Tonight wraps up the multi-platinum selling and GRAMMY ® award winning artist Steven Curtis Chapman’s first “Songs & Stories” tour with friends Andrew Peterson and Josh Wilson. After performing in front of sold out crowds across the country, the Show HOPE sponsored tour continues to be in high demand and as a result Chapman will launch a spring leg of the intimate tour. 

During this unique writer’s night, Chapman performs songs from his latest album re:creation and more, including his most recent No. 1 hit “Do Everything.” Chapman also opens up about the stories that inspired him to write the songs that have impacted lives around the world. 

“What a night! Having been in the business for 18 years, I’ve come to appreciate a well-crafted evening of music,” exclaims CAA Agent Bryan Myers. “Hit songs, superb musicianship, tasteful instrumentation (not to mention instruments you’ve never seen before), and artist collaboration from beginning to end. This is what music, community, and storytelling is all about. Would see it again in a heartbeat!” 

“Steven’s show was one of the most creative and fun evenings of worship I have experienced in a long time,” says Lowell MacGregor from the Lowell MacGregor Group. “This show combined an amazing musical history of one of the most prolific musicians in CCM with a healthy helping of his new material interspersed with fun forays into up and coming musical talents and fresh musical perspectives.” 

Dan Fife with Awakening Events agrees, “Watching these world class musicians collaborate from the first note to the last has been an incredible treat. Steven, Andrew and Josh come at you right away to let you know it’s going to be a special and unique evening. With the guys playing for each other all night long and the ‘music store’ of instruments up on stage, the band trades off on ukuleles, banjos, guitars, pump organ, hammer dulcimer, upright bass and others constantly. It’s such a fun night and really captures the audience.” 

Additionally, Chapman, Peterson and Wilson showcase their diverse musical talents by playing an extensive variety of instruments (over 47 on stage) making it a night of nonstop musicianship and entertainment. 

Fans are also invited to a special pre-show event, “Soundcheck and Stories.” Two hours prior to each show, Chapman connects with his fans in a personal Q&A, performs an exclusive acoustic song or two and gives each fan a collector’s edition autographed poster. 

For more date and ticket information about Steven Curtis Chapman and the upcoming “Songs & Stories” tour, please visit http://stevencurtischapman.com/. 

About Steven Curtis Chapman: 
Steven Curtis Chapman has sold over ten million records including two RIAA certified platinum albums and eight RIAA certified gold albums. Along with his five GRAMMY awards, Chapman has won an American Music Award, has recorded 46 No. 1 US radio hits and been awarded 56 Dove Awards, more than any other artist to date. Since his recording career began in 1987, Chapman has recorded seventeen projects with Sparrow Records. He has performed at the White House and has appeared on multiple national programs via CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, CMT, FOX News, the Hallmark Channel and E!, including Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Fox&Friends, Huckabee, CBS Sunday Morning, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and more. Chapman and his wife Mary Beth created Show HOPE in 2001 after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry’s goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to more than 2,700 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world. 

About Andrew Peterson: 
Andrew Peterson is a man of many talents with a successful recording and songwriting career, as well asbeing an award-winning author and the host of a highly popular creative community known as the Rabbit Room ( www.RabbitRoom.com). Peterson’s current project Counting Stars debuted at #1 on iTunes, and #6 on Billboard. His single “Dancing in the Minefields” reached the Top 10 on the Christian AC chart, while the video for the song has received well over500,000 views online. Peterson won the 2010 Christy Award for Young Adult Fiction for book two in the four-part Wingfeather Saga series, while book three, The Monster In The Hollows, released in May and is already being hailed as a classic. In September, Peterson will host Hutchmoot, the second annual Rabbit Room conference for lovers of art, songs, and stories—an event that sold out in six hours! In December, he will embark on his 12th annual Christmas tour, Behold the Lamb of God, which is an annual sell-out at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. For more information on Peterson please visit www.Andrew-Peterson.com. 

