Arrow Records announced the signing of legendary singer, songwriter, and actress Ann Nesby to their Atlanta-based label. Over the past 20 years Nesby has built an enviable career and has collaborated with some of the most famous and well-respected names in entertainment, such as the late Reverend James Cleveland, Luther Vandross, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Sting, and Al Green. About the latest addition to the Arrow family, the label’s General Manager Cappriccieo Scates offers, “We are extremely excited to have Ann join our team. She has been the barometer for great music for many years, and we are looking forward to the success of this partnership.”

In the early 1990s, Nesby rose to prominence on the worldwide stage as lead singer of the popular music ensemble Sounds of Blackness. Her distinct and unforgettable vocals helped garner two GRAMMY Awards for the group in 1991 and 1993, as well as hit songs, including “The Pressure,” “Testify,” “Optimistic,” and “Demolition Man” (with Sting) from the blockbuster motion picture of the same name.

After her tenure with Sounds of Blackness, Ann Nesby’s career path would lead to further success as a solo recording artist, a songwriter, and a leading actress. In 1996 she released her solo debut, I’m Here For You, and the album spent a remarkable 60 weeks atop the R&B music charts. Around this same time, Ann emerged as a much sought after songwriter, penning hits for superstar artists, including Gladys Knight (“Home Alone”) and Patti LaBelle (“The Right Kinda Lover” and “Someone Like You”). She was also tapped by the then emerging playwright Tyler Perry to star in his very first stage play, I Know I’ve Been Changed.

Since then, Nesby has been recording, touring, and acting nonstop. She has released seven successful solo, studio albums: I’m Here For You, Put it on Paper, Make Me Better, In the Spirit, This is Love, The Lula Lee Project, and Ann Nesby’s Soulful Christmas. Additionally, she released a compilation of dance hits Love is What We Need in 2001 and a greatest hits CD / DVD, Ann Nesby the Best of Live, in 2007. In 2003, she was cast in her first feature film, The Fighting Temptations, as Aunt Sally Walker alongside Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Beyonce. And her duet “The Stone” with Pastor Shirley Caesar from the movie’s soundtrack earned a GRAMMY nomination in 2004.

When talking about the new chapter that she’s embarking upon with Arrow and their upcoming projects, Nesby says, “I’m absolutely ecstatic, and it gives me great pleasure to join forces with my

Pastor Taffi Dollar, CEO of Arrow Records, and new General Manager, Cappriccieo Scates, as we move forward, creating great music in the styles that I’ve based my entire career upon. It is my belief that music from the heart reaches the heart and being a part of Arrow Records is an opportunity to continue making a mark that cannot be erased. Let’s go!”

About Arrow Records

An affiliate of Creflo Dollar Ministries, Arrow Records has claimed a unique position within the contemporary music scene with its spirit-filled attitude and a praised-based roster that crosses a variety of genres, including gospel, CCM, R&B, hip-hop and jazz. “Music That Pierces The Heart” is Arrow’s hallmark and the label has been the home to multi-instrumentalist Shonlock, gospel singer Canton Jones, saxophonist Jeff Sparks, acoustic popster Jonathan Phillips, and Brooklyn-born alt-rocker Kathy Camejo.

 

A dozen years in, the Chicago-based ensemble known as Shekinah Glory Ministry (SGM) continues to dominate and set the standard for urban praise and worship music. They’ve made chants such as “Praise is What I Do” and “Jesus” universally known tunes that choirs around the globe sing every Sunday morning. With five RIAA gold and platinum record and video certifications behind them, this coterie of psalmists, minstrels and banner-wavers are poised to strike gold again with their fourth original CD, Surrender (Kingdom Records,) scheduled for a September 25, 2012 release.

Recorded this past April at its home church, Valley Kingdom Ministry International near Chicago, SGM delivered another set of soul-stirring original songs that kept the capacity audience on its feet most of the night with hands lifted towards the heavens in praise. The closing tune, “Surrender”, summed up the evening’s theme. SGM’s leader, Phil Tarver, with a heartfelt plea, prayed openly for God to break his spirit and give him a contrite heart prior to launching into the majestic declaration. “Lord, break me again until the tears pour out”, he whispered into his microphone. “Tonight the Lord says don’t throw in the white towel but wave the white flag,” he challenged the congregation as he implored it to look up and, “tell Him [God] I surrender to your purpose, to your plan, to your way.”

