Welcome to the Gospel Artist Network

San Francisco Examiner critic James Kelton said, "The energy transmitted between her and her audience makes most rock'n'roll fanaticism seem like empty piety." A quote that still stands true today for the energetic 11-time Grammy Award-winning artist Shirley Caesar.

Whether mingling with Oprah Winfrey, shooting a film with Beyonce or performing for the President of The United States, she continues to record albums that not only win multiple awards but also touch individuals in unexplainable measures.

A woman who has always exhibited unparalleled charisma, who could have, long ago, retired and rested on her many successes, does it again.

On September 6th Caesar will release her 41st CD “I Know The Truth”-the first to be released on her new record label Shu-Bel Records-distributed through Artemis Gospel (formerly known as Light Records), to include 12 tracks with a variety of styles including a twist of hip hop, church, and quartet where she undoubtedly brings her signature energetic powerhouse vocals with an abundance of love and encouragement.

"We at Artemis Gospel are honored to partner with Pastor Shirley Caesar and her label Shu-Bel Records and consider it a privilege to be chosen as her label home," said Phillip White, former GM of Light Records now President of Artemis Gospel. “To begin a new label with an artist of the caliber of Pastor Caesar is a dream situation that few label executives ever get to experience.”

Just as people listened to her past recordings and were encouraged, “I Know The Truth” continues her philosophy and combines music with ministry to convey her messages.
The unexpected surprise is Stellar and Dove award-winning recording artist Tonéx who joined Caesar in the studio collaborating on "I Know The Truth” where Caesar actually raps.

"Working with Pastor Caesar was nothing short of amazing”, said Tonéx. Not only is she young and hip, she wanted to do the hard stuff in hip-hop that I didn't expect to happen. I have wanted to put her in my world for about five years now and I spoke it prophetically a long time ago. I still can't believe that it's really manifesting!”

Other stand-out songs include "Every Day is Like Mother's Day," in memory of Caesar's mother, and "Jail Bird," a country song about a man on death row who commits himself to God.
Overall, Caesar takes her listeners on a joyous ride showing versatility while her usual energy uplifts and encourages.
“The project itself is vintage Shirley Caesar and offers a few things a little different from the norm for her,” said producer Sanchez Harley. “The industry should get ready, cause Pastor Caesar is still here.”

Earning numerous accolades including 11Grammys, 13 Stellar Awards, 18 Dove Awards, an induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and recently honored at Oprah Winfrey’s Legend’s Ball for her contributions to the arts and entertainment, Caesar has surpassed her wildest dreams.

She has successfully recorded forty albums and performed duets with extraordinary vocalists as Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, Faith Evans and Destiny’s Child Michelle Williams enabling her to effectively bridge the gap between R&B and Gospel music.

Indeed a living legend, Caesar has made several notable appearances including a series of commercials for MCI Communications, the televised Live from Disney World Night of Joy, the Gospel According to VH-1, a White House performance for George Bush, and a speech on the Evolution of Gospel Music to the US Treasury Department.

She completed her third sold-out run on Broadway, starring in "Born To Sing," the third installment of the "Mama I Want to Sing" trilogy. She played New York's Madison Square Garden in the hit gospel musical, "This Is My Song," with Cissy Houston and Tramaine Hawkins. She has also been involved with four major motion picture soundtracks, including Whitney Houston's "The Preacher's Wife," the John Singleton film "Rosewood," and acting roles with Warner Brothers Films' "Why Do Fools Fall In Love,” and Paramount Pictures “The Fighting Temptations” with Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Beyonce’ Knowles.

While the music industry keeps her busy, she always finds her way back to assume her pastoral duties, at Mt. Calvary Word of Faith in North Carolina, where her messages of encouragement and peace are heard throughout the community.

Shirley Caesar is the essence of inspiration and vitality--a global sensation

The DVD release of The Clark Sisters Live – One Last Time – the final live TV performance by one of the top female Gospel groups of all time – has debuted at #1 on the Christian Video Charts, it was announced today. The DVD is the first released in a new partnership between the Gospel Music Channel, which produced and world premiered the show as part of their Front Row Live concert series, and EMI Gospel.
"It's rare to have a #1 album, a #1 single and a #1 music video but with an iconic group like the Clark Sisters not that surprising," commented Larry Blackwell, vice president and general manager of EMI Gospel. "The unique and exciting element is having Gospel Music Channel as a real partner in this story. Their ongoing willingness to expose Gospel artists has been a key success factor to Live – One Last Time and we look forward to a successful long-term relationship as we both grow the genre. We were honored to have the legendary Clark Sisters perform in one of Gospel Music Channel signature series."

"This immediate initial success of the DVD is a testament to their popularity and is a great way to launch our partnership with EMI Gospel," says Charles Humbard, president and CEO of Gospel Music Channel. "EMI Gospel is a fantastic partner and we're looking forward to building an even stronger relationship with them to bring more great artists and their music to the fans."

The farewell concert, an intimate show with family, friends and fans, took place in March in Nashville. The group performs new songs, including their new single, plus takes a trip down memory lane performing most of their popular songs including You Brought The Sunshine. The well-known Clark Sisters are widely known for their inimitable vocal signature. They have been one of the top Gospel groups in the United States for years. The sisters have continued to expand the legacy begun by their mother, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. The immensely talented Detroit natives fashioned a successful livelihood with eight highly successful albums, including He Gave Me Nothing To Lose (1979), Is My Living In Vain (1980), You Brought The Sunshine (1981), Sincerely (1982), Heart and Soul (1986), Conqueror (1988), Bringing It Back Home (1989), and Miracle (1994). In 1981, the sisters posted a Billboard chart topping hit on the Dance charts that garnered a gold album and established the singers as a nationwide pop culture phenomenon. After moving on to equally successful solo careers and countless achievements, The Clark Sisters return as pre-distinguished figures in Gospel music. One Last Time was released in stores everywhere on April 10 and also hit #1 on the Billboard Gospel charts. Produced by visionary Donald Lawrence, the CD was the first new project from the illustrious group in over a decade.

Krystal Meyers Faith is irrepressible. Whether it’s whispered or shouted, it ignites a passion that must be shared, and that spark burns brightly throughout pop artist Krystal Meyers’ new release, Make Some Noise (9/9/08). It’s a potent set of songs that find the talented 20-year old exploring new musical territory while continuing to serve up the kind of insightful lyrics that made her first two albums so groundbreaking.

“This music is fun and energetic and is going to be fun on stage,” says Meyers, who is already performing some of her new songs in concert to enthusiastic response. “It’s a different kind of energy. Some of the songs like ‘S.O.S.’ and ‘My Freedom’ are more guitar-driven, but there are other songs like ‘Shine,’ the first radio single, that are totally '80s-inspired, fun, dance, pop/rock music. It’s a diverse record that defines my different musical layers.”

Meyers first burst on the scene with her self-titled Essential Records debut in 2005, spawning her breakthrough hit “Anticonformity,” a song she wrote at camp before entering ninth grade. Her debut set spawned four top ten singles and also launched her career abroad. Her sophomore album, Dying For a Heart, solidified Meyers’ stature as one of the top artists in Christian music – earning her a second Dove nomination in the female vocalist of the year category – and boosting her audience overseas, earning her major pop star status in Japan.

