Grammy ® nominated recording artist Jonathan Butler is set to release his highly-anticipated new gospel CD, Grace and Mercy, on September 25, 2012 by Rendezvous Music. Known for hits such as “Falling In Love With Jesus,” Butler has sold more than 1.8 million albums worldwide including more than 330,000 Gospel CDs. His debut single “I Stand On Your Word” from Grace and Mercy landed on the Gospel New & Active radio chart this week and is available on iTunes.

“This album really speaks about optimism, faith, belief and hope, especially in the light of what everybody has been experiencing in the last two or three years,” Butler said. “There have been a lot of people losing their homes, their jobs, enduring the challenges that life brings. I’m hoping this album will bring hope to people. Songs like ‘Give it Up To God,’ ‘I Stand On Your Word,’ and ‘Who is Like the Lord’ were written from experiences that I’ve had to go through myself.”

Grace and Mercy features 11 original songs with music and lyrics penned by Butler. The first single from Butler’s self-produced CD is “I Stand On Your Word,” which delivers an uplifting song with a powerful yet simple message of faith. The track is being met with great enthusiasm by radio around the country landing on Gospel’s New & Active radio chart this week, while pushing into the Top 30. Butler’s experience leading worship in church inspired the lyrics for the single, which he co-wrote with Kurt Lykes.

“I believe God is right here with me right now and always, and I’m standing on his Word,” explained Butler. “His Word says all things are going to be good for me, so I’m standing on it. No matter the situation or circumstance, we need to believe that God will take care of us.”

“I Stand On Your Word” is available now on iTunes. Exclusive in-studio performance and backstory videos are available on YouTube.

Studio Performance:

 
With a massive tour schedule throughout the United States and internationally to support the release of this CD, Butler also gears up for a multi-city promo/media tour including stops at churches and radio stations throughout the country in the coming weeks, including leading worship at the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Conference in Atlanta and a performance on TBN. For the latest information on Butler’s tour, please visit www.jonathanbutler.com.

To access Jonathan Butler’s online press page for downloads of a media letter, bio, press release, images and more, and to stream the full album and view the lyric video for “I Stand On Your Word,” please visit www.jonathanbutler.com/pressroom.

ABOUT Jonathan Butler Born and raised in Cape Town during Apartheid, Jonathan Butler started singing and playing acoustic guitar as a child. Racial segregation and poverty during Apartheid has been the subject of many of his records. His first single was the first by a black artist played by white radio stations in racially segregated South Africa and earned a Sarie Award, South Africa’s equivalent to the Grammy Awards. Butler is known for achieving chart-topping success, Grammy ® nominations and other accolades for his recordings. His self-titled debut album put him on the map internationally and garnered two Grammy ® nominations, which include the R&B-pop vocal statement “Lies” and the poignant instrumental, “Going Home.” Butler, a multi-talented musician, produces, arranges, and plays guitar, bass and keyboards. He has released several best-selling Gospel CDs, most notably “Gospel Goes Classical” and “Brand New Day.”

 

For the last four years, national recording artist Eunice Wright has ministered in song to deliver a message of faith, hope, and love to people across the county. This Friday, June 22nd, her message takes on new definition as she takes a break from her busy music and secular careers to donate a kidney to her eldest son, Tony.

 Tony, now 19, was diagnosed over two and a half years ago with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), a condition where both of his kidney’s have completely shut down. The cause of this failure is unknown, according to medical professionals. Treatment options for ESRD are limited – either undergo dialysis and extend life span for five to ten years or opt for a transplant with the hopes of extending life-span to 15-20 years. In June 2011, Wright made the decision to donate one of her kidneys to her son, and for the last twelve months have been preparing for this Friday’s procedure. The process to prepare for the transplant has taken about a year for the doctors to determine that I was a good donor choice for my son,” says Wright. “There were some health changes I had to make which lead to me losing 40 pounds. I’m not mad about that part at all!” she jokes. “I feel confidence that everything will be ok. I’ve put this whole matter in God’s hands from the very beginning. He has sustained us and will continue to do so through this journey in our lives. I trust God and I’m at peace with whatever the outcome may be. God knows the plan He has for me and Tony and His plan is working in us right now. I also look at it as giving life to my son a second time. I brought him into this world with God’s help, and now, I’m fighting to keep him here as long as I can with God’s help.

Wright is expected to be back in full force in approximately four to six weeks. Tony’s recovery, according to doctors, is estimated to be a year. We are soliciting your prayers for the healing and speedy recovery of Tony and Eunice, as well as your prayers for the Wright, Purnell, and Joyful Noyze families, as they support the two throughout this procedure. Label executive Carlos Cannon Sr. states, “It is a very delicate surgery that even afterwards, he sd_Tony will have a lot restrictions because of the nature of this procedure. Surgical procedures are never easy and to have two immediate family members in an operating room at the same time can be overwhelming. We appreciate your sincere prayers as God carries us all through this ordeal.”

