Sup folks, I’m excited that my first post of the New Year is this one. Read the rest of this entry »

Sup folks, gonna jump right into it, you already know what this is. 2009’s  Yes, No, Maybe? Part 2. If you missed Part 1, click here!  NOTE: I realized after I posted part 1 that I somehow left out 3 albums from my “Yes” category yesterday so th is one may be a tad bit long, but I trust you’ll stick with me….RIIIIIIGHT?

So, Part Deux starts NOW.. Read the rest of this entry »

September 1 is HERE! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

Ok, now that that’s out of the way.  Read the rest of this entry »

Sup folks. I love soloists and groups with the best of ‘em, but when I want to really feel like “church,” no one person can do what a choir can for me, a good one that is. Read the rest of this entry »

Sup folks!  Two posts in one day.  *Put those hands together!*

As I mentioned last week, this past Sunday I got to attend the live recording concert of JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise from Bridgeport, CT.  Traffic got the best of us and we got there a little late, but being the seasoned saints we are, we were right on time.  (Let’s be real folks, what major church event EVER starts on time?)

JJ and crew re-energized my love for choirs and choir music.  Arguably, choirs as we knew them have kind of taken a backseat to groups and ensembles or dance troupes and step teams POSING as choirs.  It was so refreshing to see a group of people stand on stage and just SING strong but with youthful energy.   Awesome job YP!  I can’t wait for the CD to come out! You had to be there to truly understand how dope it was, but my dude Gerard Bonner fom GospelFlava.com who was on my row taking photos hooked me up with a few so I’m sharing you guys who couldn’t make it.  Enjoy

JJ opened the show looking sharp. Suit, tuxedo shirt, bowtie and Nike Blazers. Glad we got this picture though, because you know he didn't keep that jacket and bowtie on for long!

This is what SANGING looks like. Dorinda Clark-Cole sang the blood out of a song that I can't remember the name of, but by the time she was done there was no one sitting down. But that wasn't it. Donnie McClurkin was sitting in the front row to support but Dorinda and JJ couldn't just let him sit there, so he jumped up and took us ALL THE WAY IN! I'm gonna stop here, I'm going in again just thinking about it!

Deon Kipping (Mr. "Incredible God") also showed up as a special guest. Yes, that is an iPhone in his hand. (I won't get into it...)

Bishop Eric McDaniel (known for the original recording of the Ricky Dillard & New G hit "One More chance") was also in the building.

Lorraine Stancil almost turned the stage into a mini war zone. There was so much stuff flying accross that stage. Dorinda Clark-Cole hit her in the head with a handkerchief and Lorraine kicked both her shoes so high in the air that she almost assaulted the entire alto section, making her the official Pattie Labelle of Gospel. But theatrics aside, the woman can BLOW. I think her voice could wake the dead!

Praise & Worship artist Stephen Hurd was also in the building. That's my preliminary judging buddy from the D.C. auditions for Sunday Best!

Troy Bright (of the Kurt Carr Singers) leading the Youthful Praise tenors.

Final shout out to JJ and everybody in Youthful Praise for a hot session.  I better get the very first copy of the CD so I can share with the folks on BET.com. I’m putting y’all on blast! Ha!

I’m out.

Torrence

you’re going to have a wait a little while for my take on Sunday Best Episode 2 and for the Radio Recap on Praise 100.9fm.  (I know, I know, starting off wrong already right?!)

Last night’s Youthful Praise recording was hot (more on that and pics later) and kept a brother out all night, so I have to catch up.  Much love to Melanie Clark of Praise 100.9 and Evidence Gospel (Youthful Praise’s label) for taking care of me last night.  She gave me a pass and let me move the recap to tomorrow so make sure you check back for that!

Well, just wanted to give you that update.  Now I’m going to BET On Blast to watch last night’s episode since I missed it and will hit you back later today. And if you’ve got the time, watch with me.

Now Playing:

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Shameless self promotion begininng in 5…4…3…2….

MAKE SURE YOU LOG ON TO  PRAISE 100.9fm EVERY MONDAY BETWEEN 1 AND 2 P.M. (ET) TO HEAR MY WEEKLY SUNDAY BEST RADIO RECAP WITH DJ MELANIE CLARK. CHARLOTTE, NC STAND UP!

Now sit down…

So this weekend and next week are going to be busy for me, and hopefully for you too!

I’m a bit geeked about Donald Lawrence’s performance on 106 & Gospel this Sunday.  He’s one of my favorite writers, producers, artists, directors…whatever you want to call him.  He’s dope! I know he’d probably have something to say about me using a negative word (dope) to describe something good or something like that, but it’s going to take a minute for the new message he’s preaching to sink in.  Sorry Donald!  But make sure you watch  Sunday at noon.  Oh yeah, the latest installment of “Battle Of The Sounds” will go down too.  More about that next week! (You know I’m gonna have something to say!)

I’m REALLY looking forward to Episode 2 of Sunday Best airing on Sunday (9 p.m. ET) because we’ll get to see footage from the last audition city, Washington, DC.  I and a bunch of other industry and celebrity folks and friends were preliminary judges in DC and I’ll be posting some video from that.  Some of the footage I got I’m probably NOT supposed to show you but ummm, I’m gonna do it anyway.  (I snuck my flip cam into a few of my audition rooms and backstage….hehehe.)

And speaking of the DC auditions, I’ve got a treat for ya.  Singer/Songwriter/Artists/Praise & Worship Leader Vashawn Mitchell will be my guest blogger next week, giving his take on Sunday’s episode and the DC auditions.  Vashawn was one of the preliminary celebrity judges I was telling you about in Atlanta and DC.  But don’t worry, of course I’ll be throwing my take in there too!

This Sunday, I’ll be heading out to Bridgeport, Connecticut for the latest live recording of one of MY FAVORITE choirs: JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise.  I know it’s going to be good, and if it isn’t I tell you (Ha!)…but….I DOUBT IT!

So that’s it for now, I have to go and stimulate the economy a bit so that I look OK if somebody decides to sneak a camera into the building Sunday.

I’m out!

Torrence