Stellar Awards Music of Hope is Here Again

President Biden Holds Candlelit Remembrance and Moment of Silence for 500,000 Lives Lost to Covd-19 Virus

 President Joseph Biden was joined by First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris  and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff in a ceremony  at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., our Nation's Capitol, paying tribute to the 500,000 lives lost to the Coronavirus pandemic. The nation paused to pay respects to lives lost in what has become a sad and sobering milestone in public health for our nation.

During his speech, Biden stated that more lives have been lost to Covid-19 than to the Vietnam War, WW1 and WWII combined. He emphasized how many died alone without loved ones to comfort them or relatives and friends to pray and comfort  them at their bedsides, or to grieve and mourn them during customary funeral services and rituals.

He ordered flags flown at half staff around the country. Let us keep our country and world lifted in prayer and genuine concern for those currently challenged with the virus.

Movin' On:Lifting Up Grammy Nominees Jonathan McReynolds’ & Mali Music P.1

Raised and nurtured in the Church of God in Christ, Jonathan McReynolds has been singing and uplifting traditional Gospel music at his home church in Chicago as well as in front of large congregations across the country and throughout the globe.

Jonathan performing at West Angeles COGIC's Christmas concert in 2017

Jonathan McReynolds arrived on the Gospel music scene inspiring and captivating audiences with his beautifully crafted gospel songs that express and share his God given anointing to connect worshippers creatively and sensitively with the word of God and his personal relationship with God. Songs from his first album  Life Music released in 2012 took the Gospel world  by storm. An album that is filled with  beautifully simple, cutting edge and moving contemporary Gospel songs accentuated by his signature vocal style. 

Kirk Franklin has honored and proclaimed multiple award winning Jonathan as the 'future of Gospel'. Jonathan has  received eight (8) Stellar Awards, 2 Dove Awards and has several Grammy nominated albums to his credit, including Life Music  Stage Two and Make Room. His recent hit single “Movin’ On" in collaboration with Grammy

award-winning recording artist and producer Mali Music from his latest album release “People”, has been nominated in this year's Grammy category of Best Contemporary Gospel Performance.  

Jonathan has  inspired church and mainstream audiences around the globe for nearly a decade. This is Jonathan performing a very deeply felt acoustic rendition of "Make Room".

Blessings on you and Mali’s Grammy nomination for Movin’ On. May there be continued grace, healing and favor from God in your life. May God continue to richly bless your music ministry and mainstream appeal.

Vice President’s Tie Breaking Vote to Advance Biden Coronavirus Bill Closer to Passage

 During the wee hours of this morning Senate Democrats  were busy at work on the 1.9 Trillion pandemic relief package proposed  by President Joe Biden which includes provisions for a $1,400 payment to individuals, $400.00 per week federal unemployment benefit, $350 billion for state and local governments, a minimum wage increase to $15.00 per hour and more money for child care, schools and vaccine distributions. The budget resolution passed the Senate in a 50-50 party-line vote which will allow Democrats to pass coronavirus relief without Republican support. Voting was very close. In fact, Vice President Kamala Harris cast her first official vote as a Senate tie breaker at 5:30 a.m. tipping the scales for Democrats at least at this stage. Since changes were made to the resolution it will go back to the US House of Representatives where lawmakers will need to pass it for a second time. 

Senate approval of the budget resolution followed a vote-a-rama that lasted from 2:30p.m. on Thursday and ended at 5:30 a.m Friday morning. By the way there were a grand total of 800 amendments that had been filed as of Thursday night.

Good to see progress being made on coronavirus relief. Keeping the entire voting process lifted up in prayer. Many are waiting on congress to get this accomplished so that they can get tangible assistance in hand. 

 

Inaugural Gospel Concert Makes a Joyful Noise in Celebration of Biden-Harris

If any of you missed the Inaugural Gospel Celebration, “A Night of Inspiration and Unity”, you missed a good show. But you can still view segments of performances by some of your favorite gospel artists on the You Tube channel. See preview above.

It was a cavalcade of gospel greats, a star studded virtual inspiration from beginning to end with strong performances from Tasha Cobbs Leonard who was first to perform in the line up, singing “Break Every Chain” and “You’re Gonna Get the Glory”, Jonathan McReynolds who sang an energetic and upbeat “I’m Not Lucky, I’m Loved” without his guitar. He still sounded great as he entered into call and response with the audience who joined in singing with him. Also performing were Koryn Hawthorne with “Won’t He Do It”, L’Andria Johnson, “This is My Exodus”, Tye Tribett lit up the stage with “We Gonna Be Alright”,Todd Dulaney, JJ Hairston, Dietrich Haddon, Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, Keke Wyatt who sang a traditional hymn “Blessed Assurance”. Hezekiah Walker was also there with his full choir. The concert was hosted by Anthony Anderson with special guests fellow Howard University alum Taraji P. Henson. They bantered back and forth a little about both being Howard alums like the Vice President.  Morris Chestnut and LaMann Rucker were also there as special guests. Pastor Shirley Caesar made a special presentation from her living room joining the concert via video tape. 

It was a show that made me proud to be a gospel music fan as I realized how much talent came together for an amazing demonstration of inspiration and unity for the country’s newly elected and long awaited President Biden and VicePresident Harris, the nation’s first woman and first black to hold that position. The music was fitting for the occasion.

Listen to an audio blurb about the event on my podcast at this forthcoming link.