BeBe and CeCe Winans continue to heat up thecharts with their smash hit “Close To You”showing up on both Gospel and Urban musiccharts. And did you stay up late and see themrecently on BET’s The Monique Show? Not onlywere they fabulous, but host Monique, treatedthem with the utmost respect and loves theirmusic.

Kudos to Kirk Franklin for writing and produc-ing the fund raising single, “Are You Listening?”

to benefit the people in Haiti who suffered insurmount-able loss as a result of the devastating earthquake backin January. It is an awesome song that features awho’s who list of Gospel and Christian music recordingartists, including MaryMary, Dorinda Clark Cole,Karen Clark Sheard, Kierra Sheard, J Moss, DonnieMcClurkin, Marvin Sapp, Bishop Paul Morton, andmore.

The star-studded song was recorded during StellarAwards week in Nashville. UN’s Lin. Woods says shewas at the Industry and Artist Prayer Service hosted by

Kirk and CeCe Winans at CeCe’s home church, Born Again, where Kirk requestedall the artist in the house to come and record that night and subsequent nightsthat week. “There were no egos, just complete cooperation and comraderybetween everyone there,” says Lin. The song has received immediate radio air-play and is available for purchase on iTunes. The video is airing on Gospel MusicChannel (GMC).

Kirk is currently holding national auditions for the thirdseason of BET’s gospel talent competition show,Sunday Best. The show will host its first time everinternational auditions in Lagos, Nigeria in Africa.MaryMary will return this season as judges. Joiningthem will be first time judges, Donnie McClurkin andYolanda Adams. Sunday Best premiere’s on BET inApril.

Lonnie Hunter has a new project in the works.Meanwhile, his radio program, The Lonnie Hunter Showcontinues to add markets, most recently, Cleveland(WJMO-AM).

Gospel star Tye Tribbett reportedly has moved from his east coast digs to sunnyLos Angeles. I guess he’s making a fresh start since he is said to be startinganother group/choir. Where does this leave his choir, Greater Anointing?

According to our sources, Tonéx will be recording Urban music and there is nocertainty that he will continue with gospel. We express our continued support inwhatever this talented young man does in the future.

Bishop Paul S. Morton is super busy with congregations in both Atlanta andhome base, New Orleans. And to add to his good deeds, he’s set up the Paul S.Morton Scholarship to help deserving young people out there who want to furthertheir education.

Speaking of the Morton’s PJ Morton, Bishop Morton’s son, a talented writer, pro-ducer and artist, has multiple projects we can look forward to. He has a forth-

coming book titled, “Why Can’t I Sing,” and his CD isslated for release in April. PJ also has a joint ventureas an artist with KOCH and Light Records. In themeantime the gifted musician continues to travel withhis father and support dad’s music and preaching min-istries.

Integrity Music recording artist Stephen Hurd is writ-ing a book.

Speaking of books, Yolanda Adams’ The Points ofPower is expected to be published this year.

Dottie Peoples has a new make-up line that will be available in malls.

Pastor Shirley Caesar has a new video to look out for, “Heaven’s Playground.”And, she says she will join The Caravans and sing with them on their next CDwhich will be in the works soon. By the way, word is Pastor Caesar may be giv-ing up her duties as a pastor this year.

Earl Bynum is working on both a choir and solo project. And he’s getting all ofthis done in between his gig as an International Booking Agent. He just complet-ed a world tour with stops in places like Italy and Switzerland.

The BMI Trailblazer Awards saluting gospel legends Andrae Crouch andDonnie McClurkin debuts Sunday, February 21s, 8p.m. EST on GMC. Hosted byByron Cage, the show was taped in Nashville during Stellar Awards week andfeatures soul stirring performances by some of Gospel’s best, including PastorMarvin Winans, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Dorinda Clark Cole, Micah Stampley,Yolanda Adams, TaTa Vega, Latice Crawford and MaryMary.

Central City Productions’ Stellar Awards is airing in syndication. This year’sshow is hosted by Vickie Winans, Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin and fea-tures performances by Donald Lawrence, Marvin Sapp, Vanessa BellArmstrong, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin, MaryMary and more.Check your local TV and cable listings and tune in.

ON THE MOVE…

Licia Shearer has exited her positionas producer of Serving Up Soul withDorinda Clark Cole. Erin DeVeauxwho moved up from the ProductionCoordinator position has been promot-ed to producer. Andy Giner hasstepped in as Production Coordinatorof the Pasadena, CA-based nationalsyndicated radio show.

Music Entertainment Executive, Alvin Williams, who spent the last five yearsbuilding up music programming featuring all forms of Gospel music, from BlueGrass to Contemporary Christian to Tradition Gospel to Hip Hop, at Atlanta basedmusic TV network, Gospel Music Channel, has vacated his position as SeniorDirector of Music Industry Development.

Alvin was instrumental in bringing diverse Gospel shows to the air at GMC likeHometown Gospel, Hype and Glory, BMI Trailblazer Awards, Front Row Live andmore. Without him, many of the African American themed Gospel music showsand artists might not have gotten the invaluable exposure they received on thenetwork which is available to 46 million homes. He says he will soon let it beknown what his next big thing is.

Entrepreneur/Attorney and former President of Verity Records, Max Siegel is saidto have label projects in the works which will bring him back into the Gospelrecording world.

© THE URBAN NETWORK 17 VOLUME 19 NUMBER 8

By Faye Truth � theinspiredco@aol.com

BEBE AND CECE WINANS

KIRK FRANKLIN

YOLANDA ADAMS

PJ MORTON

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