The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that a relative and family friend of Albertina Walker’s was arrested after they allegedly roughed up the gospel legend’s longtime manager and agent at a tribute concert after she died.  A friend of mine got a text about this late last week, but no one new the details surrounding the incident until the Chicago Sun Times released this in depth report.  

The incident happened Thursday night at Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S. Dorchester, during a musical tribute to Walker, the Grammy award-winning “Queen of Gospel” who died Oct. 8, police said Saturday.

The concert followed a public viewing that day; her funeral was Friday.

It started when the 32-year-old victim went on stage, police said. The victim was identified by sources as Eric Peterson.

“The two individuals ordered the victim to get off the stage. When he did not exit the stage, they physically went ahead and battered this individual,” police spokesman John Mirabelli said Saturday.

“One of them grabbed him, and the other one punched him,” Mirabelli said.

Gerald Walker, 47, of the 7700 block of South Essex, and Carl Jackson, 40, of the 8300 block of South Seeley, were arrested Thursday night and were each charged with one count of battery.

Tina Nance, Albertina Walker’s goddaughter, confirmed the police account and identified Gerald Walker as Albertina Walker’s nephew and Jackson as a family friend.

“The nephew who was involved was upset by some things that had gone on, as the family did not feel [the manager] should be on that stage and asked him to come off,” Nance said. 

“It was unfortunate what happened, but I don’t want it to detract from the celebration of my godmother’s legacy and her memory.”

One person who witnessed the encounter said it happened right before the tribute concert started. Some family members “didn’t want [Peterson] to be there. He said he didn’t want to be escorted from the pulpit in front of 5,000 people,” the witness said.

Sources said the dispute between Peterson and family members involves some of Walker’s possessions.

Peterson, sources said, was not seriously injured and attended Walker’s funeral.

Peterson could not be reached for comment Saturday.

Pam Morris, a longtime friend of Walker’s, said she wants everything to be resolved so the gospel queen’s “incredible legacy can be remembered and carried on for years for my grandchildren and their children yet to be born.”

ALSO READ: Albertina Walkers Passing Prompts Barack Obama to Release Statement

Radio personality Tom Joyner ‘s son Oscar got married last weekend in Miami.  Yolanda Adams sung for the couple and Bishop T.D. Jakes performed the wedding ceremony.  The newlyweds’ incorporated traditional Ethiopian traditions into the wedding.   As were the customs of Oscar Joyners’ bride Alem Gola.   Oscar Joyner, is President of The Tom  Joyner Morning Show’s parent company Reach Media.

Many other celebrity friends came out for the wedding and reception.  Look at the pictures below.

Bishop T.D. Jakes (Left) Poses with Yolanda Adams (Right) and bride & groom. 

Tom Joyner and his ex-wife pose with family of the bride

Yolanda Adams Sings at wedding

Eric Benet and Tamia Sing at Reception

Doug E. Fresh Performed at Reception 

Viewing
Thursday, 10/14
9 a.m.-6 p.m.
West Point Baptist Church
35th and Cottage Grove
Chicago, IL

Musical Salute at Apostolic Church of God
Thursday, 10/14
7 p.m.
63rd and Dorchester
Chicago, IL

*****

Funeral Service and Visitation
Friday, 10/15
10 a.m. Visitation
11 a.m. Funeral Service
West Point Baptist Church
36th and Cottage Grove
Chicago, IL
Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. L. Bernard Jakes officiating

The Queen of Gospel Albertina Walker died on Friday, October 8, 2010 from complications from emphysema at RML Specialty Hospital in Chicago. Albertina Walker was known as the Queen of Gospel because of her influence and stellar accomplishments within Gospel music. She studied under Thomas Dorsey, was encouraged by Mahalia Jackson and was the founder of the legendary Caravans.

Albertina recorded over 60 CD’s, earned five gold records, received 10 Grammy nominations and won a Grammy in 1995.

