13 and credits his hometown’s legendary hotspot for songwriters, the Bluebird Café, as the place he first experienced music that moved him. His artistry and ability to connect with audiences have compelled countless media outlets across the nation to platform his story and music. Highlights include Billboard magazine, “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric,” Relevant magazine, a 2011 feature by the Wall Street Journal and selection as a presenter during the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
Other key spotlights include Discovery Channel’s “On The Case With Paula Zahn,” which highlighted “Give Me Your Eyes” (What If We 8/19/2008), and a feature by The New York Times Sunday edition, touting Heath as a GRAMMY-nominated newcomer “that shouldn’t be allowed to slip through the cracks.”
Heath’s third album, Leaving Eden, (1/18/2011) debuted No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Sales chart and is supported by non-stop direct-support and headlining tours. Blue Mountain will be available everywhere on October 9, 2012.
It’s that time again, time to vote for the Stellar Awards nominees. The ballot is open for fans to vote, so make it count by voting for your favorite artist.
The ballot is open for public voting from September 17 – October 15, 2012. The awards will be announced during the awards telecast on Saturday, January 19, 2013 in Nashville, TN.
The 28th Annual Stellar Awards is still Gospel’s most coveted award. Artists across the country will convene at the Grand Ole’ Opry hotel located in Nashville, with high hopes of getting the recognition that parallels a successful singing ministry.
Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir of Lithia Springs, Ga., was named regional winner of Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound competition and received $10,000 and other prizes. The choir will go on to represent the Atlanta area at the grand finale in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Nov. 4. The first runner up prize of $5,000 was awarded to Out For Souls, led by Cedric Sesley. Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir also won Verizon’s People’s Choice Award and $5,000.
The evening was hosted by GRAMMY(®) Award-winning gospel legends Donald Lawrence and Yolanda Adams, and award-winning artists CeCe Winans, Hezekiah Walker, Erica Campbell and Fred Hammond served as judges.
In addition, participating choirs were encouraged to collect and donate no-longer used wireless phones to HopeLine from Verizon. The choirs collected nearly 150 phones combined, and Anointed Voices received the HopeLine Champion Award for collecting the most phones. Verizon, through HopeLine, will award a $2,500 grant in support of a domestic violence program chosen by Anointed Voices. Verizon’s long-running HopeLine program puts the nation’s most reliable wireless network to work in the community by turning no-longer-used wireless phones into support for those affected by domestic violence. Proceeds from HopeLine are used to provide wireless phones and airtime to victims of domestic violence and cash grants to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention, awareness and advocacy.
Since the launch of the cell phone recycling program in 2001, HopeLine from Verizon has collected more than 9 million phones, given out more than $14.2 million in cash grants, and distributed more than 123,000 phones with more than 400 million minutes of free wireless service for use by domestic violence survivors.
For more information on Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound competition and to view photos from the regional competition, go to www.howsweetthesound.com. To learn more about HopeLine from Verizon, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.
Dr. Bill Winston is known as an uplifting and motivating speaker, inspiring God’s people through his dynamic and riveting sermons. His fiery and life-changing messages have transformed members of the Chicago area mega-church he pastors, Living Word Christian Center. Now the Chicagoan is taking the preached word and pouring it into music with the release of his church’s first CD project entitled, Bill Winston Presents Living Word: Released. Featuring the talents of GRAMMY Award and multiple Stellar Award Winner Donald Lawrence, notable gospel songstress Kim Stratton and memorable choir director and recording artist Walt Whitman, the 11-track CD contains songs of power, declaration, and purpose.
The project’s lead single, “Released”, has been soaring up the charts, recently hitting #32 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart. With a powerful exhortation by Lawrence, the song emphatically releases listeners into their destinies. Executed with the musical brilliance that gospel music fans have been accustomed to from Donald Lawrence, the song necessitates lifted hands and leaves all inspired.
In addition to Lawrence’s breathtaking single, “Released”, the CD contains another jewel by the famed songwriter, “Give”. A majestic masterpiece, the track is a festive one. The CD also includes a mesmerizing cut, “Favor Ain’t Fair”, sung by the incomparable Kim Stratton. With a jazzy flair, Stratton delivers the urban-flavored tune with a class rarely seen in gospel. She also ministers powerfully on the ballad “Awesome Wonder”. Gospel recording artist Ed Tucker showcases two powerful songs: a beautiful and moving worship tune called “Be Still” and the bouncy “Sacrifice of Praise”. Walt Whitman, known for his days as the leader of the Soul Children of Chicago, makes an appearance on CD’s last song, “Church Medley”. No Bill Winston CD project would be complete without a few words of inspiration from the famed pastor. Track 2, “Prophetic Word”, sets the listener free as the prophet releases held-up blessings and speaks restoration to anyone within earshot.
Bill Winston is one of today’s most gifted speakers. Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, he was mentored by educators, scientists, physicians and even the Tuskegee Airmen. A former award-winning fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, Winston founded Living Word Christian Center, a multi-cultural, non-denominational church in 1985. Since that time, the Forest Park, Illinois church has grown to over 20,000 members. Winston is also the founder of the Tuskegee Christian Center, A Bible Training Center, a School of Ministry and Mission, the Living Word Christian Academy, The Faith Ministry Alliance and the Joseph Business School. In addition to his international ministry which is distributed via radio, television, the Internet and crusades, he is the author of numerous books including The Law of Confession, Transform Your Thinking and Training for Reigning. For more information, log on to www.billwinston.org.
Sarah D. Henson, daughter of Bishop T.D. Jakes, recently announced that she is divorcing her NFL linebacker husband Robert Henson after four years. On her personal website, the bishop’s daughter asked for prayer while explaining that her marriage was ending.
Henson, who reportedly leads the Women’s Ministry at The Potter’s House in Dallas, spoke about building her ministry on being a good wife and trying to make things work before ultimately deciding to go through with a divorce.
“I have built my ministry and identity around being the best wife and a mother I can be. For quite sometime I have tried to steer through some serious troubles at home,” Henson wrote on her personal website, www.sarahdhenson.com. “As much as I wanted my marriage to last, it cannot.”
While Henson admitted that she received counseling and prayed about her situation, she seemed firm in her decision to end the marriage. The bishop’s 24-year-old daughter said she felt her reason for divorcing her husband was biblical.
“After professional counseling, and prayerful consideration I have decided to end my four-year marriage,” Henson wrote. “There are biblical grounds supporting this decision and I have attempted every other recourse but after multiple infractions over the course of the union, and for my personal safety and that of my children, I have come to this painful decision.”
Henson is no stranger to sharing personal decisions with others on her website. Last year, she wrote about her decision to give birth at 14-years-old in a blog titled “Guided Home.”
“I can remember feeling like everyone was staring at me, thinking negative thoughts. I became very familiar with shame, learned quickly how loud whispers can be, how fast rumors travel,” Henson wrote about her experience as a teen mother. “More importantly I learned to never let anything or anyone convince me I was no longer worthy of dreaming, living my life to the fullest.”
Now with her decision to divorce her husband, Henson is calling for privacy and prayer instead of negativity.
“Now that it is made, I would ask for privacy while I navigate through this difficult season in my life so that I may now concentrate on being the best parent for my children possible,” Henson wrote in her conclusion. “Thank you for your prayers.”
Hammond served as judges. 