A beautiful young woman, always effortlessly fashionable, Meyers is almost an anomaly in today’s culture. In a world where young artists seem to continually wind up as troubled tabloid fodder, she’s a successful recording artist who is incredibly grounded and ever mindful of her platform as an influencer. She’s equally comfortable appearing on the cover of Nylon Magazine (Japan) or speaking to young girls on the Revolve tour, an outing she’s looking forward to this fall.

As an artist who has recorded three albums before her 20th birthday, it’s obvious Krystal Meyers has a lot to say, but Make Some Noise reveals a young woman whose faith has grown exponentially over the past couple of years. “I have a more mature relationship with God,” Meyers states. “I’m 20 years old, that’s four years difference between my first record and this record. There’s a lot that goes on within those years – being a teenager and coming into adulthood and then being on my own for two years. There’s a lot of maturity that has happened and a lot of heart changes that have happened.”

Achieving that spiritual maturity was a rather uncomfortable road and Meyers admits she went through some difficult times. “I was so tired of getting up on stage and acting like I was a ‘together girl’ who was touring the world and everything was going right, when everything was wrong,” she says in describing what she calls her winter season. “It’s not that I was going through anything terrible, but I wasn’t in tune with God and it was awful because He is my best friend. He daily pursues us, but I wasn’t running back towards Him.”

Meyers began diving into Scripture and feeling her parched soul refill. She began to pour her emotions into new songs. “I don’t think I’ve ever truly said ‘Okay this is who I am! This is me! I’m going to put it all out there!’ I don’t think I ever let myself be that vulnerable.”

Once she’d shaken off the burden of trying to pretend all was perfect in her world, Meyers felt free to explore a different musical palette. Though she’s been primarily known as a rock chick, Make Some Noise, which was produced by Doubledutch (Mat Kearney, tobyMac), has a buoyant pop flavor. “I want to be making records that reflect who I am, what I’m currently listening to and what music that I’m influenced by,” says Meyers. “When you’re writing records that are actually you, people tend to connect better with what’s being communicated.”

Musically the title track is a delicious pop confection, but lyrically it’s a bold call to stand up for what you believe. “It’s about getting out there and making a positive impact,” shares Meyers. “Many people say that my generation is a dying generation; that we’re hopeless and have nowhere to go, but I don’t agree. I think people are more involved. We care about the environment, social justice, politics, those in need – we care about things that are making a difference in our world. It’s important for us to make an impact, but the only way you can make an impact is if you are loud about it. You can’t just sit in a corner and be reserved. Live out loud! Make some noise!”

“Shine” is another upbeat song of encouragement. “That’s my favorite song on the record and it’s so fun to play live,” enthuses Meyers. “Recently, I’ve really learned that I have to be excellent in all that I do. I need to use the talents and opportunities that God has given me, to the fullest extent possible. The line from the song that says ‘nobody’s going to get in the way of my shine,’ definitely sums up what this song is about. I’m blessed to be on this exciting journey, and I’m not going to let anything get in the way of my shine.”

Though there are moments of unbridled joy on the record, Meyers also bares her soul on several emotional tracks that showcase not only the strength and maturity in her vocals but also the depth of her songwriting gift. “S.O.S.” is a poignant song that finds Meyers being totally vulnerable and crying out to God. “My Freedom” is an achingly transparent ballad. “I’ve come out of this place in my life where I’ve been dry and needing a spiritual revival, needing God to pour out and open up the flood gates on me,” she reveals. “The song talks about how beautiful and how wonderful it is to be set free. I know what the consequences are in not spending time with God and how dry and how bad it hurts to be further and further away. Christ is my freedom and that is such an encouraging and beautiful thing to experience.”

Krystal Meyers is a young woman who is not afraid to make some noise. She doesn’t hesitate to open her heart, be totally vulnerable and share her struggles. Yet she’s also quick to celebrate those moments of freedom and triumph along her journey of faith, and she’s quick to encourage others to do the same. “You can be cool! You can have fun, but you can also make a positive impact,” she says. “You’re not just walking around this earth with nothing to offer. I promise you, you have something to give to the world. Everyone does. So go on and make some noise!”

Smokie Norful was meant for such a time as this. With seven years in gospel music, he’s become a heavyweight of the genre, reaching benchmarks that have taken others a lifetime to achieve: Among other accomplishments, he’s a GRAMMY®, Dove, and Stellar winner, a bona fide Billboard chart-topper, a two-time gold-selling artist, and a crossover star responsible for the unforgettable, multi-format smash, “I Need You Now.”
Smokie Norful Live, the latest chapter in a vertiginous rise to the very zenith of gospel, is the project he was destined to make. It brings together both of his personas—artistic and pastoral—for an in-concert experience that’s also the closest representation of who he is as a singer and minister.

“If you catch me on Sunday morning, I sound just like this,” Norful says. “I don’t have a Sunday-morning me and then a concert-night me. It’s all the same person. I dress the same. I sing the same. I preach the same—the Word that you get in between songs is the same you get at church.”

With that clear-cut sense of purpose, Norful went on to make Smokie Norful Live, his fourth EMI Gospel outing and first-ever live recording. The disc and accompanying concert DVD serve as a fitting capstone to everything that’s transpired in the most recent season of Norful’s life, a musical reminder of the faithfulness of a God Who sees us through every trial, every tear, and every suffering.

Recorded before a crowd of more than 2,000 at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Memphis, Tenn., Smokie Norful Live is in many ways a family affair, as many of the onstage musicians and sidemen are fellow worshippers with Norful at Victory Cathedral Worship Center, the church he founded. One of them is project co-producer Jason Tyson, the singer’s longtime music director on the road, as well as a minister of music at Victory, business partner and a trusted brother and friend.

As for the choice of Memphis, the pastor says it was a no-brainer. “I have all kinds of connectivity to Memphis—it’s been like a second home to me,” says Norful, who was born in Little Rock but grew up in Pine Bluff, both in the neighboring state of Arkansas. “When I was a little boy, my mother and father would take us over to Memphis, and my great-uncle and aunt who live there would take us to the mall to do Christmas and school shopping. Also, my wife is from Memphis.”

With all of those familiar factors in place, it’s no wonder Smokie Norful Live sounds and looks the way it does. From the celebratory strains of opener “He’s Gonna Come Through,” a collaboration with gospel co-laborer Tye Tribbett, it’s evident the program is but an extension of what Norful already does so well.

The track is an explosion of energy: throughout the duration, Norful and Tribbett do their best to keep up with each other as they encourage concertgoers and remind them of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness.

Without taking a breath, Norful brings the funk with the call-and-response “I Will Bless the Lord,” an up-tempo praise anthem that would sound equally at home at church or on gospel airwaves. As revealed on the DVD version of Smokie Norful Live, the singer means business when giving praise where praise is due.

“I know this is not Sunday morning,” warns Norful as he introduces the song, “but I sometimes do this at my church.” With the poise of a preacher, he goes through a laundry list of reasons why God is to be trusted at all times, only to conclude with resolve, “God is going to release us from our spirit of weariness.”

Once the audience has been ushered into an atmosphere of praise, Norful lays on thick the Sunday-morning spirit in the arresting first single, “Justified,” a track that serves as a primer for the type of artist he is: a pastor and a singer .

