Le’Andria Johnson Talks Life After Sunday Best

and How She Overcame Her Breaking Point

PATH catches up with Le’Andria Johnson at the Gospel Music Workshop of America (G.M.W.A.) where she tore the house up with her hit song ‘Jesus’.

Not many media outlets have got to speak to the soul-stirring Gospel artist since she was crowned Sunday Best on season 3 of BETs critically acclaimed show.

A mother of 3, Le’Andria talks openly about juggling motherhood and her now budding singing career. Johnson opens up to a Billboard top #1 debut with her album “The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson.” But before Sunday Best and before the #1 debut there was trying times for singer.

Born to Bishop Gregory & Sharon Johnson, Le’Andria was raised around the church. As worship leader of HQ Ministries in Altamonte Springs, Florida, Le’Andria Johnson was a long way from super-stardom 2 short years ago.

We asked Le’Andria about the now viral YouTube video showing her breaking down at a church service amongst all the pressure of being in the public eye. Le’Andria graciously explains what helped her get out of that trying period of time, and reveals the things that helped re-focus her career.

Tune in now to the PATH exclusive video interview with Music World Gospel recording artist Le’Andria Johnson!

Gospel music’s greatest living organist, Moses Tyson Jr., is scheduled to make his first ever appearance on the Trinity Broadcasting Network’s “Praise The Lord” program this Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 10 p.m. EST.  Tyson will perform songs from his latest CD “Music Remastered & Sacred Organ” (Tymo Gospel Music). The project just picked up three Stellar Award nominations in the categories of Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year, Instrumental Gospel CD of the Year and Special Event CD of the Year. Fans can vote for Tyson by logging onto www.thestellarawards.com and casting their votes.

Tyson was invited by TBN host Clifton Davis to perform and it’s believed that this will be the first time anyone has played the organ on “Praise The Lord” in the show’s three-decade history. Tyson will perform four songs, including one featuring his daughter, Tiffany L. Tyson. Father and daughter will perform “Redeemed,” a song they recorded on the best-selling CD, “The Gospel Music Celebration Part 1: Tribute To Bishop G.E. Patterson” (World Class Records).

Tyson is also preparing for the release of his latest CD production, “Tribute To Bishop G.E. Patterson 2” (Tymo Gospel Music), that will be released on October 4th. The exhilarating musical celebration of the life of the beloved leader of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) also features the last live recordings by the late Bishop Walter L. Hawkins and the late Reverend Timothy Wright. The set also features performances from Marvin Winans, Ruby Terry, Edwin Hawkins and Bishop Albert Jamison.

The Hammond B3 has spiced up some of the greatest pop records of all time, from
Spooner Oldham’s spooky fingering on Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman” to Billy Preston’s psychedelic pounding on “Will It Go Round In Circles?” Although, the self-taught Tyson began his career playing on a sessions with his cousin, funk legend Sly Stone, he’s distinguished himself as gospel music’s leading organist over the last three decades.  He began his career under the management of Suzanne de Passe, who brought the Jackson 5 to Motown, and recorded for Liberty/EMI Records on a roster alongside Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton. He returned to his roots in the `90s and has been home ever since keeping traditional gospel music and the church organ alive. His fans range from former President Bill Clinton and Rev. Jesse Jackson to everyday church folks. Now, the iconic Hammond brand has enlisted Tyson as its spokesman for its new line of products targeted to the church audience such as the new Hammond Mini-B organ.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW @ www.misfittour.net  

MISFIT is a movement that Pastor Chris Durso conceived, to revolutionize America’s communities of all cultures, ethnicities and socio-economic and academic statuses, by challenging and equipping youth and young adults across the nation to courageously pursue Godliness in the face of all that seems and often is uncomfortable, unfamiliar, unattractive and unpopular.  MISFIT Tour 2011 will bring excitement, inspiration and a strong transformative and rallying message to America’s youth and young adults through media tours, inner-city civic engagement and outreach and dynamic musical performances that will engage any audience.

