Hip Hop super producer David Banner encourages you to support Soul Seekers and pick up a copy of the new album: Soul Seekers II. Available now in stores and on iTunes.

Contest:

In celebration of their recent album release entitled Soul Seekers II, The Soul Seekers have extended its best songwriter contest on Blazetrak and will accept submissions until December 31, 2010. All submissions will be fully considered at http://www.blazetrak.com/SoulSeekers
The winner of the Soul Seekers songwriting contest will receive a flight with accommodations to Los Angeles where the Soul Seekers will record and perform the song for an upcoming DVD release. The winning contestant will meet the band and also be interviewed and featured in the DVD.

The Soul Seekers will announce the winner on February 1, 2011 at www.ustream.tv/channel/soul-seekers-live-fever-studios

About The Soul Seekers
The Soul Seekers comprised of Teddy Campbell, Warryn Campbell, Nisan Stewart, John “Jubu” Smith, Gerald Haddon, Charlie Bereal, Craig Brockman and Eric Seats are an acclaimed group of mega songwriters, producers, musicians and composers, who collectively have worked with an array of superstar artists such as Beyonce, Missy Elliott, Nelly, 50 Cent, Diddy, Jennifer Hudson, Whitney Houston, Bette Midler, Britney Spears and many others. They have also been involved with hit making shows like Diddy’s Making Of The Band and American Idol.

Televangelist Rev. Marcus Lamb admitted in front of a television audience that he cheated on his wife, an announcement he made to thwart people he said were trying to extort millions of dollars from him.

Lamb made the confession Tuesday night on his show “Celebration” with his wife Joni Lamb by his side.

The couple also displayed a special message about the incident on the website of Daystar Television Network, the couple’s television network.

“At the top of the program, the Lambs shared a compelling, transparent account of a personal challenge in their marriage that occurred several years ago, involving an inappropriate relationship between Marcus and another woman,” the message said.

The couple explained that there were three people who said they would expose the affair if the couple’s ministry did not pay them $7.5 million.  Click Here to read the full statement from the couple.

The couple founded the Daystar Television Network that’s based in Texas and airs some of the most popular evangelists in the nation, including T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland and Joyce Meyer.

GMC announces more than 300 hours of music specials, Christmas and holiday films, a Christmas Eve Yule Log 24-hour music marathon, holiday episodes of popular series, exclusive interviews featuring entertainment stars and their Christmas memories, and much more.
 
Highlights include:
 
GMC’s first-ever World Premiere Christmas movie, “Christmas with a Capital C.” The movie is based on the song “Christmas with a Capital C” by the band Go Fish, which has received more than 15 million views online. The film stars Ted McGinley, Daniel Baldwin and Nancy Stafford, and premieres Sunday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET, with encores that night at 9 and 11 p.m.
 
“Top Spin: Top 12 Songs of Christmas,” a joyous and festive countdown of the top Christmas songs, hosted by Tiffany Thorpe. Airs multiple times throughout December.
 
GMC Movies, spotlighting compelling holiday and Christmas-themed stories in feature films. In addition to “Christmas With A Capital ‘C,'” GMC will air the Arnold Schwarzenegger-directed “Christmas in Connecticut” (Dyan Cannon, Kris Kristofferson, Tony Curtis); “Miracle of the Cards” (Kirk Cameron); “The Christmas Box” (Richard Thomas, Annette O’Toole, Maureen O’Hara); “Miracle at Christmas: Ebbie’s Story” (Susan Lucci); “The Secret of Giving” (Reba McIntire), and many more.
 
GMC’s Christmas Yule Log Gospel Music Video Marathon, airing from 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 24 through 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 25 and featuring great Christmas music that the entire family can enjoy while celebrating the holiday.
 
Christmas-themed episodes from popular family series including “Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman,” “Amen,” “Highway to Heaven,” “Doc” and “227.”
 
Exclusive GMC interstitials in which stars including Jane Seymour, Joe Lando, Tia and Tamera Mowry, Kim Fields, Amy Grant, Mary Mary, Brian McKnight, Ledisi and many others share their holiday memories. Running in all dayparts throughout December.
 
“Christmas Voices,” presenting the festive sounds of Christmas music by the world’s most popular inspirational singers. Airs every Monday-Saturday through Christmas Day.
 
“GMC Presents,” a collection of GMC’s acclaimed original Christmas concert specials featuring uplifting performances from the likes of Natalie Grant, Jars of Clay, Mary Mary, Mercy Me, Mandisa, Take 6, George Huff and many more. Airs throughout December. These same specials also can be seen anytime on GMC on-demand

If you are ready to share your talent with the world, BET has the perfect contest for you. 

As a part of Celebration of Gospel 2011, BET is will be giving gospel music fans a chance to sing by uploading a video of themselves singing their version of gospel song “Pass Me Not O Gentle Saviour”.  The videos will be used to create a gospel digital choir video that will be aired on the show.

There are two simple rules: no music allowed and only you can be in the video.  Additionally, You may have the opportunity to sing during the pre-show.  Click Here to upload your video.

It’s very rare that a show comes along offering free tickets for such an esteemed line-up of artists.  The Celebration of Gospel is in its 11th year and Steve Harvey will be back as host. Taping will be on Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 7pm at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles and will air on BET on January 30, 2011.