The thirteen-tracks all deal with some variation of concession to God’s will whether by turning one’s trials and tribulations over to Him on the up-tempo, Afro-Cuban seasoned  “By Faith” or yielding to a call to worship on the dance-flavored, “Come On”. Aside from Tarver who leads three songs, there are several new SGM voices such as Brandon Alsberry, Joan Olander, Monique Miller, Jason Robinson and Danielle Nightingale Cargo who leads the new radio single, “Champion”.  There is a guest appearance by veteran vocalist, Kim Stratton, on the riveting “Broken” and the late Pepe Epting’s tenor soars on,  “Peace for My World”.

Kingdom Records is a leader in African-American praise and worship music with hits such as Shekinah Glory Ministry’s 2001 breakthrough smash, “Praise is What I Do”. The million-selling SGM is not a choir. Instead, it’s a dynamic ensemble of psalmists, minstrels, and banner bearers who perform “under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. “ Their Hebrew name means “the glorified presence of God.” Their CDs Praise Is What I Do (#5 peak Top Gospel Albums) and Shekinah Glory Ministry Live (#3 peak Top Gospel Albums – 103 weeks on the chart) were both certified gold in 2005 and 2008 respectively. They also have three gold or platinum DVDs to their credit and their 2010 CD, Refreshed By Fire, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart. Visit www.kingdomrecordsinc.com for further information on SGM and Kingdom Records.

Reggae pioneers Christafari have returned to their roots with the release of their latest album, Reggae Worship: A Roots Revival (Lion of Zion Entertainment), which is now available at all major digital retailers including iTunes,GospelReggae.com and select stores. Christafari pioneered the genre of Gospel Reggae with their first album,1993’s Reggae Worship Volume 1, which catapulted them onto the Billboard charts. 

On Reggae Worship: A Roots Revival, Christafari reworks classic hymns, reinterprets many of today’s top worship anthems and gives us a handful of original worship songs that truly capture the band’s signature sound. 

“It’s our rootsiest and most worshipful album to date,” says Christafari founder and frontman Mark Mohr. “Just imagine your favorite worship songs by artists like Hillsong United, Chris Tomlin, Michael W. Smith and Brenton Brown, done in a reggae style, plus a handful of new Christafari originals.”

As expected from Christafari, the album’s 17 worship tracks feature an arsenal of guest appearances from the top names in the genre, including Dominic Balli, Avion Blackman, Jennifer Howland, Sherwin Gardner, Monty G, Tiago Costa, Solomon Jabby, Vanessa Mardueno, Dillavou and ‘Imisi’s David Fohe.

In promotion of this album, Christafari will be leading worship at mega churches across the nation with heavy support from the Calvary Chapel network. A launch event is scheduled for July 28th and 29th at the 14,000-member Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque, before heading across the USA and then on to New Caledonia, Fiji, Brazil, Belize, Guatemala and the Virgin Islands. Multiple music videos are being shot for release in the coming months, along with heavy radio promotion and social media campaigns. 

With over a half million albums sold worldwide, Christafari is the all-time top selling Gospel Reggae artist. The band continues to tour worldwide, performing more than 100 shows each year reaching more than 50 countries. For more information, visit www.christafari.com.

Grammy nominated and Reach Records artist Lecrae is set to release his highly anticipated album Gravity on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, which will feature Mali Music, Mathai (The Voice), label mates Trip Lee and Tedashii as well as production from DJ Khalil, Street Symphony’s Heat Academy and The Watchmen.

This record is the follow up to his 2010 smash releases Rehab and the EP Rehab: The Overdose, which sold over 345,000 units combined as well as debuted at # 5 on the Billboard Hip-Hop Charts and #17 on the Top 200, Gravity will showcase Lecrae’s thought provoking lyrical technique, live instrumentation and amazing beats that will keep fans wanting more. As part of the release of the album, Lecrae will be celebrating with fans holding release parties in Manchester, UK (9/22), Denver, CO (9/27) and Houston, TX (9/28). Tickets will go on sale on July 20 and for more information log onto www.reachrecords.com. 

