After five years since her Top Ten CD “In His Presence” was released, Judith Christie McAllister, prepares for the August 30^th release of her fourth CD Sound the Trumpet on Shanachie Entertainment. McAllister’s highly anticipated new project brings praise and worshippers the high-energy anthems and tender songs of praise, expected from this leading female psalmist.  After only a few weeks of release at radio, the infectious radio single has already landed on the Top 40 gospel radio airplay charts.

“The title cut ‘Sound the Trumpet’ is a clarion call to the Body of Christ to rise up and be the “Watchmen” we have been called to be. To declare truth to society that there is an impending danger,” McAllister says of the new CD that directs the Church to confront America’s eroding moral values with an exemplary lifestyle of clean living and devotion.  If the church does not rise up with Holiness and declare “Thus saith the Lord”, the blood of this society is going to be required at our hands.” (Ezekiel 33:1-8)

Sound The Trumpet was recorded live at the Greater Allen A.M.E. church in New York on 08/08/2008. Immediately following the recording, McAllister faced many aspects of difficulty, but she remembered that she was made for the struggle realizing that just as the number “8” represented new beginnings, that through all of the difficulty in her life, “God was birthing something new within me, I had to bring myself into remembrance that the anointing is birthed through pain!  Amid it all,  I have no complaints, but see this season of my life as an opportunity to be an example of ‘how’ to go through, how to be hallowed out for the glory of God, just like the process a Shofar has to endure for a pure and unadulterated sound to be emitted.”  

Sound The Trumpet was produced along with respected musician Michael Bereal (Marvin Sapp, Smokie Norful). McAllister defines this CD as an eclectic exercise for a new millennium of believing worshippers. The songs range from the rock-edge of “I Will Sing,” to the Caribbean seasoning of “Fire” (featuring T.C. Bereal Jr.). McAllister’s protégée Markita Knight leads the acoustic “Thank You For The Healing” with a pristine pop vocal. Nancey Jackson-Johnson’s stellar voice embodies the ballad “Just For Who You Are” and BET’s “Sunday Best” talent contestant, Michael Pugh, leads “Draw Me Near” with an almost operatic tenor.  “I really don’t consider myself a singer.  I can’t do all the runs and the beautiful riffs that these wonderfully gifted singers do with their voices, but what I think attracts people to my voice, is the identification with where they are……once you’ve been delivered in an area, that sound of deliverance coming from you can be picked up by someone who recognizes their need for freedom,” shares McAllister.

“One of the individuals who mentored me from afar was Ron Kenoly. I looked to his ministry for how I was going to model what the Lord had given me concerning Praise & Worship,” says McAllister who lives in Nashville with her husband, and three children. “I remember a song on his DVD project Praise From Every Nation, which I watched over and over again.  I said, ‘one day I’m going to do just that – full band on stage’ and pretty much we did it with this CD. We had two drummers, two bass players, two lead guitarists, horn section and twelve wonderful singers, all playing and singing at the same time to the Glory of God!  By God’s grace, I’m getting there…”

Singer, songwriter, producer, actor, husband, father and friend — ISAAC CARREE is a person that exemplifies talent beyond measure.  I had the pleasure of sitting in on Isaac Carree’s listening party facilitated by Kirk Franklin, and the songs on the album are all Grade A.  The listening session that took place recently at the GMWA revealed that all of the tracks were produced well, with a undeniable anointing. 

The crowd of industry execs pledged to push the album, and Isaac said that he feels there is a changing of the guard in Gospel that will allow new artists a bigger platform. 

A Native to Greensboro, NC, Carree started his career in 1990 when he received the opportunity to sing with John P. Kee and the New Life Community Choir. Having honed his vocal skills under Pastor Kee, he went on to co-found the popular contemporary gospel male group Men of Standard in 1996. After a very successful stretch with the Stellar Award Winning trio the group disbanded. “We all just agreed that it was time to take a break and felt God was positioning us to do things as individuals,” said Carree.

Isaac had a hard time grasping the concept of becoming a solo artist. In the beginning, he never agreed with becoming a solo artist, but he knew that God wanted him to pursue this career path. “I was doing it out of obedience,” he explained.

The debut solo album titled UNCOMMON ME reflects his journey on discovering who he is as a solo musician and Man of God. “I see now why God asked me to enter this journey. I have learned things that I could not have learned being in a group. Through this obedience I have found my passion and rediscovered my musicality,” Carree said.

