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

Pastor Zachery Tims of the popular New Destiny Christian Center in Orlando was found dead at the W Hotel in New York City. He was found unresponsive on the floor of the hotel room and pronounced dead by emergency responders.  Pastor Tims was 42 years old.

The New York City Medical Examiners office is awaiting results of an autopsy. Tims is survived by his ex-wife Riva and their four children.

Hello Fear, the latest release from Kirk Franklin, celebrates another week atop the Billboard Top Gospel Charts this week. The album also sits at #17 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Charts and #73 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. Earnest Pugh‘s Earnestly Yours moves to the #2 position this week. The famed WOW Gospel 2011 compilation comes in at the #3 position this week, while Something Big from Mary Mary enters at the #4 position this week. Times of Refreshing from Pastor James R. Adams & The Abounding Life C.O.G.I.C. Mass Choir & Musicians rounds out the week’s top five albums. In other chart news, William McDowell‘s effort As We Worship: Live jumps eight places to #7 while Culture Shock, the debut release from Jai debuts at #25.

In the world of radio, “I Smile” from Kirk Franklin celebrates its seventeenth week at the top of the radio charts. “I Need Your Glory” from Earnest Pugh jumps to the #2 spot while Vashawn Mitchell‘s “Nobody Greater” moves to the #3 position. “Over & Over” from Trin-i-tee 5:7 featuring PJ Morton holds to the #4 spot while “My Heart Says Yes” from Troy Sneed rounds out the week’s top five songs.

On the heels of being named one of “10 Men Leading the Way” by EEWMagazine.com & DaSouth.com DA’ T.R.U.T.H. releases the first two singles from his highly anticipated forthcoming project THE WHOLE TRUTH exclusively on his Facebook page. Supporters can listen to “Alive” and “The Whole Truth” by clicking here.

THE WHOLE TRUTH will mark the first CD release with new joint venture Xist Music/220 Entertainment on September 13, 2011. For more information on Da’ T.R.U.T.H., visit www.datruth.net or www.xistmusic.com.

About Xist Music Xist Music is the recording label of Xist Worldwide, which produces innovative projects from 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 at www.xistmusic.com for more information and follow them at www.twitter.com/xist_music.

About 220 Entertainment 220 Entertainment Group, a Black Fuel Music, LLC company, is a multi-layered entertainment entity led by partners CEO Jeff Adams, COO Martin Lovelace and Executive Vice President and General Manager Al Marks, encompassing several mutually beneficial enterprises that work to deliver success for the artists, clients and companies it partners with and represents. 220 Entertainment Group’s management division, Streetlight Artist Management, represents some of Christian Music’s hottest new artists including Group 1 Crew (Fervent), Rachael Lampa, Ryan Stevenson (BEC), Hyland (Tooth & Nail), Charmaine (in:cite), Rhema Soul and more. 220 Entertainment Group is now also partnering with several record labels, providing distribution and other services. Black Fuel Music, LLC is the parent company of 220 Entertainment Group, Streetlight Artist Management and the concert and artist event booking entity, Upstream Artist Agency.

Via the Belle Report:

Although the 2012 Stellar Awards are over four months away, the first step in selecting its Stellar Award winners is underway, as Voting is now open for the 27th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.

In order to begin the voting process, please enter your SAGMA ID Number and PASSWORD (email address) in the spaces provided. You are only allowed to vote for one (1) artist in each category. And, you may only vote on this 1st ballot one (1) time per person. When entering your sagma ID you must include all characters, do not remove the dash. Your email address on file is used as the second form of verification. If you have any problems please contact us, were here to help and every vote counts.

Each category is limited based on the discretion of the Stellar Awards Nomination Committee therefore all entries cannot be included on the ballot. Technical quality, lyrics, voice quality, charting duration, project content and charting performance will be reviewed for inclusion on the ballot. All Stellar Awards Nomination Committee selections are final.

As for the breakdown on who is leading out of the 30 categories, Mary Mary and VaShawn Mitchell are both holding down 10 nominations. Earnest Pugh, James Fortune & FIYA, and Deitrick Haddon have all been nominated for 9 awards. Holding on to 8 nominations are Kirk Franklin, Ricky Dillard & New G, Tye Tribbett, Canton Jones, Trin-I-Tee 5:7 and Brian Courtney Wilson. And with 7 nominations it’s the Mississippi Mass Choir and Israel Hougton.

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards was the first Gospel Music award show in the country, honoring Gospel Artists, Writers and Industry Professionals for their contributions to the Gospel Music Industry and has now become a premier Gospel Event, honoring and recognizing the top entertainers in the Gospel industry.

Click below to see the entire list of nominations and cast your vote now!

Click: VOTE HERE!