Shirley Caesar
With 150 concerts a year, 25 hours a week helping the poor in her Outreach Ministries, several Grammies, and 30 record albums to her credit, Shirley Caesar may seem to be a whole army of gospel singers instead of just one diminutive (5'1, 3/4") cherubic-looking woman. The "Queen of Gospel" packs a lot of wallop in her small frame. Backed by a sixty-person choir, rocking like a tempest, she is a bundle of fireworks on the Fourth of July. The gospel style of song and sermonette, singing that involves both the spoken word and dramatic acting, was developed primarily by Shirley Caesar. She journeys all over the world, sometimes traveling all night to return to her pulpit in Durham, North Carolina, the town where she was born. "It is not easy," said Shirley in her 1995 video He Will Come (Word Records), "In fact, sometimes it is downright mind-boggling. But, somehow, even though I'm wearing all of these hats, the Lord helps me to just barrel through it." Shirley has barreled through fifty years of touring and preaching, starting at age ten, and she continues to bring the house down every time she performs.
www.shirleycaesar.com
Joe Ligon
Joe Ligon
The only remaining original member of The Mighty Coulds Of Joy, Joe Ligon founded the group in 1960 with highschool friends. Over the past three decades, the group has released over 30 albums, earned two Grammy awards, and received numerous other accolades. Their song "Time" reached the top of the R&B charts in 1974, while their tune "Ride the Mighty High" became a major disco hit. Their first single, "Steal Away to Jesus," was recorded in 1960. The following year, the group recorded their debut album, Family Circle
Phil Tarver
Phillip F. Tarver is a psalmist, songwriter, arranger and exuberant worshiper who will translate you into the secret place of God. The anointing of God draws the hearts of men to the Father as Elder Tarver ministers through the spoken word of God and expressive worship.
Elder Phil as he is affectionately called has been in the gospel arena for many years. He spent several years as the lead vocalist with Michael Houston & Ministry and has also recorded with other worship teams such as Anointed Praise & Worshippers and Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago. He can be seen singing with Shekinah Glory Ministry on the highly acclaimed video, Praise Is What I Do and " Shekinah Glory Live". He is a member of Valley Kingdom Ministries International and serves as Minister of Music and Fine Arts.
Neal Roberson
Not a Singer that happens to preach but a Preacher called by God who is gifted to sing.
In addition to his preaching ministry, Bishop Roberson is also an accomplished musician, and Gospel Recording Artist on Blackberry Records. When Bishop Roberson sings, he sings with the same power and conviction that mark his preaching. God has blessed Bishop Roberson in 2001 to release his first CD project entitled "Delighted", and in April 2003 he completed his first "live" recording "My Story-My Testimony" which was released in September 2003, along with "Songs Mama Use To Sing" in 2005. His most recent project entitled "Awesome God" takes Bishop Neal by leaps and bounds into another whole dimension. This album takes Bishop Neal, by leaps and bounds, into another whole dimension beginning with the dynamic up-tempo Praise & Worship song "Awesome God" to the house rocking "It's On The Way".
http://www.bishopnealroberson.com
The Williams Brothers
As gospel groups go, few can equal the Williams Brothers in terms of longevity and popularity.
The trio dates to 1960, when Leon "Pop" Williams founded the group. It has performed in some of the nation's more famous concert halls including: Madison Square Garden, The Apollo Theatre, The Grand Ole Opry, The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and The House of Blues.
The group, which includes Melvin Williams, Doug Williams, Henry Green, and members in the back-up band, is still traveling across the country, presenting its distinctive gospel sound to enthusiastic audiences.
Green, who joined the group when he was 18, said the Williams Brothers have placed God first in their efforts for nearly four decades, and have no regrets in doing so. "Down through the years, God has always blessed this group," Green said. "No matter what we do, we put God out in front, and when you put God out in front, there's no limit."
The Williams Brothers have three Grammy Award nominations and numerous Stellar Awards to their credit. In spite of the Williams Brothers' travels and success, the group continues to make music from its base in Mississippi.