With branding partner designbySPIRIT (DBS) by their side, Xist and UpLift! have many surprises planned for MISFIT Tour 2011 attendees that will provide a uniquely interactive experience online and at each event.  For more information on the tour and how promoters can bring the experience to their city or sponsor the tour nationwide, visit www.misfittour.net to get full tour schedule and tickets!

About Xist

Xist Music is the recording label of Xist Worldwide, which produces innovative projects from our award-winning artists, who are leaders in the inspirational urban music industry. Xist Worldwide was founded by Terverius Black and Sean Simmonds to become the leading producer of inspirational urban entertainment, lifestyle and media content. With properties in music, film, publishing and other lifestyle projects, Xist Worldwide acquires, produces, markets and distributes inspirational urban content.  Visit Xist atwww.xistmusic.com for more information and follow them at www.twitter.com/xist_music. 

About The UpLift! Group

The UpLift! Group is a management, marketing consulting and coaching firm that partners with individuals and organizations to help them See their vision, Soar towards it and Succeed at bringing it to pass. A ministry-focused firm, UpLift! develops and strive to provide the best in spiritual and personal development resources and lifestyle products in partnership with a stellar portfolio of clients including: GRAMMY® nominated Christian Hip Hop artists Da’ T.R.U.T.H. and The Ambassador, award-winning producer and Pop artist JR, Essence bestselling author and Certified Empowerment Coach Felicia Scott, dynamic spoken-word artist Oraia, Lamp Mode recording artist shai linne and Thomas Nelson author and Women of Faith speaker Kim Cash Tate.  Visit UpLift! atwww.upliftgroup.com and follow them at www.twitter.com/UpLiftGroup. 

About Pastor Chris Durso

Pastor of Youth Explosion ministries of Christ Tabernacle church, Chris Durso reaches hundreds of youth and young adults each week through the teaching of the gospel. His creativity and ability to forecast trends allows him to lead and speak to this generation in a way they understand, while at the same time elevating them from where they are.  On a mission to “raise up spiritually healthy & mature teenagers so when they are out of high school they will be ready for the world,” Pastor Chris’ calling is to help change people’s perception on life so they can see that God is freedom and not religion or law.  Visit Pastor Chris at www.youthexplosion.com and follow him at www.twitter.com/ChrisDurso.

Coming this October, the Church of God in Christ will host its 104th Holy Convocation in St. Louis, Missouri, and its expected to be the biggest convention of 2011 in the city.

The St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission says the 2010 convocation attracted 35,000 attendees that spent upwards of $35 million during the eight-day event. This year’s attendance is expected to supersede numbers in the past, positively impacting the local economy.

Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. explains that this convention will be an opportunity for the members of COGIC to “set down our buckets to receive the latter rain of inspiration, instruction and the work of ministry.” The convocation is a time for the delegates to experience great speakers and some of the greatest Gospel music singers in the nation.

The official Holy Convocation website has just launched and includes up-to-date information about the 104th Holy Convocation, including a list of events, speakers and musical artists for the week.

The event will take place Oct. 31-Nov 9 this fall.

Visit www.cogic.org and click on the Holy Convocation banner for additional information.

The official Stellar Awards second & final ballot will be available for online public voting at www.thestellarawards.com starting Monday, September 19th through Monday October 17th. Your vote on the final second round will determine the four finalists for each of the Stellar Awards categories.

Many of the entries in the categories from the first ballot were tied for votes, therefore, in the interest of fairness; all of the entries in some categories are included on the second ballot. Your vote is critical in determining the Nominees for the Stellar Awards.

Important Upcoming Dates

October 29, 2011 – Live Stellar Awards Press Conference on GMC (Gospel Music Channel) to announce the 2011 – 2012 Stellar Awards Nominees for each category. The taping is free to the public. Please check www.thestellarawards.com after October 1, 2011 for details to attend.

October 29, 2011 – November 15, 2011 – Public voting for the categories of Gospel Announcer of the Year & Internet Radio Station of the Year.