Look for special tributes to Bishop Walter Hawkins and Albertina Walker, along with great gospel singing from your favorite gospel music artists as well as some R&B legends.

The performers for Celebration of Gospel 2011 are:
Kirk Franklin
Chaka Khan
Kim Burrell
Faith Evans
Vashawn Mitchell
Mary Mary
Kelly Price
Jessica Reedy
El Debarge
James Fortune & FIYA
Earnest Pugh
Smokie Norful
The Rance Allen Group
Beverly Crawford
Dr. Bobby Jones

If you want to attend, tickets are free. Just shoot an email to BETrsvp@bet.net to request your tickets.

RELATED: BET Announces Celebration of Gospel Video Competition

George Bush makes Rick Warren laugh, and interviews at the Saddleback Church with mild protests inside and outside the building.


Former President Bush visited Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church on Monday night.  Rick Warren, author of the best selling book “Purpose Driven Life,” facilitated the interview to a sold out congregation.  Topics included the power of prayer, the financial bailout and Vladimir Putin’s soul.

Bush drew cheers and sustained applause over the course of an hourlong conversation with Pastor Rick Warren, himself a bestselling author (“The Purpose Driven Life”) and perhaps most widely known for having delivered the invocation at President Obama’s inauguration.

Bush conceded that he was “shamelessly peddling my book,” a memoir of his two terms in office called “Decision Points.” He joked that reaction to it has been “slight shock…. A lot of people didn’t think I could read, much less write.”

As he has in numerous interviews and public appearances, Bush steered clear of any criticism of Obama or discussion of current politics. Although he isn’t given to introspection, the setting did prompt discussion of his faith and philosophy of leadership.

About two dozen protesters gathered outside the Saddleback campus in Lake Forest, carrying banners and signs with such slogans as, “Torture Is NOT a Christian Value.” Twice during Bush’s talk, women stood up and shouted until they were escorted out. It was impossible for the vast majority of the 3,100 people in attendance to hear what the protesters were saying.

Speaking of faith, Bush told Warren that he read the Bible every morning of his presidency, adding: “I think religion is discipline.” He said it wasn’t easy to reconcile the ego necessary to run for president with the humility needed to be religious.

The former president defended his decision to bail out major Wall Street banks, saying it violated his principles but was necessary to spare the country from a major depression.

“Here’s what I was confronted with: Depression, no depression. Pretty stark, isn’t it?” he said. Addressing the audience, he added: “I decided to use your money to bail out Wall Street, and I was really unhappy about it, but nonetheless I do believe that decision saved the country from a depression.”

He recalled his first meeting with Putin, Russia’s then-president, which led to the famous Bush comment that he had looked into Putin’s eyes and “was able to get a sense of his soul.” He said he was thinking of a discussion he had with Putin about a cross.

Still, he conceded that when people accused him of being naïve, “I probably deserved it.”

Twinkie Clark is set to release her brand new single titled “God’s Got A Blessing”. Twinkie is a writer, arranger, and veteran vocalist in Gospel. The new single will be available in all digital outlets on December 7, 2010. The member of the famed Clark Sisters is due to release her new album during the first quarter of 2011.

Marvin Sapp found out that he won a Soul Train Music Award along with the rest of us on twitter at the time.  He was surprised and tweeted this…

The Soul Train Awards was originally taped on November 10, 2010 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, GA. It was televised on Sunday, November 28th via BET/Centric.

Marvin Sapp New Song

Marvin Sapp released a new holiday song in tribute to his late wife MaLinda Sapp. The song is titled “I Hang This Stocking For You” and you can take a listen by clicking the link below. Thanks to Praise Philly and 1800 Gospel for spreading the word!

Lecrae‘s latest release Rehab stays atop the Billboard Top Gospel Charts for a fourth consecutive week. The album also enters at #9 on the Top Christian Albums charts and #14 on the Top Rap Albums Chart. Israel Houghton‘s Love God. Love People. The London Sessions enters this week at the #2 spot. Release Me, the new release from Micah Stampley, debuts at the #3 position while The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir‘s A Brooklyn Tabernacle Christmas jumps five places to come in at #4. Tye Tribbett‘s Fresh rounds out the week’s top five albums. In other chart news, The Soul Seekers‘s latest Soul Seekers II debuts at #11 while The Master Plan from Tamela Mann jumps twenty-seven places to #15.

In the world of radio, “Nobody Greater” from VaShawn Mitchell celebrates its first week atop the radio charts. “I Believe” from James Fortune & FIYA featuring Shawn McLemore and Zacardi Cortez takes the #2 position, while “He Wants It All” from Forever Jones moves to the #3 position. “I Choose to Worship” from Wess Morgan holds to the #4 spot while William McDowell‘s “I Give Myself Away” rounds out the week’s top five songs.  “The Best in Me” by Marvin Sapp comes in at number 6.  “Expect the Great” by Jonathan Nelson is 7^th at radio, while “All I Need” by Brian Courtney Wilson spends its 85^th week on the charts at #8.  “I Want to Say Thank You” by Lisa Page Brooks is #9, and “It’s Time for a Miracle” by Beverly Crawford is #10. (November 28, 2010)