America first noticed gospel music legend Vickie Winans’ nephew Tim Bowman Jr. when he scatted on the vamp of her 2009 Top 10 radio smash “How I Got Over.” That wasn’t the first time they worked together though. He also sang on a remix of Winans’ 2003 hit “Shake Yourself Loose.” Bowman and Winans have now reunited for the song “He Will” – the first radio single from his forthcoming solo CD debut, “Beautiful.”

The catchy song is quickly ascending gospel radio playlists from coast to coast while introducing the world to Bowman’s exciting blend of inspiring alternative urban Christian pop music with a techno twist. “It’s gonna be a busy year for Tim Bowman Jr.,” says Pat Butler, afternoon drive and music director for WEXL 1340-AM, a gospel radio station in Detroit. “Born to make great gospel music, he continues to bring a fresh sound to Urban Gospel. WEXL loves the new project. I still say there must be something in the water in Detroit and it’s Tim Bowman Jr.”

While Bowman is poised to takeover the music charts, he’s also a student majoring in pharmaceutical sciences. He’ll be a senior when he returns to Wayne State University in September. He’s learned from the best in the business that it’s best to have something to fall back on just in case music doesn’t work out. His dad is the smooth guitarist Tim Bowman who has enjoyed #1 smooth jazz hits such as “Sweet Sundays” and “Summer Groove.” His aunt is gospel music legend Vickie Winans and his cousins from the Winans dynasty include Mario Winans who wrote and produced Trey Songz’ recent #1 hit “Can’t Be Friends.” However, the music world is already buzzing about Bowman’s “Beautiful” project that boasts cameos from such gospel heavyweights as Dorinda Clark Cole, Marvin Winans Sr., Tim Bowman Sr. and Vickie Winans. “Each song should stand alone,” Bowman says in reflecting on the purpose in his music. “Sometimes, you only have one chance for a person to hear and connect with your message. I want every person who listens to this album to not only get that message but also to feel the

Richard Smallwood, one of Gospel music’s living legends, has been making life-changing appearances around the country as he promotes his upcoming CD Promises. He recently appeared at New York’s Greater Allen A.M.E. for an “intimate concert” that turned into a full-on worship service after he performed “Mender” and “Trust Me” from the CD. His upcoming appearances include “The Experience With Dedry Jones” in Chicago, as well as television performances of his single “Trust Me” on TBN (August 26, re-airing August 27) and Sunday Best (August 28).

Recorded live in a small studio setting, PROMISES is Smallwood’s first CD since the 2005 passing of his beloved Mother, who was the artist’s biggest fan and motivator. “I had not written a song since my mom died,” he says, “I thought the gift had dried up. I would try to write and nothing would come.”

“Trust Me,” the majestic first single, is currently available at iTunes and is on its way to the top of the Gospel radio chart. Smallwood says “it is a song to encourage those who have experienced loss. It’s telling them that what they are feeling shall pass, if they only trust God.” The message perpetuates the album’s theme of divine PROMISES, with a lyric that states “I’ll fight your battles/if you will only trust me.”

“Mender” opens with a big band horn section and ruminates about the trials and tribulations that can break one’s heart. “A loved one has departed, a friend has gone,” Smallwood sings in empathy. “Just know the pain won’t last always,” co-lead Stephanie Winslow testifies. “This too shall pass to brighter days. Don’t you know he’s putting you back together again?” Then, Vision chimes in with the declaration that like a handyman, God is “the mender of broken hearts.”

PROMISES also features “Is There Any Way?” The song was originally recorded on the late Bishop Walter Hawkins’ LOVE ALIVE III, and Smallwood reworked it in tribute to Hawkins, who was his mentor and friend. Donald Lawrence collaborates with Smallwood on “Facts Are, Truth Is;” and Lalah Hathaway (daughter of his ‘60s Howard University classmate Donny Hathaway) appears on “Praying for Peace.” “I was going through some of the songs I had written in the ‘70s and many had the same theme as this song,” Smallwood recalls. “Back then it was the Vietnam War, so we’re going through the very same thing because there’s always been fighting, there’s always been war. But now racism has reared its ugly head in a way that I haven’t seen since I was a little boy. I wanted to write something that everyone could identify with globally, which is that we need peace.”

