Tyler Perry to Spike Lee: “I would love to read that to my fan base.”

Once upon a time (i.e. this past spring), Spike Lee Called Out Tyler Perry:

“Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is “coonery” and buffoonery. I know it’s making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better. … I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne”) and I am scratching my head. … We got a Black president and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep ‘n’ Eat?”

Spike goes on to say:

“We’ve had this discussion back and forth. When John Singleton [made “Boyz in the Hood”], people came out to see it. But when he did “Rosewood,” nobody showed up. So a lot of this is on us! You vote with your pocketbook, your wallet. You vote with your time sitting in front of the idiot box, and [Tyler Perry] has a huge audience. We shouldn’t think that Tyler Perry is going to make the same film that I am going to make, or that John Singleton or my cousin Malcolm Lee [would make]. As African Americans, we’re not one monolithic group so there is room for all of that. But at the same time, for me, the imaging is troubling and it harkens back to “Amos n’ Andy.””

TP responded to Lee on “60 Minutes” by saying:

“You know, that pisses me off. It really does. Because it’s so insulting. It’s attitudes like that that make Hollywood think that these people do not exist and that’s why there’s no material speaking to them. I would love to read that to my fan base. [The characters are] disarming, charming, make-you-laugh bait so I can slap Madea in something and talk about God, love, faith, forgiveness, family, any of those things.”

Sadly, this is just one more internal debate amongst African Americans being hashed out on a national platform and it’s almost impossible not to take sides given our history in this country. Alas, what’s done is done, and the battle wages on.

Spike’s commitment to uplifting the Black community throughout his accomplished career is unquestionable. Upon reflecting on his catalogue of work, it’s also pretty evident that he’s a proponent for progress in general as he strives to present stories that deal with a myriad of themes from coming-of-age (Crooklyn) and homosexuality (She Hate Me). Within each film, he manages to capture the intricacies of every day life, but always with the African American audience in mind.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that Tyler aims to uplift our community as well, covering subject matters that affect many Black Americans with humor and hope. We’ve all witnessed the evolution of his Spike Lee’s film career over the past 2 decades. Perhaps in another 15 years or so, Perry’s body of work will show that he is, in fact, not in the business of ‘holding us back.’ Some of his recent films have been absent of the alleged “coonery” of which Lee speaks. “Why Did I Get Married” is a prime example free of minstrel-like imagery.

Many are inclined to focus on the debate between these two dynamic gentlemen, but a large portion of the contention belongs to the big film studios. If they didn’t back and distribute Perry’s films (or any films accused of perpetuating stereotypes) this debate would not exist.

Sure, many cringe when they see Madea pull a gun out from under her dress or the eye popping of that fellow from “Meet the Blacks/Browns,” but many of us find that stuff pretty hilarious too. Is it possible that both Perry and Lee only differ in the manner in which they present similar ideals or is this a case of “progress vs. regress”? To echo Lee’s initial statement, every artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors. But like the saying goes, “with great power, comes great responsibility.”

So what do you think? – Buffonery, or not buffonery: that is the question.

Written By: Sky Obercam – Clutch Magazine

Mary Mary’s Tina Campbell gave birth to a baby boy Tuesday, Oct. 20th.

According to GospelFlava.com, Campbell and her husband, Soul Seekers member Teddy Campbell, welcomed TJ into the world weighing seven pounds.

This is the third child for the couple.

Campbell’s sister and group partner, Erica, has announced that she is three months pregnant with her second child.

She is married to producer Warren Campbell.

The reunion of BeBe & CeCe Winans is the cover story in this week’s Jet magazine. In the interview with Jet Senior Editor Clarence Waldron, the duo known for R&B and gospel crossover hits such as "Addictive Love" and "I’ll take You There", discuss the death of their father, and what took them so long to record again after a 15 year hiatus.

Another powerful story is the companion article entitled "Gospel Vs. Inspirational: Is There A Difference?"

In this piece, gospel heavyweights such as Bryan Wilson, Shirley Caesar, Donald Lawrence, Vickie Winans and others debate what defines gospel music and separates it from inspirational music.

Media Contact:
Bill Carpenter at (202) 506-5051 or carpbil@aol.com

Trin-i-tee 5:7 will release their first Christmas cd/dvd, Love * Peace * Joy at Christmas on October 27 on Spirit Rising/Music World Music.

The package includes 11 tracks and a bonus DVD of five holiday classics performed by Trin-i-tee 5:7 from the recent TV special, Gospel Music Channel presents Christmas at Union Station.  A special bonus track by gospel recording artist Brian Courtney Wilson rounds out the collection.
 

Produced by Music World Production team The Bama Boyz (Beyoncé & Solange), Love * Peace * Joy at Christmas is sure to have something for T57 fans and all Christmas music lovers around the world.

