Welcome to Gospel-Spotlight.com!! GS NEWS ROOM, 1# FIRST WITH NEWS     July 8, 2011 UPDATE!! ..  A Southern Baptist first.... BET's Sunday Best headed for a 4th season.... July 8, 2011 UPDATE!! .. Mary Mary BET Award winners...Isaiah D. Thomas inks new deal....  News News News News News News News News News _________________________________________ Two-time Stellar award winner, producer, songwriter and vocalist Isaiah D. Thomas has inked a deal with Bronx Bridge Entertainment and F. Hammond Family Entertainment. He has released his latest single "I Dare You" to all digital outlets. Thomas is preparing for a live recording session on July 29, 2011 at Empowerment Temple in Baltimore, MD. The album will drop in the Fall of 2011. Thomas is a two-time Stellar award winner, winning the coveted "Song of the Year" award for "I Will Bless the Lord" in 2007 BET's Sunday Best returns for its fourth season with a two-hour season premiere on July 10, 2011. Auditions took place in Dallas, Los Angeles and Atlanta with thousands of hopefuls participating. Celebrity judges Donnie McClurkin and Mary Mary return as Kirk Franklin will again serve as the show's guest host. Kim Burrell will return as the season's vocal mentor. THE GMA Board of Directors and the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau announced today that the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards will again take place in Atlanta, Georgia in 2012 and will be aired on GMC. The awards, slated to take place in April 2012 offer the most comprehensive platform of music celebrating Christian and Gospel music. Grace Central will be hosting their first Women's Conference "Walking in Grace" in Chicago. This event will provide food for the body, soul and spirit. Darius Brooks is senior pastor. As a singer, musician, songwriter, music producer, choir director, pastor and now film writer, movie producer and actor; Haddon has continually pushed the gospel music envelope in various arenas. Now D. Haddy brings you, ANTHOLOGY: THE WRITER & HIS MUSIC (Deluxe Edition) CD w/DVD will be available August 23, 2011! Anita Wilson has signed with EMI Gospel. Wilson is a member of Donald Lawrence & Company's group and sung lead on a song from "The Law of Confession, Pt. 1." She is currently working on her solo release "Worship Soul," featuring the single "Speechless." The Southern Baptist Convention held its annual meeting in Phoenix, AZ, and made one of the most historic decisions of its existence when it elected Pastor Fred Luter (Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA) as first vice president. Leaders of SBC say that this unprecedented move will likely lead to Luter's elevation to the presidency next year. "The election of the pastor, the Rev. Fred Luter of New Orleans, at the denomination's annual meeting in Phoenix was a milestone for a church that was born in defense of slavery and has worked to overcome a history of racism. The Southern Baptists have seen a decline in members and are trying to broaden their appeal among blacks, Hispanics and Asians." Mary Mary won the Best Gospel Award at the 2011 BET Awards on June 26, 2011. The duo joined Deitrick Haddon and Pastor Donnie McClurkin in a rousing rendition of "Thank You", dedicated to the late Bishop Walter Hawkins as well as victims of the Southern floods. Mali Music was featured as part of BET's "Music Matters" segment and Pastor Shirley Caesar performed a tribute to Patti Labelle. Music World Gospel/Interface Entertainment recording artist and international worship leader, Micah Stampley, will release his fifth CD, "One Voice," in stores August 23, 2011. "One Voice" features 12 songs, including two interludes. The CD is produced by Micah Stampley and co-produced by Cameron Sankey. Two songs “Shout” and “Hosanna” will impact gospel radio in July. Another high profile minister is weighing in on the Bishop Eddie Long scandal. Bishop Paul S. Morton has decided to make a public plea to Eddie Long. He wants him to show remorse or repent publicly so that the healing can begin. Morton joins a growing list of ministers speaking out on the issue. Mega-Church Pastor Creflo Dollar came out in support of Bishop Eddie Long recently, while Juanita Bynum and Bishop T.D. Jakes chose to speak only to say that we all should pray for those involved. On Sunday, during his Father's Day sermon Bishop Morton addressed Bishop Longs lack of humility and repentance over his actions. He acknowledges that Eddie Long, who once spoke to him, won't return his calls. Here is the audio: http://www.youtube.com/v/ZFjkcauYEGg? CeCe Winans' Always Sisters Forever Brothers Conference has inspired more than 15,000 young people during the past 4 conferences. This year it will go down at Belmont University’s Curb Events Center in Nashville, July 21 – 23, 2011 continuing the mission of encouragement and motivation in a time that has presented more challenges than most have ever experienced. Erica and Tina have announced the DO SOMETHING BIG campaign. The community-based campaign encourages outreach within the church community to create the most impactful event for their neighborhood. Churches can register to participate in this competition at www.ilovemarymary.com. The DO SOMETHING BIG campaign officially launched June 13th. Throughout the summer Mary Mary will surprise churches with appearances across the country to encourage participation, while the grand prize winner will receive a full concert from Mary Mary at a date TBD. Mike Chandler, the CEO of the 40-station radio network REJOICE Musical Soulfood Network, has acquired three 25,000 WATT TV stations which are located in Hampton, Myrtle Beach and Virginia Beach from the Christian-based Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN). The stations are currently being upgraded/prepared to launch. Once they are operational, they will be owned by REJOICE. Malaco Music Group & B&C Records