Pop/rock band Building 429 (Essential Records) sets a new record on the Billboard National Christian Audience chart with “Where I Belong” holding the top spot for 15 consecutive weeks. The group continues its momentum through 2012 with an impressive summer festival circuit and non-stop fall touring.

Written by Building 429 frontman Jason Roy, and award-winning songwriter/producer Jason Ingram, “Where I Belong,” is from the band’s fifth studio project, Listen to the Sound, released in May of 2011. The album, which debuted at the top of iTunes’ Christian & Gospel Albums chart, has turned out three hit radio songs to date, including No. 1 CHR and Top 5 AC radio single “Listen to the Sound” and “Made For You,” Top 5 on the Christian CHR charts.

“Where I Belong” is Building 429’s most successful radio single from the project, surpassing songs by tobyMac and Phillips, Craig & Dean, who held the top spot on the Billboard NCA chart for 11 straight weeks. In addition, the song maintained top billing on the Billboard AC Monitored chart for 11 consecutive weeks and was No. 1 for multiple weeks on the Christian CHR chart.

News of the song’s success is par for the course for Building 429 this year. The foursome has maintained one of its busiest tour seasons yet, kicking off 2012 with a 47-city “Winter Jam” tour, which saw attendance exceeding 500,000. Building 429 will go on to make appearances at summer festivals including AtlantaFest, ALIVE Festival, Ichthus Music Festival, LifeLight Festival, Kingdom Bound, Unity Music Festival, JFest, and others, while hosting international tour dates in Canada, Denmark, Norway and the Philippines. The band will also head out this fall on Newsboys’ “God’s Not Dead” tour before joining Newsong’s 2012 Christmas tour.

For a current list of tour dates and appearances, visit www.Building429.com. To view the “Where I Belong” music video, click this link: http://is.gd/2gpfs9

About Building 429:
Building 429 comprises Jason Roy (vocals), Jesse Garcia (guitar), Michael Anderson (drums), and Aaron Branch (bass). The band first broke through with its 2004 No. 1 hit “Glory Defined,” which was named BMI’s Christian Song of the Year in 2005. That same year, Building 429 was also named New Artist of the Year at the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards.

The group has since amassed a dedicated fan following, playing more than 150 live shows a year while developing its own touring brands “Winter Blast” and “Summer Blast.” In the fall of 2011, Building 429 went from a 30-city “Sounds of Hope” co-headlining tour with Leeland straight into the 47-city “Winter Jam” arena tour in 2012, reaching audiences of more than 500,000.

Building 429 released its fifth studio project, Listen to the Sound, on May 10, 2011. Produced by Jason Ingram (Chris Tomlin, Sanctus Real), Rusty Varenkamp (Tenth Avenue North, Sanctus Real) and Rob Hawkins (Fireflight, Anthem Lights), Listen to the Sound debuted at the top of iTunes’ Christian & Gospel Albums chart, while its title track hit No. 1 on the CHR chart and Top 5 on Billboard’s National Christian Audience Chart. Follow up single, “Made For You,” reached Top 5 on the Christian CHR charts, and most recently “Where I Belong” has continued to peak at No. 1 on Billboard’s National Christian Audience chart for 15 consecutive weeks and AC Monitored charts for 11 weeks. The occasion sets precedent as the longest-running No. 1 single on the Billboard Christian Audience chart to date.

For more information on Building 429,
visit www.Building429.com or www.facebook.com/building429.

 

Meagan Good, 30-year-old “Think Like a Man” actress, recently joined with preacher and producer fiancé DeVon Franklin to give people insight about why they decided to remain abstinent until marriage.

Franklin, an executive with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Seventh-day Adventist minister, proposed to Good in March, months after she proclaimed that she would focus on God to bring her the right man. Last month, the actress revealed that she would not be intimate with her future husband until they officially became one in marriage.

“Our wedding night will be the first time we’re actually together,” Good told Life & Style magazine.

She told the publication that she knew Franklin was meant for her after he agreed to wait for intimacy.