Wright recently released her sophomore project “Worth It All” in April 2012. Her new project features the hit single “Hello God” that is still making its way to radio waves around the country. “Hello God” is available for download free on the official Eunice Wright website, www.eunicewright.com. “Worth It All” and her debut project, “Wait On Me,” are also available for purchase on the official website, as well as on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby. For more information contact Joyful Noyze Entertainment or visit www.eunicewright.com.

 

Southern Baptists made history on Tuesday by electing their first African-American president. Some 7,700 messengers unanimously and enthusiastically supported the vote for Fred Luter, Jr., to lead the predominantly white denomination.

“To God be the glory for the things that He has done,” Luter said as he wiped away his tears.

Luter was the sole nominee for president. In such a situation, it is custom for the secretary to cast the ballot for the one nominee.

However, the chair on this occasion believed that “this historic moment should fully belong to the messengers of the Southern Baptist Convention.”

With that, the Southern Baptists rose in applause – with some in tears – agreeing that the ballot should be cast for Luter.

“As we think about our beginnings, as we think about how far we have come, as we think about how you have divinely called Fred Luter for this key moment in history, we just thank you for the privilege of being a part of this day and we thank you for how you are going to use Fred Luter in the days to come,” Bryant Wright, who served as SBC president for the past two years, prayed.

It was less than 20 years ago when the Southern Baptist Convention officially apologized for condoning and perpetuating racism. The SBC was formed in 1845 out of a split with northern Baptists over the right to own slaves. Many in the denomination supported segregation.

Luter, 55, admitted that when he was first asked to lead an SBC church – Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans – in 1986, he was not aware of the history of the SBC.

If he knew, he said he might have taken a different path.

“As I look back I’m probably glad I didn’t [know] because it may have changed my decision,” he told The Christian Post.

By the time the former National Baptist found out three years later, he was already involved in leading Franklin Avenue church – which was an all-white church before the “white flight” – and said the denomination had been “really good to us.”

“When I found out … this is the way I looked at it, because some people said we ought to get out of the convention. I said listen, all of us have a past, all of us have done some things in our past that we’re not pleased with; I know I have.

“Granted, this convention started as a result of slavery but that was the past. There’s nothing we can do about our past but we can do something about our future.”

The former street preacher is excited – he’s excited that his Southern Baptist brothers and sisters respect what he has done through the years, like reviving a dying church and rebuilding the congregation after Hurricane Katrina. And he’s excited that the nearly 16 million members trust him to lead the largest Protestant denomination in the country.

He knows it’s a big deal, considering he was just “a street kid from the Lower Ninth Ward.”

Luter isn’t your typical Southern Baptist president. He grew up in “the hood” as he calls it. His parents divorced when he was 6 years old and he raised himself as his mom was busy working two to three jobs to support the family.

He hung out with a lot of “crazy dudes” as a teenager, he said. But everything changed when he got saved in 1977.

Every Saturday at noon, he’d go on the street corner and preach. Part of his motivation was to lead the “crazy dudes” to Christ.

Read the Full Report by Christian Post.com 

Returning from a five year-solo artist hiatus captivating gospel singer Nia Allen has released her long anticipated extended play HERE AM I, released to iTunes June 05, 2012. Consisting of six uplifting tracks, Nia Allen believes that it was time for her to return and share with the world the music that God has placed within her.

With this sophomore project Nia Allen says “The purpose of HERE AM I is to get new, fresh music out there, encouraging us all to live a surrendered life of worship, I want to convey the importance of worship and what it means to have a personal relationship with the Lord.” The songs listed on this EP with titles like the heartfelt tune “I Owe You Worship”, the CCM flavored love song “I’m In Love”, to the classic hymn “It Is Well With My Soul”, HERE AM I, will dare the listener to trust and engage in intimate fellowship with Him.

While working under the radar it seems that Nia Allen has been busy creating quite a buzz for herself and building some impressive bridges that will lead her to her ultimate dream- leading worship internationally. From touring with the anointed CeCe Winans to being a recurring guest artist and worship leader on TBN’s Praise the Lord program, Nia Allen continues to cross all racial and denominational barriers by ushering God’s people into a worshipful experience . Breaking all holds on diversity, this accomplishment further proves just how universal worship is.