UNCOMMON ME is truly jam-packed with melodies that comfortably establish themselves as the soundtrack to your future breakthrough. Living up to its name, it’s uncommon – it is unique, distinct and fresh. Featuring some of Gospel Music’s most prized producers and musicians (including Warryn “Baby Dub” Campbell, Gerald Haddon, Eric Dawkins, Tony Dixon, Lamb, Rick Robinson and more).

“My album is fresh and different. It’s Uncommon. There is something on there for everyone and I want listeners to approach the album with an open mind [especially individuals who are familiar with my music],” said Carree.

Carree has an undeniably tasteful approach to singing that is unmatched by many. The first single off the record is “Simply Redeemed” (written by Tommy Sims & Marc Harris). The way in which he croons this melodic confession will have you feeling the relevance of this classic just as strongly as listeners did years ago. Also, the current single “In The Middle” is a radio smash, climbing up the charts and with national TV appearances under his belt; it is becoming a fan favorite.

In the meantime, Carree will be hitting the road this week to promote the new CD with appearances in Tampa, Fl; Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC and his adopted hometown Atlanta, GA, where he’ll celebrate at an album release party on Street Date, August 23rd.

For more information and details on Isaac’s appearance, log on to www.isaaccarree.com. You can catch Carree lending his vocals on tour with Gospel sensation and mentor, Kirk Franklin this Fall.

“When we are children of God we always have work to do and after accomplishing one goal there will always be another waiting right behind it. There will be detours throughout the course of life, but the key is to get back on track and fulfill your dreams. Take the time to follow and understand your journey to finding the UNCOMMON ME.”

Donald Lawrence debuts at #1 this week on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart with his new project, YRM (Your Righteous Mind)! The album also entered at #41 on the Billboard 200. Congratulations! 

Kirk Franklin moves to number 2, while Earnest Pugh holds down the number three spot with his new release.

Here’s the full top 10 at Billboard:

1 | Donald Lawrence – YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
2 | Kirk Franklin – Hello Fear
3 | Earnest Pugh – Earnestly Yours
4 | WOW Gospel 2011
5 | Pastor James R. Adams – Times of Refreshing
6 | Mary Mary – Something Big
7 | Richard Smallwood – Promises
8 | Lecrae – Rehab
9 | William McDowell – As We Worship
10 | Deitrick Haddon – Church on the Moon

By Jeff Kunerth, Orlando Sentinel August 21, 2011

In his eulogy for Pastor Zachery Tims on Saturday, mega-church evangelist T.D. Jakes compared the preacher to the biblical Jacob, a man with many problems and defects who was renamed Israel.

The names represented two different sides of the same person, Jakes said, just as “Dr. Tims” was different from “Zach.”

Jakes, who pastors a 30,000-member congregation in Dallas, said he knew both Dr. Tims — the charismatic, compassionate spiritual leader who ministered to imperfect people — and Zach, who was an imperfect person himself.

“I thought I was the only one who know how unhappy Zach was, how broken he was, how afraid he was if anybody was to see any flaw in him. He tried hard to heal himself, to fix himself,” said Jakes, chief pastor of The Potter’s House.

As leader of New Destiny Christian Center in Apopka, Dr. Tims could help others with their problems, but Zach couldn’t ask for help himself before he was found dead last Friday in a New York hotel room. Tims’ death is under investigation, and the cause has not been determined.

“I don’t know what happened in that room in New York, but I can only hope that as Zach was dying, Dr. Tims stood up,” Jakes said.

About 5,000 people attended the three-and-a-half-hour funeral service at First Baptist of Orlando. It was a cross between a tribute and a tent revival, with songs, prayers, silence, stories and high-volume preaching. There was more rejoicing than weeping, more laughter than grief.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said he could never tell what to expect when he attended a Sunday service at New Destiny, where Tims once preached a sermon about the war to save souls while dressed in combat camouflage.

Another preacher told the story of accompanying Tims to London, where the pastor was mistaken for the actor Will Smith and chose not to correct the misperception.

First Baptist Pastor David Uth confessed his envy of Tims’ preaching style: “I’ve watched Zachery on TV and I’ve thought, ‘God, why can’t I preach like that?’ I’ve actually said a few times, you know sometimes being white just gets in the way.”