For the swaying, neo-traditional “My Choice,” Norful dons his minister’s hat once again—preaching in song as if this were a church service at Victory Cathedral. By the time Norful reaches the testimonial “Don’t Quit” and the hand-clapper “I’ve Been Delivered,” Smokie Norful Live has asserted itself, both aurally and visually.

Of course, those who prefer Norful’s tender, balladeer side will relish the prayerful “Dear God,” a face-to-face with the Lord where the singer sits at the piano and looks back on his life, only to express gratitude to Him for his steadfast faithfulness. It’s a show-stopping moment, highly reminiscent of previous Norful favorites “Run Til I Finish,” “God Is Able,” and the career-defining “I Need You Now.”

Another cornerstone of the project is Norful’s knockout cover of Lionel Richie and the Commodores’ “Jesus Is Love,” a lovely duet with R&B songstress and label mate Heather Headley, who also included the song in her own EMI Gospel debut, Audience of One. “She’s a sweetheart,” Norful says of the Tony-winning Broadway star. “I love her spirit and her personality.”

Norful has no magic recipe for the energy, synergy, and prodigy evinced on the sights and sounds of Smokie Norful Live, other than the fact that he’s simply doing what the Lord has meant for him to do all along.

“I’m really just a church kid,” he says. “I have other components to add to the flavoring, but the bottom line is, I’m just a church kid who loves gospel music, loves God, and loves the Word of God. Where I have a natural tendency to excel is in a live setting. It’s just a comfort zone that I’ve fallen into.”

It’s a delicate balance, one Norful knows how to strike and maintain. It’s a new season in his life, a full plate that includes being the priest of his own home, pastoring a two-site congregation in Chicago, Illinois, and his evolving career as a recording artist and record label president.

“I have a good team around me, beginning with my wife,” Norful continues. “She brings stability. She brings balance. She makes sure that the home is secure, that my children are covered, that I’m covered. If I run out the door and I run back in realizing that I forgot something, she’s already standing at the door with it. That’s symbolic of the whole dynamic between us.”

It was a warm September night in Fort Worth in 1978. A young singer/songwriter took the stage for her first paid performance. She sang all the songs in her youthful repertoire and even tossed in a couple Carole King compositions for good measure. Yet she still wanted to give the audience more for their money. As she stood there pondering her next move, someone in the audience yelled, "Just sing them again."
So she did and so she has. For nearly 30 years Amy Grant's songs have inspired her legion of fans and defined her career. Needless to say, it's rather poetic that she returned to Fort Worth and "sang them again" for her latest collection, Time Again…Amy Grant Live, a project that takes the audience on a musical trip down memory lane and reminds us of all of the power of the songs, the purity of the message and the incomparable talent of Amy Grant. "It was the last Saturday in September and my record had just come out that spring during my senior year," Grant recalls of that first paid gig. "I remember that a lot of people were there and I was shocked that that many people would come. There were 11 songs on the record. I got through those and threw in a couple more. I thought 'Oh gosh, those people paid $7 and I hardly did anything.'"

What the audience saw that night in that 17-year-old girl, and what fans have been responding to ever since, is Grant's desire to always give people more than they expect, to always share her heart in a transparent way that dissolves the distance between the stage and the seats. It's the only way she knows. And it's a quality that has served her so well over the years. Grant has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, won six Grammy Awards and 21 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. She netted her most recent Dove in April 2006 in the inspirational album of the year category for Rock of Ages…Hymns & Faith. She's well-known as the pioneering Christian singer whose success on mainstream radio opened doors for other Christian artists. Her impact was recently celebrated with a star on the legendary Walk of Fame in Hollywood, making Grant the only artist with roots in contemporary Christian music to receive such an honor. (Other artists with Gospel roots to receive a star include Andrae Crouch and Al Green).

Time Again…Amy Grant Live was recorded for a CD and filmed for a DVD at Fort Worth's Bass Hall, a perfect venue in which to capture the intimate bond Amy has always forged with her audience. The CD features such well-loved hits as Lead Me On, Stay For Awhile, Baby Baby, Every Heartbeat, and a new studio version of In A Little While, which is being released as the project's lead single. The arrangement was inspired by a Tommy Sims performance. "One night in Nashville I was going to be part of a songwriter in-the-round with Wayne Kirkpatrick, Gordon Kennedy and Tommy Sims," recalls Grant. "It was Tommy's turn to sing and he said, 'I didn’t write this song. Amy wrote this song with a couple of friends and I've always loved it.' Then he started singing In a Little While and I loved the way he did it. I went home and figured out the guitar chords as best I could and started doing it." Sims and Bannister co-produced the track. "Tommy's version of the song is what really revived my interest in it," says Grant. "It was fun to go back and redo it."

The songs on Time Again represent nearly 30 years of artistry and encompass a vast array of emotional territory for both the artist and her audience. "They are all definitely snapshots," says Grant. "They are a journey and I can't hear a song without thinking of so many layered experiences – the writing of it, the recording of it, sometimes the making of the video was memorable. I remember being up on a clock tower in New York City for a video shoot. I was watching the city at sunset. I spoke out loud to nobody but the pigeons and said, 'Can you believe I'm up here on top of a gigantic building in New York?' Songs have given me so many opportunities." Fans can share in those reminiscences on Time Again…Amy Grant Live, the DVD that features Grant's performance at Bass Hall as well as special behind the scenes footage, breakfast with Amy's fan club, a special audio commentary by Amy, and innovative footage from a "fan cam." "We ran a contest on our website and someone was chosen to have a video camera and an all access pass," Amy says of the fan cam adventure. "They were in the dressing room, backstage and everywhere. That was interesting."

For the concert portion of the DVD, Amy brings the audience into her living room – well actually as close as they can get out on the road as she brought her sofa from home, the picture that hangs above that sofa and other items from the living room of the house she shares with husband Vince Gill and their family. "I feel like this project is neatly marked by a long-standing relationship between a singer/songwriter and the audience, and I think you feel that when you watch it," she says. "Any artist/audience relationship develops over a period of decades. It's not about a particular song. It's not about a big presentation. It's about familiarity. That's why everything from the stage set up to the way we did the songs highlights the familiarity and the relationship and the friendship. It’s less about presentation and more about shared experience."

In essence that's what it all comes down to – shared experience. Through the years, Amy Grant has created so many memories with her audience. Whether helping a family in need on her recent NBC television show Three Wishes or singing along with a local symphony on her fall 2006 tour, Amy Grant is all about sharing experiences and touching lives. "I would never in a million years guessed how it would turn out," she says of her career and all the success and celebrity that have followed that first gig in Fort Worth. "It's like that story in the Bible of the little boy with the loaves and fishes. I've always felt like the raw material I brought to the table was pretty basic, pretty simple – not a lot of vocal tricks, not a lot of extraordinary guitar playing, just pretty functional. But when I came to the table, I just said 'God anything that you feel like doing with what you gave me, go right ahead.' I feel like extraordinary things have happened and I'm shocked every time I think about it."

