Welcome to Gospel-Spotlight.com!! GS NEWS ROOM, #1 FIRST WITH NEWS     January 28, 2012 UPDATE!! ..  Tyscot Music to participate in Super Bowl activities.... It's a girl!.... January 28, 2012 UPDATE!! .. New Birth Academy plan to reopen..."Victory Is Mine" nominated for an Academy Award....  News News News News News News News News News ____________________________________________ The Super Bowl goes down in Indianapolis, IN on February 5, 2012! Tyscot Music & Entertainment will participate in various Super Bowl Celebration events. Indianapolis is the home of Tyscot Music & Entertainment. Erica Campbell, half of the multi-Grammy Award-winning sister duo, Mary Mary, has given birth to her new daughter. Campbell and husband, producer/songwriter Warryn Campbell welcomed their third child, Zaya Monique Campbell, on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012. Both mother and daughter are resting comfortably. The Malaco Music Group announced that two (2) Malaco published songs appears in two (2) Academy Award nominated films. "The Help" - "Victory Is Mine" By Dorothy Norwood. (Best Picture, Best Actress, Best supporting Actress) Also, "The Undefeated" - "Making It Better" By The Barons. (BestDocumentary) New Birth Missionary Baptist Church plans to reopen its New Birth Academy, according to Channel 2 Action News. New Birth's announcement in late December that the school would close after 18 years sent hundreds of students scrambling to find a new school. The church said then it would have to close the school due to the sluggish economy and low enrollment. New Birth spokesman Art Franklin confirmed to Channel 2 that it was announced at Sunday's worship services that the academy will reopen through a cooperative agreement with Aurora Day School. Franklin declined to release details on what role Aurora Day School will play in New Birth Academy operations, saying the details would likely be released during a news conference later this week. Aurora has campuses in Tucker and Roswell. Music World Gospel has announced the signing of Andrea Helms. Helms was the runner up in Season 4 of BET Sunday Best. She will release her forthcoming single, a cover of the Mary Mary hit "Yesterday". Look for her seven-track EP to hit stores March 2012. The nominees for the 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards includes Yolanda Adams, Deitrick Haddon, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary and Andrae Crouch. They have been all nominees in the category of "Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary)". The Sounds of Blackness have been nominated in the categories of "Outstanding World Music Album" and "Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration". Kirk Franklin's "I Smile" is also nominated as "Outstanding Song". This year's NAACP Image Awards will air live on February 17, 2012 at 8p ET on NBC. The Gospel Music Channel/GMC is set to premiere this year’s most anticipated gospel play “Sugar Mommas” starring Vanessa Williams and Terri J. Vaughn. The cast also includes Lamman Rucker, Tommy Ford, Rachel True and Gospel singer VaShawn Mitchell. “Sugar Mommas” is about sisters, Sheila (Vaughn) and Lynn (Williams), who have lived very different lives. Sheila is widowed and Lynn recently divorced with a daughter in college. With nothing but time on their hands and idle minds ready for a change, they decide to start a business together. Since they have a common love for sweets, they establish a bakery. When they invite close friend Tommi (Rachel True) to join them as their specialty pie maker, their recipe for success is complete. But these three women’s personalities are as distinct as the cupcake flavors they invent and it turns out to be a recipe for drama surprise. Jonathan Nelson has signed with Karew Records. The announcement took place Stellar Award weekend in Nashville, TN. Karew Records, owned and created by Karen Clark Sheard, is the label home for Sheard, The Clark Sisters and Kierra Sheard. Nelson is the first signee to the label outside of the immediate Clark family. Look for new music from Jonathan Nelson later this year. Earnest Pugh, sent shockwaves through the music industry this weekend during the 27th annual Stellar Awards festivities that took place in Nashville, TN. Pugh announced that his EPM Music Group label had secured a distribution deal with Entertainment One (E1). VaShawn Mitchell and Kirk Franklin were the biggest winners at the 27th Annual Stellar Awards on Saturday night January 14, 2012. Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) honored gospel giants Kirk Franklin and Hezekiah Walker at its 13th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon Friday January 13, 2012 in Nashville. Marvin Sapp’s “The Best in Me” was named BMI’s Most-Performed Gospel Song of the Year, co-written by Sapp and Aaron Lindsey. Kim Burrell and Israel Houghton hosted the luncheon, along with Catherine Brewton, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, and Del Bryant, BMI President & CEO. Artists delivered stunning performances before the show included Wess Morgan, William McDowell, Earnest Pugh and VaShawn Mitchell. The awe-inspiring musical tribute to Hezekiah Walker featured Faith Evans, Dorinda Clark Cole, Kim Burrell, DJ Rogers, Tamela Mann, Israel Houghton and Marvin Sapp. The charismatic songs of Kirk Franklin were then celebrated with performances by Fred Hammond, Jessica Reedy and the Kirk Franklin Singers, Myron Butler, LeAndria Johnson, Isaac Carree, Rance Allen and Kim Burrell. Tyscot recording artist Damita has proclaimed 2012 a year of great things for the body of Christ and plans to creatively express her love for God in many ways this year. “I Love You” is the lead single from Damita’s much anticipated 2012 release. She will perform her brand new single live in Nashville during various 2012 Stellar Award events. Mathew Knowles’ Music World Gospel will release Brian Courtney Wilson’s new CD project, "So Proud," in stores and available online everywhere on February 7, 2012. The CD cover of "So Proud," the highly-anticipated new project from gospel sensation Brian Courtney Wilson, features a picture of Wilson as a baby wearing headphones. Universal Music Christian Group/Fontana recording artist LeJuene Thompson is set to release her third album, The Evolution of Me, in the spring of 2012. The lead single from the CD, “Let God Do It,” will impact gospel radio this month. The first single from the CD, “Let God Do It,” was written by LeJuene and Cedric Thompson. The Malaco Music group has announced the signing of Alexis Allen professionally known as "Lexi." Lexi's debut Malaco CD, entitled "Phenomenal," produced by Marcus Cole (of Commissioned) will be released Spring / Summer of 2012. The fifth season of the Lexi Show currently airs every Saturday at noon (EST) on The Word Network. Riva Tims says she will not go forward with legal action against New Destiny Christian Center, after its board hired Paula White to replace her late ex-husband Pastor Zachery Tims.Riva Tims held a news conference shortly after the announcement to say she would file a lawsuit against the church over the process its board took to pick White. On her Facebook page, Tims wrote, After careful review of my amended MSA (2009); my attorney Robert Gibson discovered on December 30, 2011 that I released my rights to file a complaint against NDCC. Tims said Gibson advised her to withdraw the suit. The World's Greatest Storyteller , Dorothy Norwood has been entertaining, preaching, uplifting, mentoring, writing, and producing for more than fifty years. On January 14, 2012, Ms. Dorothy Norwood will be the recipient of the prestigious Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Awards at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN during the 2012 Stellar Awards taping. her song "Victory Is Mine appears in national commercials and Hollywood feature films such as "The Help", 5 time, 2012 Golden Globe nominated and Oscar buzz motion picture. On March 20, 2012, Dorothy Norwood returns with her latest and possibly the best recording "God's Been Just That Good." The debut single, "Just That Good", Ms. Norwood pays tribute to her best friend and mentor, The Queen Of Gospel, The Late Albertina Walker. New Destiny Christian Center officially announced what had been widely rumored: That Rev. Paula White has been selected as the successor to Zachery Tims. White, 45, assumed her duties as senior pastor during the Apopka megachurch's annual New Year's Eve services on Saturday. White, senior pastor of Without Walls International in Tampa, is a popular evangelist and author who hosts her own cable television show. For a time, she served as Zachery Tims' personal pastor. White was selected after a search conducted by New Destiny's Board of Directors. She will serve as a non-voting member of the board and will be subject to the oversight of both the Board of Directors and the church's Board of Regents. It has been reported that for 99 cents you can Download A Prayer from NewBirth.org. This is Bishop Eddie Long's Church website. On the home page of the website there is a ad that says New Birth PRAYER CALLS; 6:30 AM Prayer Recordings MP3 Downloads. When you clicked on the link it will direct you to a shopping cart and the Prayer Recordings are being sold