The Gospel Community has lost another jewel.

International television, movie and recording artist, and member of the Bobby Jones and New Life Nashville Super Choir, Emily Harris died on Thursday Morning, December 22, 2011 in her hometown of Nashville, TN.

After more than thirty one years of working in the music industry, our trusted sources tell us that Ms. Harris died as a result of a blood clot while at home with her sister. She was pronounced dead at a local Nashville hospital.

Ms. Harris garnered most of her major notoriety and exposure from BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel. She also recorded several shows with Dr. Bobby Jones recently that are currently being shown on BET and Impact TV.

Dr. Bobby Jones says, “There was none like her in many ways and she will be surely missed with her brilliant personality and her wonderful voice. Her contribution to the Gospel Music Industry will be missed by the world.”

Funeral Services for Emily are as follows:

Services will be held at Cathedral of Praise COGIC, 4300 Clarksville Pike, Nashville, TN 37218

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011 7 PM

Industry Musical

Thursday, December 28th, 2011 11 AM

Homegoing Celebration

Officiated by her Pastor, Bishop Jerry Maynard

Broady Funeral Home

Cards and Condolences can be sent to the Church in care of her sister Marva Starks

Check out the video below of Gospel artists wishing PATH subscribers a Merry Christmas!

Marvin Sapp, Dottie Peoples, Myron Butler, Brian Courtney Wilson and more all get involved.

We at PATH want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

GRAMMY® award-winning and multi-platinum selling artist Michael W. Smith recently released his 23rd career project, and second instrumental album, GLORY, on Nov. 21. In light of the recent announcement by President Barack Obama relating to the return of our troops from Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations, Michael has offered gratis use of his song “Heroes,” a cornerstone track on the acclaimed 12-song collection, for use in forthcoming news broadcasts relating to the return of our troops.

“We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude none of us can adequately ever repay,” shares Smith in a recent interview about Glory.

The clip below was uploaded to YouTube by a Michael W. Smith fan and is an example of how this song can support a story.

About Michael W. Smith: Throughout his 29-year career as a recording artist, Michael W. Smith has amassed an impressive catalog of achievements. His prior 22 albums have garnered multiple honors including an American Music Award, three GRAMMY ® Awards (from 13 nominations), 44 GMA Dove Awards and 33 No. 1 radio hits. In addition, he holds 16 Gold, 7 Platinum and 2 Double-Platinum albums for career sales of 15 million. Wonder, Smith’s 22nd career album, released Sept. 28, 2010. Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2009, Smith has scored film projects, written 12 books and been featured by media outlets including “Hannity,” NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “Good Morning America,” “NBC Nightly News,” “Larry King Live,” “FOX & Friends,” The Associated Press, Billboard, USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek and more.

Constantly giving back to the community, one of Smith’s current projects is Rocketown – a nightclub for teens in his hometown of Nashville, Tenn. – which serves as a safe place for young people to enjoy music and for artists to be discovered. He and wife of 30 years, Debbie, are the proud parents of five children. Michael W. Smith releases Glory, his 23rd career project and second full-length instrumental album, on Nov. 21.

For more information on Michael W. Smith please visit: www.michaelwsmith.com, www.facebook.com/michaelwsmithofficial

In a report first published by EurWeb, we learned that Radio One has made the decision to take all Matthew Knowles related songs off the air.  

Radio One is the largest distributor of Gospel music that broadcasts FM quality radio signals.  

Radio One founder Cathy Hughes reportedly made the decision because of a on-going lawsuit associated with the Essence Music Festival.

Matthew Knowles chooses to take the high road in regards to his feelings on Cathy Hughes and Radio One, even going as far to say that “She’s a friend.”

Knowles will try to turn the ban into a positive by focusing on the AM stations he feels are overlooked in Gospel music.  

“We didn’t as a company, we didn’t focus as much.  And that was a mistake on our part as a label,” Knowles explained to EUR’s Lee Bailey. “It’s allowed us to give our focus to the entire radio community fully rather than just putting a lot of eggs in one basket.  Not that we overlooked the other ones.  We never would overlook them.  It’s just that we didn’t focus as much as we should and we didn’t build those relationships as strongly as we should.”

“It’s an opportunity for us.  In the 20 years, we’ve always thought outside the box and it’s been real successful for us,” he continued.  “I’m so happy to be able to understand AM radio better and continue to build relationships with all gospel stations.  So it’s been an opportunity for us.”

An anonymous Radio One employee shed light on the extent of the radio ban saying, “All Radio One personnel were told to pull all Music World artists out of rotation immediately and indefinitely!  We were told that the mandate came straight from Ms. Hughes and that there would be ramifications for anyone playing or mentioning a Music World artist or song on air.”  The Radio One employee spoke under the condition of anonymity.

