Category Archives: Gospel Music

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An Encore Presentation of the 5th Urban One Honors will air TODAY January 22 at 6PM/5C on TV One and CLEO TV!

SEE CELEBRITY PICS!!!

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 02: Bishop Marvin Louis Sapp Sr. attends the TV One Urban One Honors at The Eastern on December 02, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Urban One Honors)

Hello World,

Last week, under the theme, celebrating “Icons of the Culture,” the 5th annual Urban One Honors, premiered on TV One and CLEO TV. Hosted by R&B singer and actor Tank, the televised event heralded the accomplishments of individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in entertainment, media, music, politics, education, and the community. GRAMMY Award winning singer and actress LeToya Luckett aka Rochelle Cross from OWN’s “Greenleaf” hosted a special backstage pass segment.

5th annual Honorees included: Entertainment Icon Honor, 2x GRAMMY and NAACP Image Award winner, LL Cool J, the first ever Phoenix Honor to award-winning entertainer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Bobby Brown, Inspirational Impact Honor, NAACP Image Award winner David Mann and his wife, GRAMMY Award winner, Tamela Mann (TV One’s “The Manns”), Lifetime Achievement Honor recipient Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and the Music Innovation Honor to 13x GRAMMY Award-winning Artist/Producer/Songwriter Pharrell Williams. The ceremony included performances by Keke Wyatt, Marvin Sapp, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop with DJ Spinderella, Monie Love and Doug E. Fresh, and a finale performance from T.I. and son Domani Harris. Michelle Rice (TV One/CLEO TV President), Roland Martin, Pusha T, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rev. Run and Lamman Rucker aka Jacob Greenleaf from OWN’s “Greenleaf”  also appeared on the broadcast.

Below are a few clips from the 5th annual Urban One Honors:

Keke Wyatt Performs A Melodic Tribute To Tamela Mann…

David and Tamela Mann Accept The Inspirational Impact Honor…

Bishop Marvin Sapp Performs at the 2023 Urban One Honors…

And below are a few pics…

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 02: (L-R) David Mann, Tamela Mann and Keke Wyatt attend the TV One Urban One Honors at The Eastern on December 02, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for Urban One Honors)

Do y’all know that Keke Wyatt has ll children?!

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 02: Lamman Rucker attends the TV One Urban One Honors at The Eastern on December 02, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for Urban One Honors)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 02: (L-R) Bishop Marvin Sapp and Doug E. Fresh attend the TV One Urban One Honors at The Eastern on December 02, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for Urban One Honors)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 02: Kesha Lance Bottoms (L) and Roland Martin (R) present the Lifetime Achievement Honor to Maxine Waters (C) during the TV One Urban One Honors at The Eastern on December 02, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Urban One Honors)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 02: Landon Brown, Alicia Etheredge, Bobby Brown and family attend the TV One Urban One Honors at The Eastern on December 02, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Urban One Honors)

I swear all of Bobby Brown’s children have his face…

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 02: Letoya Luckett attends the TV One Urban One Honors at The Eastern on December 02, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for Urban One Honors)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 02: Monie Love (R) attends the TV One Urban One Honors at The Eastern on December 02, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for Urban One Honors)

Monie Love still looks good, and her date is handsome as well…

Any thoughts?

 

 

 

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Xscape’s LaTocha Scott Is Working on Gospel Album Courtesy of Motown Gospel…

Hello World,

After all of the drama with LaTocha Scott of Xscape in 2022, it seems that LaTocha is doing a new thing in 2023.

Below is the official announcement!

Motown Gospel (a division of Capitol CMG/Capitol and Universal Music Group) announces the signing of award-winning artist LaTocha to an exclusive license agreement via her own label, Made Girl Music. A multi-hyphenate force in the music industry, LaTocha is best known as a member of the multi-platinum-selling R&B group Xscape, providing leads on some of the group’s biggest songs, including “Who Can I Run To” and “The Arms of the One Who Loves You.”

“It has always been a passion of mine to do inspirational music,” says LaTocha. “It has been my foundation, and that is very evident, even when I sing R&B music. I can’t escape that.”

For the powerhouse songstress, the interplay of music and faith began at Mt. Olive Church of God in Holiness, in her hometown of College Park, GA. She leaned on that foundation even as she became a household name in one of the biggest girl groups in R&B history.

“A hallmark of LaTocha’s successful career has been her love for gospel music and her strong personal connection to the Black church,” shares Monica Coates, Co-Executive Director, Motown Gospel. “I am excited for her fans—long-standing and new—to finally have a body of work that reflects those areas of her passion.”