For a man who has declared that he may at any moment cease making music to concentrate fully on his passion for ministering, Donnie McClurkin can never stay away long from recording profoundly uplifting music for the soul. The evidence: his latest collection We All Are One (Live in Detroit) - his breathlessly anticipated first music recording in five years! Along for the momentous celebration are very special guests CeCe Winans, Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary and Karen Clark-Sheard. Once again, Donnie, his singers and musicians share the joy of God’s bounty - live before an on-fire congregation where platinum-plus Pastor McClurkin’s vocal and testimonial gifts have always shined their brightest.
“I decided to record in Detroit after much prayer. I put a lot of thought into the cities we record,” Donnie shares. “My mentor Andrae Crouch made one of his best CDs live in London, so I did the same thing some 20 years afterwards (resulting in the platinum Live in London…and More CD which included Donnie’s now classic anthem “We Fall Down”). I recorded my CD Again in California because my first time ever being given a platform in someone else’s church was 1982 in Los Angeles at West Angeles Church of God and Christ. Recording in Detroit this time goes without saying because that’s home! I was there for 13 years and was a charter member at Perfecting Church which was founded by Marvin Winans. Even with Detroit’s tough transitions and hard situations, the church has always been the mainstay that holds everything together. By bringing this recording to Detroit and bringing the churches together there, we can aid in the healing of that city.”

The themes of the 12-song We All Are One are of unity and tolerance. Donnie explains, “Jesus said, ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand,’ yet we remain disconnected: Republicans and Democrats, Blacks, Whites, Yellows and Browns, Baptists and Methodists, Lutherans and Episcopalians… Where is the unity? Coming from a religious background, I was taught to judge harshly, but my thinking now is, ‘Let God do the judging so that I may learn how to love and understand the ways in which we are all connected.’ I believe that lesson of compassion and fellowship will ultimately be learned by the young ones coming behind me. For my song ‘We All Are One,’ I brought in Asaph Ward – one of the greatest producers in gospel music – and we came up with a ‘World Beat’ to unite the masses. At the end of the song, adult voices fade into children’s voices singing, ‘We all are one in The Lord,’ driving home the point that you have to come to Him as a child.”

We All Are One (Live in Detroit) is a boldly eclectic collection from McClurkin, moving from the powerfully opener “Trusting in You” and the lilting call and response vibe of “You Are My God and King” (featuring a playful battle of the choir sections on the “Reprise”) to the soul-soothing “Let the River Flow” and a duet with the ever-amazing Karen Clark-Sheard for “Wait on The Lord.”

Donnie enthuses, “On ‘I Choose to Be Dancing,’ we incorporated many different feels - hard rock with the guitars and strings for the culture sound, but we kept the rhythm section urban. And on my praise and worship ‘Halleujah Song’ - which God gave me on a Sunday when we were all up in church praying - the idea of praising God in a succession of different languages just came to me at the last second! We sing in Dutch, Spanish and the African language Yoruba. Oshe ba ba means ‘Thank you, Father.’ ”

Among the most profound songs on We All Are One is the piano and strings meditation “All We Ask,” on which Donnie weaves the testimonies of three different people, verse by verse, immortalizing them in song. Donnie explains, “The first verse is about a young man who came to me trying to find his place in life, the second verse is from my personal story, and the last verse is about my older sister Olivia, who was dying at the time that I wrote the song. She is now deceased. I wouldn’t let anyone else play the piano on it because I knew exactly how I wanted the music to be interpreted, but when my sister passed I did not have the strength to use my voice. So I turned ‘All We Ask’ into a feature for my background singers who have been with me faithfully since 1996 (in order of appearance: Duwane Starling; Donnie’s younger sister Andrea Mellini; Sherry Maghee and Nancey Jackson –Johnson).

An undeniable standout is “When You Love” which transcends the church to speak about love on an earthly plane. “That’s one of my favorites,” Donnie shares. “We must remember that God didn’t just make us spirit. He made us body, mind and spirit. The song is inspirational - derived from the gospel - but based solely on love…how to love, what to do when you love, how to act when you’re in love… It lifts men and women out of the lust that’s all over the radio and into commitment, romance, even respecting your elders – the whole gamut! I had to get the ladies CeCe and Yolanda, along with Erica and Tina of Mary Mary, to help me. It’s a beautiful song without any risqué, ambiguous or alternative messages. This is simply about the heart of God and how He wants us to learn to love purely.”

McClurkin’s pure love for the Lord has grown through crippling adversity that ultimately fortified his faith ten-fold. Born November 9, 1959, in Amityville, New York, his childhood home was mired in domestic violence and drug abuse until an aunt who sang with the great Andrae’ Crouch introduced him to the musical icon who in turn introduced him to his future. Young Donnie played keyboards with his church youth choir before forming the McClurkin Singers with relatives and friends in 1979. Following a calling to preach, he never loosened his grasp on music. In 1989 Donnie started the NY Restoration Choir and recorded the album I See A World, which contained the classic “Speak to My Heart.”

Two near-simultaneous events changed McClurkin’s life forever. Just as he was appointed as an associate minister at Marvin Winans’ Perfecting Church in Detroit, he also learned that he’d been stricken with leukemia. While battling the disease, Donnie was signed to Warner Alliance Records as a solo artist where he recorded his pivotal self-titled album, marked by a smooth sophistication in the production that couched his soaring tenor for a series of soul-stirring numbers. Through BeBe Winans, media mogul Oprah Winfrey learned of Donnie’s music and struggle, invited him on her top-rated TV show , a golden opportunity that catapulted his CD to #4 on the gospel charts, recognition beyond the church world and gold + sales. Donnie soon after signed to Verity Records where his first CD, Live in London and More, would far surpass his solo debut thanks to secular radio embracing his gracefully reassuring “We Fall Down”. The song met with international acclaim, made the Top 40 of Billboard’s R&B chart and rocketed past platinum sales of over one million copies sold instantly making Donnie among gospel’s best selling artists.

He earned a trophy case full of Dove and Stellar Awards plus other honors including an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist. In 2001 Donnie graduated to establishing his own Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, New York, all the while continuing to release the magnificent musical works Again (2003) and the double-CD Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs (2005) each one garnering the coveted Grammy Award.

Today, McClurkin’s commitment to spreading God’s word far and wide is most evident in a last minute addition to the We All Are One album titled “Purple,” composed expressly for Donnie by Darren Atwater and performed by his truly inspiring Soulful Symphony in Baltimore, MD. “I’ve known Darren for years,” Donnie states. “I was doing a concert in Baltimore with him last year as a guest with his 40-piece orchestra. During rehearsal he introduced this new song of praise and the minute I heard it I went to hollerin’! I asked him what it was. He told me it was called ‘Purple’ and he’d written it just for me. I loved it so much that even though we were 90% finished with the album, I made room to add this song, which Darren produced himself. Darren Atwater is a genius as an arranger and conductor - manifesting real cultural exchange by bringing classical culture into the gospel environment. He also leads workshops that introduce young African Americans to acoustic instruments and the works of Chopin and Bach without a Pro Tools in sight! It gives them inspiration to maybe pick up a viola or a cello that they may never have experienced within their monoculture.”

Still, at the end of the day, Donnie McClurkin has been and always will be a, card carryin’ member of the Church of God and Christ (COGIC). Donnie bears witness to this fact via the unfiltered jubilance of his soul on the CD’s most exhilarating number, “The Great I Am.” “Holy Ghost revival songs are our specialty,” Donnie shouts! “I was just over here teaching some of the church members that stopped by how to ‘church dance’…and THAT is the song I played! There was a Bishop by the name of Gilbert Patterson who would always bring the old songs up at praise time. I wanted to write a song just like that, so I sat down to the piano, started playing an old-time gospel feel and this song just leapt out of me! When I got to the studio, the group was like, ‘This is so corny,” but I told `em, ‘Just sing what I tell you to sing!’ That night after Asaph got a hold of the music, and Trent Phillips and the band played it like second nature, the energy in the room just exploded!”

