Watch Mack Avenue Records jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum and the world renown Lalah Hathaway’s appearance on The Mo’Nique Show on Thursday March 24th on BET at 11pm/10C. Kirk and Lalah will perform two songs, and give an insightful interview to the Academy-Award winning hostess, Monique. Kirk Whalum is establishing a first for a jazz artist by proving that there are no barriers when it comes to great music. Whalum scored four Grammy nominations in three diverse categories – Pop, R&B and Gospel for two CDs: “The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter III (GATJ3)” and “Everything Is Everything: The Music of Donny Hathaway both released in 2010- March and August respectively. He took home his first GRAMMY ® as the winner of the “Best Gospel Song” category for his hit song, “It’s What I Do” featuring Lalah Hathaway from Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter III (Mack Avenue).

Whalum has been a recording artist for 25 years and has over 25 solo recordings to date. He is an ordained minister with a Masters of Art in Religion. 2010 was a whirlwind of successes for Kirk Whalum. Earlier in the year “The Gospel According to Jazz-Chapter III (GATJ3)” debuted at #4 on the Billboard Jazz Album chart and #11 on the Billboard Gospel Chart while just a few months later the tribute CD “Everything Is Everything” debuted at #4 on the Billboard Jazz Chart. It’s no surprise that Whalum is breaking new ground.

January however was a bittersweet month for Whalum and Hathaway connoisseurs, as it will mark the 32nd anniversary of the tragic death of Donny Hathaway. Although brief, Hathaway’s career left a legacy that influenced artists in all genres; from gospel to rock-n-roll, that many artists have covered Hathaway but none like Whalum. “Everything Is Everything: The Music of Donny Hathaway” is the consummate interpretation of Hathaway’s musical legacy.

Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church — a spiritual pillar of the Civil Rights Movement — marked its 125 birthday with a special ceremony on Sunday, reports Fox 5 Atlanta.

It is the church which raised Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Founded in 1886, the Auburn Avenue area church has long been an important place of worship and social change. The church is also a designated national historic landmark.

U.S. Representative John Lewis, who worked alongside Dr. King, was honored during Sunday’s service. It comes one month after he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Dr. King’s sister, Christine Farris King, said she’s now Ebenezer’s oldest member.

Read more at Fox 5 Atlanta.

Tyscot artist, Shirley Murdock, will record her first “Live” CD/DVD on April 28, 2011. Ms. Murdock is extremely excited about this new venture! The word out is that she has invited some very special guest artists to join her on this groundbreaking project.

Ms. Murdock’s “Live” CD/DVD recording is scheduled to take place in Charlotte, NC and preparations are quickly being made to ensure an anointed and successful recording. This will be Murdock’s second release on Tyscot Music & Entertainment

Since releasing her previous project Soulfood in 2007, Murdock has been involved in several major plays including: Je’Caryous Johnson’s “3 Ways to Get a Husband” and in two of John Ruffin’s popular favorites “Love Me or Leave Me” and “The Ideal Husband”. The latter two have recently aired on the GMC.

Further details regarding Shirley Murdock’s “Live” recording will be announced in the coming weeks. Please visit   www.tyscot.com for updates and news.

Gospel music great Fred Hammond told entertainment reporter Jawn Murray that he’s recording a full jazz project.  Hammond will be stepping away from Gospel for a moment to record a love-style jazz project.  Hammond said the jazz album will bring him back to his musical beginnings as a bass player.

Fred Hammond is currently on the Tom Joyner Cruise playing Jazz music LIVE and ministering along-side Dr. Bobby Jones during morning worship sessions. 

Take a listen to Jawn Murray’s entertainment report on “The Tom Joyner Morning Show” to get more details about Fred Hammond’s move way from Gospel.

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Recently, we brought you the story about a pole dancing ministry done in Jesus’ name.  Now we’re hearing another story also coming out of Houston where the Pastor refused to serve members of his church communion because no one volunteered to give their tax refund to the church.  The Pastor denies the allegation made by a member, but does admit to withholding communion calling some of the members “devils and demons” whose spirits weren’t right.   

The money would’ve been earmarked for a new parking lot outside the church. 

Two days later, Reverend John Goodman of Houston Unity Church has changed his tune. He apologized for calling some of his church members “devils and demons.”  Again, that’s only SOME of the congregation.  Read More Here and watch the second video below to hear the apology.  The first video is the initial report, with the second video showing an amateur recorded video of the service which Goodman says proves he never threatened the members with any penalties pertaining to their income tax.