Jakes said Tims sometimes reminded him of a mischievous child who knew he was too cute to scold.

“Zach had a way of acting like he was your kid,” Jakes said. “He would come into your house and go straight for the refrigerator. You couldn’t say anything, because he’d bust that big old grin on you.”

Evangelist Paula White said the smile was Tims’ defining feature.

“He smiled with his eyes. His eyes showed the depth of his soul,” said White, pastor of Without Walls International Church in Tampa.

A few weeks before his death, Tims spoke of dying in a sermon, White recalled: “He said, ‘If I die — and I don’t want to die — I want you to know I am saved and I’m going to heaven.”

TIms’ ex-wife, Riva Tims, who started New Destiny with him in 1996, commented on his short but productive life.

“Forty-two years may seem young, but in those 42 years he circled the Earth many times. In those 42 years he achieved goals few could imagine,” she said. “Let us not forget what he has accomplished.”

Dyer, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orange County Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell, and U.S Rep. Corrine Brown all praised Tims for his work in the church and the community.

“You have lost a spiritual leader, New Destiny,” Jacobs said, “but we all gained an angel.”

About a dozen preachers spoke of their admiration and friendship with Tims. Some called him a mentor. Some called him a brother. Some preached, some sang.

“Dr. Tims had one speed, and that was fast,” one said. “He would start getting out of the car before it stopped because he was in a hurry to do the work of the Lord.”

Jakes said Tims’ life, and death, were a wake-up call for many young preachers who are in a hurry to get somewhere fast. The greater the light, Jakes said, the greater the heat.

“The light burns things you don’t want it to burn,” he said.

Two hours before the 11 a.m. funeral, the line of mourners snaked from the doors of the First Baptist and around the parking lot. Many of those in line were dressed in black: men in their suits, women in their finest dresses, and children dressed as if for church.

“He made a great impact on the lives of people,” said Dorothy Douglas, 58, who joined the church in 1999. “He didn’t wait for them to come to him. He went into the neighborhood to bring the church to them.”

Saturday, they returned the favor.

Thousands stood in the heat to pay their final respects to their spiritual leader.

“This is for closure and to be supportive of his family. For me, I respected and loved Pastor Zach, but I also loved him as the son I never had. You could approach him. You could talk to Pastor Zach,” Douglas said.

Others spoke about Tims’ impact on the congregation.

“He has prepared us for this,” said Jackie McCall, a 55-year-old church member who joined the congregation three years ago. “We are ready to go on.”

Another mourner, Randy Brundidge, 44, met Tims once and saw him preach several times. Brundidge, an elder with the Young Tabernacle Holiness Church in Buffalo, N.Y., was visiting relatives in Orlando when Tims died.

“This takes us by surprise, but it doesn’t take God by surprise,” Brundidge said. “Thank God I got to meet him. He was a dynamic speaker, but he was down to earth.”

Following the funeral service, Zachery Tims Jr. was buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha.

Program Picture:

TBR (The Belle Report) — Gospel recording artist Marvin Sapp is planning to follow up his highly successful 2010 album “Here I Am” with a live album of all new songs, which he’s gearing up to record on Oct. 7 at Evangel Cathedral in Upper Marlboro, Md., near Washington, D.C., for a 2012 release.

“It’s the first time I’ve actually done a live record outside of my comfort zone… of Grand Rapids, Mich.,” Sapp, who’s the founding and senior pastor at Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in his home town. “D.C. is one my largest audiences. They buy tons of records of mine in Washington, D.C…. So we’re going to do something different and see how it works.”

The new album will speak to how Sapp has managed during a rough period in his life, a five-year stretch during which he lost several people close to him, including his father and, last year, his wife MaLinda to colon cancer. “The focus of this record,” he explains, “is how you can come through situations and still remain on top. It’s about how the enemy has a way of hitting you with stuff to cause you to fold and buckle, but I’m still standing.”

So are Sapp’s three children, aged 12, 14 and 17, who he’s now raising as a single father. “We’re doing good,” Sapp says. “I tell people all the time, as long as my kids are doing good, I’m gonna be alright. They’re adjusting very well, and I just really try to keep them well and loving one another. We’ve got a slogan — ‘us four, no more.’ Right now it’s just us, and as long as that remains the focus, I believe the rest of our days will be blessed.”

