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By J. MATTHEW COBB IN A SEASON where gospel music is enjoying one of its greatest triumphs in terms of sales and popularity, pop and R&B artists continue to express their love and passion for the treasured musical style. Since 2005, an impressive list of artists including Dave Hollister, Coko, Michelle Williams, Kenny Lattimore, Chante’ Moore, Kelly Price and Patti LaBelle have completed full-length gospel recordings and are adding more attention and spotlight on gospel music. Each one of their projects exemplify their faith and devotion to Jesus Christ and gives validity to the vast and bourgeoning pop appeal of gospel. And that’s not all - artists including R&B crooner John Legend, soul singer Anthony Hamilton and even the legendary Chaka Khan (whom recorded her first-ever gospel song with Richard Smallwood on his 2007 double-disc project - Journey: Live In New York) have made their share of incredible and inspiring testimonies about their relationship with God and have worked with gospel’s elite to the help spread the word about their faith. Hamilton recorded two inspirational-tinged cuts on his breathtaking Ain’t Nobody Worryin’, while appearing with J Moss' V2... project on the 2007 gospel hit I’m Not Perfect. It may seem paradoxical that these singers’ spirituality sung in song would generate great interest amongst music lovers, but this happens to be their way of paying tribute to their faith and giving back to where they’ve come from. Having said that, the gospel community will be welcoming with great anticipation the album releases of a few more pop celebrities.
Five-time GRAMMY award-winner and international pop star Dionne Warwick, with strong gospel roots in the New Hope Baptist Church of East Orange, New Jersey and a former member of the renowned family group Drinkard Singers, will be jumping back into the gospel field with her highly-anticipated project Why We Sing on Warner’s Rhino music label - in stores nationwide on April 1. It will be forty years to date since she recorded her first full-length gospel project, The Magic of Believing. Now at sixty-seven years of age, Dionne Warwick still sounds great and bring her classy, sophisticated and stylish vocals to a wonderful set of gospel classics and originals. Not much press is circulating from Rhino on this project, especially since the album has been postponed for a number of weeks, but what Warwick’s remarks regarding her commitment to her spiritual upbringing that “the gospel has and will always be a very vital part of my existence.” Produced by her son Damon Elliot, along with guest producers BeBe Winans, Percy Bady and Gregory Curtis, Why We Sing celebrates her love for gospel music and features stunning highlights including “I’m Going Up” (a duet with BeBe Winans), “Old Landmark,” “Jesus Loves Me,” the moving ballad “With All My Heart.” and duets with her sister Dee Dee Warrick and her son David Elliot - the renowned composer of Luther Vandross’ “Here and Now.” The singer is best known for her mega hits with renowned songwriting team Burt Bacharach and Hal David, which include "Anyone Who Had A Heart," "Message To Michael," "Do You Know The Way To San Jose?," "Don't Make Me Over," and "I Say A Little Prayer." After recording with Scepter Records from 1962 to the 1971, she left to record on the Warner label for a brief period. Music mogul Clive Davis signed her to Arista Records in 1979 and her career experienced a major comeback with big hits produced by Barry Manilow, Luther Vandross and Barry Gibb. With the return to Warner, on the Rhino imprint, through the album release of Why We Sing is another sign of Warwick's endurance in the music world. GRAMMY award-winner Regina Belle had been quiet on the recording scene since her 2004 mildly-acclaimed jazz offering Lazy Afternoon. What no one really expected was to see a YouTube video announcing her calling to the ministry and her aspirations to go full-time as an evangelist. Belle, with her versatile vocals, is best known for her work with Columbia and her 1989 sophomore project Stay With Me - which catapulted to number one on the R&B charts and was led by a number of hit singles including the urban soul number “Baby Come To Me,” Carvin Winans’ “Make It Like It Was” and her duet with James J.T. Taylor on ‘All I Want Is Forever.” Her career posturing for innocent, inspirationally-tinged romantic numbers including “If I Could” and her duet with Peabo Bryson on “A Whole New World” (taken from Disney’s Aladdin motion picture soundtrack) gave her listeners and fan base a great jolt of her background in gospel music. Belle made an appearance on renowned songwriter/musician Nolan Williams’ independently-released inSpiration project and surrounded an impressive set of guest artists including John Stoddart, Duawne Starling, Richard Smallwood’s Vanessa Williams and American Idol finalist Anwar Robinson. Maybe this was the great “inspriation” and motivation Belle needed to finally leap into the idea of recording a gospel project. Now no longer a rumor, the famed singer will be releasing Love Forever Shines on Ruben Rodriquez’ Pendelum Records and will be hitting stores on May 13. The album will feature the debut single, “God Is Good,” - a ol’ skool traditional gospel number staged in the “ol’ time, down home, take me to the river” gospel tradition. Already off to a good start at radio, “God Is Good” was #1 most added gospel record, #2 Most added Gospel record (monitor only), #1 Most Active Record at Gospel Radio (approaching 300 spins) in March, and top 25 at R&R. As of March 28, the song sits at #17 on Radio & Records’ Gospel National Airplay list. Her love for music is steep and rooted with passion, but she takes the time to acknowledge how great and awesome God has been in her life. “As much as I love music and the gift,” Belle said, “I love the gift giver much more.” A mega-church tour is planned for Belle this spring and will include stops at the Potter's House (Dallas, TX), University Park Baptist Church (Charlotte, NC), Greater Grace Temple (Detroit, MI) and Center of Hope Community Church (Oakland, CA). Dance-pop star Perri McKissick-Reid, better known as Peebles, was supported by Babyface and then-husband L.A. Reid’s production during the late 80s and early ‘90s and landed a number of hits including “Girlfriend,” “Mercedes Boy” and “Giving You The Benefit.” At times, she was signaled as the only rival to pop phenom Paula Abdul. She also oversaw the success and rise of Atlanta-GA based hip-hip trio TLC as their founder and manager. Years since her reigning tenure at the top of the charts, she gave her life to Jesus Christ in 1998 and submitted herself to ministry and has since started a church in Atlanta aimed at strengthening and empowering women. Since her convergence, she has been making guest appearances on TBN’s Praise the Lord program and on Benny Hinn Ministries’ telecast. Now under the name of Sister Perri, she has released a worship-oriented album Prophetic Flows Volumes I & II that focuses on laid-back R&B rhythms and calming worship structures (in the style of Juanita Bynum’s records) set to seasoned production; possessing a more mature and modern update from her dance-pop styling. Her album, led by the single “Let Freedom Reign,” is currently available for sale through her website and selected media online outlets. It is definitely an amazing thing to comprehend why seasoned singers whom made their careers from singing mainstream material are now in this season releasing gospel projects. One thing is for sure, even though some may call it a controversial move to shift from mainstream to spiritual, you can best believe the material and production will somehow reflect the kind of work they are mostly known for. The gospel industry can definitely learn a lesson or two from the pros. OTHER VALUABLE RESOURCES TO LOOK INTO:
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