Also Read: Albertina Walkers Passing Prompts Barack Obama to Release Statement

Below is the statement from President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on the passing of Gospel music great Albertina Walker:

Michelle and I are saddened by the passing of gospel great Albertina Walker. Ms. Walker was known for her Grammy Award winning voice and recognized by many as the ‘Queen of Gospel.’

Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, she started singing in her church youth choir at just four years old where she learned to spread the ‘Good News’ through song. She also performed before President Bill Clinton and was honored at the White House by President George W. Bush for her contributions to Gospel music. And she never forgot to give back, impacting her community through the Albertina Walker Scholarship Fund and many other charitable endeavors.

Ms. Walker’s voice and message has touched congregations across the nation. Though we have lost an American icon, her influence on gospel music will continue for generations. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and the countless lives she touched.

 

Also Read: Funeral Arrangements for the Legendary Albertina Walker Announced

Now this is impressive.  Reach Records recording artist Lecrae makes holy hip-hop history with the release of his latest release Rehab. The new release sold over 27,000 units in its first week, making it the largest selling first week holy hip hop release ever. Consequently, the album debuts atop the Billboard Top Gospel Charts, Top Christian Albums Charts, and Independent Albums Charts.  In addition, the album hits #5 on the Top Rap Albums Charts, #6 on the Digital Albums Charts, and #17 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts.

So the next time your children ask for some rap music, mix in a little Holy Hip Hop by Lecrae.  They’ll love you for it, and they’ll get a positive message in return.
 

Ricky Dillard will host The Red Party, his eighth live recording in Detroit, October 30th.  Ricky Dillard recently signed with Light Records along with Dorinda Clark-Cole of the Clark Sisters.  Dillards’ 2007 hit “The Light” was one of my favorite songs of that year.  This years 2010 live recording will be held at Second Ebenezer Church, everyone is encouraged to wear something red and bring a canned good for Gleaners Food Bank.  There will be some amazing folks in attendance, we’ll keep you updated as the stars RSVP.

If you are in or near the Detroit area, you should certainly look into attending this event.

Gospel legend Albertina Walker died this morning at 81 years old. She was known as “The Queen Of Gospel” and was the lead singer and founder of the legendary gospel group “The Caravans” that launched the careers of other gospel pioneers like Shirley Caesar and Dorothy Norwood.

Over the summer, Albertina had taken very ill and was hospitalized with breathing complications stemming from her battle with emphysema. We pray for her family, friends and all of those that loved her in the gospel music industry. 

Walker was born in Chicago in 1929. She had been in the hospital since Aug. 29, the day she celebrated her 81st birthday.

She started to sing for the children’s choir of the West Point Baptist Church when she was just 4 years old.  By age 22 she had organized the Caravans, her gospel group.

She is known for a long list of songs including Lord Remember Me, Walk Around Heaven and Lord Keep Me Day by Day.

Albertina Walker will be deeply missed by fans and family.  Go Walk around heaven woman of God.  Job well done.  Below is a couple of her songs. 

Music World Gospel’s recording artist, Brian Courtney Wilson begins his 25 city tour today to promote the re-release of his debut break-through and award-winning project. JUST LOVE Deluxe Edition will be in stores October 5.The 25 city tour includes concert and promo dates as well as a partnership between the American Heart Association’s Power to End Stroke campaign and Music World Gospel/Music World Entertainment. In addition to the American Heart Association concert dates, Wilson will visit other cities including Columbus, OH; Atlanta, GA; Montgomery, AL; Nashville, TN; Birmingham, AL; Jackson, MS; Mobile, AL; New Orleans, LA; Baton Rouge, LA; Houston, TX; Dallas, TX; Little Rock, AR; Washington, DC; Philadelphia, PA; New York, NY; Detroit, MI; and Chicago, IL; (see partial schedule below).