                                                                                         

Lecrae recently released his first mixtape Church Clothes hosted by Don Cannon which featured No Malice (formerly Malice of The Clypes) and production by Grammy award winning producer Bio-1a, 9^th Wonder, S-1 and Street Symphony. The mixtape received rave reviews from both critics and fans as well as garnered over 280,000 downloads.

“With the release of ‘Gravity’ I really wanted to expand on my previous work while still making sure to keep it all very authentic to who I am as an artist as well as a person,” states Lecrae. “When I released ‘Church Clothes’ earlier this year, it was the precursor of what’s come with this album. It introduced my music to new audiences, allowing me to impact others.”

This fall, Lecrae will hit the road for the 5^th annual Unashamed Tour 2012: Come Alive that will kick off October 4. This 30 city tour will make stops in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago Dallas and Atlanta among others and will feature label mates Trip Lee, Tedashii, Andy Mineo, KB and Pro. Always keeping his fans entertained, Lecrae will perform cuts from Gravity as well as fan favorites such as, “Don’t Waste Your Life”, “Go Hard” and “No Regrets”. Tickets will go on sale August 1, 2012.

UNASHAMED TOUR 2012: COME ALIVE TOUR DATES (*Dates subject to change) 

10/4: Pittsburg, PA  

10/5: Chicago, IL  

10/6: Detroit, MI

10/7: Columbus, OH

10/9: Buffalo, NY

10/10: Toronto, Canada

10/12: New York, NY

10/13: Virginia Beach, VA

10/14: Raleigh/Charlotte, NC

10/18: Birmingham, AL

10/19: Atlanta, GA

10/20: Orlando, FL

10/21: Miami, FL

10/23: Pensacola, FL/Mobile, AL

10/24: Little Rock, AR

10/25: Oklahoma City, OK

10/27: Dallas, TX

10/31: Lubbock, TX

11/1: Albuquerque, NM

11/2: Phoenix, AZ

11/3: Los Angeles, CA

11/4: San Francisco, CA

11/7: Portland, OR

11/8: Seattle, WA

11/10: Las Vegas, NA

11/15: Omaha, NE

11/16: Minneapolis, MN

11/17: Kansas City, KS

11/18: Memphis, TN 

ABOUT REACH RECORDS:

Reach Records is an Atlanta based full service hip-hop independent label co-founded by Grammy nominated rapper Lecrae and Ben Washer in 2004. With a growing roster that includes Lacrae, Trip Lee, Tedashii, Pro, KB and Andy Mineo, Reach Records has carved out a definitive niche in the underground hip-hop scene garnering impressive sales numbers for their artists based solely on their relationship with their fans. Known for their sold out shows and energetic stage presence, Reach Records’ Billboard chart topping and Grammy nominated acts continue to break uncharted waters within the music industry and seek new avenues to reach new fans.

 

In case you missed the interview of The King’s Men on ABC’s The View on yesterday morning we have it here for you. Click Here

And here’s a look at their performance below. 

Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin and Israel Houghton – truly gave their music fans a taste of what’s to come when they perform on ABC’s daytime talk show THE VIEW on Tuesday, July 24 (check local listings for airtimes).

In a television first, the four gospel superstars performed a medley of their best known songs all on the same stage for THE VIEW audience. It was a preview of what is shaping up to be one of the biggest gospel music tours in history. The King’s Men tour will hit major venues in 16 U.S. cities beginning on Sunday, September 16th at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix, AZ and culminating in Brooklyn, NY at Barclays Center on Sunday, October 14th.

Produced by Live Nation Entertainment, tickets for The King’s Men concert tour are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and Livenation.com.

Between these four gospel music giants, The King’s Men have taken home over a hundred GRAMMY®, Dove, Stellar, BET, Soul Train, NAACP and American Music Awards. They have appeared on countless mainstream television shows and moved millions of fans at their sold-out live concerts nationally and internationally. Now, for the first time ever, The King’s Men bring all of their incredible and inspirational talents together under the same roof for gospel, R&B and pop music fans across the country.

 

Tyscot Music & Entertainment is excited to announce the release of Damita’s new project ‘Anticipation.’  The wait is over and now fans of Damita’s music can play it 24/7 and share it with family and friends.