January 14, 2012 – 27th Annual Stellar Awards Taping – Grand Ole Opry House Nashville, TN

Article Courtesy of The Belle Report:

Le’Andria Johnson, winner of season three of BET’s Sunday Best, has debuted at #1 with her first solo album, The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson.  Le’Andria also hit #3 on the Independent Albums chart, #21 on the Digital Albums chart and #26 on the Billboard Top 200.  Congratulations to Le’Andria Johnson!

Also making a strong debut is the Group 21:03 who debuted at #12 with their new album ‘Evolved.’

Check out the full top 10…

1 | Le’Andria Johnson – The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson…
2 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
3 | Isaac Carree – Uncommon Me
4 | WOW Gospel 2011
5 | Dorinda Clark Cole – I Survived
6 | Donald Lawrence – YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
7 | Mary Mary – Something Big
8 | Earnest Pugh – Earnestly Yours
9 | PRo – Dying to Live
10 | Marvin Sapp – Playlist: The Very Best of Marvin Sapp

The legendary Grammy Award nominated gospel singer and pastor of Toledo, Ohio’s New Bethel Church (COGIC), Dr. Rance Allen, has been nominated and approved by to the General Board of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) to succeed the late Bishop Alfred D. Knight, Jr. as the Jurisdictional Prelate of the Michigan Northwestern Harvest Jurisdiction. Following Episcopal Training at COGIC Headquarters in Memphis, TN in October 2011, Dr. Allen will be consecrated as Bishop of the 104th Holy Convocation in St. Louis, Missouri on November 7, 2011.

It’s been a year of milestones for Dr. Allen as his groundbreaking group, The Rance Allen Group, marked its 40th anniversary with the Top 10 CD/DVD, “The Live Experience II: Celebrating 40 Years of Music and Ministry” (Tyscot Records). Outside of including two medleys of their past hits, the new eleven-song set was recorded live at Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple. It’s comprised of future classics such as the first radio single, “You That I Trust,” and “Angel.” Making cameo appearances on this musical merry-go-round are Gospel’s First Lady, Shirley Caesar; veteran gospel star Vanessa Bell Armstrong; and The Christianaires’ Paul Porter. The new radio single, “Holy One,” a praise and worship ballad, is currently making its way up the gospel radio airplay charts.

The Rance Allen Group was born in their grandfather’s Monroe, MI church in the 1960s. They began recording for Stax Records in 1971 where they made a string of gritty, R&B-flavored gospel and message songs for the Gospel Truth imprint. They toured with the big R&B artists of the day such as Isaac Hayes and Barry White, and literally took the gospel to the world. From there, the group recorded for a variety of labels and scored their first #1 gospel album in 1991 with the “Phenomenon” CD that featured the crossover R&B smash, “Miracle Worker.” Allen closed out the 1990s performing in a variety of gospel-oriented touring play productions but the group signed with Tyscot Records in 2002 and kicked off a new string of hits such as “Do Your Will,” “Closest Friend,” “For Your Feet,” and the Kirk Franklin duet, “Something About The Name Jesus.”

Visit www.tyscot.com or www.theranceallengroup.com for more information.

After 50 years of being together with the Mighty Clouds of Joy,Joe Ligon and Richard Wallace have decided to pursue other avenues in the gospel music industry and will no longer be working together. The legendary lead singer, Joe Ligon, will continue touring all over the world and recording as Joe Ligon and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. All of the members – Johnny Valentine, Ron Staples, Michael McCowin, Ron Clark, Ervin Williams and Ulysses McKiver who have worked with the group for years will continue to tour with Joe.

One of the greatest gospel groups of all time, Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame Inductees, Gospel Hall of Fame Inductees, Image Award winners, 11 time Grammy Nominee and 3 time Grammy award winning Mighty Clouds of Joy have been singing and traveling for over 50 plus years. Their hits include “I been in the Storm Too Long”, “Ride the Mighty High”, “Steal Away”, “Bright Side”, “Heavy Load”, and “I’m a Living Testimony”. They have toured with the Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire, Kirk Franklin and many others.

“I wish Richard the best in whatever endeavors he chooses to embark on in the future”, said Joe Ligon. “It was time for me to take a different path in my life”.

