Nashville songstress Erica Lane returns this month with a new EP, A Merry Little Christmas, released November 8th. Produced by GRAMMY® and Dove Award winner Bryan Lenox (Michael W. Smith, The Katinas, Enrique Iglesias), the 6-song EP features a collection of holiday standards as well as the self-penned tear-jerking radio single, “Angels in the Show,” which originally appeared on the soundtrack for the 2010 feature film, A Christmas Snow.

“I originally wrote ‘Angels In The Snow’ for a movie called A Christmas Snow, but it has evolved into much more than a song for film,” says Lane. “People approach me every time I sing it and share their memories and stories of lost loved ones, relating themselves to the message of the song.”

A former Miss Houston, Lane found her calling while performing in numerous cathedrals throughout England with the Texas Tech University Choir, which was selected as the U.S. representative at the British Choral Convention. During that time, Lane developed a passion for mixing rich, musical tradition with modern originality. With early influences that range from Keith Green to Sarah Brightman, the classically trained singer/songwriter has mastered the art of fusing contemporary pop with sweeping ballads and romantic orchestral impressions.

Lane has spent the last five years touring the Unites States, Canada, Ireland, England and Africa. Her resume is filled with a variety of high profile appearances, ranging from performances at Johnny High’s Country Music Review and Ruth Graham and Friends at Billy Graham’s Cove, a headlining slot at the Tennessee State Fair, and an appearance with actor/comedian George Lopez at the Moondance Awards Gala in Beverly Hills. Lane’s music has been featured in nearly a dozen film and television soundtracks, and she has made numerous television appearances including Atlanta Live and The Miracle Network, plus radio appearances on major outlets such as Houston’s KSBJ and Downtown Radio in Belfast, Ireland.

In 2009, Lane starred in the family-friendly reality TV series, Inspired Ambition, which aired in North America on FamilyNet, JCTV and Cornerstone TV as well as a variety of international networks in Africa, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Romania, India and more. The series continues to air in syndication on Christian and family networks worldwide, and is now available in stores as a DVD box set from Cloud Ten/E1 Entertainment.

A Christmas tour kicks off in Nashville on November 19th, with appearances and a busy promotional schedule lasting through the holiday season.

“Christmas has always been a magical time of year for me, and there is nothing I enjoy more than sharing my heart through music during the holiday season,” says Lane. “Working with producer Bryan Lenox on this Christmas album was a huge honor, and I am thrilled with the combination of nostalgia, festive fun and originality that shines in this six song EP.”

A Merry Little Christmas (Erica Lane Music) is available now wherever music is sold, including iTunes, Rhapsody and Amazon.com. For more information, visit www.EricaLane.com.

Congratulations to Arise: The Live Worship Experience from William McDowell which debuts atop the Billboard Top Gospel Charts this week. The album also enters at #13 on the Independent Albums Charts and #63 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. Le’Andria Johnson‘s The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson moves to the #2 position on this week’s charts. Uncommon Me from Isaac Carree jumps three places to the #3 spot followed by Kirk Franklin‘s Hello Fear which enters at the #4 position. Jessica Reedy‘s release From the Heart rounds out the week’s top five albums. In other chart news, Maurette Brown Clark‘s The Sound of Victory debuts at #7 while It’s My Time, the new release from The Nevels Sisters leaps thirty places to #10.

The rest of the Top 10:
6 | Kierra Sheard – Free
7 | Maurette Brown Clark – The Sound of Victory
8 | WOW Gospel 2011
9 | Lecrae – Rehab
10 | Nevels Sisters – It’s My Time

In the world of radio, “I Need Your Glory” from Earnest Pugh spends its eighth consecutive week at the top of the radio charts. Isaac Carree‘s “In The Middle” moves to the #2 spot while “Spiritual” from Donald Lawrence & Company takes the #3 position. Yolanda Adams “Be Still” moves to the #4 spot while “I Smile” from Kirk Franklin rounds out the week’s top five songs.

Talk about a sister act! As the popular three-time Grammy® award-winning Gospel duo, “Mary Mary,” Erica and Tina Campbell are busy career women touring the country, promoting their sixth album, “Something Big” and walking Hollywood red carpets. More than that, they’re sisters and mothers who strive to balance hectic careers with growing families. Now, WE tv has greenlit a brand-new original series, tentatively titled MARY MARY, that follows the sisters in their daily lives as they work to do it all. The series premieres Thursday, March 29th at 9pm ET/PT with eight, hour-long episodes.

Music is a family business for the Campbell sisters: Erica’s husband, Warryn, is the group’s producer and Tina’s husband, Teddy, is the drummer in Jay Leno’s band. Outside of the recording studio, both ladies struggle to balance family life — a challenge all on its own. Erica and Warryn are expecting their third child in February, and Tina and Teddy are raising a blended family of four. The sisters also have a very large, extended family of seven siblings to deal with — one of which is the group’s stylist — and their parents, who have been married and divorced three times, and now currently separated. When it comes to finding harmony, signing’s the easy part!