Damita has been touring not stop promoting her new release and loving every minute of it. This will be an exciting release week for Damita as she meets with radio, media and performs at various venues.

The Anticipation release week will include interviews with WGRB 1390 AM Radio in Chicago and KOKA 980 AM Radio in Shreveport, LA. During these interviews and more, Damita will share what has inspired her to write many of the songs on Anticipation.

A few of those songs are “Won’t Turn Back,” “Be Revealed”, “You’re Amazing God”, “SuperShero” and “Praise You Now”.

All of the songs are special to Damita, but the song most dear to her heart is “SuperShero” which contains uplifting lyrics describing women who have overcome many obstacles in life with God’s strength and power. Written by Damita, the song is also dedicated to her late mother, Ruby Bass, and other women who have impacted her life in major way.

Through it all, Damita’s goal is to be a mouthpiece for God and reach everyone she can with her music.

Just like Damita’s journey through life, Anticipation reflects the true meaning of waiting on God and remaining in his presence.

So, to all those who love Damita and her music, the wait is over and the time is now to purchase the new project Anticipation on Tyscot Music & Entertainment.

Also available on iTunes, is The Anticipation Digital Deluxe Edition which contains 15 tracks and 1 video-“No Looking Back”, which has received close to 1 million views on Youtube.

Anticipation is NOW available in stores and online on Tyscot Music & Entertainment!  Click Here to Preview & Purchase New CD online.

Stand up comedian, radio show host, writer, and Savannah native, Akintunde, recently kicked off his Rebirth of Comedy Tour in promotion of his newly released comedy DVD, “Akintunde Live From Atlanta: The Truth, The Whole Truth, And Nothing But”, making stops in cities including Detroit, St. Louis and Toronto. And on Friday July 27th at 7­PM, he will return home for a triumphant “Homecoming” tour date at the Savannah Arts Academy located at 500 Washington Avenue Savannah GA. 31405. 

In addition to the “Homecoming’ tour date, Akintunde just performed at Grammy Award winner, Cece Winan’s “Always Sisters Forever Brothers” annual Conference in Nashville TN, and just before that, appeared in New Orleans, LA at the 23rd annual Essence Music Festival. 


Known for his unique, edgy yet family-friendly humor, Akintunde, began his stand up career nearly 20 years ago in Savannah at the Comedy House Theater, and has acquired international attention and acclaim leaving audiences wanting more. A man of recognizable accomplishments, Akintunde has written for Academy Award winner Mo’Nique and actor/ comedian Chris Tucker, and written and served as Head Writer / Producer for her late night talk show, The Mo’Nique Show, as well as, Monologue Writer for the long running, syndicated television series It’s Showtime at the Apollo, and the NAACP Image Awards. In 2007, he launched his own Web series, “It’s Time 2 Laugh” and has been featured on the Trumpet Awards and Stellar Awards and at Bishop T.D. Jakes’ world renowned Mega Fest and is also a host of his own syndicated radio show, The Akintunde Show (currently airing in 43 markets).

For more information about Akintunde and the Re-­ birth of Comedy Tour, please visit 

www.akintunde.net   
eunissa2@theassignmentagency.com  
803.479.6842

FOR INFORMATION ON THE SAVANNAH TOUR STOP 
912.691.1934

 

While police are still investigating the motive behind Friday’s shooting at a theater in Aurora, Colo., some Christians are convinced of the real source: evil.

“What happened up in Aurora … was the product of pure evil. It was the result of a depraved individual taking his free will to the extreme,” said Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, in a statement Friday.

The Christian Post spoke to Dr. Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who pointed to the moral evil that humans are capable of.  

“The Fall released human moral evil into the cosmos, and every single human being is a sinner, tempted by a full range of sinfulness,” he wrote in a commentary. “We cannot afford to be shocked when humans commit grotesque moral evil. It tells us the truth about unbridled human sin.”

James E. Holmes, 24, was taken into custody early Friday after allegedly opening fire in a movie theater during the midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises.” Armed with four weapons, bullet-proof gear and gas canisters, Holmes was said to have appeared ready to go to war, as one witness described to the media.

The gunman unloaded hundreds of rounds and killed at least 12 people while injuring more than 50 others at Century 16.