Wilson’s new single “Awesome God” is # 1 Most Added, Billboard’s Greatest Gainer and Billboard’s Top 30 on the Hot Gospel Song chart. The song is also on Billboard’s New and Active list with only two weeks at radio. Pat McKay of Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s “Praise Channel” says,
“‘Awesome God’ is the captivating gospel truth.”

In addition, to Wilson’s “Awesome God,” the CD/DVD package includes four brand new songs—”The Word,” “Monday’s Pain,” “The Only Way,” and “This Christmas.” The relaunch project also features all the songs from the original recording. The DVD includes video footage from a worship service at Bethany Baptist Church in Lindenwold, New Jersey, where Wilson ministered in song.

Wilson’s second single from his debut project; “Already Here” will impact INSPO/Light AC radio in October. The single has been on the Billboard charts for over 60 weeks and remains in the Top 20 on Billboard’s Gospel Recurrent chart.

JUST LOVE’s first single release, “All I Need,” is the longest-running current single, charting for over 75 weeks on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Song chart. In 2009, “All I Need” was named Song of the Year at the Mississippi Gospel Music Awards, which also saluted producer, Stan Jones, as Producer of the Year for his work on the project. In September 2010, Wilson received the Gospel Music Heritage Month Rising Artist Award and he also received a nomination for Song of the Year by the Atlanta Gospel Music Choice Awards. The third and title single, “Just Love” also remains in the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Song chart.

JUST LOVE debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart and #6 on Billboard’s Top Christian Album chart. The CD has remained at #1 on Christian Music Trade Association’s (CMTA) Inspirational Album chart for nearly 50 weeks. Since its release in June 2009, the CD has held steady in the Top 15 on the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart for over 65 weeks.

An Algerian court on Tuesday acquitted two Christian men of eating during Ramadan in spite of a prosecutor’s demand that they be punished for “insulting Islam.”

Authorities arrested Salem Fellak and Hocine Hocini on Aug. 12 for eating lunch on a private construction site where they were working. Ramadan, Islam’s month of fasting during daylight hours, started this year on Aug. 11.

The incident took place in Ain El-Hammam, a town in the province of Tizi Ouzou about 150 kilometers (93 miles) east of the Algerian capital. Tizi Ouzou is part of Kabylie, an area of Algeria where the country’s Protestant church has grown with relative freedom in recent years.

Officers at a nearby police station saw the two men eating and confronted them for not fasting. When police realized the two men were Christians, they accused them of insulting Islam, according to local French-language press reports.

“I do not apologize for anything, and I regret nothing,” Fellak said before the verdict, according to Dernieres Nouvelles d’Algerie. “I have the right to not fast. I am a Christian, and until found guilty, the Algerian constitution guarantees respect for individual freedoms.”

The Algerian Constitution gives the right to all citizens to practice their faith, although it declares Islam the state religion and prohibits institutions from behavior incompatible with Islamic morality. Proposing other faiths to Muslims is also forbidden.

After police arrested Hocini and Fellak, authorities interrogated them for two hours and “admonished” them, according to a French-language news site. Authorities took them to court, where a state prosecutor questioned them. When the men explained to her that they were Christians, she said that Algeria was a Muslim country with no room for Christians and that they should leave the country, according to a local news site.

On Tuesday, however, the judge at the court in Ain El Hamman dismissed the case since “no article [of law] provided for a legal pursuit” against the two Christians, according to the BBC.

A small group of Christians standing on the steps of the courthouse reportedly shouted “Hallelujah!” when they heard the outcome of the case. After the verdict, Fellak said he was happy and that he had done nothing wrong, according to Reuters.

Local media also reported cases of Muslim Algerians arrested for eating during Ramadan.

Famed worship leader Martha Munizzi is gearing up for next live recording. The session takes place at City of Life Church in Kissimee, FL on October 22, 2010.  Martha burst on the scene with hit songs like “Glorious” and “Because of who you are.” Special guests for event include Michael Gungor, William McDowell, Jonathan Stockstill, and Mary Alessi. Munizzi won the 2005 Stellar award for New Artist of the Year.