Vision, Smallwood’s trusty ensemble of singers, appears throughout the CD – which was produced by longtime collaborator Steven Ford.

PROMISES will be in-stores July 19, 2011.

Earnestly Yours, the brand new release from Earnest Pugh, celebrates its second week atop the Billboard Top Gospel Charts this week. The album also sits at #7 on the Independent Albums Charts and #51 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. Kirk Franklin‘s Hello Fear maintains the #2 position this week. Trin-i-tee 5:7‘s latest, titled Angel & Chanelle comes in at the #3 position this week, while Mary Mary‘s Something Big moves to the #4 position this week. The famed WOW Gospel 2011 compilation rounds out the week’s top five albums. In other chart news, Micah Stampley EP Release Me re-enters the charts at #11 while the self-titled release from Janeene Lavelle debuts at #15. 

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

“The song is anointed because it’s full of the word,” Murdock says of the inspiring ballad of hope and perseverance. “It’s like the voice of God speaking directly to your spirit, reminding you, that He’s not a man that He should lie…if He spoke it, will He not do it? This song will stir up and rekindle that word, that’s been spoken into your spirit and remind you that your dream can not…will not die.”

It’s one of a dozen musical chestnuts that Murdock either wrote or co-wrote for her first ever live concert CD The Journey (Tyscot Records) that was produced by Cedric Thompson and recorded live at The Broadcast Group Complex in Charlotte, NC. R&B divas Kelly Price, Regina Belle and gospel powerhouse Beverly Crawford performed with Murdock on various tracks. This will be Murdock’s second gospel project with Tyscot Records. Her 2007 label debut, Soul Food, included the chart hit “I Love Me Better Than That.” For more information on Shirley Murdock, log on at www.tyscot.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shirley-Murdock/138053567564

One of gospel music’s favorite artists, Martha Munizzi, is speaking out about her faith on her latest CD, “Make It Loud!” The gospel singer is getting ready to record the concept video for the bold cut in her hometown of Orlando, FL, on Tuesday, July 19, 2011.

Martha is thrilled about the new concept video. “We are working with Domino Effect Productions, and they are known for great videos. Also, Young Beast Society, incredible dancers who were finalists on last year’s America’s Got Talent, will be in the video. Pablo Villatoro, of Group 1 Crew, who is featured on the title track ‘Make It Loud’, will also be contributing his creative talents,” shares Martha. “This video is going to be different than anything I’ve ever done,” she says. “I want to capture radical believers celebrating that we love Jesus and we’re not afraid to be loud about it! Edgy and Explosive are two words I would use to describe what this video is all about.”

Along with the release of the video, the Munizzi team will be launching a contest that will give their fans an opportunity to “Make it Loud!”. Details will be coming soon! For more information, log on to: www.Marthamunizzi.com

Music is a calling and worship is a lifestyle. At that intersection of talent and passion, you’ll find Montell Jordan. Most of the world knows Jordan as the smooth-voiced singer responsible for such mainstream R&Bhits as, “This is How We Do It” and “Let’s Ride,”but to fellow believers at Victory World Church in Norcross, GA, Jordan is a man who uses music as a vehicle to transport people into the presence of God.

 As Victory World Church introduces their powerful worship team to the world with the debut album on Victory World Music, Jordan is at the forefront of the church’s ministry efforts. The title track and new single, Shake Heaven is an ear-grabbing wall of sound punctuated by Jordan’s soulful vocals that capture the latest chapter in his musical and spiritual evolution.