Adds EJ Gaines, Co-Executive Director of Motown Gospel: “LaTocha has one of the most recognized voices in R&B, but she also has staying power and manages to maintain relevance in a marketplace that doesn’t always allow for that. I can’t wait for her fans to hear what she’s been working on.”

LaTocha is readying her debut inspirational project, slated for release this year. Fans can stay connected with LaTocha via her social media channels– @iAmLaTocha on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook.

I must admit that I’m always a bit skeptical of artists in other genres “going gospel.” I’m not saying that just because you’re  known for one style of music that you cannot explore other genres of music, after all a true artist is an adventurer by nature. But I wonder sometimes if some artists are just trying to garner more of an audience because the gospel music audience is a huge one. But I will give LaTocha, who does have a voice made for gospel music, the benefit of the doubt even after all of the drama from 2022, which could have likely been manufactured for Xscape’s reality show Xscape Still Kickin’ It anyway. And furthermore, if her fellow Xscape member Kandi Burruss can release “Stay Prayed Up” with Marvin Sapp, LaTocha can go gospel as well…

What say you?

Any thoughts?

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Watch TV One’s ‘Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story’ TONIGHT at 9/8c on TV One!

PREMIERE PHOTOS!

Hello World,

I’m truly excited about TV One’s  “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” based on the life of gospel legend Marvin Sapp, which comes on tonight at 9 P.M. ET/8C! TV One recently hosted the official red-carpet premiere for the biopic at the Regal Atlantic Station in Atlanta. The event was packed with star power including the icon himself, Marvin Sapp alongside film stars Chaz Lamar Shepherd, Ambre Anderson, Stormy Merriweather, Zoe Greene and Jayden Griffin. Other notable attendees included director, Russ Parr, Executive Producers Phil Thornton and Keith Neal and President of TV One Michelle Rice. Check out some of the pics below!

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Ambre Anderson, Marvin Sapp and Chaz Lamar Shepherd attend the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: (L-R) Vonii Bristow, Kevin Saunders, Chaz Lamar Shepherd, Ambre Anderson, Marvin Sapp, Charmin Lee, Seth Schenall, and Josué Charles attend the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: o, Marvin Sapp, Russ Parr, Ambre Anderson, Chaz Lamar Shepherd, Dawn Raven, and Phil Thornton attend the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Michelle Rice and Marvin Sapp attend the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Phil Thornton, Willie Moore Jr. and Marvin Sapp attend the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Singer Keyondra Lockett attends the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Sheree Whitfield and Lisa Wu attend the TV One Atlanta screening of “Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story” at Regal Atlantic Station on August 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for TV One)

In the days leading up to the premiere of the film, Sapp has much to celebrate. He was surprised by the Pandora team with the Billionaire Award celebrating more than one billion streams on the platform on Thursday at the National Museum of African American Music. There is also a re-release of his classic hit “Never Would Have Made It” out today. The impassioned unplugged version of the song continues to bring people to their feet 16 years after it was first released. The song is available for purchase and on all streaming platforms now.

Buzz has reached a fever pitch since the world premiere of the trailer exclusively within the Stellar Awards last month. Fans and industry insiders alike have been waiting to see the retelling of this legendary journey told through the lens of the man who lived it. From an intimate screening in his home state of Michigan to a prestigious showing during the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and a special premiere at his home church The Chosen Vessel Cathedral in Fort Worth, Texas, “Never Would Have Made It” has resonated with audiences through its powerful storytelling and dynamic cast. In Nashville this week, the film will wrap up its movie premiere run with a special screening at the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.

Marvin Sapp‘s biopic chronicles the prominent gospel music artist and preacher’s Michigan upbringing, battle against teenage alcohol abuse, love for his wife MaLinda Prince, rise in the music industry and growth in his faith. Sapp came into prominence more than 30 years ago as a member of the iconic gospel group Commissioned and is widely known for his award-winning, chart-topping crossover hit “Never Would Have Made It.” Currently, he is an author, radio show host and senior pastor of The Chosen Vessel Cathedral in Fort Worth, Texas and pastor emeritus of Lighthouse Full Life Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan – the church he founded with his late wife, MaLinda Prince Sapp.

The film is directed by Russ Parr and produced for TV One by Swirl Films, with Eric F. Tomosunas, James Seppelfrick and Keith Neal serving as Executive Producers. Additionally, Marvin Sapp and Phil Thornton are Executive Producers. For TV One, Jason Ryan is the Executive Producer in Charge of Production, Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting and Susan Henry is Senior Director of Original Programming and Production.

For more information about TV One’s upcoming programming, including original movies, visit the network’s companion website at http://www.tvone.tv. TV One viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Any thoughts?