“Because he was willing to be celibate with me for a year,” Good told the publication. “He loves God, more than I love God, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong [with him].”

At minister T.D Jakes’ 35th Anniversary Gala in Dallas last weekend, Franklin said he hoped other couples could look to him and Good for inspiration.

T.D. Jakes 35th Anniversary Gala presenters, DeVon Franklin, Sony Pictures executive, and actress Meagan Good enjoy each other’s company on the red carpet. (Photo Credit: Cooper Neill, courtesy of The FrontPage Firm)
“We want our marriage to be one of truth, one of love, and hopefully model God’s love. In reality we’re not perfect,” Franklin said while on the red carpet at the event. “But we are striving to live a life of Christ. We are striving to be an example of what his life looks like on this earth, and hopefully through our union people will be inspired, people will see themselves in us.”

Good accompanied her soon-to-be husband at the gala and spoke about the benefits of waiting to experience intimacy with her partner.

“The relationship is completely different. When you know somebody and you know their heart, it’s not even a question about the physical part of it that comes into play completely later on,” the actress said. “You really just get a chance to understand what you’re getting. You don’t just want to be with this person on Friday night, but Saturday afternoon too.”

 

An audio tape of the 911 call made by megachurch Pastor Creflo Dollar’s 15-year-old daughter has been released by the Fayette County Police Department. During the call made early Friday, the girl told the 911 operator that she was allegedly punched and choked by her father, adding that this was not the first time such an incident has happened.

“I just got an altercation with my father. He punched me and …(inaudible) choked me. It’s not the first time it’s happened. I feel threatened by being in this house,” the 15-year-old girl is heard telling the 911 operator.

“I don’t know what can be done but I’m scared. I’m shaking. I don’t…I don’t know what to do.”

Creflo Dollar, who was arrested Friday then released on $5,000 bail, has admitted to “spanking” his daughter, according to a police report by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. He told a deputy that after she became disrespectful, he tried to restrain her. When she began to hit him, that’s when he reportedly wrestled her to the floor and spanked her bottom and back of her legs.

On Sunday, the prominent black preacher appeared before his World Changers Church International congregation in Atlanta and emphatically denied punching or choking his youngest daughter.

“The truth is that a conversation with our daughter got emotional and things escalated from there,” Dollar, a father of five, told the 30,000-member congregation.

“The truth was that she was not choked, she was not punched,” he stated. “There were not any scratches on her neck but the only thing on her neck was a prior skin abrasion from eczema.”

Dollar received a standing ovation throughout his entire statement before the church. The statement was made prior to his Sunday sermon.

“I should have never been arrested. Never!” he said. “And when the facts of this come out, you will be appalled.”

The 911 call lasted about 5 minutes. During the call, the 911 operator asked if there were any weapons, drugs or alcohol involved; the girl answered, “No, ma’am.”

The 911 operator also asked if she had any “injuries,” “visible injuries,” to which the girl also answered, “No, ma’am.”

The operator then proceeded to ask what the argument between the girl and her father was about.

Dollar’s daughter told the 911 operator that they were arguing about her going to a party on Saturday. She said after her father brought up her grades, she started crying and then walked out of the room to the kitchen. The girl said her father followed behind her and asked why she was crying. When she told Dollar, “I do not want to talk to you,” he allegedly started to get physical.

“And he went off. He came, put his arm around my neck, choked me, and bent me over the table,” said the teenager in the audio recording of the 911 call.

“I threw him off of me. He threw me on the ground and punched me in my face. And this is going on for a good two, three minutes. And my mom came in the room and he stopped. And then my mom asked him what happened and he said that I hit him first, which is a lie.”

The dispatcher then asked for the girl’s age, her father’s name and birth date, and whether her parents were aware of the 911 call. The girl said her parents did not know she was calling 911, only her sister did.

Dollar’s 19-year-old daughter, who witnessed the altercation, corroborated her sister’s story to the police. At first, she gave a different account “due to her parents being outside with her while she was writing it,” according to the deputy’s report. In her second statement, made after being separated from her parents, the 19-year-old daughter said her father slapped and choked her younger sister.