“I’ve always been in awe of God,” Pastor Donnie McClurkin concludes. “I didn’t want anything on my latest offering, We All Are One, to reflect suffering or ‘climbing up that mountain’ in the way to which traditional Black gospel is accustomed. I wanted to luxuriate in and celebrate in the greatness of God.”

A passionate Orator and Biblical teacher who desires to be a living Epistle glorifying our lord and Saviour Jesus Christ both in word and in deed. Many say his voice is instantly recognizable. Characteristically raspy ringing with power and authority as he masterfully illustrates with excellence the word of God. Not only is his delivery exemplary, his knowledge of the historical text brings to life the message of hope and healing. NOT A SINGER THAT HAPPENS TO PREACH, BUT A PREACHER CALLED BY GOD WHO HAPPENS TO SING! Singing since the age of 4 he has shared the stage with many gospel notables and his gift is celebrated across musical genres. While he has enjoyed a decorated music ministry, receiving Stellar awards, Gospel Music Excellence awards as well as Grammy, Soul Train Music, and Dove award nominations, he has also been honored in his home town Grand Rapids, Michigan. Recognized for his Professional and Philanthropic efforts he has received the city's highest African American honor, a Giants Award, as well as the Fredrick Douglas award from the National Association of Negro and Professional Womens Club. NOT COMPLACENT, YET PRESSING TOWARD THE MARK Currently as Founder and Senior Pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church, one of the fastest growing churches in Western Michigan, he is innovative in his approach to win the lost and edifying the believer. As a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan Pastor Marvin is committed to his community and enjoys taking the message to the masses. In his inaugural year, the ministry has initiated a Full Life approach with an emphasis of addressing the Spiritual, Physical, and mental needs of the body. By no means is Pastor Marvin and the Lighthouse family resting on laurels or taking credit for the well rounded and effective ministry approach. If fact, with humility, they acknowledge they have found the formula for a successful ministry in the word of God cultivated with a relationship with God. Pastor Marvin is united in covenant to First Lady Malinda Sapp, a gifted speaker, local college professor and Limited Licensed Psychologist, who also serves as Administrative Pastor. They have three wonderful children; Marvin II, Mikaila, and Madisson.

Michelle Williams began singing in her church choir, performing her first solo on "Blessed Assurance" at the age of seven at the St. Paul Church of God in Christ in her hometown of Rockford, IL. As she grew up, she sang with the gospel groups United Harmony and Chosen Expression, but doubted she would be able to make a career as a singer and attended two years of college. In May 1999, however, she passed an audition to become a backup singer for Monica and toured with her through October. Then in January 2000, she was invited to join Destiny's Child. Becoming a member of the rapidly emerging superstar group, she was first heard on their number one single "Independent Women Part I" and went on to participate in their massively successful 2001 album Survivor, the holiday release 8 Days of Christmas, and the remix album This Is the Remix. In April 2002, she became the first member of Destiny's Child to issue a solo album, the gospel collection Heart to Yours. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Before the arrival of Kirk Franklin in 1993, contemporary gospel music leaned toward inspirational quiet storm – ‘positive’ messages alluding to Jesus and a righteous walk of faith set to lightly groovin’ tracks that appealed primarily to adults. Upon the arrival of Kirk Franklin, the music and the culture of contemporary Christianity got an energy boost that could give Red Bull a run for its money! Injecting a vigorous and youthful excitement to faith-walking, Kirk Franklin made it cool to be Christian, placing Godly messages in the same heavy rotation as other urban pop music. Over the last 14 years with hits such as “Stomp;” “Whatcha Lookin’ For;” “Looking for You;” “Revolution;” and “Lean on Me,” Kirk ascended to the upper echelons of gospel and pop. Beyond the music, he’s a highly exalted example of a man who achieved success without selling his soul (literally or figuratively) or his integrity. His messages now inhabit books, an upcoming movie, and he even hosts his own BET talent search program, “Sunday Best.”
Grammy-winning, multi-platinum, crossover gospel king Kirk Franklin is a man accustomed to firsts. For example, he was the first gospel artist to sell over a million copies of his first album, Kirk Franklin & The Family. However, it was the first of a different kind that led him to title his 11th and latest CD The Fight of My Life. It marked the first time that Kirk ever had so much trouble bringing his divinely inspired songs to life…for Kirk was facing an artistic drought the likes of which had never plagued him before.

The album was originally supposed to be the soundtrack for the motion picture “Church Boy,” a story loosely based on Franklin’s life story struggles and triumphs - of the Forth Worth, TX-born gospel star who, against all odds, made a way out of no way. But when shooting for the film was abruptly postponed, the rug was pulled out from under Franklin, affecting not only his life but that of his family and his ministry. “I titled this album The Fight of My Life because that's precisely what I was in,” he says, still shaken by the circumstance. “I had scheduled two months to devote to that movie. Now that schedule had a giant hole in it leaving me without a Plan B - no vision, no direction - which immediately meant financial challenges for me and my people.”

This uncharacteristic stress also upset the natural order of Franklin’s creative process. “When I do albums, I usually feel ‘pregnant’ with ideas. God would give me pieces of a concept - the theme of an album - then songs would be born from that. This time I felt empty. God was very silent at the genesis of this record... I had singers and musicians flying in ready to work and I wasn't, which was very costly…and it happened twice! The second time they came, I only had two songs completed: ‘How it Used to Be’ (a song about coming back to Jesus after having been absent awhile) and ‘Hide Me’ (a song of restored faith on which he states, ‘Your delay is not a denial / Your plan is perfect when I’m not’). I was discouraged and depressed. I began to question whether I should do another album, whether I had another one in me...whether I should call McDonald's to see if they were hiring?!”

Thankfully, brother Franklin’s righteously terrifying ‘Mac Tonight-mares’ finally came to a halt in what felt like his most desperate hour. The empathetic artist who was always ready with that perfect musical word to uplift others was now the one in need of inspiration. “One day walking the streets of my neighborhood,” Kirk continues, “I cried out to The Lord, ‘Help!’ And some way out of my darkness, God started giving me the idea for the song ‘Help Me Believe.’ And from there, the songs slowly started flowing down the tunnel to me again.”

Those songs which now make up The Fight of My Life (the second album from Kirk Franklin’s own Fo Yo Soul Entertainment company – a joint venture with the Zomba label group) are some of the most dynamic and stylistically varied of his storied career, moving from spirited choral passages and jazz-kissed pieces to his signature hip hop praise grooves and even one head-banging rocker! As with all of his past milestones, the thread that holds together The Fight of My Life (written, produced and arranged by Kirk Franklin) is its powerful spiritual messages.

The first single is a burst of affirmative energy titled “Declaration (This is It),” a thrilling gospel-soul take-off on the1979 hit "This is It" by pop-rock superstar Kenny Loggins (who co-wrote the original with Michael McDonald). “As a kid, I really enjoyed that song,” Kirk shares. “When I started recording it, one of the owners of the studio stopped by, heard what I was doing and told me, ‘You know Kenny Loggins wrote that song for his daddy when he was diagnosed with cancer.’ I was floored! I could see why it connected so strong to me. It was born from something powerful. What I'm saying in my version is because we are God's children and have His Son living inside of us, there's a lot of junk ‘in the world’ to which we allow ourselves to fall victim. But by the power of Christ we don't have to. The song empowers people in their faith.”