The current Williams Brothers members can trace their own spiritual development to the guidance of their parents years ago, Green said.
"It goes back to our roots, to our mothers and fathers," he said. "We grew up in the South, in the country. Back then, no matter what you did on Saturday night, no matter what movie you saw or how late you stayed out, you had to go to church on Sunday morning. There wasn't any 'I don't want to' or 'I don't like going to church.' You went to church, and not only did you go to church, your parents took you to church. And when you got to church, you acted right."
JJ Hairston
JJ Hairston is the Director of Youthful Praise. He is a member of Turner's Faith Temple C.O.G.I.C., Int'l. in Bridgeport CT under the leadership of two gospel music legends, Bishop J.C. White and Evangelist Gloria White.
JJ is a native of Brooklyn, NY, where he attended Mt. Sinai Cathedral, C.O.G.I.C. where his grandfather, Bishop Clarence Sexton Sr., was the Pastor. However, his love for gospel music began at his current church when his friend, Shawn Brown, asked him to come to choir rehearsal. It was then that James gave his heart, as well as his voice, talent, and his feet to the Lord. Inspired by the writing ability of his friend Shawn and his pastor, Bishop White, James began writing his own songs such as "He is the Spirit" and "Garment of Praise." Since then, James has been called upon to write and direct for many well-known artists.
To God be the Glory for such a talented young man. God has blessed and anointed JJ to put melody to his testimony, and the testimony of others. He is an admirer of the songwriting styles of Thomas Whitfield, Rudolph Stanfield, Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence, Kirk Franklin, James Hall, and Melvin Crispell. He also admires the directing styles of Ricky Dillard, and James Hall. JJ is well known for his exuberant style of directing and singing. You may even recognize him from the choir "James Hall and Worship & Praise" where he was a member for several years.
JJ's ultimate desire is that young people would see him as an active young man, yet as a servant of the Lord and realize you don't have to be old to be saved. Expect great things from this young man in days to come.
Youthful Praise
Generations have come and gone with young people singing for the Lord. Today, in our turbulent society, comes a group of young people doing something special, positive, creative and is a force to be reckoned with. Who says this is a lost generation? Certainly not with "YP" - better known as YOUTHFUL PRAISE. They are back on the scene with a brand new live CD in stores now.
They dynamic voices of Youthful Praise have been wowing audiences for over sixteen years. Formerly known as the Teens of T.F.T. they have grown within their home church of Turner's Faith Temple (Bridgeport, CT), into an effective ministry that dazzles and delights through the gift of song.
In August of 2001, after much anticipation, the choir released their first live recording Awesome God on Evidence Gospel label, a division of Gospelflava.com. The smash title single "Awesome God" caught on with church choirs nationwide and spread faster than anyone ever imagined. The song has been performed over and over, but none quite like the original, first recorded by YP.
This debut release garnered critical acclaim as it earned Youthful Praise recognition industry wide. Among the nods, the 2003 Stellar Award nominations for Choir of the Year and Contemporary Choir of the Year, the Soul Train Award nomination for Gospel Artist of the Year, the Gospel Music Workshop of America Excellence Award nomination for Choir of the Year and the Gospel Truth Magazine Award for Contemporary Choir of the Year.
African American Tribute Hosted by:
Nayo Wallace
www.nayowallace.com
Vanessa Bell Armstrong
With a style reminiscent of Aretha Franklin, soulful Vanessa Bell Armstrong has been belting out R&B-flavored contemporary gospel since the '80s. A native of Detroit and mother of five, she got her start working with Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. She has since gone on to work in both gospel and secular music. She did the theme song for the television series Amen, where her links to Rev. Al Green (and ultimately to Rev. Claude Jeter) were evident. She's recorded urban contemporary ballads and lyrically neutral material for Jive, and done gospel for Muscle Shoals Sound Gospel and Onyx, subsidiaries of Malaco. Albums include the slickly produced Something on the Inside (1993) and The Secret Is Out (1995). Three years later, she released her first live album, Desire of My Heart: Live; a best-of collection appeared in 1999.