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.

220/Universal recording artist Rachael Lampa will celebrate the upcoming release of her album All We Need with a free concert event at Nashville’s famed 12th & Porter concert venue on Monday, September 26th. The event will kick-off at 5:30pm with a live performance by Lampa, followed by a live viewing of Lampa’s debut on NBC’s The Sing-Off at 7:00pm.

Lampa will appear on Season 3 of the hit series as part of The Collective, a group of Nashville vocalists that was formed specifically to compete in the upcoming season. In recent weeks, Lampa has been in Los Angeles taping the series, while simultaneously promoting her highly anticipated upcoming album, which hits stores on September 27th. The first single, “Remedy,” is available at iTunes, and Lampa will hit the road this fall with Group 1 Crew, Shonlock and Rapture Ruckus for the Outta Space Love Tour.

“I’m so excited to share my heart and the stories behind some of my favorite songs on the record as well as play many of them for the first time,” says Lampa. “Plus, we get to watch my first episode of The Sing Off with my group, The Collective. I can’t wait to share this night with everyone!”

In 2000, at just 15 years old, Lampa skyrocketed onto the pop scene amassing an unprecedented nine Top 10 singles (four at #1) while touring heavily (with Destiny’s Child, Boyz II Men, Nickel Creek, Stacie Orrico, Amy Grant and Vince Gill, among others) and making high profile appearances on The Tonight Show, The View, Entertainment Tonight, E! and Extra, as well as gracing the pages of Teen People, CCM Magazine and many more. She explored acting with a supporting role in the 2006 film Hidden Secrets, opposite John Schneider (Dukes of Hazzard, Smallville) and joined American Idol winner Jordin Sparks on tour in 2010 as a background vocalist on her tours with the Jonas Brothers and Britney Spears. For more information, visit www.rachaellampa.com.

The trials that Aaron Shust and his wife dealt with during his 2-year-old son Nicky’s illness really had an impact on Aaron’s songwriting for the new project.

Nicky was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis, a rare and extremely painful condition, and he was unable to take in any nutrition. Doctors tried multiple food formulas but his body rejected all of them. He had to spend months in the hospital. Finally, when the last available option was tried, his body accepted it. But he still had to be fed through a tube that bypassed his stomach. Doctors further explained that Nicky would have to be on steroids for the rest of his life to manage the pain, so the Shust’s began researching the negative side effects of each steroid. That’s when Nicky’s doctor contacted them with stunning news: their son’s tests had come back normal. It was as if he’d never even had the condition. What was considered to be a permanent disease seemed to have disappeared. The doctor could offer no explanation as to why. But the Shust’s were confident they’d just received a miracle.

It’s a powerful story and a powerful CD, with the first single already #11 at AC Indicator and #21 AC Monitor. But I’d rather you hear Nicky’s story from Aaron himself.  Watch Video below.

Centricity Music has announced an exciting new tour for this fall that features three of their artists…. Downhere, Aaron Shust and Jason Gray. World Vision presents The Called To Love Tour that launches October 1st and runs through November 13th. All three artists are releasing new projects this fall; Aaron Shust This Is What We Believe (8/23), Downhere, On The Altar Of Love (8/23), and Jason Gray A Way To See In The Dark (9/13). The teaming of these popular and high-profile artists will bring audiences a meaningful and fun evening of worship and music.

“This will be my 6th tour with Downhere, a group of guys that I not only respect and love, but also have lived a lot of life with them on the road,” says Jason Gray. “I’m a fan. I love their new record and am grateful that I get to be part of sharing it with their audience. I’ve gotten to know Aaron over the past year, too – a humble man of God who pursues excellence in his passion to honor God. I’m excited to get to know him better and am grateful to be a part of this exciting chapter of his ministry. I’m honored to be in such great company and it will be fun for us to all share in celebrating the release of our new records. That we get to serve Jesus together while also partnering with World Vision is more than I should hope for, but am grateful. The only problem is that sharing the stage with such excellent people will mean I’ll have to work harder. Thanks a lot guys – why do you have to be so awesome?!”