Mary Mary is produced for WE tv by eOne Televison, executive produced by Tara Long, John Morayniss and Eric Hoberman. Kate Farrell serves as the executive producer for WE tv.

About WE tv: WE tv (www.wetv.com) is the women’s network that showcases an unfiltered, modern view of family life. The original programming presents stories from a woman’s perspective and features celebrities and personalities audiences can relate to and embrace. The network’s slate of original series, including the hit shows Braxton Family Values, Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?, Bridezillas and My Fair Wedding with David Tutera, underscore WE tv’s brand position and tagline, Life As WE Know It, which signifies the connection women share based on similar life experiences during life’s defining moments – like getting married, raising a family, dealing with sibling rivalry, and making ends meet. Owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc., WE tv is available in over 76 million homes and is available in HD and on demand.

PATH MEGAzine announced to its readers this week that e-blasts, website banners, newsletter banners, article postings will be on sale for the observance of Thanksgiving and Black Friday.  The sale will last from Monday, November 21st – Tuesday, November 29th.  For all those on a budget looking to advertise, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to reach the masses.  Prices are reduced by up to 50%.  All Path Wear T-Shirts in the PATH STORE are reduced to $15.  

Email pathmagazine@hotmail.com or Call 713-516-6555 or 1888-908-PATH to place your order.  View the flyer below for more details, and click here for Advertising reach and descriptions. 

NOTE: All online banners during this sale will stay up for 30 days on our website!

Dr. Cornel West is leaving his post as a professor of Princeton University to follow what he believes God is leading him to do.

West is a 1973 graduate of Harvard University and starting 2012 will be a Professor at Union Theological Seminary, where he will teach Religious Philosophy and Christian Practice. West is known for his combination of political and moral insight and criticism and his contribution to the post-1960s civil rights movement.

Dr. West has said:
 “Owing to my family, church, and the black social movements of the 1960s”, he says, “I arrived at Harvard unashamed of my African, Christian, and militant de-colonized outlooks. More pointedly, I acknowledged and accented the empowerment of my black styles, mannerisms, and viewpoints, my Christian values of service, love, humility, and struggle, and my anti-colonial sense of self-determination for oppressed people and nations around the world.”

Most recently West is known for his criticisms of President Barack Obama. Cornel West and famed PBS host Tavis Smiley launched a nation-wide poverty tour in August to raise awareness of the poverty situation affecting America.

Over the weekend, Theta Mu Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity honored Grammy Award winning producer, composer and recording artist Donald Lawrence at its Black and Gold Ball at the Double Tree Hotel in Alsip, IL. The ceremony also honored blues great Lonnie Brooks, Marshall Thompson of the Chi-Lites, lyric soprano Jonita Lattimore and iconic jazz/blues guitarist Buddy Guy.

Lawrence is best known for his #1 gospel radio hits “Encourage Yourself,” “Back II Eden” and his current Top 5 smash, “Spiritual.” The bass heavy groove is even winning fans in the Fourth Estate. The New York Times pop critic Ben Ratliff calls it a masterpiece. “The song builds a tower,” he wrote in a recent review. “The last two minutes become breathtaking: the shifting harmony, and Ms. McAllister-Dyke’s hollering give it nearly gravitational force.”

The song hails from Lawrence’s recently released #1 CD, “YRM: Your Righteous Mind“ (Verity Gospel Music Group). The new album blends the classicism of traditional gospel music and soulful grooves with uplifting, messages of self-affirmation and practical exercises of faith. Among the collection’s highlights is the upbeat mantra “YRM (Your Righteous Mind)” featuring Dorinda Clark Cole, the smooth “We Agree” with Israel Houghton and “Through The Fire,” a rousing makeover of Chaka Khan’s 1984 hit. “This project really doesn’t differ from my past ones,” Lawrence says. “I want to continue to teach, through song, spiritual principles and laws based on scriptures.”

The Black and Gold Ball 2011 took place Saturday at The Double Tree Hotel, 5000 W. 127th Street in Alsip, IL.

Visit www.tmlcf.com for more information.

The funeral of rapper Heavy D reportedly will be streamed LIVE. The service will take place Friday, November 18, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. EST.

Gospel artists Yolanda Adams and Kim Burrell are both slated to give musical tributes to the Rapper. Singers Anthony Hamilton and Johnny Gill will also pay tributes.

Heavy D died Tuesday, November 8 in Los Angeles, CA at age 44. Services will be held at Grace Baptist Church, One Grace Plaza, 52 South Sixth Avenue (between first and second streets) Mount Vernon, New York.

To view the live stream Click Here.

Heavy D’s family have requested that, in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Heavy D and Xea Myers Fund. Donations may be sent to the following address:

C/O JP Morgan Chase
726 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10085
Checks payable to: The Heavy D and Xea Myers Fund

J. Moss readies for the release of his new album V4: ‘The Other Side of Victory’ early 2012.

The new song ‘Good and Bad’ is the second single off the album that J.Moss has released.