About Josh Wilson: 
Singer/songwriter Josh Wilson grew up the son of a preacher in Lubbock, Texas. He signed to Sparrow Records in 2006 and released his major label debut, “Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup” in 2008. The album was met with critical acclaim, hailed by Christian Retailing as “the future of Christian pop” and named among the Top Ten Best Albums of 2008 by GospelMusicChannel.com. Since then he has released numerous No. 1 hits including “Savior Please” and the powerful track “Before the Morning,” which recently landed the No. 4 spot on Billboard’s Year-End Christian Songs chart, while also releasing a sophomore album, “Life Is Not A Snapshot” and a compilation self-titled record. This year he released his third studio album “See You,” which was praised by critics across the board. Wilson also attracted national media attention with a breakout viral video when he had travelers at the Newark airport breakout in “Hey Jude” during a 6-hour security lockdown. For more information on Josh Wilson, visit www.joshwilsonmusic.com.

The Awakening Of Le’Andria Johnsonfrom Le’Andria Johnson returns to the top of the Billboard Top Gospel Charts this week, holding this position for six of the last eight weeks. The album also enters at #19 on the Independent Albums Charts and #89 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. Kierra Sheard‘s latest release, Free, moves to the #2 position on this week’s charts. Jessica Reedy‘s From The Heart holds to the #3 spot followed by Isaac Carree‘s Uncommon Me which enters at the #4 position. Kirk Franklin‘s Hello Fear rounds out the week’s top five albums. In other chart news, Preshea Hilliard‘s Live Out Loudre-enters the charts at #8 while The Next Dimension from GI also re-enters the charts at #16.

The rest of the Top 10: 
6 | Lecrae – Rehab
7 | WOW Gospel 2011
8 | Preashea Hilliard – Live Out Loud
9 | CoCo Brother – Gospel Mix V
10 | 116 Clique – Man Up  

In the world of radio, “I Need Your Glory” from Earnest Pugh spends its sixth 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. 

Mathew Knowles and Music World Gospel announce the release of Brian Courtney Wilson’s sophomore CD, So Proud in stores January 31, 2012. Wilson’s new single, “So Proud” is impacting gospel radio at November 7.

“Brian has been consistent and diligent with his music, ministry and artistry,” said Mathew Knowles, founder, President and CEO of Music World Entertainment. He has a great spirit, great work ethic and deserves all the great things that have come his way. In So Proud, Brian has another superb CD project.”

Wilson’s new single, “So Proud,” is receiving rave reviews at gospel radio. “Beautiful single! Enjoyed the lyrics and definitely hit potential,” said Skip Dillard, Operation Managers for WBLS-FM/WLIB-AM (New York City). Ace Alexander, National Music Director and award-winning radio personality of the Sheridan Gospel Network of Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation said, “Brian Courtney Wilson is one of the most soulful and heartfelt inspirational singers you will ever hear. His new single, ‘So Proud’ reminds you of the power of love, family, home and a God that will never forsake us. ‘So Proud’ will make you feel so good, you’ll listen again and again.” And Publisher and Editor of The Belle Report, Sheilah Belle says, “So Proud’ is simply Soul Food for your heart, mind and soul! It has all of the ingredients for a Gospel hit while also reaching music lovers outside of the Gospel Box. The beat is contagious, the lyrics tell a heart felt story and Brian Courtney Wilson’s voice makes this song flow like butter!”

Touted as one of gospel music’s contemporary break-through artists of 2010/2011, the three-time Gospel Music Association Dove Award nominee has spent part of the year in the studio working on his new CD. Wilson wrote a majority of the songs on the new project and serves as co-producer on the album. Wilson believes God gave him “So Proud” when he was feeling especially discouraged and needed to remember the way to go. Several months after writing the song, Brian played it for the phenomenal multiple GRAMMY®, Dove and Stellar Award-winning producer Aaron Lindsey (Israel Haughton, Marvin Sapp), who caught the vision of the tune and agreed to produce it. Aaron also graciously allowed Wilson to participate in and share credit for the song’s production. The result is a feel good blend of inspiration, heart and soul rooted in the Christian church paradigm that has always been a cornerstone in Brian’s life. “‘So Proud,’ is about remembering…remembering the reasons why you should keep going when the days seem the hardest…remembering your value when people cast you aside…remembering the people who did not give up on you when you felt like giving up on yourself…and most of all, it’s about remembering that the reason we have so much to remember is because God has always been there to make a way through the people in our lives, says Wilson. “Proverbs 22:6 says train up a child in the way that he should go and when is old he will not depart from it.”