Pastor Creflo Dollar said the incident was part of the devil’s plan to “discredit” him and his ministry.

“The devil knows in order to discredit the message, you have to first of all discredit the messenger,“he said Sunday. 

Reading from Psalm 35, Dollar said, “Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about.”

“Wake up! Rise to my defense! Take up my case, my God and my Lord. Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for you give justice,” he continued. “May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced.”

On Facebook, hundreds have come to Dollar’s defense, including parents who empathize with having a teenage daughter. Many have also poured out prayers for the Dollar family, calling on others to withhold judgment before all the facts emerge in the case.  

Read More by The Christian Post 
 

 

Kingdom Records has repackaged the platinum-selling Shekinah Glory Ministry’s groundbreaking 2001 double-disc, praise and worship opus, “Praise Is What I Do” CD, just in time for Black Music Month. The newly remastered CDs divide the original 22-track album into the sets, “Worship” (SRP: $13.99) and, “Praise” (SRP: $13.99).

Shekinah Glory Ministry is a leader in African-American praise and worship music over the last dozen years. 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 debut CD was released in spring 2001 as a custom CD. The soul stirring, nine -minute ballad, “Praise is What I Do” was led by a then-little known Atlanta pastor named William Murphy. The simple lyrics touched a chord with a nation heartbroken over the 9/11 terrorist attacks and seeking some spiritual resolve amid the chaos. “Through the good and the bad, I’ll praise you,” Murphy sang in his urgent tone. “I’ll praise you, whether I’m happy or sad, I’ll praise you In all – In all that I go through because praise is, is what, is what I do.”

Over the next two years, the song dominated gospel radio playlists throughout the USA and instantly put Shekinah Glory Ministry on the music map. Furthermore, the CD, “Praise Is What I Do”, peaked at #5 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and spent another 48 weeks on the survey. In the gospel world, only a handful of artists such as Kirk Franklin or Mary Mary ever earn a gold record, so it was quite a fete that Shekinah Glory Ministry’s first CD, on a tiny little start-up label, would be certified gold on November 18, 2005.

The CD, “Praise”, boasts ten songs from the project such as the radical “Forever Praise” and the pulsating track, “We Magnify Your Name.” Then, there are congregational sing-a-long tunes such as “Lift Up the Name of the Lord” and the soaring ballad, “Hallelujah Praise.” The CD, “Worship”, is comprised of 11 tracks such as the mellow, “Fall on Me” and the tender love song to God, “I Embrace You.” It also includes the full version of “Praise is What I Do” that clocks in at over sixteen minutes. Meanwhile, Kingdom Records is putting the final touches on Shekinah Glory Ministry’s next live CD, “Surrender”, that will be released September 25, 2012. For more info on Kingdom Records or Shekinah Glory Ministry, log on at www.kingdomrecordsinc.com.

 

For the first time sense he was carjacked Pastor Marvin Winans came face to face with the men accused of attacking him at a gas station in Detroit. On Monday, Pastor Winans relived that horrible scene in court as he gave a vivid testimony of what happened on that day.

A judge will decide later this week if the case against three men charged with robbing and carjacking the Rev. Marvin Winans will go to trial.

The 54-year-old popular Detroit pastor and Grammy-winning gospel singer was attacked May 16 while pumping gas in the area of Linwood and Davison. The robbers took his 2012 Infiniti QX56 SUV, Rolex watch, cash and credit cards.

Winans suffered only bruises and scrapes.

He is pastor of the 4,500-member Perfecting Church and delivered singer Whitney Houston’s eulogy in February.

Detroit residents Montoya Givens and Christopher Moorehead, both 20, and Brian K. Young, 18, of Macomb County’s Clinton Township are charged with carjacking, unarmed robbery and conspiracy.

The charges carry up to life in prison.

Winans takes the stand.  Winans said he knew something was wrong when he noticed he had been followed by the group of men, but that they were talking about music and he even spoke with Givens.

“He asked me what I was listening to and I said, “Al Sharpton,” Winans said.