for 99 cents each. Tyler Perry is branching out beyond his own productions and has been cast to star as the title role in upcoming movie, “I, Alex Cross,” based on the novel by author James Patterson. When the announcement was made, critics were skeptical since seasoned actor Morgan Freeman played the Alex Cross character on a big screen production in “Kiss The Girls.” Tyler Perry is known for his character Madea. Zachery Tims's mother, Madeline Yvonne Tims, doesn't want his cause of death made public. She filed a legal challenge to prevent the city of New York and its medical examiner's office from publicly revealing the Florida mega-church pastor's cause of death. It appeared that the cause of death would actually remain private. However, the Christian Post claims a judge has ruled that the New York City medical examiner's office can move forward with publicly releasing the cause and manner of Zachery Tims' death. The lawsuit filed by Madeline Tims to keep secret the cause of the death was rejected by the Manhattan Supreme Court, and the family has 30 days to appeal the decision. Many have speculated what the cause of death is, however nothing can be proven as true until the results are released. Tims was found dead in a room at the W Hotel in Times Square on Aug. 12. Investigators determined that there was no criminal element to the pastor's death. However, sources close to the investigation told the New York Daily News that a glassine envelope with white powder was found in Tims' pocket. Despite the report of Music World Gospel artists being banned by Radio One, business is still going strong in the eyes of Music World Entertainment founder, president and CEO Mathew Knowles. The music executive chooses to focus his energy on expanding his label’s reach in to the world of AM radio as he shared that his artists have received more airplay. With a new year approaching, Knowles is looking to correct past errors regarding the promotion of his gospel artists. Music World Gospel’s radio station expansion comes as Knowles deals with Radio One pulling all of Music World Music songs and artists from their radio stations around the country. Cathy Hughes’ cable channel, TV One, is suing the BET Network, MTV and Music World Music for violating its exclusive rights to the Essence Music Festival. The Music World Gospel roster of artists include Brian Courtney Wilson, BET’s Sunday Best winners Le’Andria Johnson and Amber Bullock, Trin-I-Tee 5:7, Micah Stampley, Juanita Bynum and Vanessa Bell Armstrong. Marvin Sapp is on the hunt for six background vocalists to travel with him for the 2012 touring year. In Sapp's words: After much prayer I have decided to give an opportunity to 6 saved and vocally skilled individuals who have a passion to minister to the masses with me as I spread the gospel musically in 2012. Email your Bio and Picture to 2012backgroundsingers@gmail.com to receive info of when the auditions will be held in Grand Rapids MI. Pastor DeWayne Harvey has announced the signing of gospel music veteran, the Princess of Gospel, Angela Spivey, to his Tallahassee-based Innovative Records. Spivey's first release for the label, "He Keeps His Promise," is due in April 2012. The title track will go to radio on January 2, 2012. The set is produced entirely by Harvey, Antonio Wimberly and Etienne Porter. Mary Mary’s Erica and Tina Campbell, is regretfully forced to cancel their much anticipated first ever “Have A Mary Mary Christmas Tour” as Erica’s February due date draws near. The singer has been advised by doctors that she cannot continue working at her current pace without risk of potential premature delivery. After careful consideration, the ladies have determined it is best to cancel the entire tour at this time, including their New Year’s Eve show. The quagmire that Bishop Eddie Long finds himself in has gotten so deep he’s decided to step away for awhile and use the time to heal his family, he says. The pastor of New Birth Missionary Church in Lithonia, Georgia delivered the message to the congregation Sunday morning (12-04-11). “I’m still your pastor. You’ll still receive my direction,” Long said Sunday. “You’ve given me some weeks to take care of some family business.” Long’s wife, Vanessa, filed for divorce late Thursday afternoon. She said Friday morning she had changed her mind but by day’s end announced the divorce was on. Long, his two children with Vanessa Long standing by his side, said Sunday he’s “still here,” adding he’s “stepped up and hasn’t stepped down.” After a ten year run on The Word Television Network, Dr. Bobby Jones now has a new deal and a new network. Effective, Monday, December 12, 