Sapp is currently putting together material for the album — including one song called “I Made it Through” — and describes the music as “Marvin Sapp with an edge. It’s gonna be a little more high-energy, the production’s gonna be a little tighter. Even though I’m doing the whole album live, some is going to sound live and some will sound like it’s studio. We’re gonna mix it up.” Sapp — a former member of the group Commissioned who went solo in 1996 — has been on a career winning streak during the past four years. His 2007 album “Thirsty” went gold, landed at No. 28 on the Billboard 200 and also topped the Gospel chart, sweeping seven Gospel Stellar Awards in 2009. “Here I Am” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 — the highest charting album ever by a gospel artist — and Sapp snared another batch of Stellar trophies and a GMA Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year for “The Best of Me,” which was No. 1 Gospel and Top 10 Urban/AC. Nevertheless, Sapp contends that, “I feel no pressure because I’m not trying to do anything but stay in the niche I’ve grown accustomed to. One thing I’ve learned is that as long as I do what my audience enjoys, I’m gonna be alright. I know what they like. I have a formula, and my formula is if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Keep doing what you do and people that enjoy what you do are gonna buy your music and love on you. So in the spring of 2012 we’ll bring it out and hopefully we’ll set records again.”

Listeners and fans from Los Angeles to New York jammed Radio One & 105.9 KISS FM  phone lines for three hours Sunday morning when The Hardest Working Woman In Gospel – Vickie Winans – debuted her latest labor of love, the “Sunday Morning Praise with Vickie Winans” radio show, on 105.9 KISS FM in the Motor City.

Winans rose at 3 a.m., got dressed and camera-ready and made it to the station by 5 a.m. to kick-off her first Sunday as a Radio One on-air personality. As she entered the studio, Winans was taken aback by the wall-to-wall flowers, gift baskets and balloons from Pastors, music industry friends and colleagues congratulating her on her new venture. While on the air, Winans played the latest radio hits, read Facebook and Twitter messages in between her tear-jerking ministry and her hilarious stories! “You know I’m old, Winans laughed, “anytime the hospital I was born in had screen doors on it!” The phone lines were fully lit up for the entire three-hour show as emotional listeners and fans called in with tears eyes or joy on their lips. One fan tweeted, “I couldn’t turn away even during the commercial breaks cause I didn’t wanna miss nothing! Too much of a good time.” Another fan tweeted that, “This west coast girl will be up every Sunday to listen to Miss Winans inspire her listeners.”

Radio One Detroit colleague, Mildred Gaddis, the Queen of week day talk on WCHB News Talk 1200, spent the entire morning in the studio with Winans and sent her a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Winans’ nephew, Tim Bowman Jr., who sang the jazzy scat on Winans’ smash hit “How I Got Over,” also stopped by the station to share some laughs with his aunt. They also played the current duet single from Tim’s forthcoming CD, “He Will, “which is quickly climbing the national gospel radio airplay chart.

Listeners not only heard Winans over the radio and via internet, they also watched her and Radio One/KISS FM  staff put the show together on a webcast which can still be viewed at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/16634850 . At 8:45 a.m. Winans called for a “praise break” as she introduced her producer son Mario Winans’ pulsating “How I Got Over” “Overcomers Remix” to close out the show. “At that point, everything went bonkers,” Winans laughs. “People all over the country were up and dancing while getting ready for church.” In the weeks to come, Winans will broadcast the show live from whatever city she’s traveling in on Sunday mornings so there’s much more fun in store. “I have never tuned into your station before but this morning from 3AM-6AM nothing but death could keep me from it,” a new fan of the show tweeted to Radio One Detroit program director Armando Rivera. “Vickie Winans was just SUPER! Keep her, because God and she will take it to the top: #1! Radio One, you done GOOD!”

In a recent interview with Essence.com, the artist formerly known as Tonex speaks to writer Mona Austin as a persona revamped “B-Slade.”  B. Slade gives updates on his life as an openly gay man, and as a pop/soul artist. 

ESSENCE.com: Is your gospel career a thing of the past?
B SLADE: When it comes to the genre, yes. Unfortunately I was pigeonholed into that genre even though I felt that gospel music could very much so cross over to mainstream. Formidably and exclusively, yeah that part is over. There will always be a spiritual core to what I do and you will still feel that light and that love in my pop and soul music.

