Welcome to Gospel-Spotlight.com!! GS NEWS ROOM, 1# FIRST WITH NEWS     May 13, 2008 UPDATE!! ..  Kim Burrell's historic recording... 11th Annual Spirit of Democracy Awards Dinner ...  May 13, 2008 UPDATE!! ..  Sean Simmonds is back...  News News News News News News News News News ____________________________________________ Kim Burrell is set to record her next solo album after 8 years. Burrell will record her next album at the Lincoln Jazz Center in New York City on December 11 and 13, 2008. After a successful release of the album Sean Simmonds...True Story, Xist Records went back to the drawing boards, by moving J. Ross to general manager, bringing on Wendy Collins-Sqiurwell on for publicity and doing some much needed restructuring. "We needed to get ready for the long haul" says, T. Black – CEO Xist Records. Xist also recently signed a joint venture partnership with Tyscot Records. Anticipated releases from the joint venture include Sean Simmonds, Yvette Graham(formerly known as Ms.Tonex) and Sharon Riley and Faith Chorale. The first release from the partnership is Sean Simmonds highly anticipated sophomore release "IT'S OVER" coming September 23, 2008. The first single, "My Life" featuring Sharon Riley and Faith Chorale is already receiving rave reviews. The 11th Annual Spirit of Democracy Awards Dinner will be held Wednesday, May 7th, 6:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC. Legendary Gospel singer Pastor Shirley Caesar will be performing. The event is sponsored by General Motors Corporation, State Farm Insurance Company, AT&T and AMGEN. Some of those honored in 2008 include Bev Smith, host of American Urban Radio Networks, "The Bev Smith Show;" Congressman Charles Rangel, and CNN Commentator Roland Martin. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Evangelist Juanita Bynum said in an interview on the television show "Divorce Court," that she battled depression and thought of suicide after she split with her husband over spousal abuse. "Suicide crossed my mind, jumping out of the window crosses your mind," said Bynum, whose husband, Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III, attacked her in a parking lot. "I felt hopeless." Judge Lynn Toler asked Bynum whether there were signs of trouble early in her marriage to Weeks. Bynum said she had left several times and even filed for divorce three years ago, but decided to stay married to Weeks to work things out. The American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association sponsors Power Weekend and celebration to award top African Americans including Pastors Lyle & Deborah Dukes, Grammy nominated R&B singing group, Az Yet, Gospel Legend Marvin Winans and Tom Joyner May 2nd -- 4th in Atlanta, Georgia. According to the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, the burden of stroke is greater among African-Americans than any other ethnic group in America. Dove Awards up date: The night’s big winner was tobyMac, who walked away with 3 Dove Awards, including Artist of the Year, Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year (Portable Sounds) and Short Form Video of the Year ("Boomin"). Trin-i-tee 5:7 delivered a hot performance of "Listen", while grabbing a pair of statuettes for Urban Recorded Song ("Listen") and Urban Album (T57). Likewise, Israel & New Breed captured a pair of Dove Awards for Contemporary Gospel Album (A Deeper Level) and Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song ("Say So"), while T-Bone, who partnered with Houghton on "With Long Life", grabbed the Dove for Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song (Name Droppin'). Group 1 Crew's self-titled debut earned them a Dove for Rap/Hip-Hop Album. Superb performances ruled the evening as the awards’ show saw presentations from The Clark Sisters and Marvin Sapp, along with an exciting opening number featuring New Artist of the Year nominees Mandisa, DeWayne Woods, and Group 1 Crew. The awards show aired live on the Gospel Music Channel. Grammy winning artists Edwin and Walter Hawkins, five-time Grammy winner Sandi Patty and five-time Grammy-winning group The Winans, will be recipients of the President's Merit Award at the 2008 GRAMMY Salute To Gospel Music event in Washington, D.C. The Recording Academy will spotlight the genre by celebrating members of the Gospel community during the event, which will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C. The event will include performances from Gospel, contemporary Christian and contemporary artists under the music direction of Grammy winning producer Donald Lawrence. Attorneys for the Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III said he will speak out Friday. Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III had held out hope that he and Dr. Juanita Bynum could reconcile even after she filed a petition for divorce on Monday, but now he had decided not to stand in the way. Instead, they say the case would be submitted as an uncontested divorce and could be resolved within 31 days from the date the case started under Georgia law. Bynum's divorce attorney is withdrawing the divorce petition filed in Ware County, where Bynum has a home, and re-filing the case in Gwinnett County, where Weeks lives. BET's eighth annual celebration of inspiration music and the number one religious/Gospel telecast, comes to DVD on April 29 from BET Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment. Grammy Award winners Kirk Franklin, Patti LaBelle, John Legend, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Dr. Bobby Jones and more come together on one stage for a memorable evening of special musical performances and exclusive salutes to Gospel's all time greatest stars. The, "Celebration of Gospel: Spirit in Song," DVD also includes a behind-the-scenes feature and words of wisdom from Pastor Shirley Caesar. The 2008 BMI Christian Award saluted the songwriters and publishers of the past year's most performed Christian Rock, Contemporary Christian, Inspirational, Southern and Urban Gospel songs on U.S. radio and television. Perennial Christian Music favorites Jars of Clay, critically-acclaimed rising star Aaron Shust, gospel writer, producer and Music Minister Isaiah Thomas and southern gospel songbird TaRanda Greene all perform their award-winning compositions on April 19th in Nashville, TN. Beverly Crawford, often dubbed the Patti LaBelle of Gospel, shared the stage with Patti Labelle for the first time at the14th Annual Women's Empowerment Expo 2008 recently in Raleigh, NC. Crawford has also landed a place in the May 2008 issue of Ebony Magazine! "Celebrity Mothers and How They Balance Their Careers with Stardom." (page 74) Beverly Crawford is featured in a full-page photo spread at her beautiful home in south Florida. Platinum selling and Grammy-Award winning hit-maker Rockwilder, who was the production point man behind some of Hip Hop and R&B's most successful artists (Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, 50 Cent, Redman), recently announced his decision to go Gospel. His mind is now focused on making an "ill Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg Christian album" as he put it, Rockwilder is on a mission and "feel[s] good going back to [his] Christian roots." His long time friend Whuteva left the secular industry to release a Gospel album earlier. Trouble prone rapper/actor DMX is planning to release a Gospel album in 2008. The MC has two albums on tap for this year, one of which will be a straight 'give God the glory' project. Many of DMX's conversations with God have been a matter of public record since his career bloomed to superstar status in 1998. He has recorded many inspirational ghetto hymns - such as "Lord Give Me a Sign," "A Minute for Your Son" and "The Prayer." DMX, Earl Simmons, told MTV News that the Gospel-rap project will be called, "Walk Me Now and You'll Fly Me Later." During his hiatus from the Hip-Hop world, DMX said he contemplated leaving music altogether to become a minister, but decided to return to the mic. Mark your calendars for the 9th Annual Pastors and Church Leaders Conference May 7-9, 2008 at the Greater Grace Temple, 28500 West Sever Mile Road, Detroit, Michigan. The conference will offer dozens of classes on various ministries. Special guest speakers include Bishop Larry Trotter, Bishop Paul Morton and Bishop Noel Jones. Musical guests include Dorinda Clark Cole, The Sweet Holy Spirit Choir and The Nevels. Bishop Charles H. Ellis III and First Lady Crisette Ellis are the conference's hosts. Yolanda Adams has now turned in her financial records prompting the government to withdraw its request for a judge to intervene. The IRS requested details about a pair of million-dollar mortgage loan applications and sought more information about the singer's endorsements and royalties as well as music companies and foundations with which she is affiliated. Adams has to appear in court later this month. Court filings last month revealed that the IRS section that oversees small businesses and the self-employed was investigating Adams. Atlanta’s Rev. Creflo Dollar sent a letter to the members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee explaining