2011, Bobby Jones Presents will be moving to The Impact Network. Dr. Jones signed an agreement with The Impact Network, only days ago and says he is looking forward in spreading his wings once again. Legendary gospel singer and pastor of Toledo, Ohio’s New Bethel Church (COGIC), Dr. Rance Allen of The Rance Allen group, was installed as Bishop to oversee 14 Michigan churches in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) at the 104th Holy Convocation in St. Louis, MO. He will succeed the late Bishop Alfred D. Knight, Jr. as the Jurisdictional Prelate of the Michigan Northwestern Harvest Jurisdiction. The Eddie Long drama continues. A North Carolina businessman involved in an investment program at Bishop Eddie Long’s Atlanta-area megachurch where former members claim they lost their retirement savings says he’s taking action to “make things right.” A group of church members are suing New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and its embattled pastor, saying they conspired with businessman Ephren Taylor Jr. to defraud the members through “wealth-building” seminars and sermons in 2009, reports the Associated Press. Attorneys for the church members say in a DeKalb County lawsuit that Taylor urged them to liquidate their retirement accounts, and as a result some lost their life savings. The U.S. Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service are also investigating issues surrounding the seminars, which were hosted at the Lithonia-based church. Gospel Today, America's longest-running urban Christian magazine has announced that Dr. Teresa Hairston will retire from the magazine she founded over two decades ago, marking a new era for the faith-based media mainstay. Her son, Roland T. Hairston, II will take over as Publisher. Cr. Hairston intends to remain a valued advisor to the magazine. She will redirect her energy to various endeavors including the Gospel Heritage Foundation, which she founded in 1996. More details from Dr. Teresa Hairston were included in her final "Inspired Perspective" column in the November/December 2011 issue of Gospel Today, available at newsstands now. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored BeBe & CeCe Winans with the 2,452th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, October 20, 2011. Kirk Franklin will rock the nation with the "Fearless Tour." It will go down in fifteen states in four weeks. The tour kicks off on November 1, 2011and will feature special guests Isaac Carree, BET Sunday Best winner Amber Bullock and Verity Recording artists Deon Kipping and Jason Nelson. Franklin will be touring in support of his 12th and latest CD, "Hello Fear." Franklin is once again partnering with the American Heart Association’s “Power to End Stroke” campaign to increase awareness and to educate the African American community about their risk of stroke. Bishop Eddie Long has officially asked for the return of settlement money paid to three of his accusers, Jamal Parris, Spencer LeGrande and latecomer, Centino Kemp, as a result of their sexual coercion lawsuit. Long reportedly had his attorneys, Eckl & Farnham, send a letter to each plaintiff requesting the return of nearly $1 million for breaching the confidentiality terms of their agreement. Parris and LeGrande both recently sat down with Atlanta’s Fox 5 for an interview, discussing further details of their questionable relationships with Long. The pair also revealed plans to write a tell-all book about their experiences. Both assert the damage done to them due to Long’s alleged conduct extends beyond what money can resolve, and expressed little concern about the possibility of having to repay it. Terms of the settlement were kept confidential, but the amount paid out to the Bishop’s accusers to compensate them for damages and keep them quiet is estimated to be at $1.5 million, based on the letter and the fact that the young men were paid equitably. However, the money reportedly didn’t come out of Long’s personal finances; the church, New Birth Missionary Baptist, and its members picked up the tab through its insurance. The letter sent to Kemp, LeGrande and Parris outlines the plaintiffs’ “demand for arbitration” though no legal documents have been filed. *********************************************************************** 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 ______________________________________ Hot Albums! ______________________________________________________ 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 Music Industry. 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." ___________________________________ New Releases: Updated January 24, 2012!