Wilson’s inaugural CD, Just Love, entered at #2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart and #6 on Billboard’s Top Christian Album chart. The CD has remained at #1 on Christian Music Trade Association’s (CMTA) Inspirational Album chart for 52 weeks. Since its release in June 2009, the CD held steady in the Top 20 on the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart for over 90 weeks—longer than any other CD title on Billboard’s Top 50 that year [2010].

As a fitting follow-up, the Music World Gospel relaunch, Just Love Deluxe Edition, re-entered on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album chart at #3. Just Love made music chart history; Wilson was the only artist to have four active singles [“All I Need,” “Already Here,” “Just Love,” and “Awesome God”] on Billboard’s Gospel charts, and all have peaked in the Top 5, 10 and 15 positions [2009/2010]. His first single release, “All I Need,” was the longest-running current single at that time, charting 92 weeks on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Song chart.

In 2009, “All I Need” was named Song of the Year at the Mississippi Gospel Music Awards, which also saluted producer Stan Jones as Producer of the Year for his work on the project. In 2010, Wilson received two Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award nominations for New Artist of the Year and Urban Recorded Song of the Year for “Just Love,” which was followed in 2011 with his third nomination for Urban Recorded Song of the Year for “All I Need.” Also in 2010, he was nominated by the Atlanta Gospel Music Choice Awards for Song of the Year for “All I Need” and he was also included in The Root.com list of 100 Young Achievers and Pace Setters. In September 2010, Wilson received the Gospel Music Heritage Month Rising Artist Award. In early 2011, Wilson received a nomination for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Album of the Year (Traditional and Contemporary). God is real to Brian Courtney Wilson. “Every good thing that’s happened to me has happened because of God’s favor and grace in my life,” he says. “Even the stuff that He’s calling me to do, I can’t do it on my own. I can work as hard as I can, but ultimately God provides the increase.”

TODAY!  Kirk Franklin is taking his “Fearless” tour to Houston.  Tickets are buy one get one FREE at the Arena Theatre Box office!  The concert takes place tonight November 4, 2011.  On tour with Kirk is 2011 “Sunday’s Best” winner Amber Bullock, Isaac Carree, Jason Nelson, Deon Kipping and many others.  

PATH received a special call from Greg Lyons of Uncle G Promotions and Entertainment while Kirk was riding around in the car with Lyons.  Kirk wanted to tell PATH about the Houston only 2 for 1 ticket promotion! 

If you’ve never seen Kirk Franklin LIVE in concert you are missing out!  Kirk, Gospel’s best selling artist has been in the Top 10 for months with his latest release “Hello Fear.”  To get the special promotion you must go to the Arena Theater Box office.  Mention the Keyword “HEART” as this concert is being promoted by The American Heart Association.

Here are some more tour dates for you..  

CCM artist, Laura Kaczor, continues to garner strong support from Christian radio as her latest single Yours Forever was one of the top Most Added on Billboard’s Soft AC/Inspirational chart for three consecutive weeks.  Kaczor has been connecting with key radio stations and programmers across the country and recently visited with KYCC in Stockton, CA.  She recorded an interview with the station’s Music Director and Morning Show Host, Theresa Schaad.  You can hear Kaczor’s interview here,  http://bit.ly/teO4js.  Kaczor’ previous single Alive In You peaked at #17 on Billboard’s Soft AC/Inspirational chart. 

Besides being a Top 20 recording artist, Kaczor is an inspirational speaker and worship leader who has started her own LifeThirst ministry for teens and Lift Up U-niversity for teen girls, and both ministries are currently being booked across the country.  During Kaczor’s California trip she ministered at three key events on the west coast, as the worship leader at a women’s conference in Concord, CA and as the guest speaker and worship leader at two teen events in Brentwood, CA.   At both events Kaczor was met with standing ovations as her ministry touched those in attendance.  The week before the California trip, Kaczor ministered at two secular high schools in the Decatur, AL area to give the churched and unchurched messages of hope and inspiration, which led to fourteen students giving their lives to Christ. 