Winans also testified that Givens was the one to initiate the attack.

“He struck me right underneath my left eye,” Winans said. “They were hitting me with their hands at first. Then they threw me to the ground and they began to kick me.”

One of the suspects began to say, “Get that money. Get that money,” Winans said.

“When I gathered my thoughts and realized, ‘Wow, this is happening,’ I threw a punch. I said Jesus, Jesus and all three ran around the corner,” he said.

Records: Winans was driving on suspended license.  

According to records from the Michigan Secretary of State, Winans’ license was suspended on May 9 for two unpaid tickets out of Hazel Park – one for impeding traffic and the other for driving on a previous suspended license.

His driving record shows a slew of tickets since September of 2005.

Winans statement: “The traffic issues listed in driver’s record that was recently released was in the process of being handled prior to the Wednesday, May 16 incident. The proof of payment and formal letter addressing the issue was submitted. I was not aware of any suspension of license due to change of address. All day-to-day correspondences are facilitated by my administrative staff. If something was a matter of great urgency they would have brought it to my attention.”

EMI Gospel announces the signing of Tasha Cobbs, prolific singer, songwriter and praise leader. 

Having spent several years serving in church Tasha Cobbs steps into the forefront with her first national label deal and plans for a new live recording later this month.

Cobbs has shared the stage with several artists and released an underground independent album, SMILE in 2009. After receiving consumer acclaim for her popular single “Happy,” she made a name for herself with her trademark vocals and a sweet presence. Her powerhouse sound caught the attention of EMI Gospel execs and Cobbs was signed to a deal this year.

“Powerful voice, persistent effort, pursuit of worship: these things describe Tasha Cobbs and combined they create a great gospel music sound that we are pleased to record and disseminate to the world,” said Ken Pennell, President EMI Gospel.

For her upcoming album, Cobbs plans to re- record songs from SMILE will add a host of new material. The CD, (produced by her music mentor, VaShawn Mitchell), will showcase her soaring vocals from the concert and will include guest appearances by her spiritual mentor, Pastor William Murphy and songstress Timiney Figueroa.

The event takes place Northview Christian Church, where the Senior Pastor is Hart Ramsey. Concert starts at 6:00pm, at the Safe Harbor location at 500 Eastdale Loop, Montgomery, AL 36117 and is free.

Cobbs is currently the Pastor of Worship at dReam Center, under Pastor William Murphy, in Atlanta, GA and serves as the Worship Leader for the Young Adult Division of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International under the direction of Bishop Paul S. Morton.

Cobbs’ EMI gospel debut is scheduled for release next year.

 

Nine-time Grammy Award winner Kirk Franklin, has been tapped to compose the Official Song of the 2012 World Choir Games and perform it at the Opening Ceremony.

“To have someone as accomplished as Kirk Franklin involved in the World Choir Games speaks to the allure and stature of this magical event,” said Dan Lincoln, president & CEO of the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau and director of the Cincinnati Organizing Committee for the 2012 World Choir Games.

Sponsored by Procter & Gamble Co., Franklin will perform at the Opening Ceremony, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4, at U.S. Bank Arena. Also performing at the Opening Ceremony will be the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and May Festival Chorus.

“I’m excited to be part of such a significant global event that is drawing choirs from around the world to Cincinnati, Ohio, and to the United States,” said Kirk Franklin. “I am also excited to engage with the choirs and choral music fans as part of the 2012 World Choir Games.”

The World Choir Games, the largest international choral competition in the world, will be in North America for the first time from July 4-14. Close to 15,000 participants, including 368 choirs, from 60 countries are registered for the event. This year marks the 7th World Choir Games, which has previously been held in Austria, China, Germany and South Korea. Tickets to the World Choir Games events are on sale at www.2012worldchoirgames.com/tickets.

Franklin is the biggest-selling contemporary gospel artist in the history, according to SoundScan, with more than 14 million albums sold to date and more than 20 No. 1 singles on gospel radio. He has won nine GRAMMY® Awards, 39 Stellar Awards, 16 Dove Awards, eight NAACP Image Awards, two BET Music Awards, an American Music Award, a Soul Train Award, among others. For more information about Kirk Franklin, visit www.kirkfranklin.com.