The radicalism that the body of Christ is seeing as of late is increasingly becoming a cause for alarm.  The word says “Study to show yourself approved.”  It’s important that we don’t let church hurt impact our worship, maybe just where we worship.  Taking a line from Bishop T.D. Jakes, “Let’s Just Pray!” 

After two weeks of a successful promotional run, Franklin is preparing to release his 12th CD, in stores Tuesday, March 22, 2011. In addition to rehearsing for his tour with Steve Harvey, shooting a new movie and music video; promoting the paperback version of his New York Times bestseller, The Blueprint; and taping audition segments for BET’s Sunday Best, Franklin has been doing extensive church and promotional visits around the country. The promotional tour began on March 8 at Greater Allen Cathedral (Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake and Rev. Elaine Flake, Senior Pastors) in Queens, New York, with a listening party and performance for an enthusiastic crowd of over 3,500 people. On March 9, Franklin filmed a music video in Atlanta for his new crossover hit, “I Smile,” which will include special cameo appearances by Steve Harvey, Rickey Smiley John Gray. The video will premiere on BET’s 106 & Park.

On March 10, Franklin traveled to Chicago and hosted his second listening party and performance at New Life Covenant Church (John F. Hannah, Senior Pastor) for a crowd of 1,500 people. The next day in Cincinnati, OH, I Hear Music hosted a listening party with Franklin at Inspirational Baptist Church-City of Destiny (Bishop Victor S. Couzens, Senior Pastor) for an audience of staunch supporters. Franklin then returned to Atlanta, to tape segments for and participate in the final audition process for BET’s Sunday Best at the Greater Travelers Rest Church. Later that week, Franklin taped a performance of a song he wrote for the upcoming movie, Joyful Noise, starring Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton and Courtney Vance. He also taped the Mo’Nique show, where he performed two songs from Hello Fear CD—“I Smile,” and “Before I Die,” as well as discussed the forthcoming paperback release of The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life’s Storms (Gotham Books). Franklin recently received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional for that book.

Franklin continued his promotional tour in Atlanta, with radio and other media interviews prior to the opening night performance at Phillips Arena Theater for the Steve Harvey and Kirk Franklin Gospel Comedy Tour, where he performed to a sold-out audience of 12,000 people.  On Sunday, March 20, Franklin ministered the Word at Changing A Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church (Bishop Paul S. Morton, Senior Pastor).

The first single from Hello Fear, I SMILE, is Top-10 at Gospel and Urban radio, and was the biggest debut for any Gospel digital track – coming in #1 on the Christian/Gospel Digital Tracks chart.    

For additional information on Hello Fear and Kirk Franklin, please visit, www.kirkfranklin.com.

Steve Harvey and Kirk Franklin Gospel Comedy Tour

 Date                                    City/State                         Venue

Saturday, March 26               Tampa, FL                   St. Pete Times Forum

Saturday, April 2                   Memphis, TN                Desoto Civic Center

Saturday, April 9                   Nashville, TN                Bridgestone Arena

Saturday, April 30                 Charleston, SC             North Charleston Coliseum

Saturday, May 7                   Bossier City, LA           Century Tel Center

Saturday, May 21                 Jacksonville, FL            Veterans Memorial

WOW Gospel 2011, the latest installment of the popular WOW Gospel series, celebrates its sixth week atop the Billboard Top Gospel Charts. The album also sits at #53 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. Church on the Moon from Deitrick Haddon holds to the #2 position. Triumphant from VaShawn Mitchell maintains the #3 position while Israel Houghton‘s Love God. Love People: The London Sessions moves twelve spots to the #4 position. Rehab from Lecrae rounds out the week’s top five albums. In other chart news, Live At the Cathedral from Pastor E. Dewey Smith, Jr & The Hope Mass Choir re-enters the charts at #13 while Won’t It Be Wonderful from James Hall & THe Voices of Citadel jumps twelve places to #15.

In the world of radio, “I Give Myself Away” from William McDowell celebrates its first week atop the radio charts. Vashawn Mitchell‘s “Nobody Greater” movess to the #2 spot while “I Believe” from James Fortune & FIYA featuring Shawn McLemore and Zacardi Cortez takes the #3 position. “Walking” from Mary Mary takes the #4 spot while “I Smile” from Kirk Franklin rounds out the week’s top five songs.

(Orlando, FL) – March 17, 2011 –“Glorious,” “Mighty God,” and “Because Of Who You Are” are just a few of the songs that have made worship leader Martha Munizzi a household name in Gospel music.  The GRAMMY Nominee and Dove and Stellar Award Winner has literally broken down barriers in the genre.  With a slew of Billboard-charting releases under her belt, Munizzi is known for her spirited performances and powerful songs.  She is preparing to add a new release to her discography entitled “Make It Loud” releasing on Tuesday, April 26, 2011.

