Video of the Weekend-Medley Performed at 2017 Stellar Awards: Jonathan Butler, Israel Houghton, Travis Greene and Jonathan McReynolds-"I Gotta Have You";"You Made a Way";"You Make All Things New"; “I Will Follow You Forward”!

 Our video of the weekend, formerly “video of the week” is a Stellar Awards performance from the 2017 archives featuring an assembled quartet of gospel and jazz recording artists Israel Houghton, Travis Greene, Jonathan Butler and Jonathan McReynolds. It was a smooth performance indeed.  Noteworthy.

Video of the Week: Billy Preston-“That’s the Way God Planned It”

 Video of the Week is from way back. Billy Preston began as a church organist, had a string of pop gospel hits like the one in the video below. He was affectionately dubbed a fifth member of the Beatles and performed as an organist on their hit song “Let it Be” and other notable songs. Here he joins Beatle George Harrison in a performance before an audience of thousands at the historic and hugely successful benefit concert for Bangladesh held in New York City’s Madison Square Garden on August 1, 1971. The concert raised 12 million for the people of Bangladesh who were battling war-related starvation and genocide at the time. Royalties from the sale of the related documentary and album sales continue to this day to fund George Harrison’s Foundation for UNICEF, which was founded with famous Indian musician Ravi Shankar.

If you are reading this blog on your mobile device, go to the View web version link in the footer column at the bottom of this page. It will take you to the desktop version of this blog where you can view the video in its entirety by following the You Tube link or if you are feeling lucky, just Google it.

Enjoy this history lesson which is a segment of today’s podcast. The link will be provided in the near future. God bless your day.

Cynthia Wilson

Press

 The song says it all. Keep pressing towards the high mark saints, upward and onward to victory!

The Stellar Stellars! An Amazing Night of Gospel Music

An amazing show tonight. Catch everything here on You Tube. The lead in shows in Houston as well as the special promotional videos that Kirk Franklin, Jonathan McReynolds and Koryn Hawthorne did as co-hosts had me and I’m sure many more eagerly anticipating this year’s 35th Annual Stellar awards. See Houston interview and performance clip here. You will discover a few things about the co-hosts you may not have known beforehand in the interview by Deborah Duncan of Great Day Houston. Jonathan winner of seven(7) Stellars so far is also an author. His latest book is “Make Room:Finding Where Faith Fits” and his latest record release is People. Jonathan also has a Masters degree in Biblical Studies and is an official member of membership organizations. For geniuses, Mensa. Koryn Hawthorn has a no.1 single “You Still Love Me and, of course, the legendary Kirk Franklin is still soaring as a gospel chart topper and maintaining his masterful musicianship and influence in the field Picking up 5 awards for his latest album release “Love Theory”.  The full list of tonight’s winners and categories can be found here. Stellar awards production is also making a program booklet of the show available for download free of charge. 

All performances from the original live show broadcast can be viewed on the BET network.  Moving performances by Jonathan McReynolds, Koryn Hawthorne,Tye Tribett, Zacardi Cortez, Group Fire, Anthony Brown,  James Fortune featuring Deborah Carolina, CeCe Winans who performed a special memorial tribute to  Congressman John Lewis with Bridge Over Troubled Water, Pastor Mike, Tamala Mann and JJ Hairston featuring Kierra Sheard on the award winning “Miracle Worker” ; they all kept the show brimming with inspiration from beginning to end, all the way to the last performance. Tasha Cobb Leonard accepted her award for Song of the Year humbly and with grace. Of course, we know that gospel music is inspiration and drives our church praise teams and Sunday morning worship services every week.The Stellars celebrated gospel music this year with panache and style despite the inability to broadcast live in their usual manner pre-coronavirus.

Jonathan’s Mc Reynold’s “Best Thing”, performance videotaped outdoors was lively and lit with the show lights shining brightly...speaking of which, I have to admit that I have had his 2018 CD “Make Room” on replay in my disc player even though People is his latest release. Both are best. So make room for People as well. But you know, it’s great when an artist can have his earlier release  listened to and enjoyed as much as his earlier record...that is definitely a double portion.

 The producers, editors and behind the scenes crew did a great job of pulling the segments together creatively in light of the Coronavirus social distancing protocols that have caused the television industry to re-think and re-design live broadcasts. The show was edited nicely. I enjoyed the way it segued from the hosts intro of each artist into their video performances. Tamala Mann looked magnificent singing her song from that picturesque mountaintop scene and Doe and Travis Greene’s performance was strong and energetic. In fact all performances were moving and spirit filled. 

God bless! Stay safe and well out there. Keeping you all in my prayers. 

Tune in to our podcast where you can listen to selected blog posts and playlists  featuring music from some of your  favorite artists. Join Pray in Place Prayer Circle every Wednesday morning at 9:00a.m on Zoom. Specific details forthcoming.