release the new single, "Things," featuring Pastor Marvin Winans as it celebrates the two-time Grammy Awards, five Stellar Awards, one Dove Award, a NAACP Image Award and a 2011 BET AWARD nomination album "Still." The Atlanta Gospelfest Leadership luncheon will go down July 16, 2011 at the Georgia World Congress Center featuring Shirley Murdock. News of Creflo Dollar's support for Bishop Eddie Long swept through the internet today, as Dollar addressed his ministry on the issue. The sermon was captured on tape. In the video Creflo Dollar says Long "Is still anointed to do what he is supposed to do." Dollar repeatedly referred to the scandal as a wreck, Dollar say, Long is still saved and still going to heaven". The award winning Mississippi Mass Choir will once again "Go ye into all the world;" evangelizing in song; with a tour of South Africa. Hosted by the I Can Foundation, the tour will take place June 9-20th and included services in Johannesburg, New London, Hazyview, and Pretoria. According to ajc.com, Bishop Eddie Long’s controversial case is over. B.J. Bernstein, the lawyer who vocally represents the four men who accused Bishop Long of sexual misconduct has confirmed that a settlement has been met. Additionally, Barbara Marschalk, the lawyer representing New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and LongFellows Youth Academy stated that the “lawsuits will be dismissed, with prejudice, by close of business Friday May 27, 2011. The details about the settlement have not been revealed, and neither attorney would provide comments about the terms of the settlement. McDonald’s will kick off its 5th annual Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour featuring Grammy Award-winner Hezekiah Walker. The tour is part of McDonald’s everyday commitment to celebrating the culture of the African-American community. The tour will make stops at churches in 6 U.S. cities. (Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Atlanta) Kirk Franklin rocked the season finale of American Idol. Franklin perform his single "I Smile." This marks only the second performance by a gospel artist in the ten year history of the show. The Stellar Awards will introduce two new categories for its 27th Annual Awards. The committee has added "Spoken Word CD Recording of the Year" while revamping the "Music Video of the Year" category into "Long Form Video of the Year" and "Short Form Video of the Year". Nomination submissions for the 27th annual Stellar Awards are open through June 30, 2011 at the Stellar Awards website. Bishop and Gospel artist Larry Trotter is on a campaign to support the proposed ban of blunt wraps in the city of Chicago. The senior pastor of Sweet Holy Spirit Church of Chicago. Bishop Trotter backs legislation sponsored by state Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-13th Dist.) and state Rep. Art Turner (D-9th) to ban the sale of the fruit-flavored cigar wraps that are emptied of its tobacco and replaced with marijuana. Maurette Brown Clark returns once again with her signature brand of “Praise & Worship” on her upcoming 4th CD “The Sound Of Victory” on AIR, distributed by The Malaco Music Group. "The Sound Of Victory” was recorded “Live” in Norfolk,VA. Malaco Records, home of gospel music artists such as BeBe & CeCe Winans, The Caravans, Mississippi Mass Choir and Dorothy Norwood, was heavily damaged after it was hit by a tornado. One of Malaco’s founders, Wolf Stephenson, was inside with about 15 employees when the tornado powered through. After a ten-year hiatus, Dawkins & Dawkins are poised to release "From Now On." The duo is now signed to Light Records and have just released their new single titled "Get Down." Look for their full length release in stores June 28, 2011. GRAMMY Awards process has been streamlined. The Recording Academy has restructured its categories across all fields and genres reducing the total number of categories from 109 to 78. The "Gospel" field was renamed to the "Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Field". The former "Gospel" field recognized seven different categories and now the "Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Field" will only recognize five categories. These new categories are "Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance", "Best Gospel Song", "Best Contemporary Christian Music Song", "Best Gospel Album" and "Best Contemporary Christian Music Album". The categories of "Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album" is out. All changes will be reflected and recognized in the 54th Annual Grammy Award ceremony in 2012. Donnie McClurkin is preparing to take his Perfecting Music Conference across the country. McClurkin takes the tour to seven cities this year. The two-day conference will make stops in Los Angeles (TBA), Philadelphia (Sept. 29-Oct. 1 ); Dallas, TX (Oct. 27-29) and Miami (Nov. 17-19). The conference is designed to expand the role of music and the arts in ministry to serve as a platform for the advancement of artists, musicians and ministry leaders. Mathew Knowles, the founder, President and CEO of Music World Entertainment (MWE), has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Gospel Music Association (GMA). Knowles will bring to the board his creative, business and management expertise, as well as a profound commitment to music. BeBe Winans has been named Executive Music Director of Christian Cultural Center, headed by Pastor A. R. Bernard. There is a little rumour circulating in the industry that the controversial and infamous Tonéx who now uses the moniker Brian Slade has inked a deal with Max Siegel, President of Imago Dei Music Group.??? *********************************************************************** 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! ______________________________________________________ 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 May 2, 2011!