Recorded live in Orlando, Florida, “Make It Loud” is a culmination of EPIC Worship (Experience A Passionate Intimate Connection with God), a global movement of worship that Martha started in her hometown of Orlando.  As she began to pull together fellow worshipers for EPIC, Munizzi states, “God not only began to put us in the path of great singers, but people who are great worshipers.  All of them were leaders in their own respective churches, and already knew how to lead people into the throne room,” shares Martha.  Bringing together gifted worship leaders and ministers of music, “Make It Loud” was a live recording of a phenomenal time of praise, and an experience that Martha believes will eclipse any other record she has done. Martha was also joined by special guest Praise & Worship Artists William McDowell, Michael Gungor, Jonathan Stockstill, Lori Morrison, Daniel Eric Groves, and features the debut of Martha’s daughter Danielle Munizzi.

“Make It Loud” isn’t just a record, but it’s a declaration for Christians to stand up and be bold and vocal about their faith.  “I see many artists in mainstream music making very strong, declarative statements,” says Martha.  “This generation is not just suggesting a viewpoint, but they are forcefully speaking their opinions as truth. We as Believers have The Truth, so it’s imperative to declare the Truth that we know.” 
Fans of the singer not only will enjoy the title track, “Make It Loud”, but also the project’s first single, “Excellent”, which is based on Psalm 8:1: “How excellent is Your name in all the earth.”  The song is a reminder that in spite of what’s going on in this world, it all belongs to God.  “No One Higher”, another song on the CD which promises to be a future anthem for the church at large, contains lyrics speaking to the awesomeness of God and how everything pales to His greatness.  Through this new release, Martha continues to display her unique style of praise & worship, merging both Gospel and Contemporary Christian music for an amazing spiritual experience.

“Make It Loud” is Martha’s first time sitting in the producer’s chair, an opportunity that gave her more creative freedom than previous projects.  “I am so excited about this CD,” shares Martha.  “I don’t think I have been more in love with a project God has given me than I am with this one.  It has a special place in my heart, partly because my daughter is on it and partly because it features some awesome Worship Leaders from right here in Orlando.”

Martha Munizzi burst on the gospel music scene in 2002 with the CD, Say The Name.  Since then, she’s earned GRAMMY and Soul Train Award nominations and Dove and Stellar Award wins.  In 2004, she was named as one of the top five Gospel artists by Billboard Magazine.  She was also a part of the Sisters In The Spirit Tour in 2005 with Yolanda Adams, Kelly Price, Juanita Bynum, Rizen and Sheila E.  In 2006, Munizzi dropped No Limits Live which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums Chart and stayed there for 6 weeks.  She was featured on the big screen in the movie The Gospel and at BET’s Celebration of Gospel.  In 2008, she released “Change The World”, which debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums Chart, and earned her her first GMA Dove Award for “Contemporary Gospel Album Of The Year.”  For more information on Martha Munizzi, log on to www.MarthaMunizzi.com.

OK so seriously? I’ve heard of pole dancing as a workout, but one woman is taking the name of Jesus and mixing it with pole dancing. And apparently her church members love it. My Fox Houston television reports on a former stripper now using her “talents” for the Lord.  You have to see this video.

So are you going to ask your Pastor to start a pole dancing ministry?  My Pastor would pray over me right then and there.  Oh my.  The times we live in.

Nashville, Tennessee, March 17, 2011. Dr. Bobby Jones & the Nashville Super Choir along with Gospel Super Star Fred Hammond, kick off the Tom Joyner Cruise which boasts the most African-American Entertainers on board one ship.  The cruise will begin Sunday, March 20, 2011, from Galveston, Texas and will return on Sunday March 27, 2011.

In addition to the Sunday night kick off Gospel concert, Dr. Jones and The Nashville Super Choir will conduct morning devotion services for all devoted attendees. Joining Jones for his Gospel presentations will be Atlanta base singers, Duranice Pace and Denise Tichenor.

Fred Hammond will also make a jazz presentation for all the fans on board. This cruise is touted as one of the best and purposeful cruises this season. Not only will the cruise highlight some of the greatest soul singers, comedians, panelist, artist and fun shore activities, funds will be raised to support Historical Black Colleges and Universities. 

We pray that Bobby Jones and company will have a safe trip and reach someone on-board who may not know the Lord.