Another album highlight, “Little Boy,” finds Kirk calling in reinforcement from the great Rance Allen and Isaac Carree to kick a three-prong message to young men, young women and their parents that is graced with a simmering beat, tasty acoustic guitar and muted trumpet, plus a couple of witty topical lyrical ‘zingers.’ “I'm just challenging everybody to do better,” Kirk states. “Christians become a ‘subculture’ when we are no longer informed on current issues. It's imperative that God's people be effective and knowledgeable. If we're in a bubble, we come across as antiquated.” Regarding those lyrical bombs he drops, Kirk volleys, “I say what I feel and let it fall where it may. `Cuz when something falls that is God-ordained, it falls right!”

Several songs are targeted toward young people. The first, “I Like Me,” is a percussive pastiche. featuring Christian rapper Da’ T.R.U.T.H. “When you're trying to preach to kids, you've got to speak their language,” Kirk says. “Kids like beats…so I had to drop some like they was hot!" The second song is simply titled “Jesus.” Kirk tailor-made it for the BET crowd and hopes they’ll call radio stations to request it. Similarly, “Still in Love” is a weekend roller skatin’, top-down cruiser’s dream. “I’m always striving to make us look cool in the culture,” Kirk shrugs.

Perhaps most impressive is “A Whole Nation,” a song about young men growing up without fathers which introduces galvanizing 11 year-old newcomer Donovan Owens. “He just rolled up on me backstage at an Easter concert in Milwaukee,” Kirk confesses, “singing one of my songs! People come up to me all the time, but not like Donovan. This kid could sing! I had to have him on my album. Sometimes God gives me snapshots of a song and this snapshot was of Donovan being the voice of a little Kirk. But I had to test him first, so I called and asked him about his relationship with his father. I needed him to sing this song from a place of honesty. When I saw that he could do that, I said, ‘Here we go!’”

"I Am God" features Kirk’s frequent collaborator, Christian rocker TobyMac. “TobyMac is the one in that Contemporary Christian Music world that I have the closest relationship with,” Kirk states. “He's halfway black and I'm halfway white, so we've got that special thing goin' on…been friends for about 12 years now. This is my first rock song that I feel I got the closest to right because I used real rock players. I taught the song to TobyMac’s band.”

With all the contemporary amenities covered, Kirk still delivers some of his most awe-inspired songs of comfort and reassurance ever with “Still (In Control)” (featuring Melvin & Doug Williams, a.k.a. The Williams Brothers); “It Would Take All Day;” “Chains” (featuring singers Melonie Daniels, Sheri Jones-Moffett and gospel marvel Nikki Ross); “Hide Me” and “He Will Supply.” Most profound is the album closer “The Last Jesus” which - after all of the spiritual fortification and nurturing of the songs before it - turns the table and challenges the listener to strive to reflect God’s will and Jesus’ mission. Over a soothing acoustic music bed (including poignant whistling on the outro), the phenomenal chorus reads, “If I say I love Jesus / But you can’t see my Jesus / My words are empty / If they can’t see Jesus in me / No more excuses / I give myself away / Because I may be the only Jesus they see today…”

Reflecting on this exceptional collection, Kirk muses, “These are things that I feel every day. People need honest transparent leadership – leaders who are not afraid to admit, 'I'm jacked up' or 'I made a mistake, only follow me as I follow Christ.' So it's important to me that the culture sees that there is a large community of God's people in entertainment, political and sports arenas striving for a level of Godly excellence that makes The Father happy.”

The Lord has blessed Kirk Franklin to be not only a commercial success – the biggest selling gospel artist in Soundscan history with over12 million albums sold and over 20 #1 singles at Gospel radio, plus 5 Grammy Awards; an American Music Award; 34 Stellar Awards (gospel); 12 Dove Awards (CCM); 4 NAACP Awards; 2 BET Music Awards, and a Soul Train Award on his mantle – he is a hero and example to anyone who thinks their life is beyond redemption. To hear his testimony is to hear that of a man who’s risen from the bleakest streets to the highest heights. Deeper still, he understands that the literal fight of his life is a battle done daily.

“For me success is very personal,” Kirk concludes. “This January (2008), I will have been married 12 years. I have kids that know me and love me. I'm not only married I'm happily married (check the verse in "I Like Me" where he speaks on that)! I'm a Black man in my 30s still hungry for The Lord and still hungry for God to knock down the stuff I see in me that still ain't right. That's the thinking I choose to keep in close contact with in terms of how I define 'success.' I've been working on me - and there's a lot more work to be done.”

Spoken by a man as accomplished as Kirk Franklin, that statement challenged us all. And his latest masterwork, The Fight of My Life, will be the stirring soundtrack for winning the fights of our lives.

With Regina Belle, you just gotta believe. Just believe in the power of the music. Few singers possess the strength, the emotion and the technical skill of this Grammy-award-winning singer.
Regina Belle Regina Belle Regina Belle has emerged as a prolific, consistently engaging vocalist on the urban contemporary scene and possesses one of the purest and most exquisite voices on the R&B scene. Born in New Jersey, Belle's early experience was in gospel, though she was also attracted to R&B during her childhood. She studied trombone, tuba and steel drums, and at 12 won a school contest singing the Emotions' "Don't Ask My Neighbors."

Belle sang in a New Jersey vocal group and studied opera and jazz in college. New York disc jockey Vaughn Harper introduced herto The Manhattans, and she began working as their opening act. Belle recorded a duet with them, "Where Did We Go Wrong," that was produced by Bobby Womack in 1986.

She earned a solo Columbia contract in 1987, and the single "Please Be Mine" earned both praise and a number two R&B hit. A follow-up single, "So Many Tears," also made the R&B Top 20, and the hit "Without You," pairing her with Peabo Bryson, was the only memorable thing about the film Leonard Pt. 6. Her second LP, "Stay With Me," secured her success, and she has gone on to earn more acclaim.

Regina expands her artistic talents and creative control even further with her MCA album "Believe In Me." Not only did she co-write several of the album's eleven tracks, but she also elevated her own celebrated vocal magic to a level even she hadn't known she could reach. "This album is more personal than any other," she says, "because it has more of myself poured into it."

As her many hits over the years attest, Regina Belle has long been making a major contribution to music. "Through this album, people will see that I love God, that I love family and that I absolutely love music." Indeed, as "Believe In Me" readily shows, Regina Belle still holds nothing back. You just gotta believe it!

“We will all come to a place where God is taking us from what He had, to what He has in store. As we continue this journey, true solace isn’t found in knowing what’s on the other side; it’s only found in worshipping Him as we cross...the bridge.”
~ ~ ~

It is the one earthly journey we all experience, but too few of us choose to recognize – that invisible road between here and there. Some call it transition. Anthony Evans calls it...The Bridge.

To the majority of us, that transitional chasm of chaos is often overlooked in hopes of glimpsing the outcome, on the other side. But to a perceptive few, like Evans, the unknown between where were are and where we’re going is the all-important next step. Whether we stumble in the dark, or firmly plant our feet on faith, it is all up to us.