For more information about Kaczor’s music and ministries please visit www.laurakaczor.com, or www.facebook.com/laurakaczormusic.

Multi-Grammy Award-winning My Block/Columbia recording artists Mary Mary have had an amazing whirlwind 2011 thus far. This year saw the release of their critically acclaimed sixth studio album, Something Big; they garnered the prestigious ASCAP Golden Note Award, a top BET Award, and were recently nominated for double Soul Train Awards for their chart topping single “Walking;” they completed a highly successful tour with co-headliners Bebe & CeCe Winans; and announced exciting new partnerships with The American Red Cross and Pillsbury; all in addition to several high-profile national television appearances. To add yet another dash of excitement to this year’s major successes, the inspirational duo has just announced their “Have a Mary Mary Christmas” Tour, kicking off December 8th in Austin, Texas. The opening act will be R&B acappella group Committed, the second-season winner of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” reality competition.

Something Big continues to receive critical acclaim garnering 6 top Stellar Award nominations. Something Big received nods for CD of the Year and Contemporary CD of the Year; while their hit single,“Walking,” was recognized in the Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year. The ladies were also nominated for Artist of the Year, Group/Duo of the Year and Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year.

The 27th Annual Stellar Awards, gospel music’s biggest night, will be held January 14, 2012 in Nashville, and is set to air in national syndication from January 21-February 26 2012 on The Gospel Music Channel and local markets around the country.

Mary Mary’s Christmas album, A Mary Mary Christmas, was released back in 2006 to rave reviews. The album boasts a beautiful blend of traditional Christmas classics along with original material, including songs highlighting the uniqueness of Christmas on the West Coast, such as “California Christmas.” The album quickly became a seasonal favorite, but fan appreciation will be taken to another level with the live performance element, showcasing how sisters Erica and Tina Campbell celebrate the Christmas season.

The “Have a Mary Mary Christmas” Tour will focus primarily on the Southwest and the West Coast, hitting major cities such as Austin, Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Seattle. The tour’s December 8th kick-off comes right on the heels of the Do Something Big initiative – a contest hosted by Mary Mary, encouraging churches across the U.S. to “do something big” in and for their communities. The contest winners will be announced on December 6th. The winners will be treated to a full Mary Mary concert at their church and a special breakfast for their community. The contest was created in conjunction with Mary Mary’s recent partnership with Pillsbury to launch new frozen breakfast products, and their new role as the voices behind the catchy Pillsbury jingle, “Rhythm of a New Morning.”

Mary Mary has many blessings to celebrate this holiday season. The duo just taped an incomparable performance of “Optimistic,” the Sounds of Blackness classic, for BET’s upcoming broadcast of ‘Black Girls Rock’ (airing November 6th). They also appeared on ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ in early October, discussing the Pillsbury partnership and the Do Something Big contest. In addition to their professional accomplishments, Erica and her husband, producer/songwriter Warryn Campbell, are expecting their third child in the new year. This tour is sure to embody the joy, spirit and excitement that families all over the world experience during the Christmas season. Don’t miss the opportunity to catch Mary Mary singing classic holiday favorites and exciting new material live. The tour dates will range from December 8th – December 18th. For more information on the tour, please visit ilovemarymary.com.

Tour Dates:

December 8: Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater

December 9: Houston, TX– Arena Theater

December 10: Dallas, TX– Winspear Opera House at AT&T Performing Arts Center

December 11: Oklahoma City, OK – Douglass High School Auditorium

December 13: Phoenix, AZ – Celebrity Theatre

December 15: Las Vegas, NV – The Pearl

December 16: Los Angeles, CA – Saban Theater

December 17: Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre

December 18: Seattle, WA – Admiral Theatre

Gospel Music’s most elite are expected to join Dr. Dorinda Clark Cole as she presents the Los Angeles Regional Singers & Musicians Conference. The conference is scheduled for December 1 – 4, 2011 at The Tabernacle and will close out with a Red Carpet Finale Concert presenting Lifetime Achievement awards to Pastor Andraé Crouch and Dr. Rodena Preston Williams.

