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.

Jonathan McReynolds, Doe Jones, Join Chandler Moore of Maverick City in Breathe

Edited Sunday, April 25,2021

 “Let Everything that has breath, praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:6 is a  very powerful scripture, one that makes up a significant lyric of this Holy Spirit filled song that inspires praise in the crucial everyday blessings like breathing, inhaling fresh air into our lungs that quite frankly we often overlook and take for granted. Without God’s gift of air and breath we could not sustain life nor could we lift up and sing praises.

“It’s a miracle that we can breathe” the group sings led by the powerful vocals of Jonathan McReynolds and Chandler Moore. But now that we are fighting a global pandemic, a virus that attacks the respiratory system, particularly the lungs as many who fall ill and subsequently hospitalized end up on breathing machines such as ventilators, this anthem takes on an even deeper meaning and urgency.

This was an awesome gathering of some very talented gospel musicians singing praises to God spontaneously in the round, a collaborative worship and praise style that has recently taken gospel music approach on live and taped recording sessions on video by storm. Jonathan McReynolds, Doe Jones, Chandler Moore, Israel Houghton and others making a joyful noise unto the Lord, singing and fervently lifting up God praises and sending out prayers also to those needing peaceful sleep throughout the night and those that may be challenged with hypertension as well. That was  an especially heartfelt intro solo and prayer from Jonathan as he closed out the song, adding a moving spirit filled touch. To view video if you’re on a mobile phone, click on link entitled view web version below.

Kirk Franklin, Jonathan McReynolds and Kelly Price at BET Awards

 Our video pick of the week is a clip of  BET’s Award Show broadcast June 23, 2019. Podcast episode forthcoming with a summary of the show.

Jonathan McReynolds, Erica Campbell and Kelly Price open the awards show and sing with Kirk Franklin in a special rendition of Kirk Franklin's "Love Theory” from his 2019 CD release “Long Live Love.”

Jonathan and Mali Movin’ On to the Grammys

Congratulations to Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music for their Grammy nominated  record Movin’ On. It was nominated in the category of Best Gospel Performance Song.

The rhythmically upbeat Movin' On is an 

energizing blend of get up and feel good gospel  with r&b and old school soul flourishes. The lyrics meld traditional

 spiritual phrases like from “faith to favor” with hopeful ones like I know my rearview(ooh, ooh) Can't compare to what God will do with my life and “forgetting what’s behind me, focusing on what’s inside me” as he places his hand over his heart in a light hearted manner in the original Movin’ On  video. When I hear the song, I think of moving ahead, “closing chapters and turning pages”... as an often bittersweet feeling, leaving familiar and steady places for new and unknown territory. The move takes courage. 

The song is accentuated at the end with Mali's slick yet God centered rap lyrics alternating with Jon’s smooth and laid back vibrato on this cut.  It’s innovative, spiritual, fun and inspirational.

Congratulations to all the other nominees in this category as well.

, Rodney Jerkins, Lecrae Moore & Jazz Nixon, songwriters

 Wishing John and  Mali all the best.  Get your blessings guys. In this case, your Grammys. Praying for you. Amen.

 

By the way the Grammys will be televised on Sunday, January 31, 2021 on the CBS network. Check your local listings for exact times.

“God is Good”

Check out inspiring messages from some of your favorite artists encouraging voters to make their voices heard during the next few days. Today is Jonathan McReynolds.

Even though the election is over and the victory speeches have been given many are still reveling in the outcome, President elect Joseph Biden and Vice President elect Kamala Harris. It’s never too late to be inspired. It’s always good to hear and listen to some of the best vocals out there contributing to a positive voting experience in our communities and particularly at the polls.

#CarrytheChange! Congratulations to 2020 WinnersDove Awards Friday, October 30,2020

Congratulations to tonight's winners. A partial list of this year's Dove Awardees can be found below. Go to www.doveawards.com for a complete list of winners and nominees. Also, listen to my brief podcast review at the link found in the blog headliner above. Click on the web version link at the bottom of this page to view related videos. They do not show up on this mobile version  of the blog. 

Jonathan McReynolds acoustic rendition of his award-winning "People" was elegantly presented and played.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard dynamic Release the Sound:

Sinach  Waymaker  joined by Leeland and  Mandisa:

All award-winner's  performances were compelling and demonstrated their chops for commanding and, yes, anointed singing and delivery.  

By the way, the Dove Awards put on a beautifully videographed show tonight. The photographic capture, lighting and art direction presented unity of spirit among the worshipper-performers in an intimate manner. The singing in circles was aesthetically pleasing and easy on the eyes.The performances were very powerful and the interview shorts were thoughtful, informative and inspiring. They did #carrythechange all the way through the broadcast. The anointing of the Holy Spirit was present.

Listen to my podcast review for more detailed discussion at this link.

Jonathan McReynolds Hosts Listening Party for Doe Jones!

Check his websites and Instagram page. The updates are ongoing. The EP is full of good songs and Doe has an incredible voice. Her vocal range is  extraordinary. You will be wondering like I did when I first heard her singing on Cycles why you haven’t heard any commercial releases from her until now. Good examples of  her range are “Reach”and “Cycles”. While those two songs are not on her EP take a listen to them while checking out the songs that are, like “Brighter”, “Take Me Back” , “I Try”, “Hey You” and “Good Now”. Definitely worth adding to your contemporary gospel music collection for yourself, family and friends.

Check out Doe’s EP hit single Brighter in video below:

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.

"People"

Jonathan Mc Reynold's People is his latest CD release and includes the thought-provoking single by the same name.  The entire album is filled with beautiful gospel songs that are an inspiring blend of his signature traditional and contemporary gospel for which he has a wonderful flair.  View and take a listen to the entire visual album at the You Tube link above. 

The song "People" is a pensive reflection on human relationships and the challenges of dealing with people who cause difficulties in your life. You have to pray to God to help you through and hope and still pray you have not become one of those same people. All of his songs are refreshingly thought out reflections about relationship with God and people in today's world. Listen to it on the video link above.

"I Need Your Grace" another lovely song on the album, has a comforting traditional gospel sound. View it below. 

 The entire CD is definitely a Jonathan McReynolds essential, a blessing to add to your traditional and contemporary gospel collection. He is a gifted and anointed gospel artist.The music will inspire and uplift your spirits.