Doors have been flying open for Nia Allen over the past several years. She has traveled across the country gaining local and national exposure serving as a worship leader with Women of Faith. Arenas packed with over 10,000 women and sharing the stage with fantastic names like Sandi Patty, Nicole C. Mullen, Natalie Grant and others all worshiping the Lord together. Great relationships, opportunities and memories were created from that experience as her face and name became more known to the masses. While touring with Women of Faith, three albums were recorded as “Women of Faith Worship Team”, where Nia Allen served as a lead and background vocalist: All three albums were nominated for Dove Awards.

It’s no mistake that Nia Allen is equipped with an amazing gift to set the atmosphere with the presence of the Lord reaching audiences through musical convection, but also through song writing, teaching, and ministering. Her humility, spirit of worship and her heart for God is evident every time she graces the stage. Nia Allen was invited back once again by CeCe Winans to serve as a worship leader for her upcoming youth conference, Always Sisters Forever Brothers in Nashville, Tennessee, and she continues to travel, tour and lead worship across the country and abroad. Nia Allen is also currently studying at Vanderbilt University pursuing her Masters of Divinity, which will be completed in spring 2013.

For more info and upcoming events/engagements go to www.niaallenmusic.com, all music can be downloaded on iTunes.

 

Prosecutors on Monday released audiotapes and transcripts of six phone calls between George and Shellie Zimmerman, all placed while George was in a Sanford jail awaiting a bond hearing.

The calls, placed between April 15 and April 18 — two days before Zimmerman was granted a $150,000 bond — which has since been revoked — showed the couple in loving conversation, and Shellie Zimmerman making an accounting to her husband of the bills she’s paid, the arrangements their “security expert” has been making, and what prosecutors say are coded references to approximately $135,000 collected in a PayPal account connected to George Zimmerman’s website.

The judge in the case revoked Zimmerman’s bond after prosecutors accused Shellie Zimmerman of misleading the court about the couples finances. Bank records show Shellie Zimmerman transferred large sums from the PayPal account to her checking account in several transactions up to the day before the April 20 bond hearing.

Among the revelations in the calls:

– George Zimmerman counseled his wife, and his attorney, Mark O’Mara, to purchase bulletproof vests, out of concern for their security;

– On an April 15 call, George Zimmerman instructed his wife on how to change the passcodes to his account, so that she could gain access. Prosecutors say he did so in order to facilitate moving money from the PayPal account to Shellie Zimmerman’s credit union account.

– Shellie Zimmerman said during one of the calls that the website George Zimmerman created prior to his arrest, “kept crashing” because so many people were logging on to wish him well. Zimmerman expresses happiness at the support, and says those people need to “vocalize themselves more.”

– George Zimmerman reveals that he is taking Adderall, a drug commonly prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

During a call on April 17, two days before the bond hearing, George and Shellie discuss how he’d like to be picked up from jail if he is able to get bond. The two discuss renting two SUVs and whether or not the windows can be tinted. Shellie Zimmerman suggests that might not be necessary, because George could simply “lie down” in the back of one, to which George answers, “well I’ll have my hoodie,” followed by what sounds like a muffled laugh.

Trayvon Martin wore a hoodie on the night he was shot to death by Zimmerman in February. Hoodies have become a charged symbol not just for the shooting, but in the minds of many African-Americans, for the stereotyping of black men.

George Zimmerman is charged with second degree murder in the Trayvon Martin killing. A new bond hearing is set for June 29th.

 

Blacksmoke recording artist, Lonnie Hunter, continues to savor a sweet comeback with his latest CD, “I’m Back.” The veteran choirmaster and nationally syndicated radio host came back strong a few months ago with the rousing track, “I’m Back”, which peaked at #15 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart. Now, the Chicago native (living in the Philadelphia area where he tapes his daily, nationally syndicated, four-hour, “The Lonnie Hunter Show”, on the Radio One network) is at it again with a soulful springtime song of gratitude, “Anyway.” The song has shot up to #20 on the Mediabase National Gospel Radio Airplay chart that is published in USA Today every Tuesday.

The live track is crafted in a slick, soulful `70s vibe akin to slow jams by The Emotions and The Soul Children. As it opens, Hunter employs the spoken word rap style of Isaac Hayes’ first hits and says, “Grace is when you get more than you deserve. Mercy is when you don’t get exactly what you do deserve,” to scattered handclaps of agreement from the congregation gathered at Philadelphia’s Sharon Baptist Church. Then, Hunter’s choir Structure begins to seamlessly sing the tones of “don’t deserve it, so unworthy. Still, you bless me anyway.” They crescendo with, “So sorry, I’ve fallen short of Your word,” as Hunter sings the redemptive lines of the song to the audible delight of the audience.

