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By Ruth Adkins Robinson

Today’s economic climate makes the entire world feel uncertain. Seldom
has the music business seemed so fragile, and people in it feel like they
are standing on shifting sand. But for the Zomba Gospel Group, the
only shifting going on is into celebration’s high gear.

(l r) Marvin Sapp,
Crystal Aikin,
Kirk Franklin,
Deitrick Haddon
—Photo by Jeff Grant
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The last 12 months have been historical.
With Marvin Sapp’s Thirsty and high
performing releases from gospel’s all time
top-selling artist Kirk Franklin as well as
“Sunday
morning,
Deitrick Haddon, Dorinda Clark Cole,
Dave Hollister and 21:03, there’s been
much to praise. There have been some
serious shouts of Hallelujah in the offices
where Jazzy Jordan is watching over the
activities as Senior Vice President and
General Manager of the Zomba Gospel
Group.
A roundup of Sapp’s triumphs is
choir robe,
march
staggering. His seventh solo CD Thirsty
was certified Gold, with sales over 600,000
units--a true benchmark for gospel product
or any product these days. The single,
“Never Would Have Made It,” hit the #1
position on the Urban AC, spent three
quarters of the year on the charts and was
among the top selling gospel ringtones and
down the
ringbacks. Sapp also camped out at the
aisle, sit
number one spot on Billboard’s gospel and
Christian sales charts.
Commenting on the success of that
CD, Jordan said, “The audience felt the
message in this CD profoundly because
we all have at least one Never-Would-Have
Made-It moment in our lives and we all
need encouragement and inspiration.”
down if
This past year would have been great by
any measure, but get ready for some “icing
on the cake” says Jordan when talking
about product in the pipeline. Zomba
Gospel’s got a heavy contingency of gospel
you can
superstars and some newcomers who’ve
lit up the TV world recently. Kurt Carr,
Hezekiah Walker, Donnie McClurkin and
Donald Lawrence are the consistent heavy
songs!”
hitters.
Carr’s album, Just the Beginning, ships —Kurt Carr,
this month. He is one of those stars who describing several songs
have broken through denominational
on his new album
and ethnic barriers while performing,
composing, arranging and producing the
biggest acts in this genre and beyond.
Just the Beginning is on his newly minted Kurt Carr Gospel
imprint in association with Zomba Gospel and the first
since his chart-topping One Church project, but this time
around the multiple Stellar recipient has gone back to
the basics. Carr says. “These songs are very singer-
friendly, very congregational. This time, I’m going
back to my roots—church music.”
One of the very pleasant additions to the CD
is the opening trip down memory lane. There’s a
medley of Carr’s greatest hits revealing the scope
and breadth of his heritage in gospel music—a
primer of sorts for the music to come. The first
single “Peace and Favor Rest on Us” is a call to
worship.
A favorite moment on the CD for Carr is
delivered by 89-year-old Narcissus Hinton-Brown,
a traditional soloist from Carr’s hometown of
Hartford, Connecticut and one of his mentors. She
is singing “This Little Light Of My Mine” as a
prequel to the affirming “Don’t Let Your Light Go
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Out.” “I have friends from all walks of life,”
says Carr, “and my whole purpose is to be a
light to them…that’s how I live my life and
that’s what I am encouraging and reminding
others to do on this song.”
Nikita Clegg-Fox leads on the soaring
“Spiritual Makeover Extreme,” an up-tempo
track with a captivating hook proclaiming,
“I’m so glad I don’t look like what I’ve been
through.” The lively “Right Time, Right
Place” delivers a foot-stomping frenzy.
Carr, who has a love and passion for
preserving the gospel sounds of African-
American heritage, includes “I Am The One”
and “Blessed Be The Rock” that, in Kurt’s
own words, are “Sunday morning, choir robe,
march down the aisle, sit down if you can
songs!”
Another Zomba Gospel heavy-hitter is
Hezekiah Walker, one of the most renowned
voices of Gospel music. Mindful of the
world’s conditions, he reflects this in his
album Souled Out, scheduled for November
release. Walker says it promotes a message
that is close to his heart and that the church
really needs to hear. “In this day and age
that we’re living in—with high gas prices,
the mortgage crisis, job problems, the
economy—a lot of times that can really hold
people back from giving themselves to God
and to the church,” he says. “What I’m trying
to communicate to everyone is that we have
really made up in our minds that there’s no
turning back. We’re going all the way with
this Jesus thing. We’re completely ‘souled out’.
Our soul is completely given over to God.”
The title track first single lit up “Good
Morning America” as part of Gospel Music
Heritage Month. Produced by Donald
Lawrence, Souled Out fuses up-tempo
rhythms with Walker’s straight-to-the-heart
worship style and traditional Gospel lyrics.