“Any time we get to hit the road with our music, we consider it a privilege and a joy,” adds Marc Martel, leader singer, Downhere. “When we get to go out with good friends like Jason Gray and Aaron Shust, it is even more rewarding, giving the fans a unified, well-rounded experience with performers who not only share the same bus, but also the same heart and vision.”

“I couldn’t agree more with Marc and Jason; chemistry is so important when doing Kingdom work,” says Aaron Shust. ”Even though what we do is described as ‘playing’, an artist’s work can be emotionally draining, so having like-minded brothers to walk with on the journey and pour back into your life is a blessing. I’m so grateful to have those relationships in my band and on this tour with Jason Gray and Downhere.”

For more information about the tour please visit www.centricitymusic.com and for the individual artists; www.downhere.com, www.aaronshust.com and www.jasongraymusic.com.

About World Vision

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. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, visit www.worldvision.org.

The wait will soon be over as one of the most highly acclaimed bands in Christian music, Rush Of Fools, gears up for their debut album on eOne Christian with the release of We Once Were on September 27, 2011. Produced by renowned mainstream producer, Dennis Herring (Counting Crows, Modest Mouse, Elvis Costello) and one of Christian music’s highly respected producers, Rusty Varenkamp (Tenth Avenue North, Aaron Shust), this new offering from Rush Of Fools brings the most creative project of their career with twelve new songs co-written by the band’s ASCAP Song of the Year award-winning songwriters. The tunes focus on the individual and collective struggles the band has faced over the last two years with their label closing and an ensuing lawsuit that was settled, in their favor, in 2010.

“We can’t go back to what we were before because we were heavily changed by the events that occurred along the way,” states guitarist Kevin Huguley. “We can only go forward from here. We learned how to count it all joy by writing songs in the midst of the storm. And what we hope and intend for all who listen to take from it, is that at the end of the night, it will be all right. There’s a bigger story going on here. It’s bigger than our shattered dreams. It’s bigger than our mistakes and failures. It’s bigger than us, because it’s not about us. That’s what makes this record the greatest in our history. Had we not walked through so many trials in the past two years of our career, we would never have the songs that are on this record. ”

With stellar production, the band’s immense talent and continued strong support from fans and Christian radio, Rush Of Fools is once again finding themselves rapidly climbing the charts with their first single from the new album, Grace Found Me. The song debuted at #30 at AC Indicator after only three weeks of airplay, and is currently #30 on the National Christian Audience chart. The momentum continues to build as the song can be heard on familiar stations like WDJC/Birmingham, AL; SOS Network/Las Vegas, NV; WBSN/New Orleans, LA; WJQK/Grand Rapids, MI; and K-LOVE Network, just to name a few. In a rare move, K-LOVE immediately added the song to their playlist and is making it available as a free download for the next two weeks. In the first week, over 20,000 fans have taken advantage of the offer.

“The very first time we played the song, we received a call from a woman celebrating five years of sobriety,” explains Scott Herrold, Morning Show Host/Program Director, SOS Radio. “She said, ‘It’s ironic that you played that song because five years ago today grace totally found me. I wasn’t looking to go to church, I didn’t understand how God forgave me, but I listened to SOS Radio and found encouragement. It led to plugging into a church that celebrates God’s grace and that song totally encouraged me this morning!’”

The entire album shows a maturity and growth for Rush Of Fools with their vocals, musicianship and songwriting that brings twelve solid hits in one package. The songs can have a comfortable audience in a church or a mainstream venue, as they talk about the healing that comes after our darkest hours. A message of hope in a burdened world that is conveyed so well in the title track: No way, no way/We can’t stay the same as we once were/Living in the blur/Looking backwards we can see that we’ll never be who we once were.

No stranger with mainstream media, Rush Of Fools’ last project brought a mainstream Top 10 hit along with major media coverage from WGN, Daily Buzz and CNN.com. We Once Were will once again cross the musical boundaries by being featured in Billboard and Mix Magazines in-studio stories, along with HearitFirst.com, CCM and TBN’s 1 Music Village interviews/performances coming up this month. For additional updates on Rush Of Fools please visit their website, www.rushoffools.com.