 

Central South Distribution is thrilled to announce distribution deals with Pastor John P. Kee, Ben Tankard and Reverend Marvin L. Winans, all of whom are making tremendous moves in the gospel industry this year. They are huge additions to the already impressive lineup of releases Central South Distribution has scheduled this year.   “We at Central South Distribution are overjoyed with the addition of these awesome men of God,” said Randy Davidson, chief executive officer of Central South Distribution. “As we continue to build a strong roster of incredible artists,we are proud to say Central South Distribution continues to be the #1 Independent distributor for gospel music.”   At the 2012 Stellar Awards, Pastor Kee, who has already received 21 Stellar Award trophies, was honored with the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award for his career, which spans over three decades. The title-track from his project, Life and Favor, features James Fortune and LeJuene Thompson.   “I look forward to working with Central South Distribution,” said Pastor Kee. “One of the greatest assets that we have as Christians is our testimony, and I’m committed to share mine through my music. I know Central South will do a stellar job at taking this message to the Gospel music audience.”   “I am so excited to welcome Pastor’s John P. Kee, Ben Tankard and Marvin Winans to the Central South Distribution family,” said Chuck Adams, president of Central South Distribution. “Central South Distribution has been servicing the Gospel and Christian community for over four decades. With this new edition of impeccable talent, our future looks bright for decades to come.”   Rev. Winans, who recently spent several weeks at the top spot on Billboard’s Gospel Songs chart as the featured vocalist on Andrae’ Crouch’s “Let the Church Say Amen,” plans to release his upcoming project, The Praise + Worship Experience, on June 26. “It gives us great pleasure to begin this new venture with Central South Distribution by releasing The Praise + Worship Experience,” said Label Head Marvin Winans, Jr. “Praise and worship often becomes the soundtrack to our spiritual journey, celebrating our savior, inspiring us in our faith, and encouraging us during the darkest of times.” Earlier this year, Rev. Winans had the privilege of delivering the eulogy at Whitney Houston’s funeral where the music of faith played a key role in her going-home ceremony.   Central South also announces a new distribution deal with Tankard on his new project, Full Tank, which dropped June 5. Tankard, a Stellar Award winning, Dove and Grammy nominated artist and producer, is the best-selling GospelJazz instrumentalist in the world. “I look forward to releasing my new project with Central South Distribution,” said Tankard. “Music becomes a vehicle-of-salvation to carry God’s love, healing and deliverance, and I feel the music on this CD reflects that emotional exchange.”   “We are excited about this opportunity to work with three Gospel greats on their upcoming projects,” said Vicki Mack Lataillade, chief marketing officer at Central South Distribution. “John P. Kee, Ben Tankard and Marvin L. Winans are not only talented vocalists and leaders in the industry, but they are dedicated pastors in their community.”   This summer, Central South Distribution also releases major new CD projects from Lecrae and and Tamela Mann. Mann’s CD, Best Days, hits stores August 14, and Lecrae’s project is in stores this fall.

ABOUT CENTRAL SOUTH DISTRIBUTION: Central South Distribution, Inc.’s mission is to nurture and cultivate God’s message through the growth of Christian music. CSD has been servicing the Gospel and Christian community for nearly four decades and takes pride in being the #1 Independent Gospel Distributor, and the World’s Largest Distributor of Gospel Music. They distribute Gospel Music to all of the top Gospel, CBA and Mainstream Accounts including, other distributors, chain stores and independent retailers. For more information, visit www.centralsouthdistribution.com.

Sisterly duo Mary Mary continues its month long stint on top of the Gospel Charts.  Regaining the #2 spot is Gospel star Marvin Sapp.  Last weeks #2 spot holder Zacardi Cortez falls to the #7 spot this week, while newcomer Jason Nelson continues to sell strong at #4 this week.

Next week lookout for new CDs from Ben Tankard and Regina Belle.  Those albums should sale well.

The Complete Top 10: 

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