This universal, yet intimate test of transition is both exposed and explored in Anthony’s latest September, 2007 release The Bridge.

Press the button on this new CD and it’s obvious that there is a fresh focus to Anthony Evans life – and music. “This record came out of pain...When I got to the end of myself and surrendered to the concept of what I was created to do, I realized I wasn’t made to figure it all out. I wasn’t put here to see the big picture clearly, or to glimpse what is ahead. I was created to worship...That’s it.”

And that is exactly what Evans does on each of the eleven tracks in this insightful collection. “I took worship songs that are known in more of a contemporary environment and played them with a little more flavor.”

Using the spice of pure artistry, Anthony mixed adoration and experience with the essence of reverence and combined them with the praises of his distinctive voice. The result is a musical record of his own journey of worship, across the Bridge.

Listening to such standards as Glory To The King, Everlasting God and In Christ Alone, there is little doubt that Evans has found his purpose. And feeling the sense of surrender in Anthony’s interpretations of Let It Rain, Wonderful, Merciful Savior, and Here I Am To Worship, it is clear that he’s discovered something ‘transcending’ in his daily walk of faith.

“It is a hard concept to trust something you can not see. More often than not it takes more strength to let go than it does to hang on.”

An Interesting Way to Live

Letting go and discovering that ‘the journey is just as important as the destination,’ wasn’t easy for Anthony. It was a life lesson that came as the result of a deeply personal, internal transition.

“I used to pray – God, if You fix this, it means You love me...I know You’re listening to me, IF You fix this. But when I saw that things were not getting better, I had to look at the scenario differently and figure out HOW He was loving me. Eventually, when I opened myself up to Him and surrendered my broken heart, I realized He was loving me HUGE...”

You loved me so much
That You let me, You let me fall
Knowing I’d lose it all and hear your call
You loved me so much that You chased me
When I ran away You captured me
By letting me run to the end of myself

That heartfelt lesson not only spilled out of his composer’s pen, (becoming ‘the bridge’ of track 10 – The Way You Love Me), it also set in motion a new and interesting way to live. “I no longer need to see what’s ahead – what’s on the other side. I’m just crossing the bridge, letting each step I take reveal itself as I go...I leave the rest up to Him. I’ve discovered that in times of transition my job is to simply worship.”

That all-important ‘job’ led Anthony to the recording studio, where he recently completed the musical construction of The Bridge. Assisting the artist is this effort of worship was co-producer Nathan Nockels; who along with Shaun Martin arranged the nine contemporary classics, as well as the two Evans-composed tracks, The Way You Love Me and Meaningless, (co-written with Ben Glover and Jason Ingram).

In the creative atmosphere of the Control Room this rare collection of musical talent was a given. But now, the result of that teamwork is becoming evident to audiences everywhere.

“This is the first record I’ve done that is accepted no matter where I go. It is music that fits any environment, any venue.”

The concept that ‘there is never a bad time or place for worship,’ is one that Anthony no doubt learned growing up in the home of his father Dr. Tony Evans; renowned pastor, author, and speaker. But though the young artist has performed before everyone from Soul Train to President Bush, the notion of endless worship did not truly hit Anthony until he found himself alone on that bridge.

“We tend to live our life backwards, allowing our emotions to dictate what we do. But I’ve discovered that our emotions are not truthful. They have no intellect. Emotionally and physically we can’t control where we are or where we’re going. Only our spirit is connected to the Truth. So the spiritual side of us should lead the way…”

Now everyday of Evans’ life is a step of faith; a conscious, deliberate effort to listen to the Spirit and connect with the Truth through his music and worship.

“My previous albums have been about communicating ‘my story.’ But The Bridge is all about communicating with Him. This one is strictly vertical.”

“Its about learning to worship in spite of our internal chaos, in spite of the pain. It’s dealing with transition; from what God had for us, to what He has for us. We will never rest if we’re trying to figure out what’s on the other side. It’s being willing to cross without knowing – yet still believing that He loves us and that it will ultimately be great.”

For now, Anthony Evans is content to communicate the music and the message of his new release The Bridge through his up-coming appearances and constantly-expanding calendar. But when the artist is asked the obvious question “What’s next”, he simply smiles. “That’s on the other side of the Bridge. I haven’t seen that step – yet. All I know is what He’s told me...worship as you cross.”

With only one album, celebrated singer/songwriter Ayiesha Woods accomplished more than most artists achieve in a lifetime. Its title was unassuming and self-explanatory, but Introducing Ayiesha Woods did more than merely introduce her: it established her as one of the most precocious and promising new artists in Christian and gospel music.
A GRAMMY® nomination, a Dove Award nod for New Artist of the Year, appearances in a number of high-profile tours, and universal acclaim were some of the highlights of Woods’ initial time in the limelight. It’s a winning streak that is bound to continue with Love Like This, her second Gotee Records release.

After so many early accolades, Woods could’ve easily rested on her laurels and just offered more of the same, but she’s not one to shortchange herself. What’s more, she’s quick to recognize that she’s only partly responsible for all of her milestones. “I had high expectations, but God exceeded them,” Woods says of her success to date. “It was an amazing response all across the board—from believers, from nonbelievers, from people that are lovers from all kinds of music.”

Indeed, the impressive cross-section of listeners who latched on to her music the first time around is largely representative of the sound and spirit of Love Like This, an album that further asserts Woods as an artist that can’t be easily categorized. “I’ve always had an appreciation for all kinds of music,” Woods says. “I’ve always listened to music in different genres. When it comes to writing music, I’ve never been one to just be comfortable with the same ol’ same ol’.”

Blame her eclecticism on a combination of musical inspirations and upbringing: Influenced by the likes of Commissioned, Lauryn Hill, India.Arie, Chris Botti, and Brian Culbertson, to name but only a few of her favorites, Woods spans sensibilities and inclinations, which are in no small part a byproduct of growing up in New York, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Texas, and Bermuda. That cosmopolitan vibe has opened a number of doors for Woods, most notably the chance to minister through song at numerous Women of Faith events, where audiences have been able to find common ground with the singer’s authenticity. “No matter who we are or what status or our background or where we come from, we all are in need of a Savior,” Woods says. “Those women connect with something that they can relate to. It’s just like a huge slumber party really—getting with women that share the same struggles and can rejoice with the same victories.”

That transparency lies at the core of Love Like This. Produced by Chris Stevens (tobyMac, Group 1 Crew) and Jamie Moore (Mandisa, Falling Up), the album sees the songstress stretching her artistry to places once unvisited—not just musically, but also in the realm of songwriting, where she learned to create in tandem with other collaborators. “It was a bit of a challenge,” says Woods, who was previously used to tackling things on her own. “As a songwriter, your songs are like your babies—you tend to be really protective. That was me. But we can do so much more and things could be so much greater when we are open to new ideas and taking advantage of new opportunities.”

“Love Can’t Wait” attests to this growth, as Woods delivers introspective verses about the selfishness of man, all to an understated, alt-urban sound—only to explode into a fierce pop/rock refrain about the urgency of love. Pop is at the forefront of the empowering “Never,” a breezy number where Woods contrasts divine and earthly friendship, only to conclude that the constancy of the former is no match for the latter. In the same reaffirming vein, the buoyant title track “Love Like This” is a worshipful prayer that Woods wrote in her late teens, but that somehow manages to capture the singer’s unending quest for more intimacy with God.