“This song is so huge because it’s everybody’s testimony,” Hunter says. When you think of the words: I don’t deserve it, so unworthy but still You blessed me anyway. Who does not have that testimony? We do what we want to do and we say what we want to say and we still ask God for forgiveness. We still ask God to bless us. We still want God to cover us and what does He do? He blesses us anyway.”

The youngest of five children, Hunter was raised around Chicago’s gospel music community as his mother sang background for a variety of gospel artists. She died when he was eight years old and he vowed to fulfill her musical ambitions. Aside from a dual career in the public relations field and a three-year stint as a runway and print model, music has always been Hunter’s first love. He was a soloist for the U.S. Air Force Jazz Band and a celebrated gospel choir conductor. He’s best known for his work with the Voices of St. Mark Choir where he produced three CDs for Malaco Records resulting in the hits “Even Me” (The Drip Drop Song)”, “Let’s Dance” and “There’s Power In His Name”. He began his radio career with Chicago’s #1 WGCI gospel radio station before Radio One tapped him as a midday host for the syndicated, “The Lonnie Hunter Show,” that airs across the country. For more on Lonnie Hunter, log on at www.lonniehuntermusic.com or www.mrkerrydouglas.com

 

Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, southern belle Marlene Brehm took a chance and dropped everything she knew and made her move to the Golden State to pursue her dreams of music, acting and business….and what a success she has been thus far! With her work featured in Chicken Soup for the Marketing Soul and Success from Home Magazine, Marlene continues to expand her dreams in California by officially creating her first album, Reach The Sky, under Dream Records / EMI CMG.

Ever since she can remember, Marlene has been singing. At the age of seven, her mother took her to audition for Showstoppers where she performed about a 100 times a year singing and dancing with the group. Musicals were her focus up through her attendance at Webster University Conservatory of Theatre Arts where she was selected as one of 24 out of over 800 auditions. Here, she was able to professionally hone her musical and theatrical talents at one of “America’s best colleges” which has produced many Tony Award winning talents.

After college, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in pop music, TV and film. She landed roles on several commercials and TV shows including Without a Trace, That 70’s Show, and 8 Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter and was voted top 10 best bands on The Next Great American Band. She was even blessed with the opportunity of working with Five time Grammy Award winning writer/producer, Kuk Harrell. Marlene’s heart, however, longed to sing about her faith and make a difference in the world. When the opportunity was presented to go to India and help victims of human trafficking with International Princess Project, an organization that gives women freedom, she jumped right in… and life hasn’t been the same since.

Shortly upon her return, Marlene became a worship leader at New Hope Christian Fellowship and it was here that she was discovered and signed by Dream Records. Marlene’s much anticipated album consists of ten inspiring songs produced by 2010’s Dove Award winning Producer of the year, Rusty Varenkamp. Written like a book, the music portrays her own personal life with every song birthed from her greatest joys and the most heartfelt moments. One of her favorite songs, “Second Chances,” is a song dedicated to raise awareness and create a Call to Action against the silent war of victims of human trafficking.

Marlene’s voice and talent are definitely a refreshing new sound to the Christian music genre and she plans to continually build upon her music and broaden it in every way she can with future albums on the horizon.

As for Reach The Sky, this highly anticipated album is expected to debut September 18, 2012. For more information on Marlene Brehm check out: www.DreamRecords.org and www.MarleneBrehm.com

Four of the most successful performers in gospel music history, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin and Israel Houghton, announce today that they will share the same stage for the very first time when they embark on The King’s Men concert tour this fall. The historic U.S. tour will hit major venues in 15 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.

“In the Gospel world, this is like Springsteen, McCartney, Prince and Elton hitting the road together,” said Kevin Morrow, Senior Vice President of Touring at Live Nation. “It’s going to be a once in a lifetime event for music fans.”

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.

Kirk Franklin commented: “The opportunity to partner with Live Nation is a GREAT honor and responsibility. The genre of gospel music having this kind of massive marketing support is monumental, and the talent on this tour makes it a must-see event! I’m very proud of this relationship and I expect it to be a new groundbreaking platform for inspirational entertainment.”

Exclusive artist meet & greet and VIP ticket packages are available. Please visit http://vipnation.com for details.

KIRK FRANKLIN
For nearly two decades, Kirk Franklin has been a multi-platinum-selling purveyor of majestic fusions of gospel and contemporary music. Franklin is a pioneer in gap-bridging musicianship, uniting audiences across gospel, hip hop, pop and R&B. His irresistible rhythms and rhapsodies have resulted in albums that consistently top both Billboard’s Gospel and Christian charts, as well as ascend in to the Top 10 of the mainstream R&B/Hip Hop chart. Franklin is also the host and executive producer of the gospel talent show “Sunday Best,” the highest-rated gospel program in BET network history now heading into its fifth season. To date, Franklin has garnered nine GRAMMY® Awards, an American Music Award, 39 Stellar Awards, 16 Dove Awards (CCM), eight NAACP Image Awards, two BET Awards, a Soul Train Award, and numerous others.