Love * Peace * Joy at Christmas includes season standards, "Joy to the World," "Winter Wonderland," "Silent Night," "O Holy Night," "The Christmas Song," "Little Drummer Boy," a jazz inspired rendition of "White Christmas," a soulful remake of Michael Jackson’s "Give Love on Christmas Day" and Contemporary Christian favorites "Mary Did You Know" and "Welcome to My World" are pleasant surprises.  Brian Courtney Wilson lends his re-recorded Donny Hathaway’s "This Christmas" as a bonus track to the package.  Live recorded performances on DVD include, "Winter Wonderland," "O Holy Night," "Silent Night," "This Christmas" and "The Christmas Song."

Christian and Gospel music’s premier artists will gather in Nashville on Monday, Oct. 12 to unite in support of the Gospel Music Association with an exclusive dinner concert at Nashville’s famed Loveless Café. The benefit concert will be streamed live at www.concertofthedecade.com

Five-time Dove Award Producer of the Year Brown Bannister will produce the spectacular evening of entertainment, which will include performances from Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Natalie Grant, Kirk Franklin and The Booth Brothers. Bannister and the artists have all donated their time and expenses to support the GMA.

"It’s an honor to join Casting Crowns, Amy, Kirk, MercyMe, and all of the other artists on this lineup, in support of the GMA," shares industry leader and award winning artist, Michael W. Smith. "This organization has been an incredible support to so many of us as we’ve built our ministries and careers, and we want to do all we can to help ensure a solid platform from which it can operate."

According to Ed Leonard, chairman of the GMA Board of Directors (and president of Daywind Music), these incredible artists responded immediately to support the "Save the GMA" event created in response to financial needs the GMA has, in part due to the economic recession.

"In a time of restricted sponsorship dollar availability and financial hardships faced by many in our community, the GMA has continued to be there for all of us, offering first class events, tackling important legislative issues and promoting the genre to the world through the Dove Awards. The organization faces financial obstacles that require all of our help to overcome. This dinner concert is a way to not only ensure the viability of GMA in the future, but to have the concert experience of a lifetime," Leonard said.

Leonard stressed that the special event is intended to do more than just "save the GMA" and that the Board of Directors is committed to building a GMA that is relevant for the future." "We all believe in the power of Christian and Gospel music to change lives," he said. "The GMA allows us to join together, setting aside personal agendas, to accomplish things we cannot accomplish separately, to ultimately extend the reach of the good news of the Gospel through music of all styles. That is a mission worth pursuing."

Atlanta native and hip-hop favorite Canton Jones returns with his latest release Kingdome Business 2.

This album is the sequel to Kingdom Business, which produced the hits "Hater Day" and "My Day.

According to Gospelflava.com, Jones won four Stellar award nominations for work on his last CD. This new project, which is recorded with members of the CAJO (Canton Jones) Family is in stores Oct. 6.

His first album, 20 Years, 3 Months & 12 Days, came in 2003, and one year later he completed The Password. His breakthrough came in the summer of 2005 with the release of Love Jones, which made its debut on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart at No. 11.

The International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum has announced this year’s inductees, who will be honored at its thirteenth annual induction celebration and fundraiser in late October.

Announced by the non-profit organization’s founder, David Gough, this year’s inductees are T.D. Jakes, Bill Martin, Willie Mae Ford Smith, Myrna Summers, Wyatt T. Walker, and BeBe Winans.

Previous inductees have included Aretha Franklin, CeCe Winans, The Clark Sisters, Donnie McClurkin, and Fred Hammond.

"For over a decade, we have successfully achieved our goal – the furtherance of gospel music worldwide," commented Gough. "The awards event is our annual fund raising centerpiece, but our work to celebrate the contributions of influential individuals and groups, and to increase awareness of gospel music, takes place year-round."

This year’s induction and awards celebration will be held at the Max M. Fisher Music Center on Saturday, October 31 – preceded by a Red Carpet Extravaganza with live entertainment and photo opportunities with gospel greats.

Since 1995, the organization has worked to preserve and celebrate the work of the world’s legendary and influential gospel music artists and entertainers.

Its museum, located in the studios of DoRohn Entertainment in Detroit, features recordings, documents, photographs and memorabilia. The museum is supported by individual donors and corporate contributors, and is open for tours by appointment.

Reach Records recording artist Lecrae is prepping for a fall tour titled Altered Minds. The tour blends the hip-hop and rock genres and features MIKESCHAIR, After Edmund, Tedashii, and Sho Baraka. This tour is the follow up to the successful Don’t Waste Your Life summer tour. The Altered Minds tour launches on October 1 in Harrington, DE and will stop through 26 cities including Indianapolis, San Antonio, Cincinnati, and Abiline, before concluding on Nov. 22 in Memphis, TN.

Verity Gospel Music Group recording artist Pastor Marvin Sapp is set to record his next album. The live CD/DVD recording is slated to take place on October 16, 2009 at Resurrection Life Church in Wyoming, Michigan. The recording caps off a week long celebration of twenty years of ministry for Sapp. The week’s events will feature Pastor Smokie Norful, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, Bishop Joseph Walker, and Bishop Liston Page as guest speakers. The live recording will feature Aaron Lindsay returning as producer of the effort. This effort is the follow up to Thirsty, which produced the smash hit "Never Would Have Made It" and garnered eight Stellar awards including "Artist of the Year" and "Song of the Year".