Stryper frontman and accomplished solo artist Michael Sweet announced his departure from legendary rock band BOSTON today, in order to devote his full attention to his longstanding role as the lead vocalist and lead guitarist for multi-platinum rock outfit Stryper – a band he co-founded in 1983. Sweet joined BOSTON in 2008, sharing lead vocals and playing guitar on a headlining tour of North America, performing the band’s classic hits like “More than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind,” “Amanda” and “Don’t Look Back.”

Following the BOSTON tour, Stryper released the 2009 studio album Murder by Pride (featuring a cover of BOSTON’s “Peace of Mind”), which led to a yearlong world tour with all of the original members. In 2010, Stryper released The Covering, and another world tour recently concluded. Stryper is currently in the studio working on an untitled release for 2011, with tour dates already announced for this fall.

“My focus and my loyalty lies with Stryper, the band that I’ve committed almost thirty years of my life to,” says Sweet. “The guys in Stryper are my brothers and I’m excited about our future together. The music of BOSTON helped shape who I am as an artist, and the opportunity to be a part of their musical legacy is overwhelming. It’s been an honor to share the stage with them, and a bigger honor to call them my friends.”

In addition to the increasing demands for Stryper, Sweet has been spending some of his time off the road in Nashville, writing with A-list songwriters such as Blair Daly (Rascal Flatts, Uncle Kracker, Lynyrd Skynyrd), Luke Laird (Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw), Britton Cameron (Steel Magnolia, Lonestar, Eden’s Edge) and others.

“I’ve always loved the writing process and to be able to collaborate with some of the greatest writers in Nashville is an absolutely amazing experience for me,” explains Sweet. “I’m looking forward to many more successful trips to Music City.”

Stryper has sold more than 8 million albums worldwide. The group’s unprecedented 1986 album To Hell with the Devil went double-platinum and was named one of the “100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music” by CCM Magazine.

When Shonlock’s full-length debut release NEVERODDOREVEN (Arrow Records/Universal Music Christian Group) was released on June 21, 2011, the artist, previously best known for his ongoing gig as part of TobyMac’s Diverse City, stepped up to a mic that was all his own. With the success of his first two radio singles and an increased demand for touring, Shonlock will depart from TobyMac’s touring outfit at the end of this month to devote his full attention to his own artistry.

Shonlock’s debut single, “Something In Your Eyes,” became one of this year’s biggest radio hits, holding the #1 spot on Billboard’s CHR Chart, where it remained for seven straight weeks. The follow-up single, “Hello,” is currently #5 and climbing, and a music video will be shot in the coming weeks.

With a lengthy tour schedule for the remainder of 2011, Shonlock will next hit the road on this fall’s “Outta Space Love Tour” with Group 1 Crew, Rachael Lampa and Rapture Ruckus. He spent the summer performing at major festivals, including Creation East, Creation West, Ignite Festival, Heaven Fest and Rock the Desert.

“My band and I have been invited to a lot of festivals, and the crowds have been amazing,” says Shonlock. “It feels good to be able to share what God has given me with such large and attentive audiences. It’s fun to see the reactions people have when they finally put the face with the songs. I love it!”

The excitement about one of Christian music’s most promising new artists extends to the media, where the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. “The acclaimed choreographer (Arrested Development, Aaliyah) turned member of TobyMac’s Diverse City Band is even more talented as a solo artist, dropping one of the rap/rock scene’s most compelling concoctions this year,” said Andy Argyrakis for television network GMC’s Web site.

“If one had to name the freshest urban Christian music album so far in 2011, this one’s a lock,” said mega-site Crosswalk.com. According to TheBlackGospelBlog.com, “Shonlock may well be the breakout Christian artist of the year,” while JesusFreakHideout.com declared the songs to be “extremely creative and some of the best musical artistry that I’ve heard in a while.”

“At the end of the day, I just want to fulfill the plans that God has for my life,” says Shonlock. “I want to use everything He’s put in me to point people to Him regardless of music genre or ethnicity, and remain focused on the things that bring us together rather than the things that keep us apart.”

For more information, visit www.shonlock.com.