About Rush Of Fools

The group hails from Alabama and burst onto the Christian music scene in 2007 with their self-titled debut project. The first single from the album, “Undo,” became a world-wide mega-hit for the band by reaching #1 on the charts for an incredible seven weeks. The tune became Song of the Year by ASCAP and Radio & Records for the most number of spins at radio, and garnered four 2008 Dove nominations for the band. The following single, “Peace Be Still,” remained at the top of the charts for three weeks. Rush Of Fools’ sophomore album released in 2008 and broke them into the mainstream market with their hit single, “Never Far Away” (with Jim Brickman) which broke Top 10 on the mainstream AC charts, along with appearances on the national television outlets, WGN Midday News and the syndicated morning show, Daily Buzz, along with coverage on CNN.com. Rush Of Fools continues to be an active touring band with over 120-dates a year and they recently concluded their first European tour. The group is managed by Patton House Entertainment with exclusive booking through the Greg Oliver Agency.

A late summer/fall tour has been announced by Inpop Records, the FreeFall Tour featuring Rush Of Fools, Jimmy Needham and introducing The Advice. The tour, presented in partnership with Mocha Club and Toms Shoes, launches in Lebanon, MO on August 25th and concludes October 1st in Tyler, TX. Tickets are available online at www.itickets.com, and is being booked through the Greg Oliver Agency. For more information about the tour please visit www.freefalltour.com.

The tour will be a high-energy evening of music with such stellar performing acts. Fans will have the chance to hear the headlining act, Rush Of Fools, perform songs live from their new CD, We Once Were. The album releases September 27th and the first single, “Grace Found Me,” is #28 on the AC Indicator chart. Jimmy Needham is gearing up for his next studio project due out in early 2012, while his previous album, Nightlights, was critically acclaimed with New Music Guide saying, He is a storyteller, one who can sound firm in his convictions and happy go lucky at the same time. It’s a mix sorely needed in the CCM market.” The Advice is a new Christian pop/rock band just signed to Inpop Records, and have just recently released their self-titled new EP. The lead single from The Advice, “Forever Changed” is currently climbing the charts at both Christian AC and Christian CHR radio.

“This is the first time Inpop Records has produced and presented a tour to the market. Our successful focus for booking was on colleges and youth throughout the country,” according to Andrew Patton, General Manager, Inpop Records. “The unique gifts of Jimmy Needham and The Advice will be a MUST see each night. Add to that the strength of the new eOne Christian release from Rush Of Fools, and you have a night that will cause all who join us to leave happy and energized.”

“Women and children are often the most exposed and abused victims of injustice, especially in the war-torn areas of Africa”, explains Jeff Jackson, Artist Relations Director, Mocha Club. “The Women At Risk program provides spiritual, emotional, and psychological counseling and helps them find alternate means of income to support themselves and their children. We are so thankful to be partnering with both InPop Records and these artists on the inaugural Freefall Tour, as so often non-profits are an afterthought on tours, but to be fully involved in the purpose and planning has been truly refreshing.”

FreeFall 2011 Tour Itinerary (Dates are subject to change)

First Assembly Of God Lebanon, MO 8/25/2011

First Baptist Church Maryville, IL 8/26/2011

Living Hope Baptist Church Bowling Green, KY 8/31/2011

Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, TN 9/1/2011

First Assembly Of God Erin, TN 9/3/2011 *date features Me In Motion

Huntington University Huntington, IN 9/9/2011

Mt. Zion Church Bel Air, MD 9/10/2011

Anderson University Anderson, SC 9/23/2011

Mississippi College Clinton, MS 9/25/2011

Wellington Ritz Theater Wellington, TX 9/27/2011

New Mexico Junior College Hobbs, NM 9/28/2011

Colegio Biblico Eagle Pass, TX 9/29/2011

Baylor University Waco, TX 9/30/2011

First Baptist Church Tyler, TX 10/1/2011