“It brings a whole new meaning to ‘Dark Knight rising’ – not in a good way,” said Greg Stier, founder of Dare 2 Share Ministries, to The Christian Post.

“You can’t help but think of Satan – you know that dark knight who was once that white knight … the highest of all angels who … got thrown out of heaven and has now been on the earth perverting, killing, whispering in ears.”

While Christians are oftentimes labeled crazy for believing in Satan, Stier emphasized what Scripture makes clear – that “our struggle is not against people … but against a person in the spiritual realm.”

“There is a highly organized, systematized army of darkness.”

While Jesus came to bring life, Satan came to pervert all that, the youth leader added.

Stier, who lives half an hour from the Century 16 theater, ultimately blames the gunman for the decision that he made at the theater, though he believes Satan played a part in it. But he traces the source of that immoral decision to the Fall, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God.

“I kind of go back to Adam and Eve and blame Adam for taking a bite of that fruit and poison[ing] humanity with the capacity for horrific sins,” he said.

So what now? Christians need to spread the Gospel, Stier said. It was Christ who came to provide a solution – he conquered sin through his death and resurrection.

“We got to get that message … out to as many people as possible,” the passionate evangelist underscored.

He also said he can’t wait for the day – as described in the book of Revelation – when Satan and his kingdom will once and for all be destroyed and thrown into the lake of fire.

“All evil will be sucked up in this bottomless pit,” he said. “Until then, we have a battle to fight.”

Read more at The Christian Post.com

 

Conservative radio and TV host Mike Huckabee and the National Organization for Marriage are calling on people to eat at Chick-fil-A on Wednesday to support Dan Cathy, the company’s president, who is being attacked by gay activists for saying in recent interviews that he supports traditional marriage.

“Imagine if folks all across the country united together in support of heroes like Dan and Truett Cathy that stand for strengthening marriage and family!” wrote Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, on Saturday.

“Imagine the potential impact the message that companies favoring the radical redefinition of marriage risk fallout with their customers – combined with the message that heroes who stand for marriage and family cannot be silenced!”

The National Eat at Chick-fil-A Day on August 1st is in response to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists urging people to boycott Chick-fil-A after Dan Cathy responded to the Biblical Recorder’s question about the company’s support for the traditional family saying, “Well, guilty as charged.”

“We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”

“We intend to stay the course,” Cathy said. “We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.”

Cathy’s comment caused a media firestorm, with Hollywood actor Ed Helms, who played Dr. Stu Price in “The Hangover” films, tweeting, “Chick-fil-A doesn’t like gay people? So lame. Hate to think what they do to gay chickens. Lost a loyal fan.”

And many angry messages were left on Chick-fil-A’s Facebook page, including:

“Hate mongers! Never again! Not another $ from me,” Duke Richards wrote.

Similarly, Blake Brown left the message, “Goodbye Chikkk-fil-a! your food was delicious, but I can no longer eat nuggets filled with hate!”

In response to the boycott threats against Chick-fil-A, Mike Huckabee, who was a 2008 presidential candidate, last week called on his radio show listeners to support the Cathy family by making July 25th National Eat at Chick-fil-A Day.

“Imagine how clearly that message would be heard across the nation if Chick-fil-A reported record sales this Wednesday!” said NOM’s Brown, who has joined Huckabee in supporting Chick-fil-A day. “Please join me this Wednesday in supporting this courageous company, while at the same time sending a powerful message of support to every individual and every company with the courage to stand for marriage.”

Chick-fil-A was founded by S. Truett Cathy in 1967, with the first restaurant opening in Atlanta. It has rapidly expanded and now has over 1,600 stores with more than $4 billion in sales last year. One of the most well-known trademarks of Chick-fil-A restaurants is that they don’t open on Sunday. The policy has been a longstanding one, going back as far as 1946 when Truett Cathy founded his first restaurant in Hapeville, Ga. The older Cathy believes that “employees should have the opportunity rest, spend time with their family and friends, and worship if they choose to do so” on Sunday, according to Chick-fil-A’s website. Yet despite operating only 6 out of 7 days a week, Chick-fil-A has recorded 44 years of consecutive sales growth.

The company’s founder and his family are devout Christians and Dan Cathy says they operate their organization according to biblical principles.