Click Here to hear J. Moss talk about the new album. You can listen to the single ‘Good and Bad’ below with the lyrics.

LYRICS:

You love me through my good –You love me through my bad
You love me through my good –You love me through my bad
You didn’t erase my future because of my past
I’m glad You loved me through my good & bad

You keep on loving me …
——————————————————-
highlight lead vocal lyrics:

Every blessing and request that You’ve granted Lord
You could’ve withheld but mercy intervened
Through the rebellion — Through all of my short-comings
(This is my favorite right here)
You keep on loving me — You keep on loving me — You keep right on loving me
Through the good and the bad — You never stop loving me
What You are to me — No man could ever be
You see through every mistake — Through every stumble
You prove to Your children — You’ll always be there
Through every slip — Through all of my issues
You could’ve been finished — You could’ve been gone
But you put up with me — Kept on teaching me — Kept on loving me — Yesssss
What I love about You is Your love runs deep
You gave Your life for a wretch like me
Who else would’ve done that — Who else could do that
Nobody but Jesus — Nobody but Jesus

(through all my good) & my bad
I’m glad You loved me through my GOOD & BAD

GRAMMY ® recognized artists Matthew West and Mandisa will ring in the holiday season with a special evening of Christmas music as part of “The Heart of Christmas Tour.” The shows will hit around 12 markets in the month of December, a full list of events are listed below. The evening of music will include Christmas songs from both artists, including a duet of “Christmas Makes Me Cry,” found on both of their holiday projects.

GRAMMY ® nominee Matthew West debuted his first, full-length holiday project on, October 4, titled The Heart of Christmas. The 12 song record features an equal mix of Christmas classics and original holiday tunes penned by West. In addition to Mandisa, fellow GRAMMY ® winners and nominees join West on the album including Vince Gill in “Leaving Heaven” and Amy Grant on “Give This Christmas Away.”

The Heart of Christmas movie will premiere on gmc Sunday, December 4 at 7 p.m. ET. Inspired by the true story of the Locke family and West’s hit song “One Last Christmas,” THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS tells the story of one family’s quest for their seriously ill son to experience an early and magical Christmas and how an entire community came together to make it possible. The Locke family’s journey and desire to cherish every moment would change their lives as well as millions around the world forever.

Mandisa debuted her own full-length Christmas record in 2008 titled, It’s Christmas. The album features such Christmas classics as “It’s Christmas,” “Joy to the World” and “Little Drummer Boy,” along with special duets with West and Michael W. Smith.

World Vision will also serve as a sponsor for “The Heart of Christmas Tour.” World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. For more on World Vision, go to www.worldvision.org.

More information on Matthew West:
GRAMMY ® nominated singer/songwriter Matthew West’s discography includes acclaimed releases: Happy (2003), History (2005) and Something to Say (2008). His latest studio album, The Story of Your Life, was inspired by 10,000 stories from every state in the U.S. and 20 countries. The album released on October 5, 2010, and garnered attention from CNN Online, Fox News, Billboard Magazine, Country Weekly, American Songwriter and more. The Story of Your Life gave West the largest street week debut of his career selling over 10,000 units the first week landing at No. 3 on Christian Soundscan, and No. 41 on the Billboard Top 200. In conjunction with Harvest House Publishers, West teamed up with best selling author Angela Thomas for “The Story of Your Life” book. The Heart of Christmas marks West’s first full-length Christmas project. A multiple ASCAP “Song of the Year” winner, West has had four No. 1 radio hits including his latest, “Strong Enough.” His songwriting credits include Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diamond Rio and more. www.matthewwest.com, twitter.com/matthew_west

More information on Mandisa:
Two time GRAMMY ® nominee Mandisa’s discography includes True Beauty, It’s Christmas, Freedom and now What If We Were Real on Sparrow Records. The season 5 American Idol finalist is also an author with the release of “Idoleyes: My New Perspective on Faith, Fat & Fame.” Mandisa was one of only 26 Idols selected to open Walt Disney World’s American Idol Experience in early 2009. Known for her transparency, Mandisa has been seen on Today, CNN Online, E! News Live, EXTRA as well as the pages of US Weekly and People discussing her weight loss journey. She is also a multiple GMA Dove Award nominee, and earned her first No. 1 radio hit this year with “Stronger.” www.mandisaofficial.com, twitter.com/mandisaofficial

According to our friends at GospelPundit.com, Myron Butler is back, but this time not with his group, Levi. Don’t worry –nothing bad happened… It’s just a worship album with a different direction.

The album, titled Worship, was recorded live in Fort Worth, TX earlier this year. It hits stores on January 24, 2012 and, based on Myron’s incredible songwriting/production (he’s worked with Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp and dozens more), this project promises to be a winner.

The project’s lead single, “Bless the Lord,” continues to climb the radio airplay charts. You can listen to the song below.