MARVIN SAPP
Since his debut release in 1996, Marvin Sapp has been thrilling Gospel audiences everywhere with his acrobatic vocals and deep-within-the-heart delivery. He made history with his seventh album, Here I Am, which was the all-time highest charting gospel album in Billboard history, debuting at Number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. His latest release, his ninth solo effort, is entitled I Win. He has won two BET awards, seven Dove Awards, multiple Stellar Awards and numerous others.

DONNIE MCCLURKIN
For a man who has declared that he may at any moment cease making music to concentrate fully on his passion for ministering, Donnie McClurkin has never stayed away from recording profoundly uplifting music for the soul for very long. Born in 1959, McClurkin was encouraged at an early age by the legendary Andrae’ Crouch, after his aunt became a singer in the Gospel great’s choir. Fighting through a rough home life and a battle with cancer, Donnie was eventually discovered and recorded a solo album. After an appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s top-rated television show, Donnie’s solo debut was catapulted to the upper regions of the Gospel charts and his career was born. Donnie has won three GRAMMY® Awards, as well as BET, Soul Train and Dove awards.

ISRAEL HOUGHTON
Israel Houghton is known by thousands for his day job as a worship leader at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. But since 1997 with the release of his debut album Whisper It Loud, Houghton has been recording and performing his music for Gospel fans all over the world. Since then he’s performed with such pop icons as Alicia Keys, performed at the 50th Annual GRAMMY® Awards, racking up two gold albums, six Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award and four GRAMMY® Awards in the process.

 

There was no change among the top two spots on the charts.  Mary Mary and Marvin Sapp grab the #1 and #2 spots.  Surprisingly, Gospel legend Andrae Crouch continues to gain ground moving up to #3.  Crouch’s latest CD “The Journey” features the hit song “Let the Church Say Amen.”

Also, Gospel artist Regina Belle debuts her latest project “Higher” at #15 this week.  

See the Complete Top 10 Below:

1 | Mary Mary – Go Get It
2 | Marvin Sapp – I Win
3 | Andrae Crouch – The Journey
4 | WOW Gospel 2012
5 | William McDowell – Arise
6 | Zacardi Cortez – The Introduction
7 | Various Artists – Joyful Noise (Soundtrack)
8 | JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise – After This
9 | Jason Nelson – Shifting the Atmosphere
10 | James Fortune & FIYA – Identity

Next week, Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago will release their new album.  Look for that to do well.

 

Rodney King, the man who was at the center of the infamous Los Angeles riots, was found dead Sunday morning. He was 47. Our sources tell us that King’s fiancée, Cynthia Kelly, found him dead at the bottom of a swimming pool.

King recently marked the twentieth anniversary of the Los Angeles riots — the mayhem that took place after four police officers were acquitted of beating King in 1991. The beating, which was caught on camera, sparked national outrage and put King at the center of heated debate about the state of race relations in America.

CBS Los Angeles has released a radio interview with Rialto, California police Captain Randy De Anda, who says that King may have had some verbal contact with his fiancée, at which time she went outside and found him at the bottom of the pool.

“Rialto police officers responded to the location and removed him from inside of the pool and began CPR. The Rialto Fire Department paramedics responded and transported Mr. King to the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead at 6:11 a.m. this morning,” De Anda said.

Preliminary information showed no signs of foul play, he added.

In his memoir, “The Riot Within: My Journey From Rebellion to Redemption,” published earlier this year, King detailed the high-speed chase that led up to his beating on March 3, 1991 and how he went on to receive a $3.8 million settlement from the city of Los Angeles. Most of the money was lost, however, to bad investments, including a hip-hop record label he founded.

The 1992 riots, which were set off by the acquittals of the officers who beat King, lasted three days and left 55 people dead, more than 2,000 injured and swaths of Los Angeles on fire. At the height of the violence, King pleaded on television: “Can we all get along?”

In the two decades after he became the central figure in the riots, King was arrested several times, mostly for alcohol-related crimes. He later became a record company executive and a reality TV star, appearing on shows such as “Celebrity Rehab.”

In an interview earlier this year with The Associated Press, King said he was a happy man.

“America’s been good to me after I paid the price and stayed alive through it all,” he says. “This part of my life is the easy part now.”