The ban impacts some of the most successful Gospel artists that are under Knowles’ Music World Gospel imprint.  Currently Music World Gospel boasts a roster that includes Trin-i-Tee 5:7, Brian Courtney Wilson, Juanita Bynum, Le’Andria Johnson, Micah Stampley, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Sunday Best winner Amber Bullock. 

Additionally, all songs from Destiny’s Child have also been pulled.  The ban does not include Knowles’ daughter Beyonce and Kelly Rowland’s latest solo albums since they were not under Matthew Knowles’ label at the time their music was released.

When asked about the ban, Mathew Knowles stated he doesn’t get into the “legal side of that.”  “I leave that to attorneys to handle this part of it.  I think for me and my 20 years in the music industry…whenever situations like this come, I look at them as opportunities, an opportunity that this has allowed for Music World Gospel to really understand better the landscape to build those relationships at radio with the other different affiliates, like Sheridan and Clear Channel and many others.”

“It’s allowed us to approach our business differently and it’s a great thing because the results have been overwhelming as we’ve approached our business differently instead of before,” he explained.  “Ninety percent of all our artist radio promotions was done with Radio One.  Now this allows us to view that whole landscape differently… We’ve done all of our promotions differently.  We’ve done all of our advertising differently.  So it’s bit of an opportunity.”

Knowles goes on to say, “I’ve been in gospel since 2002 with our first gold album.  People just don’t know the history, unfortunately,” said Knowles, who confessed to Music World being totally focused on gospel and is proud to see his label still around in its 10th year in the gospel industry as the 5th largest gospel record label in America.  “Our first number one was “The Fighting Temptations” soundtrack.  Our second number one was 2003 Michelle Williams.  People just don’t get the history.  And I get that. We probably, at Music World, haven’t done a good enough job.”

It’s clear that Matthew Knowles plans to rise above the controversy, while refocusing his label and artists’ ministry.

“I’m happy to say I’m so proud for all the support we’re getting at Music World Gospel because our focus also is the ministry of the artist, and equally important, putting out great music.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 70 percent of black children grow up in homes without their fathers. And Bishop T.D. Jakes, pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas, will discuss this crisis at length during a special Christmas Day edition of Washington Watch with Roland Martin set to air on TV One.  The episode will re-air on New Years Day.

There is a crisis in the Black community of families without fathers. We all know about it, and we all know it has devastated our community. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 70 percent of Black children grow up in homes without their fathers. Children who grow up without fathers are more likely to act out, use drugs, quit school, become pregnant, and also go to jail. It is a tragedy that must be stopped.

For the next two weeks on “Washington Watch,” we will be exploring what it means to be an authentic father in the 21st century. We travel to Bishop T.D. Jakes’ mega church in Dallas to meet men and women, fathers, mothers, children and pastors, who have overcome the ordeal of growing up without a father. Here’s a preview.

The smooth sounding Gospel artist Brian Courtney Wilson released the artwork for his new CD “So Proud.”

It features a vintage look back at Brian as a young child, with the title ‘So Proud’ above it.”

Brian seems to pay homage to his mother and upbringing in the album similar to how he’s done in previous musical offerings.

I like the new cover because it stands out graphically. And that’s half the battle when it comes to people picking it up off store shelves.

You can listen to the title track “So Proud” below.

TBN’s Holy Land Experience invites everyone during this glorious season to come visit us on Friday, DECEMBER 23, 2011.

Doors will open at 6:30pm and the event starts at 7pm and ends at 9:30pm

The event includes a FREE Concert with Donnie McClurkin & The Holy Land Singers, Holy Land Dramas, Free Beanie Babies for everyone to give to a less fortunate child.

There will be special guest speakers that include Pastor Jonathan McKnight & Dr. Mark Chironna in the new Church Of All Nations!

All parking is Free.

The Holy Land Experience Ministries, Inc. is located at 4655 Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32811

www.holylandexperience.com  (407) 872-2272

About The Holy Land Experience:

The Holy Land Experience brings together the sights and sounds of the world of the Bible in a unique and interactive way unlike anywhere else.

It is a living, biblical museum that takes you 7000 miles away and 2000 years back in time to the land of the Bible. Its combination of sights, sounds, and tastes will stimulate your senses and blend together to create a spectacular new experience.

But above all, beyond the fun and excitement, we hope that you will see God and His Word exalted and that you will be encouraged in your search for enduring truth and the ultimate meaning of life.

IMMERSE, the Gospel Music Association’s Music Training Experience, is pleased to announce the fourth annual event, to be held July 23-25 at Rocketown in Nashville, TN. An opening night worship event will be held July 22 to kick off IMMERSE and start participants with a time of inspiration and focus.

For the first time, all attendees will receive a complementary one-year “iMembership” to the Gospel Music Association which includes the privilege of voting in the annual GMA Dove Awards. As an added incentive for early registration, anyone who registers for IMMERSE before December 31 of this year will be allowed to vote in the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards.