Dr. Dorinda Clark Cole’s Singers & Musicians Conference, is designed to provide delegates with mind renewing instruction and to empower and equip God’s minstrels with the tools necessary to increase their effectiveness. There will be three days of workshops covering various topics; morning and evening worship services; an urban music café and a new artist showcase. Those confirmed to participate include Missy Elliot (Atlantic Records), Tammi Haddon, Wess Morgan (BowTie World Music), Phil Thornton (Ten2One Entertainment), Durward Davis, Kelly Price, Monica Bacon (Sovereign Agency), Twinkie Clark, and Karen Clark Sheard to name a few.

The workshops will be followed by a red carpet evening of celebration, honoring some of Gospel Music’s most accomplished artists such as seven-time Grammy Award winning Andraé Crouch, Dr. Rodena Preston Williams, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark and The Clark Sisters. Surprise celebrity guests are prepared to render musical tributes in honor of the Clark Sisters. Among the invited guests to attend the night of celebration are Mary Mary, Flex Alexander, Shanice, Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson, Kirk Franklin, CeCe & Bebe Winans, Donnie McClurkin and many more.

For registration details and information visit: http://www.losangelessmc.com/

About Dr. Dorinda Clark Cole –  Dorinda has been evangelizing and managing hundreds of speaking engagements annually for over twenty years, along with her singing career and being a wife and mother. She ministers nationally as well as internationally in countries such as England, Japan, Germany, France, Korea and South Africa. She made history in South Africa, having been the first woman to minister in the pulpit to over 4,000 people. She will co-host the 2012 Stellar Awards, hosts syndicated Gospel Radio Show “Serving Up Soul” and television program “The Dorinda Show” on the TCT Network, is a guest judge for Verizon’s “How Sweet The Sound” national choir competition, former spokes model for Donna Vinci Clothing and her “Rose Collection” is now distributed by Terra Mina Fashions. She has since partnered with MR. SONG, an immaculate fashion designer of Detroit, in creating The Bloom Collection, a couture collection of hat adorning accessories. She is also the Founder and CEO of Lifeline Productions Inc.

About Lifeline Productions, Inc. –  The mission of Lifeline Productions, Inc. is to identify and promote new and developing talent within the Gospel music genre. The Lifeline Productions, Inc. utilizes the vehicle of The Singers & Musicians Conference and The Singers & Musicians Regional conference which are designed to offer instructional tools, networking opportunities, and authentic business support to singers and musicians from all walks of life in all aspects of music as it relates to ministry.

Well known for soaring background vocals, NAKITTA FOXX steps out into the spotlight with her first solo release, LET US WORSHIP.  An exclusive digital release, LET US WORSHIP will be available Tuesday, November 1^st.   

Gospel music enthusiasts are familiar with Foxx’s amazing voice.  As part of the award-winning famed group, the Kurt Carr Singers, Foxx provided the stirring lead for Kurt Carr’s popular song “God Blocked It.” 

Her debut offers listeners a worshipful experience; the 11-song project is a wide-range of styles that are all backed by Foxx’s dynamic vocals.  Known for her jazzy and versatile style, LET US WORSHIP showcases more of what Foxx is capable of.  It transcends any one genre and fans of all kinds of music will find something special on LET US WORSHIP.  From the soulful “Won’t Ever Change,” to the rocking exuberant praise of “Can’t Tell It All,” it is clear Foxx has range. Fellow indie artist Lowell Pye makes an appearance on the captivating duet “Make Me Over,” while the traditional bounce of “Running For Jesus,” defies any listener to sit still and the title ballad “Let Us Worship” is absolute worship. 

The lead single off the project, “More Of You,” is a beautiful song that speaks to an urgent need and a search for God’s presence.  The passion of the song translates as Foxx’s total devotion that is priceless for the listener.   

Released independently by Walker Davis Entertainment, LET US WORSHIP will be available online November 1^st via iTunes, Amazon.com and CDBaby.

Connect with Nakitta:

www.nakittafoxx.com
http://www.facebook.com/nakittacleggfoxx 
http://twitter.com/NakittaFoxx