 Jordan is the first to admit the transition from mainstream music star to music minister wasn’t necessarily an easy one. He and his wife, Kristin, had been attending Victory World Church and Jordan was working on a new R&B album. Kristin was the first to know change was coming. “God revealed to her that I was going to retire from the music business,” recalls Jordan. “In her infinite wisdom, she decided not to tell me that because if she would have told me I probably would not have received that type of message. I had been working on a new R&B album and was preparing to rejuvenate my career. I was doing this while I was serving in church and we were doing children’s ministry because I was an R&B recording artist.”

Within a few months, God’s will became evident to Jordan during a time of fasting and prayer. “During that 21-day fast, God spoke to me and confirmed that I was going to retire from the music business. That was extremely traumatic and a very difficult time for me,” Jordan admits candidly. “There was a lot of uncertainty because the only thing I’d known had been music production, writing, and recording. That defined Montell Jordan. Who was Montell outside of the music world?”

As Jordan wrestled with that question and the uncertainty, God honored his obedience by opening a new door for him to use his gifts. “When I retired I didn’t even have a job,” he says. “I literally left the business not knowing what I was going to do or where this was going to lead, and then the opportunity arose for a position at Victory World Church. It literally was the transition of me moving from R&B recording artist into full-time licensed minister, because of God requiring me to lay down my life to move forward.”

As he moved forward into his calling, it became obvious God had been ordering his steps all along preparing him for the new role he was assuming. “God was very patient with me,” Jordan says. “He just kept revealing Himself to me over and over again saying, ‘I’ve got you. I’ve got you.’ That’s how we were able to make that move completely and there was no looking back.”

For Jordan, the journey began at Carver Missionary Baptist Church in California. “I grew up in South Central Los Angeles in the hood,” Jordan says. “Gang violence was very high in South Central LA and I wasn’t expected to live. Young black men in South Central weren’t expected to live past 16-years-old, but this little church is where I was groomed. That was my schooling and my foundation for music with an old Mississippi preacher named Richard Stubbs. He took a bunch of us kids and locked us in the church and started training us. We had to learn how to accompany him on piano, the organ, drums and on the guitars. We learned how to play music by ear. I served as a musician in the church from the time I was about nine-years-old until until twenty-one. I’ve been in church all my life, so I’ve known God all my life.”

That relationship with the Father provided a strong foundation as Jordan moved forward. He graduated summa cum laude from Pepperdine University and was a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship. Though he considered law school his love of music prevailed. He signed a deal with Def Jam Records and soon became one of the industry’s hottest young R&B singers. His vast experience in the mainstream music world now enables him to serve God more effectively in his music ministry at Victory World Church.

“Part of my testimony of being from the secular world of music is I feel like I’ve been behind enemy lines,” he says with a sly smile. “I’ve been a spy going to survey the land and see what it’s like out there. I know what people are listening to, what draws crowds, and what makes the different sounds. There are certain rhythms and chords that just strike within people.”

Jordan’s music experience fused with the passion of the congregation makes worship at Victory World Church an exciting experience. “There are 105 different nations of people represented,” Jordan says of Victory, one of the fastest growing churches in the country. “We do world worship music that crosses all different lines. That’s part of the DNA in Victory World Church as we reconcile the races, reconcile the cultures, and reconcile ourselves to God. I think we’re going to change the way people hear, praise, and worship. This isn’t church as usual. There is no template for what is happening here at Victory World Church right now. There’s no book that’s written to say this is how you do multi-cultural worship in the 2000’s.  I think we are definitely at the forefront of something new.”

Jordan is excited about the people he’s working with on Victory’s Worship team. “I get to work with some really talented musicians who are also growing and learning like I am, and that have a heart for God,” Jordan says. “We are trying to sing what we think God would like to hear, to worship Him the way that we think He would like to be worshipped, and not just create a new sound and different ways to say ‘we love you God.’  We also want to be catalysts to inspire the congregation, get the people to press forward, and get into the presence of God.”