why he is ignoring their March 31 deadline to hand over his church’s financial records. He stated that the church should be protected against public scrutiny and Congressional evaluation of the validity of their beliefs. Rev. Dollar’s World Changers Church International in College Park is one of six mega-churches across the country that Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa asked to hand over their books last November. AARP is slated to bring a star studded, two-hour musical event, "Songs of Soul and Inspiration," to the Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA on June 21, 2008. The mega-event will be directed by Golden Globe, Emmy and Tony award-winning producer and choreographer Debbie Allen. the event features Yolanda Adams, Patti Austin, Shirley Caesar, Chaka Khan, Jamia, Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick, CeCe Winans, The Fire Choir and Ann Nesby appearing with Paris Bennett. “The Hope Nation Tour” which features some of the most exciting and dynamic young gospel singers on the scene today kicks off this Tuesday in Hattiesburg, MS and ends in Los Angeles on Memorial Day weekend. Among the artists appearing will be Coko, Jonathan Nelson, Ted Winn, Dewayne Woods, Myron Butler & Levi, Tarsha’ McMillan Hamilton and Canton Jones. Pastors Paula and Randy White's, mega-church, Without Walls International Church in Tampa has been put up for sale. The asking price is $30 million which includes 45,000 seat sanctuary, a 94,000-square-foot office building and a television studio. Randy and Paula White founded the church in 1991. The Whites announced their divorce in August. Bishop Thomas Weeks pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated assault in last summer's attack on his estranged wife, evangelist, Juanita Bynum. Weeks immediately was sentenced to three years probation, 200 hours of non-church related community service and ordered to attend anger management counseling. Judge T. Jackson Bedford of the Fulton Superior Court accepted the plea from Weeks who admitted that he grabbed Bynum, threw her down and kicked her in the parking lot of the Renaissance Concourse Hotel, near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on August 21, 2007. WXEZ Star 94.1 has been named Stellar Radio Station of the Year for Large Markets. Gospel Spotlight's H.J. Ellison is a radio personality on Star 94.1 FM. Crystal Aikin, the 33-year-old emergency room nurse, won the title of Sunday Best on BET's gospel reality show. Aikin beat out Shari Addison, 46, during the live season finale. More than 1.5 million people cast their votes over a 10-week season. Aikin brings home a national recording contract with Zomba Gospel, a 2008 Toyota Camry and a $300,000 Tide "Loads of Hope" prize package for her community The one-hour finale included special performances by Yolanda Adams and series host, Kirk Franklin. After year-long sabbatical, MegaFest will return in 2008 and will move from Atlanta, GA to South Africa and it's now called MegaFest International. The event dates are October 6th through 20th, 2008. *********************************************************************** We Spotlight Black Scientists: Fire Extinguisher - Thomas J. Martin - Pat. No. 125,063 Rotary Engine - Andrew J. Bread - Pat. No. 478,271 Pencil Sharper - John L. Love - Pat. No.594, 114 Bridle Bit- Lincoln F. Brown - Pat. No. 484, 994 Golf Tee - George F. Grant -Pat No. 638, 920 Air Conditioning Unit - Fredrick M. Jones - Pat. No. 2,475, 841 Automatic Fishing Device - George Cook - Pat. No. 625, 829 Lawn Sprinkler-Joseph H. Smith- Pat. No. 581, 785 Guitar - Robert F. Flemmings, Jr. - Pat. No. 338,727 Elevator - Alexander Miles - Pat. No. 371,207 ______________________________________ We review Hot Albums! Our Reviews: WOW Gospel #1s Mississippi Mass Choir Marvin Winans Luther Barnes VaShawn Mitchell Byron Cage L. Spencer Smith Dunamis Beverly Crawford Yolamda Adams Bobby Jones ______________________________________________________ Gospel-Spotlight.com is an E-Magazine with it's focus on Contemporary & Traditional Gospel music. Gospel-Spotlight.com provides vital information to the Gospel Community. We are Your Source for single and album charts, album reviews, audio interviews, artists spotlights and trends that occur in Gospel Music. We are your "Inside Source." This E-Magazine is a tool for Record Companies, Artists, Retail stores, Gospel Music Lover's, Public Relations Firms, Management Companies, Advertisers and Church Choirs and more." ___________________________________ Article:Tye Tribbett New Releases: Updated May 11, 2008!