Guests include Ricardo Sanchez on “Moving
Forward” and Shawn McLemore on the
reprise of the classically rendered “It Shall
Come To Pass.” One of Walker’s personal
favorites is the melodic “God Favored Me,” featuring DJ Rogers
and Marvin Sapp. Walker says, “This is the story of my life, and
probably the story of most people’s lives: that the favor of the Lord
is on our side and because of God’s favor, we’ve reached heights
unknown and undreamed.”
“O Give Thanks” is a traditional offering, a gem of a throwback
piece; the waltz-like, “There’s No Way I Could Live Without You”
is a song of thanksgiving and adoration that also works as a choral
acknowledgment of the many blessings God has bestowed on the
life of this famed choir.
Walker gets behind a microphone of a different sort with his
radio duties hosting a show on New York’s WLIB (1190), targeting
those outside the four walls of the church. He continues his
judging duties on Verizon’s national choir competition “How
Sweet the Sound,” which will conclude with the crowning of the
winners on November 8th at the “How Sweet The Sound” Finale
Concert in Atlanta (Philips Arena).
Partly inspired by these new avenues for spreading the Word,
Souled Out is the next chapter in Walker’s music ministry. “I’ve
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The Lord is
limited the world to the circle that Songs will include “Choose To Be Dancing,” “You
I’m accustomed to,” Walker says. Are My God and King,” “You Are God,” “When
“The Lord has been teaching me You Love,” “All We Ask,” “The Great I Am,” “Wait
that the world is much bigger. There On The Lord” (featuring Karen Clark Sheard), “No

putting me
are a lot of people who have not One Else” and “Hallelujah Song.”
yet heard Hezekiah Walker—that Called Live in Detroit, the new album is scheduled
haven’t even heard the Gospel. The for release December 2 and will be accompanied by
Lord is putting me in places where I a DVD featuring exclusive performance footage.
can really bring the Gospel to those
who haven’t heard it.”
Pastor Donnie McClurkin, one
in places McClurkin walks the walk that he preaches. “I
hope people will be able to say that I really had a
true relationship with God,” he says. “Not only did
of the most recognizable names I sing it, but my very life exemplified it…no façade
and voices in gospel music in
mainstream America, has earned a
trophy case full of awards including
where I can or hypocrisy. When I was wrong, I was wrong, but I
took blame rather than allow holiness to appear to be
some fabricated way of life. I want that people will
two Grammys, recognition from not have seen me, but rather seen that this is what
the NAACP, Trumpet Awards,
Dove, Stellar and Soul Train
Music Awards. He’s appeared all
really bring a relationship with Jesus is like and I would hope it
could be said that holiness was what I lived and what
I passed on to the next generation, and the next.”
over television from “The View” Grammy-winning producer and recording
to “Extra” to “Good Morning
America” and in films “The
Gospel,” “Diary of a Mad Black
the Gospel artist Donald Lawrence is set for his sophomore
Zomba/Verity Records solo CD project early in the
first quarter of ‘09. Coming off of the success of
Woman,” “The Prince of Egypt,” producing the Clark Sisters’ best-selling comeback
“The Donnie McClurkin Story:
From Darkness to Light,” “The
Fighting Temptations,” and, happily
to those who CD Live One Last Time and newcomer DeWayne
Wood’s breakthrough hit “Let Go” on Lawrence’s
own QuietWater Entertainment imprint, Lawrence,
for me, on a show that I co-wrote in his co-producer Daniel Weatherspoon and a
2004, “Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in
Harlem,” where I stood in the wings haven’t 10-member ensemble of session singers, The Co.,
will stand on the platform of Chicago’s The Living
and watched it get “Holy” up in Word Christian Center and bring Lawrence’s latest
that famed old theatre. musical vision to life.
He’s appeared in spreads in
most major publications, but
heard it.” Inspired by the forthcoming book by The Living
Word Christian Center’s Pastor Bill Winston,
there is nothing quite like hearing Lawrence explains the title of the new album, The
—Hezekiah Walker
McClurkin’s relationship with God Law of Confession. “A law is simply a principle,
in his church, Perfecting Faith in based on the predictable consequence of an act.
Long Island, NY, or in concert. If Confession in the Greek language is homo-logeo,
that’s not possible, the next best which means to say what has been said. There is a
thing is coming.  He recorded a Live set at spiritual law for confession: you just say what God
the Straight Gate International has already said.” In other words,
Church in Detroit this past “Speak the Word.”
September and is combining Among the songs
that event with songs cut in on the project are
the studio. The 12-CD set the title song
will feature Karen Clark “Kingdom,”
Sheard of The Clark “Back-2-
Sisters and is his fourth
release for Zomba
Gospel/Verity.

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Eden,” “Words,” “Let The Word Do The Work,” “There Is A King In
You,” “The Word Of The Lord” and “The Blessing Is On You.”