The new album, Shake Heaven features original music penned by Jordan and other members of the Victory World Church worship team. The songs are lyrically substantive and musically vibrant, reflecting the diversity of the congregation. “There will be gospel songs, rock songs, and folk songs,” says Jordan. “When you have so many different nationalities represented on the team the music is eclectic, and it’s my job to make sure that somehow it fits together.” 

The title track and first single, “Shake Heaven,” features Jordan’s friend, Beckah Shae. “She’s a ball of fire,” he says. “She’s an incredible vocalist and she’s a worshiper. There’s no question about it. She inspires me.” The album will also feature songs written by other members of the worship team and a couple of songs written by teenagers of the church. “We have some incredible artists at the church including some young writers and performers who will surprise the world. There are three 15 and16 year-old young ladies featured on the album as writers and performers who are amazingly gifted.” Jordan says.

“The album will also feature Todd McVicker, who is a worship leader and he brings more of a hip-hop rock worship feel that is best described as, ‘Green Day meets Jesus,’” explains Jordan.  “Then we also have a worship leader by the name of Greggory Gitaitis, who is a great songwriter. Greg has a song called, Open Up The Heavens that we’ve been singing at Victory World Church.  It will be on the new album and it’s just a beautiful worship song.”

Another highlight on the project is “These Hands.” “We did that song on Easter. It’s from the perspective of God’s hands talking about the things He has done for us,” Jordan says of the powerful track.
  
Jordan is excited about the worship at Victory World Church reaching beyond the walls of the church and he couldn’t be more passionate about the new music he’s creating with his team. “It’s a gift to God.  I’m giving him back the gift of music that he gave me that I used in the world. I’m giving it to him now,” he says.  “Victory World Music is something that will belong to Him and doesn’t edify me as an artist. I want to take the light off of me and focus that light onto Him.” 

Congratulations are in order for Myron and Timberlyn Butler in the birth of their third child, baby girl Mylan Drew Butler.

I just chatted with Myron, who tells me that ”[Mylan] is another extremely important part of my world. We’re glad that she’s here and that she’s healthy… she’s 6 pounds, 15 ounces, born at 11:18 on the 7th July.”

The couple also celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary on Tuesday 5th July.

So, DOUBLE congrats to ya!

Source: GospelPundit

My God this one took me somewhere.  The long awaited single from Season 3 Sunday’s Best Winner LeAndria Johnson is here!  The music is fitting to her style, and the way she sangs JESUS will forever be trademarked by her undeniable talent.  Listen to the single below!  

Check out his new single “In The Middle”

Inspiring others to continue to dream despite circumstances comes easy for Shirley Murdock because she has seen the hand of God deliver her through many tests and trials. One of Shirley’s passions is to reach people where they are in their journey through the resources which God has provided for her.

On July 6th, Murdock visited the Salvation Army Residential Home in Dayton, OH to lift the spirits of the residents. The timing was perfect as Murdock entered a very open and gracious chapel full of residents sharing triumphant testimonies of recovery from addictions. Murdock was the key speaker at the ceremony which commemorated those who graduated from a 9-month recovery program.

Shirley also celebrated her brother, Herman Erving and his 15 year deliverance from addiction. Erving has been helping others overcome this issue by serving as the Residential Counselor for the Dayton Salvation Army location.

During the ceremony, Shirley expressed the importance of knowing who you are and your worth and she transitioned with the song “The Winner”, from her upcoming project The Journey. She expounded on the importance of Dreams and how to deal with life while in the middle of it. Murdock also shared inspiring lyrics from her current radio single “Dream”, stating that with God their dreams will not die and to hold tight to them.

The day concluded with many smiles and hugs as Shirley distributed “Journey Bags” to residents for future walk towards destiny. This was one of many stops that Shirley has made while on her personal Journey.

Her Live CD and DVD, The Journey, will be released on Tyscot Music & Entertainment on October 18, 2011. For More Info on Shirley Murdock please visit: www.tyscot.com