Up and coming indie artists, songwriters and future business leaders will all find something to gain from the event which offers unparalleled training, intimate concerts, professional feedback and individual opportunities to connect with music experts. IMMERSE aims to continue to create a sense of community and camaraderie among the attendees and professionals who seek to spread the Gospel through music.

Along with new incentives, IMMERSE will be held at Rocketown in downtown Nashville. Founded by Christian music icon, Michael W. Smith, Rocketown moved into it’s new location earlier this year, creating an environment that both fosters community among the registrants and provides great flexibility for the various production elements unique to the IMMERSE conference.

Rates for IMMERSE 2012 begin at just $199 if registration is submitted before March 31, 2012.

“It is our desire to provide an atmosphere where creativity, camaraderie and learning can thrive,” says Jackie Patillo, the Executive Director of the Gospel Music Association. “The IMMERSE stage is set to welcome up-and-coming artists and songwriters to share their talents in front of today’s leading music professionals. As well as uncover some of the mysteries of artist development and music industry standards.”

Conference speakers, competition judges and live performers will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Programming will include classes in music business, songwriting and artist development. As in past years, IMMERSE will offer unprecedented access to some of the most influential and established names in Christian music.

For more information on IMMERSE, please visit online at: www.experienceimmerse.com,

Last Saturday the edgy comedy show Saturday Night Live made headlines with a skit that offended many Christians.

The skit shows Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow in the locker room after winning a game when suddenly Jesus played by Jason Sudeikis, appears telling Tim Tebow to quiet down after being so ecstatic to see him.  The Jesus character went on to tell the Broncos team that he was tired of helping them out in the fourth quarter of games.

Tebow, known for his public praise of Jesus has been making headlines by openly praying before and after games. Often going to one knee on the sidelines with his head lowered in prayer.  The praying position has been dubbed “Tebowing.” 

Reviews have been mixed on the skit with some Christians stating that the sketch was funny, and to lighten up a bit. But the vast majority of Christians seem to have been offended by at least some part of the 4 minute comedy skit.

Some Pastors are even speaking out about the skit. Renown Televangelist Pastor Pat Robertson said the sketch is a part of “the anti-Christian bigotry in this country that’s just disgusting.” Tebow, quarterback for the Denver Broncos, “ought to be applauded,” Robertson said, for publicly expressing his faith at a time when the country’s “losing our moral compass.”

When Tebow said he consulted the Bible before games, the Jesus character suggested he add the playbook to his reading list.

The comedy bit has gathered more than 2 million views on YouTube as of Tuesday afternoon and has become a viral hit since airing on Saturday.

Watch the video below and let us know if you find it offensive as well.

According to EurWeb, Radio One has made the acute decision to take all Matthew Knowles related songs off the air.  

Radio One founder Cathy Hughes reportedly made the decision because of a on-going lawsuit associated with the Essence Music Festival.

Matthew Knowles’ Music World Music is listed in the lawsuit because his company brokered the deal for the Essence Music Festival that’s broadcasted on TV One.  His company is being accused of re-issuing the content to BET, MTV and BET’s Centric Network despite TV One’s four-year exclusivity agreement.

TV One is the sister company to Radio One, which also owns Interactive One and a string of online publications.  Radio One is the largest distributor of Gospel music that broadcasts FM quality radio signals.

EurWeb spoke to an anonymous Radio One employee who shed light on the radio ban. 

“All Radio One personnel were told to pull all Music World artists out of rotation immediately and indefinitely!  We were told that the mandate came straight from Ms. Hughes and that there would be ramifications for anyone playing or mentioning a Music World artist or song on air.”  The Radio One employee spoke under the condition of anonymity.

Previous bans placed on artists have left radio hosts without jobs just for playing songs that were banned by Radio One.  Their contracts with the network allow for termination without question.  

Removing all of Music Worlds songs is a tough pill to swallow.  The artists on Music Worlds roster are some of the most popular Gospel artists in the country.  Not only are they known for their music, but for their warm spirits as well.  Without radio plays, CD sales are dramatically impacted.  

Currently Music World Gospel boasts a roster that includes Trin-i-Tee 5:7, Brian Courtney Wilson, Juanita Bynum, Le’Andria Johnson, Micah Stampley, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Sunday Best winner Amber Bullock.  

Additionally, all songs from Destiny’s Child have also been pulled.  The ban does not include Knowles’ daughter Beyonce and Kelly Rowland’s latest solo albums since they were not under Matthew Knowles’ label at the time.

“Le’Andria Johnson’s song ‘Jesus’ was in heavy rotation on Radio One stations one day and the next day she wasn’t getting any spins.”  “New music by Trin-I-tee 5:7 and Micah Stampley, as well as recurring hits by Brian Courtney Wilson have been pulled as well,” the source added.

This is truly a sad development and PATH hopes all parties named in this lawsuit will resolve the matter peacefully and fairly.  It’s not fair to the hardworking artists, and people that are saved through their music.

Matthew Knowles is scheduled to make a statement soon addressing the ban and lawsuit.