“The CD is about applying the Word of the Lord to everyday life so
that it may change your personal speech to speaking only positive things
and things of good report,” says Lawrence.
Also in tandem release are two CDs from participants on BET’s
“American Idol-like reality show “Sunday Best.” At the beginning of the
show, hosted by Kirk Franklin, BET announced its intention to find the
“next Gospel Superstar.”
The show prizes were a car, a record contract and big bank--
$300,000. Crystal Aikin, a thirty-something-year old registered nurse,
church girl from the Pacific Northwest beat out some of the country’s
best church singers to become the 2008 BET “Sunday Best” winner.
As the winner, she received a 2008 Toyota Camry and major
recording contract with Verity Records and started working right away
on her self-titled debut solo CD. The 10-song project was produced by
a multitude of heavy weight producers from gospel and urban music,
including PAJAM (J Moss, 21:03, Karen Clark Sheard), Dre & Vidal
(Alicia Keys, Usher), Gerald Haddon (Deitrick Haddon, Damita
Haddon, Bishop Noel Jones’ City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir), Derek
Clark (Z’iel), Lamb & TJ and Asaph Ward (Kim Burrell, Maurette
Brown Clark).
That variety of music styles on her CD includes a mix of Urban
Contemporary Gospel, Traditional Gospel and Contemporary Gospel-
-and a touch of Rock and Jazz. Although she says she loves every song,
Crystal does admit to having three favorites on the project. “My first
favorite is the powerful ballad “What If,” produced by PAJAM. When
you listen to the words, it’s really an awesome song. What if God
said no? What if he opted to not die? What if he opted to not give
us healing? What if he opted not to give us miracles? Do you know
what kind of world and situation we’d be in? It’s a song that provokes
thought and thankfulness for God’s presence in our lives.”
Another is “The Cloud,” produced by Derek Clark. “It has a rock
feel to it. And it’s an encouraging song for anyone who feels down,
ashamed, unworthy and hopeless. The song talks about how the clouds
have rolled away and your sins have been erased. So say goodbye to
yesterday. Say good-bye to days of gray!”
Then there’s “He’s So Worthy” by Asaph Ward. This is a ‘gospel joint!’
“It’s full of energy and spectacular rhythm,” says Crystal, “but what grips
me about the song is that it has a praise and worship feel. The music is
slamming! But what gets me more are the words, because He’s worthy of
all the praise and all the glory. It provokes you, no matter what you might
be feeling at that moment. You’re like ‘Umph! He’s so worthy!’”
Other stand-outs on the project include the mid-tempo,
Contemporary “Lord You Reign Forever.” Produced by
Dre & Vidal, it’s a soothing song that reminds
you that the Lord reigns high
above your circumstance
and he will always be
there for you. Another
Dre & Vidal
produced Urban
Contemporary,
Jazz-tinged
ballad, “Turn
To Him,” is
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a testimonial tune about a soul being lost and confused and
finally turning to God through prayer to be saved.
The “Sunday Best” runner-up so impressed the people at
Zomba Gospel that they swooped her up too. The runner-
up, Shari Addison, will be releasing her CD the same day
as Crystal. Shari’s is also self-titled and some of the honest
names in gospel music lend their writing and producing
talents to the project including Percy Bady, Kevin Bond,
Donald Lawrence and Daniel Weatherspoon.
“Shari Addison is a name that the national and
international community of believers will come to recognize
and enjoy for years to come! The raw power of her voice,
coupled with the weight of her testimony, will leave an
indelible impression on all who are blessed to experience
the depth of her anointing,” says Grammy Award winning
producer Kevin Bond, who wrote the first single, “No
Battle, No Blessing.” “I’m delighted to have had the
opportunity to work on her first solo effort.”
Shari blends traditional, contemporary, urban and
inspirational gospel on a solid 10-track release. Addison
speaks life to the listener on the heartening “It’s Your Time.”
Produced by Bady, this track was written by Clarence
Singleton.
“Whateva” has an urban vibe and sparse
instrumentation,” Shari explains, adding, “To me, it’s just
such a funky song. Sometimes Christians need to hear
something with a beat, but still with a Godly message.”
Bady also provides “You Know My Heart.”
“‘Please Make Me Better Lord’ is a standard that has new
life breathed into it; a four-plus minute rollercoaster ride.
The first single is “No Blessing, No Battle.” Other titles are
“I Praise You,” and the ballad “He Does All Things Well,”
which Shari co-wrote with Bady.
“Sunday’s Best” was apparently a hit with Zomba and
the TV audiences as well. The show garnered the highest
ratings for a gospel show in its history with a voting
audience of more than 1.5 million viewers.
Jordan says in these times, “this music is especially
comforting and unlike a movie that you will sit and watch
once, we take our music with us and listen again and again.”
It’s a way to be comforted by some High Powered Praise.
Let the church say “Amen.”