Woods picks up this theme with the waltz-like “Take Me There,” a tremendous ballad underpinned by swirling strings, pop elements, and the vocalist’s soaring, soulful alto. Just as touching is the spot-on reinterpretation of Jennifer Knapp’s “Refine Me,” a heartfelt confession that Woods succeeds at making her own.

Inspired by new life experiences, including the recent blessing of home ownership, Woods wrote “New Beginnings,” a carefree, urban-pop paean that reflects the season of faith and favor she’s relishing today. Woods knows where every good and perfect thing comes from from, so she sings about it in “Alive”, and “Because of You”—one an off-the-wall, synth-laden stunner, the other a sunny, cheerful declaration of purpose.

This ability to seesaw between styles is perhaps Woods’ strongest identity mark, but when it’s coupled with honest-to-goodness sincerity, it’s utterly disarming. That’s the case with the dizzying “Transparent,” a song with so many nuances it would be ineffectual to try to list them all. More importantly, the track is reflective of where Woods stands at the moment: a woman who wants to be known for the company she keeps.

That’s the heart of Love Like This: an outpouring of all the love lessons Woods has been learning along the way, which unequivocally stem from her own time spent at the feet of the Master. It’s a message she’s passionate about regardless of venue—it can be a crowd of 10,000 women or a roomful of 10 of her most ardent fans.

“One thing that I’ve always been able to recognize in my relationship with God is that my relationship with him is reflected in the relationships I have with others,” Woods says. “If my relationship with God is not where it needs to be, it’s reflected in every other relationship. I need to keep that line of communication where it needs to be.”

With the release of the self-titled Mary Mary, the Grammy-winning, platinum-selling gospel duo is beginning a new chapter in an already remarkable career. In 2000, sisters Erica and Tina Campbell earned immediate respect and success with Mary Mary's platinum debut album, Thankful. The joyful dancefloor-filling hit single "Shackles" put them at the top of the charts across the world and then the girls followed it up with the 2002's Incredible album. Now, after a short break, Mary Mary returns with the brilliant third album, packed with uplifting lyrics, distinctive vocals and unforgettable songs.
Some things have changed since Mary Mary's last album. Most importantly, Erica and Tina have each started families. As Erica explains, "We've been focusing on having babies and staying home with our husbands and family. We've been enjoying life. You gotta take time for family." Tina jokes, "We're a lot sleepier now!" She laughs and continues, "We have to change the way we work. The Dixie Chicks have seven kids under four between the three of them. We think we can do it with one child each if they can do it with seven! My mama juggled nine kids with being a choir director. If they can handle it, we can surely handle it with one each."

The second thing that's changed is that Erica and Tina are more confident about their music in 2005 than at any other time in their career. Tina shares, "Sometimes when you first come out, you don't really know who you are as artists and musically, you haven't really found your niche. This time around we're so comfortable being Mary Mary and I feel like we've grown as women and ministers. 'Shackles' was great! It opened a bunch of doors for us and I'm grateful for that but you can never do your beginning again. We can't make the record again and you can't redo what you've already done. Obviously we want to make more songs that impact people but God is a God of the present and he's doing great things today so we don't like to live in the past."

You'd think that when they were having a worldwide smash like "Shackles," they couldn't get more confident but Erica disagrees. "Confidence doesn't come with a successful hit," she says. "Think of the millions of people who sell millions of records and then kill themselves. Or the millions of people who travel the world and make loads of money and then they're depressed or take drugs to alter their current state because they're not happy. We're so content with who we are, both our flaws and our strengths." Tina agrees. "The place where I am right now is definitely a better place."

Fans who have been eagerly waiting for new music from the pair are going to be blown away by Mary Mary's third album which is packed with highlights, including the groove-driven "Heaven," with its upbeat positive message. Erica says of the song, "We were sitting in the studio working on something else trying to make a hit and after three days, it wasn't coming together. And then 'Heaven' just came. That song was meant to be. The message is incredible because it says you have to have a relationship with God if you're planning on making it to heaven. You have to have Christ in your heart and He has to shine in your life."

One listen to Mary Mary and you'll immediately see that Erica and Tina are spreading their wings musically, embracing new influences and stretching the boundaries, so there are plenty of surprises. The sound of 1930s big band music underpins "The Biggest Greatest Thing," an idea suggested by Warryn Campbell, Mary Mary's producer (and Erica's husband). For Tina, recording the track was quite a stretch! As she remembers, "I was listening to Ella Fitzgerald before we recorded it and I thought I couldn't do it because I'm not Ella Fitzgerald but it came out really well."

Erica adds, "In the end the harmonies sound like the Andrews Sisters. We're very proud of the song because it was foreign to us. You have to challenge yourself and not always do what's comfortable for you. With the big band, we were just trying a few things out!" Move over Andrews Sisters, here come the Campbell Sisters!

Across the album, the girls' confidence in their faith comes through clear and strong. They often draw on personal experiences for inspiration and this comes through most powerfully on the song, "I'm A Believer." Erica is unashamed about her faith. "We're not asking questions," she says. "We're letting people know it's the real deal. 'I'm A Believer' is straight about our testimonies. We had a fire at Christmas time and it was right in front of my mom's room and my four little sisters' room. Had we stayed at the house, there is no way they could have got through the fire because we had bars on the windows. But for some reason my mother decided that something wasn't right and they went and stayed at my aunt's house. At three o'clock in the morning, the police phoned to tell us that the house was on fire."

Tina tells her story. "The song talks about me having a car accident eight years ago when my car flipped upside down," she says. "My car got totally destroyed. The roof caved in and all the windows busted out. But there was no glass on me! No scratches and no scars. There were no pains and no whiplash! The car was totalled and I was facing traffic but guess what? I ended up on the island. My car was flipped up in the air and I didn't end up in the traffic. That's nothing but God. You ask me why I believe? Because God saved my life!"

There are two songs which bookend the album musically. "The Real Party" has an unstoppable dance mix and the catchiest party groove you're likely to hear this year. "That song is bananas," admits Tina, "but if you need a breakthrough in your situation, the best thing you can do is start shouting, dancing and praising God." Erica adds, "The song is so hot and it sounds like a party so that's why it's called 'The Real Party.'"

At the other extreme, "Yesterday" is a throwback song. It all started when Warryn Campbell sat down at the piano and began playing in an old blues-gospel spiritual style. Erica started writing the lyrics and it just grew from there. Erica explains, "We kept some of the original scratch vocals because they were really good. Warryn added strings and horns and it's a huge song now." Lyrically it's a moving song as the duo sings, "I had enough heartache and enough headache. I've had so many ups and downs. Don't know how much more I can take but I've decided that I cried my last tears yesterday." Erica is confident, saying, "I guarantee that somebody is going to cry when they hear that song. The lyrics are so strong. Whatever devastation you've had in your life, you can't let it keep you down because that was yesterday and today is today. If you're still living in yesterday, you won't appreciate God's greatness for today."

Now that the album is completed, Erica and Tina have ideas about what they want to see happen. "I hope that this album changes lives more than anything else," says Erica. "I want people to hear it and be encouraged to keep going. We want people to hear the record and respond. We're going to continue to do what we do and do it Mary Mary style. We're going to go out and be funky and fun. We can't help being that kind of people. Ultimately, we're just two girls from California who love God and are glad about the talent God's given us."