ESSENCE.com: What about your fans?
B SLADE: Some crossed over with me. I think because they connect with the truth and even if they don’t understand everything. That’s one thing they can always bank on with me is I’m going to present truth and courage and objectivity.

ESSENCE.com: How is B Slade different from Tonex?
B SLADE: B Slade is a recording activist. Tonex was more of just a recording artist. I think that the people’s interests were at both brands heart, but the represent the culmination of raw art, audacity and hard work. This brand represents the essence of the Black Sheep, the person who pretty much has all the odds against him, that phoenix rising aura about them.

ESSENCE.com: Since you’ve become openly gay, have you experienced more or less freedom?
B SLADE: I will say more. I think the interesting notion is that people kind of knew. It’s just as long as it wasn’t confirmed I was deemed okay. It’s just when you bring confirmation to some things, then it becomes controversial.  It’s interesting to see people coming up to me and apologizing for the way the handles the whole coming out process, how they turned their backs or initially reacted.

Check out music from Dorinda Clark-Cole.  The CD is available for pre-order on Amazon.com

From Amazon: Grammy-winning contemporary gospel artist Dorinda Clark-Cole is ready to unveil I Survived, her first full-length album since 2008′s Take It Back. I Survived premieres joyous and powerful new gospel songs, including “God Will,” “He Brought Me,” “Holy One,” “This Is Why,” and the infectious lead single, “Back To You”. Recorded on the heels of a devastating house fire, and health scares for one family member and the loss of another, I Survived is a declaration of perseverance, resilience, and an ever-growing faith in God.

On I Survived, which is already being touted as a career-defining release for Clark-Cole, she collaborated with two of Gospel’s most heralded and sought-after producers; longtime collaborator Asaph Alexander Ward (Kim Burrell, Smokie Norful, Vickie Winans) was at the helm of the live session, which took place before an enthusiastic crowd in Nashville, TN, while super-producer Warryn Campbell (Mary Mary, Brandy, Yolanda Adams) took the reins of the studio portion. The result is a powerhouse gospel music project rife with the absolute best of music and ministry.

On August 17^th, Tyscot Music and Entertainment will share new and exciting movies and music with the gospel community during the 2011 GMWA Convention in Tampa, FL.

To kick off the day, as a special gift to the gospel announcers, Tyscot will air Blessed & Cursed the Movie from 5pm-7pm during the Gospel Announcers Guild meeting. 

Blessed & Cursed the Movie is a modern retelling of the Biblical account of Saul and David and stars gospel music sensation Detrick Haddon, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Drew Sidora, Karen Clark Sheard, Kierra ‘Kiki’ Sheard, Damita, and more.   

Tyscot Artists The Rance Allen Group and Shirley Murdock will also be in attendance and performing at the 2011 GMWA Convention.

The Rance Allen Group and Shirley Murdock’s schedule will be full from the minute they arrive in Tampa.  Shirley Murdock’s first stop will be at the Gospel Announcer Guild’ meeting where she will thank all radio announcers for supporting her new single “Dream”.  Following the guild meeting, Murdock will sing new music at the General Assembly concert at 7pm.

The Rance Allen Group will flow along aside Murdock as they meet with announcers and media during convention activities.   The last stop for The Rance Allen Group will be a performance at the James Cleveland Concert Series-Event Two along with Marvin Sapp and John P. Kee.  During the concert, the group will perform songs from their latest project “Holy One” and “You That I Trust”.  Paul Porter will make a surprise appearance during the group’s set. 

From Blessed & Cursed the Movie to the Rance Allen Group’s anticipated performance, Tyscot Music and Entertainment is grateful to partake in the historical 2011 GMWA Convention

The Rance Allen Group’s Live Experience II CD & DVD is available in stores and online.

Blessed & Cursed the Movie is available on DVD in stores and online.

Shirley Murdock Live: The Journey CD and Music DVD will be released on Tyscot Music & Entertainment on October 18, 2011.   

For More Info on Shirley Murdock, The Rance Allen Group and Blessed & Cursed the Movie please visit: www.tyscot.com  

For Publicity contact, Tracy Y. Williamson at twilliamson@tyscot.com  www.tre7inc.com and www.tyscot.com